Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-08
IN MsSHoNALaND.
A Washington NATURALIST and his WORK On
Par south Africa

Washington Naturalist and HIS Work en-
Par south Africa.
ETuSoIoGIcL SPECIMENS THAT NE HAS SENT
AND WILL send To TIRE sSurnsoStaN iNsTI-
TUr;oN, To BE TNcLrDEp IN IFS ExHrRrr TO
THE WORLDS PAIR AT CHICAGO.
V'HE FOLLOWING Is AN EXTRACT
l. taken trorl the Christmas number OF the
Mashoaa.Gnd Times. Doubtless many readers
Of rnH STAR wonder What has becon. " ".
Harry B.oNn Of the National Museum. who
Was appointed naturalist uf the United state.
eclipse expedition OF ISSa-90 to the west coast
o. Africa, and who left the eclipse rarity NJ
Cape Town 30 join the pioneer force. then
ready to ssart on trip through south Africa
TO the Zambesi to open up the new country.
MAsaouaiand. The following article viii give
a iair idea of what he has heea doing since that
time.
An AMERICAN NArURkIIsr IN NASuoNaI.yp
During the last two wears Mr.. W Harvey
| Brown has been with as az all seasons OF the
year In pursuit Of natural history. which. ~ We
know by many b-ll!an: examples. leads men to
face difficulties and danger with an ardor aud
indifference which Is rarely associated with
other walks IN life. lie came out originally IN
the United STATS man-of-WAr Pensacola with
other members of n scientific cNpeiition and
Joined Tie pioneer corps. sharing all their diff
cultlss AID dangers on the march IN to Mashon-
alaHd. lie early made his mark a. an EXPERT
shot. but c.ieiy by has wonderful eve for conn
try. which enabled him without any previous
experience OF south Africa 20 disappear In
tho bush Tor DAYS and never get lost.
as 80 many do IN the south Afri-
can Neidt. lie was IN consequence largely
employed on scouting parties aud IN slate OF
tie ariuous work of ITS expedition found time
TO make valuable observations on the natural
history OF the country passed through. TN the
dlsbandment Of the pioneer corps he devoted
his time aud attention entirely to these pur-
suits. having come out here expressly fer that
purpose as tue representative of the smith.
so1lsn Institution and National Museum
at Washington. lie NSs very soon able 20 send
home large and interesting collection OF
chronological specimens a. well as prepared
skins and skeletons o. the N any large matnmalia
TO be found IN Mashonh!and. This collection
was made under very TRYING circumstances
and during an exceptionally rainy season, dur
ing which n WAS Stationed Hartley Hills
which II not famous For its Sa!ubrIty and where
he suffered many hardships owing 10 scarcity
OF food aud Inadequate accommodations.
LOSS az FIRE.
Quite recently in Salisbury he suffered a 80
we're loss that 90 a naturalist t. most try
| ing-REd that Was through fire. OF many OF his
specimens. especially the chronological ones. IL
| Is satisfactory 10 Us Ia know that those he has
/ already sent will be exhibited IN the smithgou-
! ian and National Museum collection at the
world fair 1t Chicago next year. and We have
no GocDt thas with his usual inlefatigabilitv he
VIII Yea be in time 20 send further and irnpor-
| taat al htlons. FOR be l. nov on the ZAmbesi,
! where be Is busily collecting special exam ples
! of the iauna Of the cOuntrF. notably the white
rhinocer0s and those rare antelopes which
have never ye: beun seen inside any natural
history mlseEm m the world. Oar readers
may, Therefore. conclude that visitors To Chi
cago VIII have AN opportur ity. never vet pre-
scented. of forming an adequate Idea OF the
variety and interest afforded to sr,o-ts-
men IN Mashonalaud. well ss 20 the
naturalist. for no animal, however
small. has ESCAPED his keen vision. and
ii may be said that the Smallest as well n tho
largest. of the many ma Il malta Of the country
Will be round tu his collection. Not the least
attractive portion Of these exhibits will he
the ethECloSica. ones. which not only illustrate
the manners and customs of the natives but
their folklore and their dealings in the black
art, rs eGempliiied by charms and implements,
to w.ilch special powers attached He has
also collected representative examples Of their
implements of warfare. OF others used in in
dustries. such agriculture and weaving the
ornaments they specially affect. the pipes thew
smoke. the musical instruments they play and
the medicines they make use Of for good or
evil purposes.
We will now mention some Of the specimens
| send AVID inaSmueh they are Representatives
| @. oC- .sEna and by the notes he has given u.s.
such 81 Is saved from being mere catalogue,
altho. =. tina; in itself would be most Interest,"
Ing. - base the more pleasure in doing 50.
Burchel! : ZebrA.-Commoulyb but erroneously
called qaGgSa. IL inhabits both bush and plain,
but seldom chooses h,liy tracts for its habitat,
| a. does the zebra proper
White rhinocer.s. very rare, by some
indeed sup posed 10 be extinct. In color il is
| M nfa hluoh bi-pE il ~
stands higher ihaa the black rhinoceros. IL is
found on the Lower Gnlpuh. but chiefly in the
conn between SIno.a and the Zambesi,
wheTe :-ese specimens were lately killed by Mr..
Coryndon AID his party. the bones and hide OF
which we're carefully prsseryed.
Blars rkinocc-os. Plentiful in districts
already named.
Spotted hvsanR. The only one of its kind
found IN MEshUnaiaisc. where IL Is known b. the
| name q WOLF. RG1eiy seen by day. mostly at
night. either alone or With several In it's dem
tition. though outwa- ily it looks more like a
dog. l. res mbies tne ieildo.
Hoodoo.-GeneTsy :o1d in hills and rocky
places Naere tairE bush abounds. Only the
males have Eorns wE.sh among the hand
| soonest g. AL MashOus,s-ad antelopes.
BuaSlo.-FOaud IA he:Gs from 50 TO 100; not
| very plentiful except In places such rs the
Umfuli aud UmsWezai rivers aud between
Lomagon,1is aud tine ZatabesL On the east
coast below Manico they very plentiful. es-
| pecisily along the Purgive river.
Brin lied gnu or bloom wildarbecste.-
Fairy plentiful about Charter. but is getting
SCAT.
| lie, Asnt.-Plentiful toward the Zambesi.
| During the rainy they come down to
Lomas and have been seen within twenty
miles "a Hartley Hills. where innumerable
tracEs arc up to the present time.
Hproposami-stlil plentiful in most Of the
large MYERS in MashonalaId. where they re-
main H. tine deep pools daring the day, feed
in= a. night. They easily killed by shot
l1I~ssa me eye and the ear.
E.RRc.-S;iI plentiful. They are wonderful
tyostS:s, and is would be well worth while to
try sad dones;icate them, they very
strong. their sesh being most excellent and re-
seElbling beef. great quantity of fat II
usCai.y found about the heart They are
largest OF the an.eIopes, being far heavier than
"a.
sable anteiope.-Ths handsomest OF all the
slsciess fairly plentiful in small herds every
where, prtieTrias bashy dis;rists to the open
plains.
Roam an;elope.-Prefers the open; Is found,
IN most parts, but IL rarer than the sable.
Water buck Still plentiful along the big
rivers.
Rcd BUCK Fouad along small streams and
In ma-shy places. They are very alert and
quicx a; concesing themselves Their fssh d
excellent
Jsesssba Tho rno.t ~.xx .,S y,,.s assE.-,s