The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-04-01
The stuffed-Animal Exhibit at the
Fair.
From Chicago Inter Ocean.

From Chicago lntsr Ocean.
Anattractive feature of the Government
exhibit ut the Fair will be a series OF stuffed
and mounted specimens of species which
are nearing extinction 1t is lamentable
fact that many of the sea and land animals
indigenous TO America and surrounding
waters are fast disappearing. Notable
among the specimens which will be sent to
Chicago from the Smithsonian Institution
will be that of sea otter, believed TO be
the only perfectly preserved example OF
that curious species in existence Fol
MANY wears the Government has been try
ing to yet perfect skin, and has been I'M
able to get one until the present one was
secured.
The difficulty is that the Alaskan ma
tivcs not only distort the hides in prepar-
ing them for market, but, in obedience to
an odd superstition, they bite off the nose
of each beast before aaying it, Thus it
happens that no museum in the world has
a good specimen. The one shown by the
National Museum at the Centennial Elk
position possessed neither nose nor feet,
being patched up with papier mache, Re-
Gently, however, the complete and unin-
iured skin of male adult sea otter was
obtained through the Alaska Commercial
Company. It will be stuffed and mounted
on rock covered with seaweed, so as to
look as lifelike as possible. The fur OF
this animal is the most valuable known.
A good pelt, with the usual imperfections,
is worth $3.50, while an exceptionally line
one will fetch $1,000. 1t has been sug-
gested 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. Otherwise
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 walrus that has
ever been properly stuffed and mounted.
Mr.. William Palmer went all the way to
the Pribvlov Seal Islands to get it. The
beast was shot on Walrus Island, which Is
six miles from the island of ST. Paul-an
irregular rock few hundred yards long.
In like fashion will be shown the finest
mounted specimen of the manatee ever
exhibited. This great marine animal Is
first known to have been remarked by
Christopher Columbus. 1t attains length
of IL feet and a weight of 1000 pounds.
Though now almost extinct, the species
was once plentiful along the Gulf Coast.
Yet another aquatic animal to be shown
will be specimen of the sea elephant. 1t
was formerly found in large numbers along
the coast of California. Among the inter
estine beasts to be shown by the National
Museum in its exhibit of the animals ma
tive to this country is the Rocky Noun
tain antelope This was the famous
"woolly horse" which figured in the polit-
cal songs of the Fremont campaign. 1t
is not particularly rare, nor near extinction
but it is one of the least knoBn of Ameri-
can mammals, because the regions which
it inhabits are almost inaccessible. Never
theless. it is not very alert and is easily shot
when it can be got at. 1t will be repre-
scented by group, as well also as the wood
land caribou, which is the reindeer of New
foundland. The latter has been nearly ex-
terminated. Another group will show the
barren-eround caribou of Alaska. Both
of these are regarded as varieties of the
same species as the domesticated reindeer
which have been newly imported by the
Government from Siberia for the benefit
of the Alaska natives. For them 1t is ex.
pected to supply the place of the walrus
inasmuch as it is the most useful ANNA
in existence.