The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-07-26
RARE ANIMALS.
One of the Most Interesting Exhibits Sent
by the Government.

Ono of the Most Interesting Exhibits Sent
by the Government.
An attractive feature of the govern
ment exhibit at the fair is series Of
stuffed and mounted specimens OF
species which are nearing extinction.
1t is a lamentable tact that many OF
the sea and land animals indigenous TO
America. and surrounding waters are
fast disappearing. Notably among
the specimens sent to Chicago from the
Smithsonian institution is that of a SEQ
otter, believed to be the only perfectly
preserved example of this curious
species in existence. For many years
the government has been trying to get
a perfect skin, and has been unable to
get one until the present one was So
cured.
The difficulty is that the Alaskan
natives not only distort the hides in
preparing them for market, but in obe-
dience to an old superstition, they bite
off the nose of each beast before fay.
ing it. Thus it happens that no muse.
UNI in the world has good specimen.
The one shown by the National muse
UNI at the Centennial exposition pos.
sessed neither nose nor feet, being
patched up with papier mache. Recent
ly, however, the complete and uninjured
skin of a male adult sea otter was OBJ
tanned through the Alaska Commercial
company. II will be stuffed and
mounted on rock covered with sea-
weed, so as TO look as lifelike as posi-.
BILE. The fur of this animal is the most
valuable known. A good pelt, with the
usual imperfections. is. worth two hum
dred and fifty dollars, while an excep.
tionally fne one will fetch one thousand
dollars 1t has been suggested that the
president could preserve this precious
creature by setting aside the islands OF
Saanach and Chernolours, in the north
Pacific, as a reservation where they
might be protected, just as he reserved
the island of Afognak for the salmon
by proclamation the other day. 9th.
erwise the species cannot long survive.
Hunters are shooting the few survivors
now with explosive bullets
Another interesting animal to b
shown is the only specimen of the wal
rus that has ever been properly stuffed
and mounted. Mr.. William Palmer
went all the way to the Pribylov sea-
islands to get it. The beast was shot
on Walrus island, which is six mile,
from the island of St. Paul-an irregu
lar rock few hundred yards long.
In like fashion will be shown the fin
est mounted specimen of the manate,
ever exhibited. This great marine ami
NAL is first known to have been re
marked by Christopher Columbus L
attains length of thirteen feet and {
weight of two thousand pounds
Though now almost extinct, the species
was once along the gulf coast.
Yet another aquatic animal to be
shown will be specimen of the ses
elephant. 1t was formerly found il
large numbers along the coast of Cali
fornia. Among the interesting beasts
to be shown by the National museum
in it's exhibit of the animals native t
this country is the Rocky mountain
antelope. This was the famous wool
ly horse" which figured in the polit'ca
songs of the Fremont campaign. 1t i
not particularly rare, nor near extinc
ton, but it is one of the least known o
American mammals, because the re
gions which it inhabits are almost in
accessible. Nevertheless, it is not yer,
alert and is easily shot when it can b.
got at 1t will be represented by
group, as will also the woodland carl
bou, which is the reindeer of New
foundland. The latter has been nearl,
extcrminated. Another group show
the barrenground caribou of Alaska
Both of these are regarded as varietie
of the same species as the domesticate
reindeer, which have been newly in
ported by the government from Siberi
for the benefit of the Alaska natives
For them it is expected to supply tn
place of the walrus, inasmuch as it
the most useful animal in existence.
1t is intended to exhibit representa-
tives of the families of as many as POI
sible Of the strange and rare mammal
native to all America, as for eXampl,
certain scarce armadillos, cats, deer an
rat-like beasts from the southern col
tinent. Unfortunately some are so raj
. as to not be obtainable, only one or tw
, specimens being known in the case {
certain species. The mammals forl
. only part of the great series, whic
=, will extend from man to the ampba.
Laplanders at the Fair.