The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-24
THE HOWGATE ARCTIC EXpEDI.
TION.

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE REGIoN-MEMoRAN.
DUN PREPARED FOR MR.. KUMLEIN, NA1u.
RALIsr, ON BOARD THE FLORENCE.
WASHINGTON. Nov. %. 1877.
Tho following is memorandum prepared Tor Mr..
L Kumlcin, naturalist Of the Howgate Arctic Expcd.
ton by Professor Spencer y. Bard relative 10 che
natural history OF the REGION
The region you visit is OF the most interesting
North America and the least explored by thc
raist II will furnish an ample field tor research,
especially VIII be shore the greater part OF
your absence from the United states. Your great ob-
Jecl should be 10 mako collections OF everything IN
The ethnol logical, animal vegetable mineral and fossil
departments, 30 that you can prepare report tho
same. perhaps illustrated, 10 be published somc
suitable manner on your return. In this view YOU
should make copIous notes OF the habits association
and general condition OF rythng you meet with.
REuA.DfxG MAMMALS
Oh mammals, gvod nodutable skins OF the polar
bear prepared with alum satpeirr, will be desirabe
series OF reindeer should also DC Obtained wen az
foxes, hares anu other animals. good series VI seals
will enable to solve many questions regard
special home. The warus, both male aud female,
snoud be procured, many skeletons as are procur
able ana several skeletons OF all mammals land and
wafer VIII be readily marketable Tho skins OF cata
cannot readily bs preserved exccps possibly III
salt sketches Should be made OF the outlines AMI
distribution OF color al each, aud tho corresponding
skins and skeletons preserved.
TAX WHALES.
Particular attention should paid TO the narwhal.
OF which skeletons are IN much demand should
opportunity DO allowed you some skulls oil tho smaller
whales should be procured
In regard to birds a special memorandum prepared
by DR.. brewer and myself has been furnished You
VIII, Of course, look very carefully Tor the small in
scctvora and courostrcs, so as TO determine tho
northern distribution Of our species
Probably saxicoas Will be frequently met with. Of
water fowl The rarer gocse, the LiUrador duck sa-
bine's and Ross eus ana the ivory gull are 10
srabie Any petreis searwaters will DO desirable.
Look out Tor specimens OF tue black gnilicmoi with
blackisn bar partly across the wnitc OF tue wing
Reptiles you Will probably not hnd, unless ~ may DO
m frny Gh lGn nf Cnnr9 In
Tho fishes should be looked after very particularly,
e. specially tue different species OF trout salmon
and whtensh, which should be secured, II possible OF
different nges tho different seasons to show tho
variations OF the spawning condition. Any large sal
mon or trout say over pound or two would TO bet
ter skinned and the SKINS put IN alcohol. although q
sketch tho original should be made Other species
OF nsn should be secured u they present themselves
INSECTS
OF will nc important 10 obtain full repre-
scnlaon Of the insects Of tho country -Duttcrncs,
Beetles Whatever species OF Invertebrates
procuiaoe should be gathered in-star fishes, Shells
crustaceans anu the ike
Ii you succeed III securing a complete series OF all
the animal lie, ~ possible several sets. the great
object o. your MISSION Will have been accomplished
You should cndcavor to secure variety, but CON-
petc col lection will be oil much interest
MINERAL SPECIMENS.
Any choice mineral specimens should be obtained,
especially crysialhnes Get samples OF all the rocks
constituting The strata those should be skcchcJ, and
spccimcna Look very carefully for rJcks containing
FOSSIL remains either Of pants or oil animals.
sAcRIASs.
Some very Interesting specimens of saurians havo
been brought from different portions oil Arctic
America while tho fossil plants OF very great IN
tcrusL Make "a thorough study OF the ctnnology ol
the country securing as many crana OF Es lunaux as
practicable, aud also skeletons y they can DO got
illustrations OF the handiwork OF the natives In OBJ
gathered especially any o. great antiquity and such
as are superseded Wy modern articles.