The Globe-republican., 1893-07-21
RARE ANIMALS.
One of the Most Interesting Exhibits SAL
br the Government.


ment exhibit at the fair is 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. 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
a perfect skin. and has been unable tc
get one until the present one was So
cured.
The difficulty is that 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 fay
ing it Thus it happens that no muse
um 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 up with papier mache. Recent
| ly, however. the complete and uninjureo
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. 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 preciou:
creature by setting aside the islands o
| Saanach and Chernolours. in the north
Pacific. as a reservation where the!
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 survivor
now with explosive bullets
Another interesting animal to b
shown is the only specimen of the wal
rus that has ever been properly stuffe'
and mounted. Mr.. William Paine
went all the way to the Pribylov sea
islands to get it. The beast was sho
on Walrus island, which is six mile
from the island of st. Paul-aIn irregu
lar rock few hundred yards long.
In like fashion will be shown the fin
est mounted specimen of the manate
ever exhibited. This great marine AM
NAL is first known to have been re
marked by Christopher Columbus. l
attains length Of thirteen feet and
weight of two thousand pounds
Though now almost extinct, the specie
was once along the gulf coast.
Ye. another aquatic animal TO b.
shown will be specimen of the Sc
elephant 1t was formerly found il
large numbers along the coast of Cali
fornia. Among the interesting beast
to be shown by the National museur
in its exhibit of the animals native t
this country is the Rocky mountain
antelope This was the famous wool
II horse which figured in the politica
songs of the Fremont campaign. 1t
not particularly rare. nor near eXtin(
ton. but it is one of the least known c
American mammals. because the re
gions which it inhabits are almost il
accessible Nevertheless. it is not Yer
alert and is easily shot when it can b
got at It will be represented by
group. as will also the woodland car
bou. which is the reindeer of New
foundland. The latter has been nearl
exterminated. Another group show
the barreuground caribou of Alask;
Both of these are regarded as varietie
of the same species as the domesticate
reindeer. which have been newly in
ported by the government from Siberi
for the benefit of the Alaska native
: For them It is expected to supply tn
place of the walrus. inasmuch As 1t
the most useful animal in existence
.. 1t is intended to exhibit represents
tives OF the families of as many as pc
sible of the strange and rare mamma
native to all America. as for example
certain scarce armadillos, eats. deer an
rat-like beasts from the southern col
tinent Unfortunately some are so raj
, as to not be obtaina BILE, only one or tS
;, specimens being known in the case {
certain species The mammals for
. only part of the great series. whic
will extend from man to the am9ba-