The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-04-13
The MUSEUM WORKSHOP
INTERESTING EXHIBITS BEING
PREPARED BY CURATOR
RRIMLFY AND ASSIST
ANT ADICKS.

'AA6
work rooms by Curator H. Fl. Brim-
ley and Assistant T. W. Adickes.
A feature OF the exhibits in natural
history is that Of bird and animal
groups, in natoral surroundings. me
idea Of this method Of displaying
snecimens is to each not only what
the specimen itself is like, but, also,
it's habits of life. There have already
been completed and installed in the
Museum 3. score OF more OF snlaH
bird and animal groups. In each case,
so far as possible, q pair OF DlfdS are
mounted, with their nest and eggs IN
stu, just as found in life. IN the AMI
NAL groups the male and female
admits are shown. with a whole litter
Of Young where possible, or one or
TWO young if the whole family cannot
be procured. Thus, a single group
reaches the appearance OF the male
and female, whether bird or mammal,
what its home is like, the appearance
of the eggs-in case OF blrds-tne
situation in which the nest or den IS
usually made; in fact, it gives a short
apictorial history Of the species. one
of the most attractive of these is a
partridge nest containing a dozen or
more eggs, "a in a TUT OF grass
at the foot of a small pine growing
among the broom straw. One or the
old birds is just approaching the nest,
Will, the other near by in an attitude
of vatchfulness. All the material for
his group was taken from around
the nest. The pine had its leaves
treated to prevent drying and falling
off and each leaf was then painted
separately by hand to its original
color. AnOthcf group, on a much
larger scale, is q very fine one Of cor
merant. nesting in cypress trees
r din mt ~ tho water In this
piece are two adult cormorants, one
approaching its nest containing eggs)
and the other just arrived from the
fishing grounds, about to feed its
young.
The pair of snowy owls, on q most
realistic snow scene. is one OF the
most popular among visitors. n
ground hog group, the possums.
water turkey, eagles. looms, squirrels,
visitors. And, in smaller sizes and
less conspicuous, are those splendid
small groups that include the pine
warbler. umnner tanager, cardinal,
red-headed NOodpecker, chimney
swallow, (showing nest inside an old
chimney, field sparrow, and a'num-
Der of others. These latter were all
prepared by Mr. Adickes, with the as
sistance and advice Of the Curator.
In course of preparation in the
workroom are groups of mink. of
marsh birds. weasel turkey bnzZard,
Snipe, ~dovekie, r~Ough-Winged swallow:
and. among ooher single specimens of
interest, was a large buck, killed by
Mr.. Brimley just before Christmas,
and now being mounted for the Mu-
scum. There was also a sunfiSh from
Cape Lookout (anOther specimen of
this rare fish, weighing twelve hum
dred pounds was taken at the Cape
some years g but not preserved),
a large. hammer-headed shark, and
numerous others too numerous to
mention. The doyekie group will con-
sist of five Of these very rare birds
that only visit the North Carolina
shores at the longest intervals, being,
arctic in their habitat. The past
winter, however, brought a number
Of them down to Cape Lookout and
other points on the coast and these
five specimens were secured for the
Museum. The group of mink will be
one Of the most attractive Of any 50
far put up or in course Of preparation.
A section Of the bank Of a small
stream has been built up, and on it,
Just as in nature, are arranged the
stump and root of q tree growing on
the bank, in the hollow below which
the minks have made their den The
bank is covered with MOSES, ferns,
reeds, etc, just as it was originally,
and from the mouth of the den is seen
the head and forepart of the body
Of the female mink, just emerging.
In the foreground is a fine, large
male mink abort to spring on a craw-
fish hurriedly making for the water.
The weasel group will emphasize
the Observation-Disclosures Of these little
animals. The White-washed interior
Of the corner Of an old chicken house
has been reproduced and, in this cor
ner is q hens nest containing a set
ting ofeggs. a weasel has entered the
house, has seized the hen and drag
ged her off her nest, killing her, and
is now gloating over the feast to
come. The group of snipe will show
a section of wet meadow. with, a
nlnnaha1n Of tho. Iirlc -roodi,an orl