Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02

MI%VNAt&%WsHA who has yet seen
g. SySNHMSfNNl1 this new treasure
NFP house, which Is kept
strictly under lock
and key. When ush-
cred through 1t a few days ago collection
of objects was to be seen which will ex-
cite sufficient admiration to warrant the
exceptional care expended in its installa-
ton. The new exhibits occupy the north
east court. which is entered from the east
hall, devoted to arts and Industries and
transportation and engineering
1t is strange fact that the study of do
mesticated animals, as distinct from zoolo-
sy, has never been illustrated TN a great
museum before, and 1t is equally singular
that IL should be created by the scientists
OF washington who, as a rule, would not
be suspected of having opportunities to
study the useful beasts. 1t appears that
several Of the officials Of the Smithsonian
ana National Museum, who dwell in the
suburbs have applied their Unborn facul-
ties Of research to a study Of our lower
cousins while their rustic neighbors have
whitfield away the waning day on the back
fence. The object Of the new exhibit Is
to impress upon the minds of our citizens.
especially those from the country round"
the value OF interbreeding animals for spe-
cfal purposes, giving them q variation un-
der domestieation. Good traits in animaIs
must be developed by interviewing with
others OF similar instincts. and Improbable
beasts must be either separated from their
KIND and mated with others Of a higher
grade or wiped out altogether. The object
OF the museum Is to portray. by successive
tabieaux. the work being performed by the
department. Of animal industry In the Ag-
ricultural Department, although the two
have no connection In respect to their
actual distribution of knowledge The Door
farrAer has been always imposed upon by
authors of pamphlets and periodicals recon-
mending methods purposed merely to bene-
mt individual corporations instead of being
furnished with the observations of W.
selfish science.
Classes of Useful Animals.
To show the results Of scientific farming,
rare specimens OF stuffed chickens, pigeons,
ducks geese and other fowl from all over
the world. fur bearing animals, draft ami
mails, and all kinds of useful beasts are
admitted to this room, and have been stuff
ed by the taxidermists and prepared to pre-
sent all the grace and glory of Hfe These
animals are classified into three divisions:
First, those useful by instructive act; see
ond, for acts to which they are trained
aHu products. one
Of the best examples of instructive useful
ness Is the spider, which makes her web
for her own habitation, but In it gives a
binding for bleeding wound OF fine lines
for the astronomers telescope. The cynips,
the insect which stfngs the leaves of the
Asiatfc oak and produces nut GALL from
which ink Is manufactured, Is another IL
hstration Of this class among the insects.
while all of the animals which act as
scavengers, such as bustards and vuItures
or jackals and other animals OF the higher
kingdom, also are classed among them.
All draft animals and burden bearers are
Of course. included among those made use
fui by training, as wen as singing birds and
trick animals, used amusements, which
have their values in a luxurious sense. The
Chinese cormorant, which catches fish for
the celestials, is also represented here, and
Is regarded as one Of the most valuable IL
lustrations of the value of training fowls
to work. Among the creatures valuab bic
for their natural products is to be found
the greatest represen tation, since in this
division all animals are eligible which pro-
duce food and hundred other necessities
such as wool, furs, leather bristles MEM
branes ivory, bone. OIL and coloring matter
Each OF these classified uses are dwelt
uTon scientifically and IL Is shown that by
natural or accidental selection and division
by human effort, valuable traits can be
cultivated In the beasts OF the earth, fishes
Of the sea and fowls of the air. As an
American institution. the museum has of
course. dwelt especially upon animals which
birds and fowls are found to give the most
satisfactory Illustration Of the results of
interviewing. In the center Of the court,
the large dove cot. which attracted so
much interest IN the government building
at the worlds fair. has been erected and
on this palatial pigeon house specimens Of
all Kinds of birds OF that Kingdom have been
mounted In their natural positions by Mr..
Wood, one OF the taxidermists of the mu-
scum. who fortunately has given a greater
part OF his time to professional pigeon and
chicken culture. The idea of this arrange
rent which would strike the common eye
as a mere representation Of q pigeon house
with the birds lowering around It, Is purely
| scientific, representing the order in which
different species of pigeons have been eul-
tivated by cross breeding.
| Evolution of Pigeon Varieties.
On the top Of the cot is perched the wild
Blue Rock pigeon. the progenitor Of the
pigeon family, who is, indeed. the plainest
Of birds. void of beauty. either In form or
color. The first variation from this common
bird is in the homing pigeon. whose body
| takes a more graceful form and whose col
ors come out stronger and brighter. but
| whose head remains much the same shape.
On the same level with the honling pigeon
comes the common dove-house pigeon, and
the next step finds the carrier. which is
more advanced in brain power, but only
slightly different in form. Then comes the
| tumbler, whose antics were cultivated orig
inal1y by combining the birds until they be-
[ trayed a disposition to fall over in the air
| in fits Of nervous frenzy. not being far ad-
vanced in the evolutionary line. More ad-
vanced specimens are the blueths, which
present a changeabie coioring in different
lights considered the most beautiful MEM
bers of the whole family. and the Jacobtns,
the most expensive. Along in this line,
| through gradual development, then come the
most refined specimens, what the ambition
| of the fancier has been to breed deformitfes,
in order to cultivate odd forms for the at
I traction of the purchasers curiosity. In
| the deformed class all kinds of queer
pigeons have been secured, some pouters.
with collars so high that sight is irnpos-
| sibIe and others with such a profusfon Of
[ fea theirs about the feet that the birds are
unable TO walk. In this fast stage are also
found the fan-tails, which present the most
beautiful appearance.
In regard to pigeon culture Mr.. Wood
| said: Although the deformed birds are of
most aristocratic lineage, they are the least
useful The commonest birds are the best
| food and propagate the fastest.
Although there are pigeon cranks all over
the world, who speculate in these rare
specimens, no man was ever known to get
rich in the business, since 1t takes a life
time to breed successfully, and even then
the results are mainly accidental. A pecu-
| liar form appearing in the young Of the
plainest pigeons can be cultivated regularly,
| only by mating with a similar kind or in
terbreeding back to the father or mother
1t Is tedious business, and nothing but
the qualification Of curiosity is CLEANED from
It."