Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-01
Some Things You Want to Know
The National Museum.


No other museum in the world, except the
British museum, has such a large and
representative collection Of mammal specl-
mems. The catalogues show the National
museum to be ahead Of any OF the other
European museums, even In its collections
Of mammals from that continent.
In the last few weeks the museum au-
thorities have Installed one little case OF
exhibits Rooseveltlana In It are the skulls
Of a lion, a rhinocerous. q giraffe and
several smaller animals. The case is in the
hall occupied by the exhibits Of COM
parative anatomy, which Is one of the most
interesting collections In the museum. Here
one may study the strang relationships
that exist between all mammals. In one
case is the skeleton OF a man leading the
skeleton Of a horse, showing at a glance
all points of similarity and dissimilarity.
In this hall is the skeleton of one Of the
biggest whales that ever disported in the
Fairgrounds OF the sea, and one stands
almost under It while looking at the 242
exhibits of sea shells so small that II re-
quires a h~igh-powered microscope to tell
whether they are grains of dust or per
fectly formed creatures Of the deep.
One OF the most interesting collections,
from the standpoint OF the layman, is that
Of the anthropological department of the
museum. Here one may trace the develop
ment of the race from the time so remote
that history stands dumb and tradition is
silent. He may look into the reconstructed
homes Of cave-dwellers and wlelders Of
stone hatchets. and by easy graduation
follow his ancestry up to the present civili-
cation.
Some Of the exhibits in the division Of
ethnology are remarkable for their beauty
and the art displayed in their making. The
case contains a representation of an Es-
kimo fishing scene. The whole Eskimo
party and their dogs are grouped about
and one does not know which TO admire
most-the alert attention of the dogs or the
bright smile of pleasant anticipation that
plays over the face of the little boy as he
sees the fish drawn out upon the ice. There
are Indian war dances, Indian women
grinding meal and other incidents Of the
lives of the real first families Of America.
In the division Of technical history one
may follow the development OF naval archi-
lecture from the first hewed-out log to
the modern steamship. He may see boats
of grass. boats of skin. RATS of logs. and
may follow the sail from the first canvas
AAOAoNCt W AhO W nv bSol HlOutEH
full-rigged merchantmen. He may see the
models of the first steamboats, going back
as far as John Fitch's many-oared affair,
which was sailed on the Delaware river
in 1855. This vessel was made to run like
a modern varsity crew boat, only the oars
were perpendicular instead of nearly hori-
zontal.
A fine exhibit is that showing the history
Of ae~ronautics, from the telephoto gun
camera devised by Prof. Langley for pry-
ing into the secrets OF bird flight, down to
a model Of a modern flying machine. The
gun-cameras are most ingenious arrange
ments, They were constructed in Paris.
Two observers stood at different angles
and aimed their guns at the bird whose
photograph they desired. The first one that
got a favored view of the bird, pulled the
trigger. and an electrical connection ex-
posed the plate in both cameras. Thus at
the exact instant two photographs at diff
ferent angles were taken Of the same bird.
The average man Is deeply interested in
the magnificent collection Of more than
100000 birds possessed by the museum.
Scientists declare that there are 1900
known species Of birds in the world, Of
which COCO kinds are perching birds. They
vary In size from the tiniest nectar-slpping
humming bird to the great condor and the
huge ostrich. The National museum ex-
hibits are arranged In a charmlngly inter
esting way. One may follow the various
species through all their shades Of change,
and may see many Of them mounted as
they live In their native haunts. Every
land has contributed to the collection and
It sim is growing al a rapid rate. The
children's room with its chimney sweep
and bnpnnalnn h.RdQt unefo a. halt hoA. "a.
fish Its glass snakes and other things is
calculated to awaken the slumbering
naturalist in the child.
The division of insects is one of the most
interesting in the museum. More than
10000 species nave been described by
scientists and this by no means exhnusts
the list. IL is estimated by some that the
world contains q million different kinds.
Tit museum has one Of the finest collec-
tons to be found anywhere. Its butter
flies are especially numerous and notable.
and was increased in size by the gift Of
the william Schaus collection now being
installed. This gift represents 2OO.OOO
butterflies and is the life labor Of the
donor. Science has described 1900 species
Of butterflies, OF which 1900 live in North
America. They range in size from the
great morphecipris. as big as a hand. 10
the tiny little fellows as small as a baby's
finger nail. The Hercules beetle has the
reputation OF being the original SAWYER.
He is about tho size OF a large fist ana
has very stout Inandibles. II is said that
he grasps a wig with them and then flies
around and around until he saws It off.
The Goliath beetle and the Bombardier bug
are there. The letter is one OF the most
peculiar Of all beetles. When disturbed il
fires a little wad OF blue smoke from It's
abdomen with a sharp report.
There are a thousand interesting and
scientifically valuable things In the Ma
tlonal museum which cannot even be re-
ferred TO here. With specimens coming H.
at the rate Of 10000 a year. it is certain
that II VIII become one OF the most truly
national institutions 81 the country, valuable
for the service II WIN render Americans at
large as an exhibition Of the many wonders
OF nature. as well as being a reflection OF
the splendid story OF world progress
SY EEHDER1o y. HABK1M.
TomoEEoW-aHistorie New Orleans"
AIR NIGOR