New-York tribune., 1896-05-24
VALkUSE!S FOR THE MUSE L. M.
THEY GIVE THE TAXIDERMlsr FINE
OPPORTUNITIES.
THE SKINS MOUNTED IN EXCEEDINGLY LIFE
LIKE FAsHroN-INTEREsTING DENiHhH'

LIKE FAsHION-INTERESTINd pr'>i""
or THE POLAR SEAS.
There is interesting work going on no" III VIZ
taxidermist shops Of the American Museum" VI va
ural History Two specimens OF the "'',
tained for the museum by Professor I'e"is ii''''
Dvchs on the Peary relief expedition OF last S
,aa been completed and placed In the mammalian
hall and an enormous bull-walrus Is no" 'ho c
trail figure OF the workshop. calf. captured "'''e
90, zoo vouno for lis tlsks 10 be visible. Is also III
rrocess OF preparation. The taxidermist trusts "
his measurements and to photographs as s"iue
for reproducing a fac-simile OF the BODY OF 'ne D
,ect but for the head he uses the oHe'''a' "u''
The real bones Of the legs are used also anu INC
skin. otherwise the creation Is entirely ar'inciAi
7, takes n month Of patient. tireless labor 10 set
nm, one of these animals. Every slightest foid or
srosson hump hollow and curve must be repro
,caJ that the imitation may ape the original 10 lhe
uss Tine workshop Is strange conglomeratioh Vi
the material necessary for making UP the an''
Bundles Of excelsior coils OF wire, pieces oi pe"'
wood masses Of clay, layers OF the crude GOVERNS
put. on before the outer skin all give eVioenoe Vi
the care and pains required TO accomplish tiie p'
feet whole The latest methods are SO far an I'M
nrovement on those formerly adopted that one mas
only, m compare the walrus specimens recently put
IN ,ber glass cage with the illustrations OF the "a
cinc wairus which were constructed some TIME pdoh
70 recognize the artistic advancement Inc "e'N
and face OF the older specimens look stin ana con-
strained and the skin Is drawn plainly ana smoothly
over the body beneath. imparting a decidedly aru-
fetal APPEARANCE The later specimens show every
fold and wrinkle in the hide. marvellously perfect
imitation OF llfe and the nostrils. eyes whisHerS
and other distinguishing marks Of the head and face
are reproduced in their naturally ferocous aspect
The manipulation OF the skin with It's multitudnous
folds and wrinkles Is Itself most delicate piece
of work
THE WALRUS Is GREAT PRIZE
These walrus specimens are particularly priced by
the museum management because or the dl1lcuIty
attending their capture and the scarcity OF eNher
living or dead walruses In geological gardens or
museums OF natural history Scientists and hunt
ers who have made a study of these animals In their
native haunts say that they are not without inteli-
Ccnce and are susceptible 10 domesticatlon. marked
affection FOR their young and strong sympathy for
each other in misfortune being their Distinguishing
traits although they look like such great masses OF
inert flesh. BE that II may, efforts TO Keep
member OF the tribe for any length Of time In the
English Geological Gardens have almost invariably
failed owing 10 difference in climate. the FOOD sup
ply. and other conditions Even the transportation
Of a living walrus is prejudlcsl to It's health Pro-
fessor Dvche who was commi issioned especially by
the museum here to secure these walruses was per-
sonay assisted by Lieutenant Peary In more than
one periIous adventure connected with their capt
The professor was instructed young
specimens il possible and risked his life and the
lives Of the Esquimaux who rowed his boat In ac-
complishing the task After calf-wairus had been
shot or harpooned and while the men were trying
10 get 1t into the boat It's mother or some interested
relative would throw her great tusks over II and
carry II down to the bottom OF the sea. on one oc-
cason fully 200 OF the great creatures pursued tho
little rowboat which contained captured cub. and
ho anIr cad o
OF risks despsired OF reaching the shore alive.
The natives, II Is said. never dream OF trying 10
xiii a young warus; they know the fierce revenge
OF the mothers too well: they had 10 be bribed TO
attempt the feat. Only superior firearms, an un-
limited supply of cartridges and deadly fuslade
kept up increasingly, saved the hunters iife ana the
lives OF his comrades.
\ distinctive habit OF the warus family is that
the male and female herds seldom found to-
grther especially when the females sucking
their young. This fact made several expeditions
necessary before specimens OF each SEX both young
and full grown. could be obtained.
ICE DRIFTS THE FAVORTTE HAUNTS
Long ages ago Isolated members OF the walrus
tribe found their way occasionally far south on
the Atlantic coast South Carolina, but within
historic times they have not been seen lower down
than Nova Scotia They DO not stay in the extreme
ly deep water. but cling The bays and inets The
specimens now on exhibition were secured In ingle-
hel Gulf, way up among the icebergs and drifts Of
the frozen regions The walruses sleep amid the ice
drifts and have breathing holes In the ice. The
shifting cebergs make 1t dangerous for the harpoon
boats 10 venture among them. often the harpOon.
with rope attached. being thrown and jabbed into
the back OF a big specimen In order 10 draw 1t
enough 10 make a shot effectual. serves tow
line by which the .nfuriated creature. exerting all
It's tremendous strength rushes the boat through
the water whlthersoever ii Will 1t takes strength
on the part Of the rowers and cool. unerring aim
on the part OF the hunter nit the vulnerable spot
where the spinal cord enters the base of the skull
and 50 relieve the BOAT OF rs dangerous plot A
full grown male warus weighs 5000 pounds
The enormous tusks, when give such formidable
aspect 10 these creatures are OF much use 10 them
in grubbing up the shehsh which form their chief
food Many crustaceous animals adhere firmly to
rho rocks or buried he sand. The walriises
swallow shells and all They also eat the bulbous
roots OF other sea-grown things. plants and inter-
twlnlng weeds
The walruses are being destroyed by thousands
particularly the mature ones. since whales have be-
The supply is not likely to increase
rapidly. since 1t has been demonstrated that fully
three years eapse between each birth. A century
has passed since definite observations begun
regarding the habits OF these singular creatures in
the Culf Of ST. Lawrence by Professor Shudham
but It asserted that the mother suckles her young
of the warus for their lamps. the skin for covering
thelr summer. h1bi'ations, the tusks for hunting
The story Of the capture OF the animals
exhibition at the museum is Of thrilling interest
Hunters testify that madlened walrus, blowing
the water In great jets up into the air tossing It's
head menaclngy and turning its threatening tusks
not rcassurinG spectacle. The Polar bear and the
oIca or killer are enemies OF the walrus more
mother takes the little on her back for protec-
tion. but the willy bear dives to the bottom
her and causing the cub to tumble when he readily
se!zes II.
DAY LINE TO ALBANY.