The Washington herald., 1907-10-22
BIRDS BEFORE BEARS
President Ardent 0rnithOlO-
giSt in Younger Days.
SPECIMENS IN SMITHSONIAN
Many Members of Fenthered sTribe
Contributed to Nations Museum
Thirty Years Ago, and Now Form
an Important Part of the Exhibit
Not Few Were Rejected.

In going over the collection at the
Smithsonian Institution. an important
chapter in President ROosevelt's early
life is unfolded, as specimens come 10
view bearing in a big. round. boyish hand,
the label Theodore Roosevelt, Oyster
Bag. L. l., November II, 1874 Roosevelt
Museum" The then embryo President
sent nearly a thousand specimens OF
birds. birds nests. pelts, and skulls Of
animals. and even mounted animals, 10
the Museum.
Entrance 10 the shelves Of the Museum
was not easy for Theodore Roosevelt. and
one collection. when he was Harvard
student was ANONYMOUSLY rejected. II
was finally accepted by some Western
college and laid away in forgetfulness
until enthusiastic collectors forsook the
ways Of the naturalist for the path that
led 10 the White House Then the numer-
Gus. awkwardly- specimens were
exhibited, with the Presidents name at
tached
Sent Valuable Collection.
The largest and most valued collection
from the Roosevelt Museum was that
Of 500 birds Of the State of New York.
sent 20 the National Museum in June,
1852. These birds came from oyster Bay.
St Regis, Garrison, Gleus Falls, and
Highland Falls, and a careful description
accompanied each specimen. They were
sent 20 the Smithsonian at a time when
the 0rnithOl0gical department was a
meager one, and specimens Of even the
c0mmonest birds were wanting. The
embryo President heard Of this. and was
content 20 spend hours In studying the
habits of some homely species. or wan
deTing for miles 10 secure a single feath-
cred songster. even rising at daybreak %
see IL leave its nest or. roaming through
field or forest at twilight or 20 hear the
last peep from the little throat.
No pains were spared IN selecting the
finest possible specimens Of each species,
and. after that Of preparing them for
what 20 him was the greatest scientific
institution in the world the Smithsonian.
Probably the bird most valued even 70
this day. from a scientific standpoint. is
the specimen Of a carrier pigeon. This
pigeon is so beautifully mounted, and has
been 50 carefully kept all these twenty
or more years, that il is as fresh to-day
as when young Theodore Roosevelt Sc
lected and prepared it for study.
Presidents Birds Exchanged.
President Roosevelt got up a prodi-
gious correspondence about that time with
collectors all over the country. Through
an exchange, he obtained a collection OF
about nifty OF the rarest birds from
Africa and various parts Of Europe. Hun
dreds Of these birds, over which young
Roosevelt spent so much care and
thought. are mounted. and MI the shelves
Of the Department Of OrnithOlogy AT the
Smithsonian. Birds nest and birds eggs
go 20 complete the interesting collection.
AS il would be utterly impossible to put
on exhibition all the specimens sent 10
the Smithsonian, hundreds Of the birds
are carefully cured and packed away for
study and reference whenever required.
Many of those caught by the President
stand uDon the shelves Of other museums.
having been sent IN exchange for other
types.
"HUCKLEBERRY." the ripe kind. a
ND mild r,l 10