The New York herald., 1872-10-20
THE PARK MUSEUM.
improvements In the American Museum at Gem
tral Park-Growth Of the Institution-
The New Buildings.

Great progress has been made at the American
Museum at Central Park during the past season
quite in keeping with the great growth mani.
tested all along from its inception. Those who
have never seen this unusually valuable collection
can scarcely realize from description how superior
1T is and now valuable it will prove to scientific
men and students as well as to the public generA
ally In some branches OF natural history the
naturalist Will find here material that he may look
In vain for elsewhere in this country; and IL Ia
said by persons who have lately visited the mu-
seums OF the Old World that some OF the depart
ments OF the American Museum are better repre-
sented than those OF Europe. Particularly is this
the case with the mammaa, specimens OF which in.
volve vastly more expense in their purchase and
preparation.
Among the higher orders OF the mammalia sup.
pose one should desire to examine a collection OF
monkeys Be he savant q casual visitor, or, may
be, evoutionist, he will find here, including the
skeletons, skulls and various anatomical prepara-
tions series so complete as to include specimens
from the gorilla at the head OF the list to the
little Senegal galago at the foot. A few days since
the Museum received through the Custom House
q case OF stuffed SYecimens, mostly consisting Of
monkeys. An agent Of the Institution In Europe,
who has procured SO many nne specimens hereto
fore came to know Of an extremely rare lot OF
monkeys and allied forms handsomely stuffed
skins, and at once secured them.
The cases devoted to the quadrumana contain
over eighty specimens OF monkeys. They are
arranged according to their natural places In the
scale Of creation and also divided into the two
sections which represent those OF the Old and New
Worlds respectively This new collection will sup
ply rare links In the chain which otherwise might
not have been filed for many years. The Museum
is fortunate in the frequent receipt Of specimens
from the various menageries.
During the Summer extensive additions have
been made in both halls. Two large cases have
been erected in the great hail. to relieve the over
crowded collection of birds. One Is to be devoted
to the gorgeous humming birds-some three hun
mounted on mahogany stands, and furnished with
neatly printed labels, which give the common
Three large floor just finished for the
lower hall, and are intended to accommodate the
collection OF fossils OF South Carolina recently
ADDED by Professor Holmes.
Perhaps the most notable acquisition is the
grand cabinet Of mineraogy, which has been pur.
representation Of choice fossils from Germany, and
now the department OF geology and mineralogy
ais bears the reputation OF being the finest In this
country, Mr. Bailey indeed being well known In
finest and best marked specimens The first sec
ton of this cabinet is well calculated to
stare sta one as Is we daily in
tors. Minerals are not generally attractive
to the mass Of people; but here are such beautiful
and exquisite in the various shapes assumed in
crystalizatiOn. There are rich specimens Of the
metals, too, in mass and crystallized. In the De-
partment OF Economic Geology grand col
lection Of building stones n useful n ana lorna orna-
. foot each, have been received, three of
them from Italy, comprising the richest kind, hand
mating the kind OF st0ne Other specimens are
from Ireland rich green serpen,tnine. ,n scot SSotcn
an exceedingly rich exhibition.
This department affords an excellent opportunity
to those VINO desire to nh tae various nc 9r kinds
mental purposes. large number Of the beautiful
ornamental marbles OF our country are already on
exhibition, and 1t Is designed to form complete
series also including the granite and sand stones
and all others used In building. AS we follow the
to the case OF reptiles. Here may be noticed new
object in the shape OF stout snake In the act OF
fine specimen OF taxidermy, done by gentleman
in Cuba, who witnessed the act which ne has 50
we II the stuffed
here comprising portion Of the Holmes
Museum from Charleston, s. G. There are
reptiles OF our country are now well represented
by new arrival-an alligator OF the largest size,
measuring twelve feet and six inches In length.
This is a remarkably fine specimen and one un-
usually well preserved and mounted In the cases
hed Is the abe m
whereby the casual looker-on may readily under
stand the relations OF the birds. Many fine speci-
mems have been added here and there. There is q
group OF large hawks in this South American sec
ton, which are rather nearer perfection as speci-
where though, no doubt, there are many who
would overlook them in their admiration OF the
gorgeous group OF trogons near by. In the African
section are some new varieties.
In the floor cases. among the insects, we
notice that the curator has added largely and hand
somely labelled the collection. One case had been
temporarily emptied Of its contents to make room
for Professor Holmes collection or fossil sharks
teeth. &C. The new cases. however, are nearly
completed, and then the valuable collection Of
American insects which was presented by Baron
Osten-Sacken will be replaced. case OF spiders
present, as 1t is seldom that any one takes the
great pains to prepare specimens SO well as these
mygales, sometimes called tarantulas and two OF
the curious scorpion spiders, or whip scorpions.
one the most ina Objects ~ the sn w9Gs n
specimens OF which are exhibited alongside OF the
"walking stick" almost equally curious. Some
very fine skeletons and skulls have been added to
the astrological cabinets In this department there
is q continual increase as the animals that die In
the Park Menagerie are utilized for this purpose.
Conspicuous here the grand collection OF skulls Of
the Flathead Indians OF Columbia River, oregon:
are are among them; % these are a wrapped very curl
Ously In bucksKins, which are sewed together by
thongs OF the same material. Several heads are
decorated with wampum In one the face Is
yelled with three rows OF long, fang-like shell,
called Dentalium; ornaments OF brass are IN the
ears. O0e Hedu Is euOTInOuS III Size, anu Wdb par
ticulary decked out with snowy wrappings. These
are valuable, as well as interesting as specimens
Of a race that still holds to custom
which Is not countenanced by other tribes,
though formerly 1t universally practised. 1t ID
considered mark Of beau to be nat-heatled. con-
sequently they bind the new born child between
two boards In such manner as to produce the re-
quired pressure upon the forehead. This Is kept
constantly upon the child until 1t Is nearly year
old, or until II can walk. The head then retains
the extraordinary form which Is seen In the skulls.
This custom was universally practised that even
method ancient
vians or Aymaras, as is seen In specimen Of Peru
Wan skull In this collections.
During the Summer great progress has been
made on the new building. The appropriation
made Dy the Legislature OF half million OF dol
lars Will give the Museum a building some
what larger than the present one, and capable of
receiving nearly twice the amount OF material
Work upon the plans has been completed and they