The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-07
KANSAS NEWS.
An Exploration Party Leaves for
South America.
Will Make a Scientific Collection
for X. U. Museum.
BONES AND FOSSILS.
Also Desire Amy Living Animals
They May Capture.
Monkeys, PythOns, Mountain
Lions and the Llama.

Lawrence, Kan, Sept. lone of the
most notable collecting expeditions
that ever went out from the Universe
ty Of Kansas left Sunday. H. I. Mar
tin, assistant curator of the paleonto-
logical department, and Mr.. Samuel
Adams, an advanced student in scien-
tific work. were of their party and their
destination is South America. They
will be gone a year and from Bahia
Blanca as headquarters long trips into
unexplored and almost impenetrable
parts Of the continent, will be made. Mr..
Martin and Mr.. Adams will go by way
Of New York, sailing from there for
Buenos Ayres September II. They will
so from the latter port by transport to
the headquarters, then down to Punta
Arenas on the straits of Magellan, al
most to the southern point of South
America. Punta Arenas will be reach
ed in November and the summer sea
son of the southern hemisphere will be
spent in Patagonia. They will proceed
slowly northward. As the warm season
draws to a close they will return to the
starting point and in the winter season
will work toward the southwest into
Neuquen and Chupat.
Before starting on the field work of
their expeditions Mr.. Martin and Mr.
Adams will visit the museums of
BeunoS Ayres and La Plata, carrying
a letter of introduction to DIR. Moreno,
the noted South American scientist at
the former place.
Mr.. Martin will have charge of the
collection of archaeological specimens,
while Mr.. Adams speciality will be in
the geological line, although the two
men will work together and assist each
other in every possible way. They will
take with them the latest models of
firearms and 5000 rounds of ammuni
ton will be carried. 1t is the intention
to be prepared to add to the collection
any living animal or any fossil remains
that can be secured in South America.
Some of the specimens will be sent
home from time to time, but the great
er part will be brought back by the
collectors when they come. Enough
material for working purposes will be
forwarded so that it may be put in
shape before the collectors return.
South America is heretofore field
that has been untouched by collectors
for the Kansas museum, and in fact it
has been quite generally neglected by
scientists, so that the results are ex-
pected to make very valuable addi-
tion to the collection at the University
of Kansas. Among the living animals
of South America are several families
of deer, and the llama, the pack ami
NAL of the Andes. There are many
sorts of carnivorouS animals, including
foxes, weasels and a species of noun
tain lion different from that found in
North America. In the northern parts
are found the jaguar There are also
many varieties of rodents, including
the large water hog. If possible the
men will stop in Brazil on their way
back and secure a collection of mon
keys, and skins and skulls of the python
and other tropical snakes and reptiles
that are said to abound in the vast I'M
explored forests.
The country is hardly less rich in fos-
sill remains. Many members of the
armadilla family, ant eaters and the
thTee-toed s1oth are to be found. Mann
mails are also numerous. There are
Eaid to be remains ranging in size from
animals as small as the mouse to those
as large as the oxidan, about the size
of a buff4lo. About 400 miles south of
Buenos Ayres is the point where OAR
win made his famous discovery of pam
pean fossils, including the magather-
fum material. 1t has been suggested
that the expedition might possibly
bring to light some of the species that
might lead to a discovery of some of
the missing links that would connect
the human race with lower forms or
animal life.
Mr.. Martin has high hopes of the sue
cess of the expedition and if the col
lection secured is as great. and varied
and new as the promoters hope for the
addition to the museums at the Uni
Versity Of Kansas will be the greatest
that have been made in recent years.