The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-10
SCIENTIFIC CURIONI7IES.
Display at the American Museum of
Natural History.
ORNAMENTS AND WEAPONS.
Strange Collection Of Articles from
China and Japan.

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The American Museum OF Natural History at
Seventy seventh street and Eighth avenue mas since
its inauguration in December last made impor-
tant additions to its scientific collections which win
for the FIRST time DO outlined the public Tho
first two stories Of the museum, containing mammala
and birds, not materially changed, although many
ali erations have been rnndo in the arrangements on
the third story--the gallery foor--some space has
been gained by removing the skeletons to the first
floor, and in order to devote this story entirely TO
chronological and Archaeological collections tho
birds Will also be removed to the second
floor. Professor Albert Bickmore, the superin-
tendent, yesterday pointed out tho numerous
additions lately made on this floor. There war
clubs used by the natives OF the Hervey and FIJI
islands, Of curious shape and workmanship. There ARE
somo paddles ngenously carved. which, however, do
servo the purposes OF paddles among the patives
but held alo tho chiefs boat insignia of his
importance. Eiaoorately carved adzes may be noted
IN the case with their heads laced up inircately
with o cord made OF tho husk OF cocoanuts.
SHARKS TEETH SWORDS.
dozen sharks teeth swords, from the Kings Mills
Islands in the Pacific Ocean, have been added TO tho
collection OF these queer swords. Some OF these
so curiously fashioned as 10 have hits formed OF
three branches army fastened together with sharks
skins and each being In itself a sword. Some
OF the largest ones with heads ieot long,
One can easily imagine how dangerous these long
STICKS presenting everywhere glistcning rows OF
sharks tceth, must prove upon the nude bodies Of
savages There also smaller pognards and
knives down almost to tho size Of penkniIe, made
OF sharks teeth
There Is curious FORK oil a tree with an extremely
sharp and strong end, used by savages for catching
sharks and wooden harpoon made OF ironwood. at
tncho nd IN hch IRA lonp nj huck ~
An admirable illustration Of the elaborate work
which may be donc with stone knives Afforded by
collection OF ornaments ground OF large round
oyster shells into thin circular plates, OF from to
five inches diameter the top OF which fastened
circular plates OF turtle SHE'LL cut into ingenious geo.
mcsrical patterns with an obsidian kniio (oulianic
CLASSY, Of sharpness Tar exceeding that Of flint
CHINESE ORNAMENTS
There Is a small collection OF Chinese ornaments
sent by Mr. Clover American officer Of tho Chinese
customs service, showing the many colorcd glass but
TONS which Chinese officials their hats rs In-
sigma OF their rank There numerous rings
bracelets and beads OF that green glass which Is an
imitation q Jade, the precious green stone OF tho
Chinese, which, in their estimation, takes the place
OF our diamonds.
In the next case Is specimen brick OF tho Chinese
Wall and sickle shaped knife such 10 used by the
Japanese nobility In committing hari-kari, brought
hero from Toxic ny Professor Bickmore. Further on
may be tnin tissueko coats mado OF the intes-
tines OF SEALS and worn IN Alaska and on
Northwestern coast. These coats are oramontcd tor
gala occasions with coiored, fringe-like stripe
garnshcd with tho downy feathers OF all kinds OF
BIRDS
Strange double curved bows arc those used by the
Esqumaux OF Icy Cape which are strengthened by a
cord made OF tho shows Of doer aud extending on the
outer side of tho bow
by the Sioux aud other tribes Of the Northwest made
OF deer skins III Cd IN with beads, &c. pair Of
trowsers Is particularly noticeable Tor It's ridiculous
looking wide flap round their outer scam. which
wdcns downward and 10, therefore, much bigger aud
wider at the bottom Than ~ inc top-probably III tho
minds OF the Sioux adding 10 tho crociy OF their APP
pearancc.
