Warren sheaf., 1897-01-28
A NOTABLE NATURAL HISTORY
COLLECTION. If :.

The SHEAr has on several occasions
called attention to the large and in.
teresting collection Of stuffed animals
exhibited at the High School Build
ing by g.. Z. Brown, the naturalist
and taxiderlnist, This collection, as
far as the faunaof the state of Min
nesota is concerned, is the most COM
plete i'll existence, and hence is de-
serving Of more than passing no.
tice. Mr.. Brown has added to the
: collection lately a large number of
specimens that have been mounted
recently, and when the other day we
had the pleasure again to view the
interesting display, we thought some
of the readers Of the SHEAF might be
pleased to see it more fully described.
However, we would advise all who
can to call and see the collection for
themselves. go H.. ~.,
The collection is arranged in groups,
according to the classification Of ami
mails in zoology beginning with the
lowest or simplest forms of animal life,
and proceeding: step by step to the
highest forms, which include the rel
les of ancient man thus showing the
relationship existing between the diff
ferent species. :#s.5.:$.z - 2 '
Beginning with the fishes, which
are the lowest forms of vertebrates,
Tor animals with a backbone, } we have
them represented by the sturgeon and
garfish, two remarkable forms of the
lower orders Of this extensive and va
ried class. These are both found in
Minnesota waters. AZ s..=.@: F
The reptiles are represented by a
great swapping turtle and Texas al
ligator, which issabout the only speci-
men in the collection that is not ma
tive of this stats. 5s= =:...szs. /.
After the reptiles fhe biirrtils,II
beginning with the ungainly divers ;
passing from these we come to the
gulls and terms, then to the cormo-
rants, caught at Lake of the Woods,
and pelicans, and after. these there is
a large flock of ducks and geese of
many species and varied plumage.
Mr.. Brown has no less than eigh-
teen species of ducks.
! The next family is the waders,
| which includes the bitterns, herons,
cranes, rails, snipes and plovers.
Among the plovers is bird called
the phalarope, which is interesting
from the fact the he-bird sets on the
eggs, while the female enjoys the
privilege of flying around and having
a good time.
Then there are several varieties of
grouse, the ptarmigan, and flock of
wild pigeons on the dead branch of a
tree, mounted 1so true to nature that
as you approach you almost expect
them to flap their wings and fly away.
After these come the birds of prey,
as the hawks, eagles and owls, perch
ing on the branches of trees in natu-
raj positions. Mr.. Brown: has made
it point to arrange each family
group in natural surroundings, and
this adds very much to the attractive
ness Of the display. He has studied
the form and habits of wild animals
since his boyhood, and he has there
fore acquired the skill to mount speci.
mems remarkably true to nature. OF
hawks there are dozen species and
the collection of owls is the best in
the state. just behind the owls a
flock Of woodpeckers are having g
merry time IN the trunk of an old
tree. You can almost see them flying
about, crawling into and out of thei1
holes. Nextwe find the crows, the jays
blackbird, oriole, meadow lark, anc
many small bright colored singing
birds, ending with the thrushes anc
bluebirds, which are the finest sing
ers and the highest developed birds.
Coming to the mammals we notic'
first the rodenfias or gnawers, repre-
sented bY the rabbit, hare. porc,,pine