The Mena weekly star., 1907-02-14
RARE TREAT FOR
 NATURE LOVERS
Many Species of Birds and Animals, All Mounted True to Life, May Be Seen at Office of Tomlinson
 Bros. on De Queen Street.

by the office of the Tomlinson Bros. Electric Light Company and by the plumbing and ti~shop of w. A. Tomlinson can be seen many examples of the art Of taxidermy.
 The display comprises animals. birds, insects and fish, most Of which are mounted as nearly as possible as they are seen in real life as the limited space will allow.
 In the front window is a fine specimen of a buck deer, standing apparently on messy hillside. Nearby is seen lawn of but a few weeks old, lying in life-like position in the grass. Fine speci- mens of black and gray squirrels are to be seen cliuging to tree branches, as though ready to scamper away at slightest alarm
 The birds range m variet, from the common bluejay to rare and beautiful specimens of bird life secured in strange lands, and in size from the tiny humming  bird to the big brown pelicans. Among the more common speci- mems may be seen the barn owl, the red bird, the woodpeckers, the mocking bird and several species of ducks.
 One of the larger of the rare and beautiful birds is the Egret, the curious and delicate plumes from which are among the more expensive ornaments used on fine millinery. Then there are the Stills. a most appropriately named bird that, being in body scarcely so large as our common quail, could readily wade in ten inches or more of water and not wet feather.
 A large aud curious bird is the Spoonbill, with it's plumage ranging in color from white to pink and from pink to bright scarlet.
 There are specimens of the scorpion, tarantula and horned toads, all shown in such life.like forms that one would iustinctive- ly shrink from going too close to them.
 High on the wall is fastened an immense sawf,h which was captured n the gulf of Port Ar. thur and was prepared by Mir. ". A Tomlinson. This monster of the deep is twelve feet long and when caught weighed 650 pounds. With its big saw like snout and powerful body is presents a fcrocious appearance, and indeed it was in its life all that its size and form indicates.
 The history of the gathering and preserving of these speci- mems and the many others in the possession of the Tomlinson fam fly, each member of which has one or more, cases of such, covers period of nearly three quarters of century.
 William Tomlinson of Man chester, England, started the collection in that country and developed marked skill as a taxidermist. His eldest son, John Tomlinson, whose home IS iu Alden, Ia., at present visiting his sons in Mena, fell heir to his fathers love for the work, and during his life has maintained a great interest in it. The oldest son of the next generation, MT. w. A. Tomlinson of Mepa, fol- lowed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, and has proven by his work that the mantle has fallen on fl shoulders.
 A rather remarkable fact in this connection is that in each generation 1t has been only the oldest son who has shown any especial aptitude for, or taken any marked interest along these lines.
 This fine display is worthy of the study of all those who are lovers of nature as seen in bird and animal life, and all are well come to take advantage of the