The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-07-22
RARE ANIMALS.
One of the Most Interesting Exhibits Sent
by the Government.

An attractive feature of the govern
ment exhibit at the fair is a 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 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 Sc
cured.
The difficulty is hat the Alaskan
natives not only distort the hides in
preparing them for market. but in ODE
dience to an old superstition, they bite
off the nose of each beast before flaw
ing it. Thus it happens that no muse
UNI in the world has a good specimen.
The n 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 uniniured
skin of a male adult sea otter was OBJ
tanned through the Alaska Commercial
company. II will be stuffed and
mounted on a 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 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 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 t. 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 a 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 a 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 extinc-
ton, but it is one of the least known of
American mammals, because the re-
gions which it inhabits are almost in
accessible. Nevertheless, it is not very
alert and is easily shot when it 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.
Both of these are regarded as varieties
of the same species as the domesticated
reindeer, which have been newly i'm
ported by the government from Siberia
for the benefit of the Alaska natives.
For them it is expected to supply the
place of the walrus, inasmuch as it is
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 mammals
native to all America, as for example,
certain scarce a~rmadillos, cats, deer and
rat-like beasts from the southern con-
tinent. Unfortunately some are so rare
as to not be obtainable, only one or two
specimens being known in the case of
certain species. The mammals form
only a part of the great series, which
will extend from man to the amRba.
A Valuable Relic.
In the last month of her life Mary
Queen of Scots amused herself making
a bed quilt. Upon a background of
red, green and black silk she worked
various designs with silk thread of
bright colors. In several places she at
tempted embroidered portraits of noted
characters of her time. The resem-
blances, however, are striking. This
quilt was the gift of the queen to a
maid of honor who remained with her