Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-08-03
RARE ANIMALS.
One of the Most Interesting Exhibits Sent
by the Government.


An attractive feature Of the govern.
ment exhibit at the fair ia q series OF
stuffed and mounted specimens Of
species which are nearing extinction.
1t is a lamentable fact 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 sea
otter, believed I'd be the only perfectly
preserved example Of this ctitious
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 se-
cured.
The difficulty is that the Alaskan
natives not only distort the hides in
preparing them for market, but in obe-
dience 10 an old superstition, they bite
of the nose of each beast before fay.
ing it. Thus 1t happens that no 1nuss-
um in the world has good specimen.
The one shown by the National muse
um 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 male adult sea otter was OBJ
tanned through the Alaska Commercial
company, " will be stuffed and
mounted on d rock covered with ses-
weed, so as to look rs lifelike dis possi-
BILE. The fur of this animal is the most
valuable known. A good pelt, with the
usual imperfections. is worth two hun
dred and fifty dollars, while an excep-
tionally fine 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 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 be
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 miles
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. 1
attains a 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 a specimen of the SCI
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 its exhibit of the animals native t.
this country Is the Rocky mountair
antelope. This was the famous wool
ly horse" which figured in the politica
songs of the Fremont campaign. 1t il
not particularly rare, nor near extinc
tion, but it is one of the least known o
American mammals, because the re
gions which 1t inhabits are almost in
accessible. Nevertheless, it is not very
alert and is easily shot when it can b.
got at 1t will be represented by 1
group, as will also the woodland carl
bou, which is the reindeer of New
foundland. The latter has been nearl,
exterminated. Another group show
the barrenground caribou of Alaska
Both of these are regarded as varietie
of the same species as the domesticatet
reindeer, which have been newly i'm
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 pos
sible of the strange and rare mammal
native to all America, as for example
certain scarce armadillos, cats, deer an
rat-lile beasts from the southern cor
tinent Unfortunately some are SO rar
. as to not be obtainable, only one or tw
specimens being known in the case o
certain species The mammals forr
: only part of the great series, whic
, will extend from man to the ameba.