Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-09
PHILIPPINE BEASTS AND BIRDS.
Specimens That VIII Be Hard to Get
for the Smithsonian Institution

Manila Correspondence Chicago Record
On the desk of the adjutart general, in
the palace there lies pamphlet from the
Smithsonian Institution. telling what speci-
mems of animals are wanted from the Phil
ippines. In the first place, a ''tamarau' is
wanted. Now. the ''tamarau'' is an exceed
irgly wary and very wild animal of the
buffalo order. 1t is smaller than the cara
hao and iercer in a fight. 1t lives in the
Island Of NIndoro, and hides in the Jungle
and swamps. Just at present there are
very few persons gathering specimens from
that particular island. For that matter,
there are not many specimen hunters any
where in these parts.
Another animal wanted Is the tarsier
monkey That little beast has rings around
his eyes that remind one of SpeCtacles. His
tail is longer and his head is larger than
those Of the average monkey. The institu-
ton also asks that il be given several spe-
cies of deer. the "babui'' or wild hog, mon
keys of TWO species, a small cat, two Spe-
cieS of the civet cat or "musang." fruit
eating bats of different species, several
peculiar large rats, the cOlUgo or flying le-
u'ur. and the very remarkable and inter-
eSting tarSier or ma gOu.' In the bird line
1t speaks of the hamingo. the parrot. eagles
and hOrnbillS, cocatoOS and parakeets,
Pheasarts and pigeons. pelicans and cuck-
Dos There are several more that will be
accepted, but these are some Of the speci-
mems especially wanted.
Coming back TO the ''tamarau" il will he
extremely difficult for the institution to get
a specimen that has not first gone through
the hands Of the taxidermist II is of record
that the savage little animal if trapu4d
Will commit suicide "a her than submit to
captivity This it will DO either by beating
out Its life against the prison bars or by
the slower process Of starving itself to
death And there is little hope for the
young. They too refuse to take nourish-
trent even when put in the tender mercies
of tame buffalo COW, and die in a short
time. As consequence these animals are
represented by their hides in the museums
and by tales of adventure Of the hunters
They fight each other like the deer of North
America. but they oftener fight the larger
buffalo. When they do the generally kill
the buffalo.
The buffalo or carab aO Is also wanted. 1t
VIII De an easy matter TO get that animal.
II can be kept alive but it Will need its
path Of mud twice a day All buffaIoes
are not tame, however. and the sport Of
bunting them is L little less than that of
hun 'l elephants A buffalo is trained to
stalk its fellows. Behind the unwieldy
beasts slip along the hunters armed with
Dolos- When at the right distance tha
hunter slips from behind his blind or decoy
and delivers two blows in the hips Of his
victim. II the blows are well aimed the
hunter has "hamstrung" his victim II NOT
he Is killed before he can get away The
Old buffalo too. is fighter. and he will
Jock his spreading horns with his tanned
brother promptly at the first sight The
young are not so wise. and they are cap
tured and tanned. The native understands
the nature of the brute. and he takes il In
hand when II resembles a Jersey calf in
slze and color and awkwariness 1t takes
some six years before the buffalo is strong
enough TO do the family ploughing, but Il,
that six years he has learned that there is
nothing but kindness for him; that he will
be fed and regularly be led 10 the wallow
de comes to know each member of the faua-
tIy and carries the children around on his
back with much pleasure. Even at the age
o. SIX ne Is not enduring. He will pull all
that is put behind him or break something
TEat Is his nature. Sometimes he sprains
leg. and then he is put on the retired lis,
Tor about a year. II he should break his