Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-07

4 t1OnS, from Ine Sldnupolnt VI tilS ia5
man, is that of the anthropological de-
partment of the museum. Here one
may trace the development 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 wielders OF
stone hatchets, and by easy gfadation
follow his ancestry up to the present
civilization.
Some of the exhibits in the division
of ethnology arc remarkable for their
beauty and the art displayed in their
making. one case contains represen-
tation Of an Eskimo fishing scene. The
whole Eskimo party and their dogs are
grouped about, and one does not know
which to admire most-the alert atten-
tion of the dogs or the bright smile or
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 architecture from the nrst
hewed- d-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 hoisted 10
the breeze to the best modern full
rugged merchantmen. He may see the
models of the first steamboats,, going
back as far as John Fitch's many
Dared affair which was sailed on the
Delaware in 1856. This vessel was made
to run like a modern varsity crew boat,
only the oars were perpendicular IN
stead of nearly horizontal.
A fine exhibit is that showing the
from fha foia-
photo gun-camera devised by Professor
Langley for prying into the secrets OF
bird flight, down to model OF a
modern flying machine.
The gun-cameras are most ingenious
arrangements. They were constructed
in pairs. Two observers stood at diff
ferent angles and aimed their guns at
the bird whose photograph they de-
sired. The first one that got favored
view OF the bird pulled the trigger and
an electrical connection exposed 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 $4,000 known species of birds in the
world, of which 5000 kinds are perching
birds. They vary in size from the
tiuiest nectar-sipping humming bird to
the great condor and the huge ostrich.
The national museum exhibits are ar
ranged in charmingly interesting
way. One may follow the various
species through all their shades of
change, and may see many or them
mounted as they live in their native
haunts. Every land has contributed 10
the collection, and it still Is growing
at a rapid rate. The children's room
with its chimney sweep and hummins
birds nests. its bullbats. its fsh, its
glass snakes and other things Is cal
culated to awaken the slumbering
naturalist in the child.
The division OF insects Is one of the
most interesting in the museum.
More than 100000 species have been
described by scientists, and this by
no means exhausts the list. IL Is estl-
mated by some that the world con-
tains a million different kinds. The
museum has one of the finest collections
to be found anywhere. Its butterflies
are especially numerous and notable,
and was increased in size by the glft
of the William Schaus collection now
being installed. This gift represents
100000 butterflies and is the life LABOR
of the donor. Science has described
13 900 species of butterflies, of which
1900 live in North America. They range
i'm size from the great morphecipris, as
big as a hand. to the tiny little fellows
as small as o. baby's finger nall. The
Hercules beetle has the reputation or
being the original sawyer He Is about
the size of a large fist and has very
stout manibles. 1t is said that he
grasps a twig with them and then flies
around and around until he saws II
off. The Goliath beetle and the Bonn
bardier bug are there. The latter Is
one of the most peculiar of all beetles.
When disturbed 1t fires a little wad or
blue smoke from its abdomen with
sharp report
There are q thousand interesting and
scientifically valuable things in the
National museum which cannot even
be referred to here. With specimens
coming in at the rate of quarter mill
lion a year, 1t is certain that 1t Will
become one of the most truly national
institutions in the country, valuable
for the service 1t will render Americans
at large as an exhibition of the many
wonders OF nature, as we'll as being
reflection of the splendid story OF
world progress.