The San Francisco call., 1909-11-14

like himself has always been retiring,
but Jealous in the pursuit of her chosen
studies and generous in providing the
means to encourage other persons along
the same lines. In appearance she is
slight rather than athletic, being of
medium height and possessing quiet
coloring and the most modest of man
ners.
In the year 1904 she went in COM
pany with her father and missionary
named Gulick to South Africa on a
tour of exploration, intending to take
observations on the natural features
OF the country, especially the native
wild animals. Mr.. Gulick was unfor-
tunately less guarded than he should
have been in the matter of securing az
pure water supply en- route, and early
in the journey he was carried off by
enteric fever. A still more tragic fate
overlook Mr.. Alexander himself. Pass
ing a blasting site, where the govern
ment was engaged in road building, he
was struck by a flying boulder and so
badly injured that his death followed
within "a hours. Reaching Cape Town.
after many hardships, the daughter re-
turned home with his body, but instead
Of being disheartened in her chosen
work by this painful experience, of
which she never willingly speaks, she
has seemed to find solace in redoubled
conservation to the cause which her
father loved.
She has since been on two expedi.
tions to different sections Of Alaska,
whence she sent home in 1907 and 1908
series of skins, skulls and complete
skeletons OF a variety of bears, as we'll
as of many smaller animals secured by
herself and the coworkers who accom-
panied her. These specimens have since
been donated to the museum. At pres
ent, in company with assistants, she is
in the virgin valley region of northern
Nevada collecting material in the coun-
try surrounding Pine mountain. Her
extreme modesty and dislike of public
notice have always caused her to de-
cline interviews, and she emphatically
refused to entertain the proposition
made by the regents of the university
that the museum be named after her.
The work of the new institution is as
yet in it's infancy, but a remarkable
showing has already been made. Out
wardly the structure in which the mu-
scum is housed is not sufficiently pre-
possessing to attract the wandering ko-
daker or to have its likeness sought
either as a desirable addition to the
picturesque views sold in local art
stores. or as an alluring subject for
the boosters" widely disseminated
postal card. In fact, it has not as yet
being asked to pose for its official pho
tograph. It differs little in appearance
from the average fireproof warehouse,
being OF the most prosaic design and
covered with corrugated galvanized
iron. But in its precious contents there
lies value comparable with that of
rare library or a most expensive collec-
tion of delicate apparatus.
over 1000 specimens of birds and
over 1000 specimens of small mammals
have already been catalogued, and of
the latter several thousand remain to
batrachians are also awaiting attention,
appointed for this group. Besides all
these, which are the property Of the
museum. several private collections
have been deposited here for the bene-
ft OF the college students. the most no
table one being Mr.. Grinnell's own col
lection of 5000 birds. The Swarth and
1000 specimens each, are also valuable
loans. Such eggs as have so far been
secured are placed on cotton In boxes
having glass covers, and these are kept
in a chest of drawers by themselves.
Passing from this gallery one crosses
the hall to the research room, at the
northeast corner of the building To
this apartment trays or individual
specimens may be carried and placed
upon the broad tables beneath the win
dows for closer inspection and the
making of reports. There are also adj
ditional zines here. some against the
wall and some down the center of the
room.