River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-07-20

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 sea
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
perfect skin, and has been unable to
get one until the present one was Sc
cured.
The difficulty is that the Alaskan
natives not only distort the hides in
preparing them for market, hut in obe=
dience TO an old superstition, they bite
off the nose of each beast before flay-
ing it. Thus IL happens that no muse
um in the world has a 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 machc. Recent
w. however, the complete and uninjured
skin of male adult sea otter was OBJ
tanned through the Alaska Commercial
company. IL will be stuffed and
mounted on roclS covered with sea-
weed, so as to look as lifelike as possi-
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 exeep-
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 a reservation where they
might be protected, just as he reserved
the island of Afognax 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 seal
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 manatee
ever exhibited. This great marine ami
NAL is first known to have been re-
marked by Christopher Columbus 1t
attains a length of thirteen feet and a
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 sea
elephant 1t was formerly found in
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 TO
this country is the Rocky mountain
antelope. This was the famous wool
ly horse which figured in the political
songs of the Fremont campaign. 1t is
not particularly rare. nor near extine-
ton. but it is one of the least known of
Am ,rican mammals. because the re-
gions which il inhabits are almost in
accessible. Nevertheless. it is not very
alert and is easily shot when il can be
got at 1t will be represented by a
group. as will also the woodland carl
bou. which is the reindeer of New
foundland The latter has been nearly
exterminated- Another group shows
the barrenground caribou of Alaska.
1t is intended to exhibi. representa-
tives of the families of as many as pos
sible of the strange and rare mammals
native to all America. as for example.
certain scarce armadillos, eats, deer and
rat-like beasts from the southern con-
tinent Unfortunately some are 50 rare
as to not be obtainable, only one or two
specimens being known in the case of
certain species The mammals form
| only part of the great series. which
| will extend from man 10 the am@ba.
Ponrs utter greet and WISE things whict