the continually passing trains, evidently is a 
prominent feature in the locality. The upper 
part is one entire room, in which is stored 
specimens from all parts of the land, mam¬ 
mals, birds, heads, laud and marine curios, 
mats, robes, horns, antlers, eggs, nests and 
everything that comes under the head of nat¬ 
ural history specimens. These are selected 
with the greatest care from the offers that 
come in from collectors, and the}’ embrace such 
as are required by the scientific and amateur, 
for the museum and school, the office and the 
drawing room—continually changing, arriving 
and being shipped. At present it is open only 
to patrons, but arrangements are being made | 
to open it another year to the public. The 
lower portion is now used as workrooms, office 
and supply room. Every facility for carrying 
on exchanges and sales is being developed. To 
bring the enterprise to its present state has 
required constant and unceasing labor. At 
times some depaitments have been neglected 
to throw life into others ; but such is only 
temporary. 
Not the least as a crowning effort has been 
the publication of “ The Ornithologist and 
Oologist,” a magazine today second to none of 
its nature, made so by the united efforts of 
those whose names appear on its pages k a com¬ 
mon ground on which we all meet. 
Believing that friendship and familiarity are 
important features conducive to the success of 
the business I am induced to offer to my patrons 
the above sketch that they may understand 
what has been mv aim. With thanks for the 
kind support in the past, I hand you my new 
lists. 
Frank B. Webster. 
Hyde Park. Mass. 
Fifteen years have passed since the above 
was written, and the business continues. Sev¬ 
eral buildings have been added to the plant, 
in order to coutain the many specimens now 
necessary to carry in stock. From the com¬ 
mencement of the writer's interest in the work, 
an effort has been made to secure photographs 
of the most interesting specimens that have 
passed through his hands, resulting in a series 
that have reached the thousand mark. In a 
majority of cases, unfortunate circumstances, 
and lack of expert services in early days reli¬ 
ef red many valuable plates unfit for reproduc¬ 
tion, but from the collection have been selected 
such as will cover the work done by the aver¬ 
age Taxidermist. 
It has been apparent for a long time that 
there is a demand from Amateur Taxidermists 
for an illustrated work that will assist them in 
the Study by showing “as they call it” posi¬ 
tions. We believe that professionals will be 
interested to kuow what their fellow craft are 
accomplishing. That Sportsmen will find it of 
service when having trophies preserved and 
that the Students of Nature and the Boys by 
the illustrations will receive familiar impres¬ 
sions that will advance their knowledge. 
It would be presumptuous to herald the 
work represented as being perfection.* It is 
merely to show good w r ork, done quickly in 
order that the price can be made within the 
reach of the average lover of nature. 
Frank Bi.ake Webster. 
Hyde Park, Mass. 
Nov. 15. 1905. 
* The majority of the specimens are on rough stands, and are unfinished awaiting a requisite final touch. 
