The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-06
Principal Object of President
RooseveIt's Trip to
Africa.
RARE SPECIMENS SOUGHT
HIS COMPANIONS WILL BE Ex-
PERTS-NATIoNA MUSEUM TO
RECEIVE BENEFIT OF GATHER.
ING OF MATERIAL.

Washington, D. c., Dec 5.--President
Roosevelt has chosen these three men
to go to Africa with him as compan-
ions and as collectors of material for
the advancement of scientific knowl-
edge and for the enrichment of collec-
lions of National Museum at Wash
ington.
Edgar Alexander Mearns, major and
surgeon, United States army; author
and an authority on zoology and bot
any.
Edmund Heller, zoologist; formerly
with the Field Columbian museum in
Chicago, and a member of Carl E.
Akeley's exploring and shooting trip
into Africa in 1905.
j. Alden Loring. Oswego, N. Y; an
authority on the smaller mammals
and an expert collector.
1t has been deciden that these three
men with tho president and his son
Kermit shall form the African party.
They are to be accompanied OF course
by the necessary guides and caravan
men,
1t is known to be Mr.. Roosevelt's de-
sire that the expedition shall not be
looked upon as one with sport as the
leadin gobject. A limited number Of
specimens of mammals and birds
will be killed for the uses OF the Ma
tional museum Other killing will be
confined to what is necessary for food
IN camp.
Foreign Offers Not Accepted.
Statements to the effect that the
game preserves in Africa are under the
control of certain foreign govern
ments were to be opened to the presi-
dent and his companions with per-
mission to shoot at will, have been
published. No advantage will be taken
Of these offers, Mr.. Roosevelt having
made up his mind to decline to do any
shooting except in places where the
hunting Is open to all. The attitude Of
the president on this matter is made
known by one of his friends. who said
that Mr. Roosevelt told him that q
person taking advantage Of permission
to shoot on government reservations
In Africa would be exactly In the
position OF an Englishman or a
Trenchman who came to America and
was given permission by the govern
ment OF the United States to shoot
at will in Yellowstone park. The
president went on to say that IL such
permission were given by tho Ameri-
can government it would rightly
arouse resentment.
chArad -
sportsmen the belief that wild animals
on reservations should be protected to
Che utmost and that in no circum-
stances should permission be give nto
kill them, except possibly when preda-
tory an mails become too numerous
for the safety of the deer and other
defenseless creatures. Permission for
one person to SCOT on reservation
the presidents theory is. would lead
eventually to permission to others and
in the end the game reservation would
not be a reservation at all in the prop
or sense.
Two Specimens Of Each Sought.
1t is Mr.. Roosevelt's hope to OBJ
tain for the National Museum at
Washington two adult specimens, one
of each sex, OF the animals with which
he is likely to meet on the dark CONT
nent For the ordinary needs Of a
museum the president thinks that
these will be sufficient, but whether
they are sufficient or not, two Of each
kind of the beasts OF the field and for
ests are all that he is of a mind to kill
no matter how plentiful the game
may be.
An effort will be made to get speci-
mems of the African birds and Of the
smaller mammals. Mr.. Roosevelt is an
ornithologist himself, but he is not as
familiar with this branch of science
as is Major Edgar A. Mearns, who has
made speciality Of bird study for
many years. The major was one OF
the founders of the American Ornitho.
logists' union and he has written
widely on bird subjects.
May Find New Bird Species.
1t is possible that the Nationa.
museum will come into possession OF
some at present unknown bird species
as the result Of Mr.. Roosevelts Afric.
an shooting. In the wilds OF Africa to
day is hawk preying on smaller
mammals in utter ignorance of the
fact that the name 1t bears is that OF
a late merchant prince Of Chicago
Marshall Field. When Dr.. Daniel G
Elliott went into Africa for the Field
museum ten or twelve years ago h
discovered \ new species Of hawl
and named 1t for the Chicago mar
who had endowed the museum. Nov
bird species that may be discovered
on the expedition will be Determined
by Major Mearns, but it is probabl,
that their naming will be left to tn,
home scientists.
J. Alden Loring has made
specially of the esmaller mammals. I
is said of him that when other trap
and bats fail he can devise a trap ant
select a bait that viii lure any Of tn,
smaller wild cratures into captivity
Mr.. Loring. although the younges
man of the party. has had wide ex
perience in field work. He did notabl
excellent work for science In tn
Alaskan fields.
Mr. Roosevelt holds that he 1