The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-08-26
RARE ANIMALS,
One of tho Most Interesting Exhibits Sent
by the G0serrmept.

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 lamentable fact that many OF
the sea and land animals indigenous 70
America and surrounding waters are
fast disappearing. Notably among
the specimens sent TO Chicago from the
Smithsonian institution is that of d 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, but in obe-
dience to an old superstition, they bite
off the nose of each beast before fay
ing it. Thus it happens that no muse
UNI 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 DIP with papier iiiache. Recent.
ly, 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 a rock covered with sea-
weed, so as to look as lifelike as posi-
BILE. Thefur 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 Iiorth
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 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 n few hundred yards long.
/ In like fashion will be shown the fin
est mounted specimen of the manatee
ever exhibited. This great marine ami
mai 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.
l. 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
]y hdrae's which figured in the political
songs bf the Fremont campaign. 1t is
mot particularly rare, nor near extinc-
ton, but it is one of the least known OF
: American mammals. because the re-
gions which it inha bits are almost in
accessible. Nevertheless, tits not very
/. alert and is easily shot when it can be
! got BIT 1t will be represented by a
group, as will also the woodland earl
bou, (which is the reindeer of New
foundland. The latter has been nearly
1exterminated. Another group shows
1.-THE barrenground caribou Of Alaska
1Botb of these are regarded as varieties
5of the same species as the domesticated
4reindeer, which have been newly ira
Jported by the government from Siberia
for the benefit of the Alaska natives
For them it is expected to supply tn,
: place of the walrus, inasmuch as it il
1.-THE most useful animal in existence.
- 1t is intended to exhibit represents
4 tives of the families of as many as pos
3sible of the strange and rare mammal
j native to all America, as for example
5certain scarce armadillos, cats, deer an,
rat-llxe beasts from the southern con
4 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 form
q only part of the great series, which
!. i will extend from man to the amsba.
"a LnplHndefs ut the Fair.