New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-28
By Edward B. Clark

giving the color. measurement. and weight Of The ~
from which taken, but also and more partIeu-
because the study Of large series from single e-
shows the OF the differences resulting from sex
age affords index the kind and quantity OF Inlv
variation and standard for comparison with Other
mating the probable value Of particular cranIl ar aer
pecuarIties observed single skulls from remote -e
When the President sent his twelve cougar skulls
10 the Biological Survey the full data for each spec-
men prepared by him IN the field were sent with
them. One of the skulls was that of giant male.
the largest skull OF any cougar the Washington SCI
entiSts had ever seen. surprising even the type
specimen from the Wind River Mountains OF Ny0-
ming" In the flesh this animal measured eight ee-
in total length from nose TO tip OF tail and "elgArd
two hundred and twenty-seven pounds.
The bobcat, though 1t carries lynx as its " Chr1s-
tian scientific name should not be confused WIKI
the real lynx. its cousin Mr. Roosevelt Contr1bu-
tiOnS of bObCat specimens include five skulls OF am
mails shot near Meeker Colorado three from DIVIDE
Creek in the same State and from TenSaS Bayou.
Louisiana. The Meeker specimens and those IRON
Divide Creek were obtained in different years In
studying the bobcat material the scientists found
the Roosevelt specimens of great assistance IN eSts-
fishing the validity of the big form OF the bobGat;
the Lynx lird of the high attitudes, distinguished
from ordinary animals of the lower levels
Credit from Scientist
FROM one of the Washington scientists who Is par
= tiCularly hopeful concerning the results OF the
African collecting expedition comes this statement;
From Mr. Roosevets writings the big mammals Of
Americ. we have learned much concerning their habits
The best contributions science the elk the western
the cougar the wolf and the antelope contained
his reports He has extended knowledge OF the
eral characteristics these animals, and his Oervn
the methods the predatory mammals employ hunting
has sent way ahead.
1t is something of a descent from eight-tooJ
Colorado cougar TO a three inch Wyoming mouse
In the Washington collection the skin and skull
of field mouse (IIcTOttfS TdHGSl sent by the PreS
dent the Biological Survey from the Lower Geyser
Basin Wyoming in 1908. This seemingly Inslgnln-
cant mouse gave the scientists knowledge of a new
field mouse habitat. Ii never before had been re-
ported from that region of the country.
Mr. Roosevelt IN one of his writings tells OF
his belief that he had discovered a new species oil
shrew in the koOtenay country 1t was swimming
shrew that sent up silveTy bubbles when IT sans
below the surface This in the President
ranchman hunter DAYS, and he watched the shIt"
for long time and finally, believing that ne haG q
new species 10 give to science, he killed II ne
skinned the victim and put the pelt on log TO dt
Shortly afterward a guide took the log with me
shrew skin ~ 1t and threw 1t the FIRE; and tne
naturalist bewailed loss to the sum total OF lAe
worlds mammal knowledge The edge was taken
on his disappointment when he learned Dy Sol
reSpOndenCe that the swimming shrew had Oeei
chased its LAIR killed and fully CLASSIFIED soIIe
time before
In the early spring the President IS 10 go NJ
Africa in pursuit of specimens OF known ana SIIals
beasts. He hopes TO secure some greater rnalilil'
of whose existence to-day science IS ignorant
Gently Sir Harry Johnston of England dlned at ZIG
White House The EngliShnan went INTO ATTIC
and discovered and shot the Okap1- Is IheocolC
Roosevelt 10 90 Sir Harry better and TO dlSCo'e1
and shoot he -- and the -.