Evening star., 1900-12-15

Smith sound Athapascans of Mackenzie
river, Agonquins of Labrador. Sioux Cor
Plains) Indians, Seminoles of Florida Chill
kats of Alaska. HoopaS of California,
Pueblo Indians of Arizona, Tepoka Indians
of northern Mexico. Xapoka Indians of
southern Mexico, Piro Indians of the upper
Amazon and Patagonians.
The selection of these widely diverse peo-
pies was not an easy task and the work
incidental to obtaining a sufficient and at
the same time accurate costume for each
individual to pass the inspection of the Buff
falo police has been phenomenal. But it
has been done and the groups are clothed.
In the Animal Kingdom.
In the animal kingdom the exhibits are
to be represented by the largest, most char
acteristic and most striking forms from the
highest to the lowest family of vertebrates
de. animals having a backbone). 1t has
CHANGED that several opportunities have oc-
CURED to obtain some quite rare forms of
large game, such as the glacier bear, the
kodiak bear, the northwest caribou, the
white sheep and giant moose of Alaska.
The remainder of this part of the exhibit
Of animals will include some forty or more
species, embracing various kinds of Ameri-
car seals, deer, bears, wolves foxes. rats
rabbits, etc. speciment of the Florida
SeacOW, now nearly extinct, will accom-
pany the collection. although not of its
own volition, being stuffed too full to walk.
Then come the South American mammals.
representing some thirty kinds and includ-
ing such characteristic forms as the Pata-
goHian cavy giant armadillo, guanaco, Gin
cuSna spider monkey, etc.
American Birds.
The display Of North American birds,
though not the largest will, in many re-
spects, be the finest the museum has ever
brought together. The specimens have
been selected by Mr. Ridgway, the we'll
known ornithologist, and are being mounted
by the skllful taxidermists of the museum.
Some eighty species will be shown, repre-
senting the most characteristic and striking
forms. The South American birds will In
clude the gigantic condor of the Andes, the
American ostrich, and other large birds,
and the gaudy parrots and macaws, the
beautiful little humming birds, and host
of other striking forms that go to make up
the brilliant bird fauna of the tropics.
Reptiles and Amphibians.
The cases devoted to reptiles and amphib-
ians will illustrate the poisonous and HARM
less snakes, the crocodile, the alligator,
several kinds Of turtle the huge Galapagos
tortoise, the hell-bender, the Cuban tree
toad, queer-looking creature with large
melancholy eyes 1t IS hoped, too, that DR.,
Stejneger, the curator Of reptiles, will be
able to obtain glass snake, which, as
everybody is supposed to know. Is not a
snake at all, but a lizard with wonder
fully brittle tail. The snakes and other
reptiles are for the most part to be Of
plaster, which, after much experimenting,
seems to be the most serviceable material
for the purpose. composition was tried
some years ago, and promised excellent re-
suits until the hot weather came, and then
the effect was simply melting. They all
broke up, and this so broke up the dis
coverer of the composition that it Is said
he had to break up his business.
Well Represented.
The fishes are to be very numerous, per-
haps representing as many as 13O kinds
and ranging in size from the great blue
shark to the little stickleback. This collec-
ton has been arranged under the super
vision of MIR. Barton A. Bean. Asin all the
other exhibits, each specimen will have q
label giving the popular and scientific
names, the geographical distribution etc.
Almost every color under the sun will be
observable, e. g.: White fish, strawberry
bass. striped bass. yellow tail, blue fish,
black fish from Alaska), red mullet,
etc. Some again are named from
their likeness to other animals and
various common objects. such as pad
die fish. catfish buffalo fish, razorback
lizard fish. pipe fish. sea horse, squirrel
fish, sail fish. spear fish, thread-fin butter
ny fish. pumpkin seed sea-mink sheeps-
head, angel fish, hog fish. parrot fish trig-
ger fish, file fish, trunk fish, sea raven
wolf fish. toad fish, pig fish. sword fish, etc.
Some rare South American forms will also
be exhibited If possible, g. g.: The chara-
Gins. the large arapaima, electric eel, var
tous cat fishes. etc.
In concluding the discussion Of the 500