SMOKING A HUMAN HEAD
There a ed head OF "a native from the head.
waters OF the Amazon which has strange appearance
from tho ornamental strings OF bird feathers which
are drawn through tho mouth and ana gracefully
folded together ike the tasses OF curtain. Ii seems
that the natives hunt each other, ana WHOM OF
them is md killed his head BY means OF these
biru leather strings, II hung up to smoke and
sort OF bacon at The next banquet OF tho snvagcs
bronze and stone collection OF the prehistoric ago
from the switzerland iako regions ana tho south OF
France IS displayed, comprising exquisite specimens
stone axes act in handles OF stag horns
1he bronze period is illustrated by knives, raxors,
harpins. hooks. needles, amulets, many tasteful ~
or civilization among these prehistoric tribes. THIS
collection comprises |, 200 pieces.
GEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS.
Tho fourth story Is devoted to the geological dis.
play In tho hall leading TO the entrance Is great
slab Of slate recovered from tho Connecticut Valley
showing the loot tracks OF the dinosaurlan gigantic
reptiles from tho lrlassic PERIOD These reptiles
supposed 10 have been thrcc-tocd ike birds and, In
respect their walk Ike 80 that the track
the hind leg Is generally oDlIeratod by that OF
front loot. Another Slab supposed 10 have crystal
zcd INTO It's present slate appearance IRON the mud
aud sand OF the bay OF IA Connecticut valley,
SHOWS the tracks Of meets and crusiaccans. The
geological species on this floor have all been labelled
win the naIuo, formation. locality ana reference TO
the place where thcy figured and described IN tho
official work on me geology OF this State. colorcd
map showing tho different geological formations
Throughout inc North American Continent, viii DO hung
up IN every alcovo on this noor These coiorcd maps
which Will present 70 tue cyoa striking idca OF the
dffcrcE Of geological In thus country, viii
form, as It were, lie history OF the American Con-
tneni showing how u originally grew sou,hward from
island covoriue The ground occupied by Canada
along the Allegheny Mountain cham down toward tho
Gull Of Mexico The fossils on this noor thrown
up on the ancient BEDS during the progress OF
tho formation Of this continent, embracing tho
period when al that Is now tho state Of Now York
was part Of the ocean
INCREASING rHf LIBRARY.
On tho nun foor large additions have been made TO
the library, which u nov composed 81 the jay library
conchoiogy l,ooJ yolumcs) donated ~ Miss
Cathafine "oiie ana already described IN these coli
umns; OF tue Brcv0ort library ichthyology and
works on natural history OF tho New York Academy
Of sciences lG000 volumcsJ IL Is claimed that
the ichihyologica library, collected by MI.
years, IA this country and In Europe, IS NOT only
the best collection OF works on nshcs In tnis
country, but also the best private collection IN the
world. some 5000 articles hshcs and FISH culture,
collected from different maTaziEcs form part oi The
collection. IAerc are many rare works on zoology
such rs The "Aortus sanitatus,n work On natural
history printed in 1896, aad iuinlnod VITA quaint
cuts. the very nrst oi which represents Eve coming
out Of Adams side. Sir Hans sloanais Natural His
tory OF jamaica is another work SIR Hans,
who was Governor OF Jamaica, made present OF ms
collection OF works on natural history To tho British
Museum II It's vefiest infancy, and among
that collection was The present work. The Brovoort
collection Is git to the museum from Mr. Robert L.
stuart, president OF The Board OF Trustees.
The latest addition " the library OF the Now York
Academy VI sciences formerly situated az No
Us Madison avenue and now deposited with the mu-
IL Is supposed to be OF tho beet collections
OF works natural history IN TINS country comprs
Ing especially complete contlngentot the publishci
volumes III foreign societies, German, French, Eng
lisn, swedish, Norwegian and Russian, and a icw
Spanish aud Portuguese. Professor B1ckmoro says
there many books IN this collection not to
be found IN the Astor Library There H. rare work
The sIiisiory Of Tho antilles" By DO Rochcior,,
published 15l6, aud tho only other copy OF winch
in this country Is supposed to % IN possess
sion OF Mr.. Bancroft. The library Is reserved
for tho special OF members OF tho govern.
mcnt ana State surveys, professors OF col.
lcgcs, special students oil natural science,
aud win not DO open 10 the general puUlic. Rooms
havo fitted upon THIS floor, where scientists
may consult these valuable works at leisure. Tho
trustees expect TO raise tho museum TO arfnk where