Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-02
SCOTCH PLAIDs
NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS.
Field Work in the South Under the Agri-
cultural Department.
CORRESPONDENCE Of The Evening Star

r1eiu WOrk IN the south Under the Agrt-
cultural Department.
Correspondence of The Evening Star
SHREVEPORT, La, June 10, 1892.
I have been making quite a tour OF
the southern states in the interests OF
that division of the Agricultural Depart.
ment established for the studying of the
air-breathing vertebrates Of North America.
Although the work Of the field agents Of the di-
vision is the pursuit Of all the native animals
Of the country except deer, no exciting encoun-
tiers have been enjoyed. 1t is about az
busy a line Of employment as is to be
followed-no sinecure-requiring close applica-
ton from sunrise often until late in the night.
One of the chief delights Of the work is the
satisfaction Of cleaning ones cuticle after
visitation by mosquitoes, red bugs, ticks and
ieas. The red bug is a Joy peculiar to the south.
He Is a minute creature. Astounding in the
woods. but makes up for lack Of size by magni-
tude of numbers. The insect crawls under the
skin and there gives rise to q very uncomfort-
able irritation. Butter or bacon is used to dis
courage him. Louisiana furnishes several sizes
of mosquitoes and such multitudes in the bot
tom lands that outdoor work in the evening il q
torture.
The first place visited by the little party with
which started from Washington on April 4
u.
dence. now IN ruins and unoccupied, was to us
an object Of deep interest. Though only q
frame building, deserted after the war and
falling to pieces, it still retained evidences of
former interior elegance. 1t was with some
thing of reverence that we walked
among the abundant and interesting
flower beds and under the magnolias,
live oak and other southern trees about the
former residence Of the old naturalist and the
boyhood home Of his son, the eminent Joseph
LeConte. On the decaying floors found sew
eral fragments of crystalline quartz rock which,
presume, belonged to the parlor collection.
DIR. MERRIAM AND HIS CORPS.
Under the able direction Of q learned and
brilliant chief, DIR. c. Hart Merriam, q small
corps Of field workers are economically cover
ing a great deal Of country, enabling the
mammalogical and archaeological division to
give to the public the deeply interesting and
largely important facts concerning the animals
Of the country and their distribution with q
comparatively small outlay. DIR. Merriam.
though young man, Is one OF the foremost
authorities in the country, and Is an interesting
writer as well. He is ably assisted at Washing
ton in the management Of the work Of the di-
vision by Mr.. I. S. Palmer of California. one OF
those engaged in the famous Death valley re-
search Likewise was Mr.. Vernon Bailey, the
chief field agent, with whom l came into the
field Mr.. Bailey has distinguished himself
by having discovered more new North
American mammals than any other collector.
Mr.. j. Alden Loring. who accompanied us Of
far as Riceboro', has doubtless before him a
prominent career a naturalist. He proceeded
from Georgia to Arizona, there assisting Dr.
Fisher, another experienced and efficient worker
in the division.
The results of this work. as made significant
by the comparisons and generalizations fur
nished by the labors Of the skilled scientists in
the Washington Office. are Of great end varied
utility to the intelligent agriculturist. But
above the merely financially profitable con.
sideration is the educational value Of this re-
search. The propriety Of having it done al
public expense is no more to be argued
than is the propriety Of state support
for public schools. 1t il q work thu
should be carried on in q systematic manner By
some able body. and none is SO able to hive 4
done in the right way as is the government
Being work of public interest it Is properly q
matter for public support.
/ RUSSELL ]. THOMPSON.