The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-24

Among the additions recently received
to the collection of birds also exhibited
on this floor is the snowden- Rowland
collection of North American birds eggs,
numbering over three thousand sFe' l.
mems, one of the most complete OF the
sort in the world. 1t is the gift of MIR.
Clarence King, and was presented to the
museum last year.
One of the admirable features Of the
museum is its representations of bird life.
Not only are the birds and their nests
shown in the cases, but also the peculiar
features of their life. The most pic
turesuue of the lot is the little cliff where
the Montana cliff swallows hang from
their glass roof, ever ready to fit and
Just on the point Of twittering. The
nests were brought from the West by an
agent of the museum, who went to the
Pacific slope on buffalo hunting expedi.
tion. The miniature cliff is made OF
plaster OF Paris and the nests are insert.
ed in their proper places. The stuffed
birds are suspended from the case by
threads.
The gallery of this hall is devoted to
Chinese Alaska, and Indian curioslties.
And a wonderful collection it's. In one
case there is lot of Alaska idols. 1t looks
like heather junk shop shortly after
Christmas invasion. Big and little idols
short, spare, tall and sQuat-are
jumbled together in strange confusion.
An Alaska idol is one of the strangest
creatures in the world to begin with. 1t
is usually made of wood, and is painted
in streaks and blotches until it does not
resemble anything on the earth, in the
heavens above or in the waters beneath.
In another case is a collection Of Alaska
dolls. They are prettier than the idols,
because they could not be uglier. In ad-
dition to that they are smaller, which is
always desirable quality of Alaska art
works. They are carved of bone and are
dressed-partly in skin and partly IN
cloth-in style known to New England
farmers wives half a century ago. Their
dresses are plain to severity, and the
models were evidently taken from the
costumes of the missionaries wives.
One of the most valuable curiositles IN
this hall is pipe made of walrus tusk.
It is artistically carved, and figures IN
black painted on the sides illustrate the
life of native fisherman.
A lot of dead Indians, mummifed and
packed in dusty, dingy mating, stands
in one corner. 1t comprises family
once lively and of some Importance, but
long since gone to rest. 1t is interesting
in illustrating how embalming should not
be done.
On the top floor is the geological COL
lection. There are some great skeletons
here. One is of mastodon found near
Newburg, N. Y, some years ago. II
has been restored and effectively mount
ed. Another is of moas, called by an
attendant ga very extinct bird'-and so
it looked. The missing parts have been
supplled, and it stands on a pedestal,
with its head about ten feet above the
floor. The species came from Australia
before ostriches were hatched.
On this floor are exhibited the Catha-
rine Wolfe collection of shells and some
verv rare aud valuable specimens OF
mineralogy. There are many bits Of gold
bearing quartz costing from SlOO to
$500 each. The trustees have several
other still more valuable specimens
which are not on exhibition.
One of the trustees, who desires that
his name should not be known, has
made one of the most muni6cent gifts
the museum has had of late years. He
has bought the $4,000 Tiffany collec-
ton of precious stones that were ex.
hibited in Paris at the exposition last
year, snd given it to the corporation.