Evening star., 1909-08-19
AWAIT ROOSEVELT TROPHIES
SMITHSONIAN OFFICIALS PLAN
FINE PUBLIC EXHIBIT.

Eighty-two skins of wild animals, the
first installment of the Roosevelt collec-
ton from Africa. have been received In
New York. and the officials of the Smith
sonian are now waiting anxiously for
their receipt here.
1t Is generally supposed that they will
be sent through the port of New York, as
Is the case with most of the foreign ex-
hibits intended for the Smithsonian.
though there is possibility that they
may be shipped through in bond to
Georgetown and examined by the col
lector of customs there. In either case it
will take several days for the collection
to pass through the customs and sew
eral days more for the skins to reach
Washington. as they probably win be
shipped by freight.
The collection, SO far as known, is en-
tirely in casks, each skin having been
salted down soon after II was secured IN
the field. The specimens were temporar-
killed, and Mr.. Loring was sent to Nom
basa to superintend final shipment to
the United States.
The collection is a large one, some Of
a single skin, though there are seven
lions. which is an unusually large bag,
and will greatly add to the Smithsonian
collection. where there is not single
specimen on exhibition at present.
To Be Tanned.
When the collection is received here the
skins will be carefully tanned and pre-
pared for mounting. This will be large
work and may necessitate the employ
ment of additional men. None of the
specimens will be minted for some time
to come. and the arranging of the larger
groups may await the return of Mr..
Loring and DIR. Olven. who are with the
expedition.
II has been suggested by some of
the museum officials that the whole of
the mounted collection should be in
stalled for a time at least in the new
Smithsonian building. where il could b.
shown to the public as the Roosevelt
collection.
No decision has yet been reached as to
the division Of the spoils between the
museum and Col. Roosevelt. While Mr..
Roosevelt undertook to secure a number
of geological specimens for the National
Museum. it is generally supposed that he
will wish to keep few skins as personal
mementos. This division will of course
have TO await his return. -,
Moles and Rodents.
There Is a very large collection of moles,
rodents and other small animals, the
work of DR.. Mearns, who makes a special
ty OF this sort of thing; but these skins
will be useful mainly for scientific study,
and will not add much to the exhibition
collection. The Smithsonian Institution
made a formal announcement of the re-
ceipt Of the Roosevelt collection In New
York as follows:
The Smithsonian Institution has re-
ceived notice sof the arrival in New
York from Nairobt. from the Smith
sonian African. expedition under Col.
Theodore Roosevelt. of twenty barrels Of
large mammal skins in brine. The ship
ment, which comprises Col. Roosevelt's
first months collection. consists of eighty
two specimens. as follows: Lion. Z;
leopard. /; cheetah. 1: spotted hyena, I:
cape hartebeest IA; white bearded
wildebeest. B.: Neumann steinbuck. 3,
Kirk dix dix. 1: common waterbuck, 8:
Chanler reedhuck, 4; Grant gazeile. o:
Thomson gazelte, 3: impalla. 2; Gland.
! cape buffalo. 4; giraffe. 3; hippo
potamus. 1; warthog. 8; Burchell zebra,
Z; black rhinoceros, ="