El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-28

One of the most Interesting collec-
tions, from the standpoint OF the lay
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 jewellers and wieIders of stone
hatchets and by easy gradations follow
his ancestry up to the present civiliza-
ton.
Some of the exhibits in the division Of
ethnology are remarkable for their
beauty and the art displays in their
making. One case contains a repre-
sentation 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 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 Incl
dents OF the lives OF the real. first fam
| lilies OF America. Il
Technical History.
In the division of technical history
| one may follow the development OF
naval architecture from the first hewed
out log 20 the modern steamship. He
.
RATS of logs, and may follow the sail
! from the first canvas hoisted to 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 river in 1886
| This vessel was made to run like
modern varsity crew boat, only the
| oars were perpendicular instead OF
| nearly horizontal.
A fine exhibit is that showing the
| history of aeronautics. from the tele-
| photo gun camera, devised by Prof
Langley for prying into the secrets OF
| bird flight, down to a model Of mod
ern flying machine The gun cameras
are most ingenious arrangements They
were constructed in pairs Two OBJ
! servers 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 exposed the plate in both
cameras. Thus at the exact instant two
photographs at different angles were
taken Of the same bird.
Collection of Birds.
The average man is deeply interest
ed 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 5000 kinds are
perching birds. They vary in size from
: the tiniest nectar slipping humming bird
to the great condor and the huge Os-
trich.
The National museum exhibits are ar
ranged in chahrmingly interesting
way. One may follow the various spe-
cies 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 il still is growing at a
rapid rate. The children's room, with
its chimney sweep and humming birds
nests. its bull bats, its fish, its glass
snakes and other things, is calculated
to awaken the slumbering naturalist in
the child
Millions of Insects.
The division of insects is one of the
most interesting in the museum. More
than 100000 species have been de-
scribed by scientists, and this by no
means exhausts the list. 1t is estimated
by some that the world contains 1,00O,-
600 different kinds. The museum has
one of the finest collections to be found
anywhere. Its butterflies are especial
| " numerous and notable, and was in
creased in size by the gift of the Will
liam Schraus collection now being in
stalled This gift represents zoe. 900
butterflies and is the life labor of the
donor.
Science has described Is, 900 species OF
butterflies. OF which 1900 live in North
America They range in size from the
great morpheoipris. as big as a hand. to
the tiny little fellows as small as a
baby's finger nail
The Hercules battle has the reputa-
ton of 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 1t off. The GOi.ath beetle and
the Bombardier bug are there The
latter is one of the most peculiar of all
beetles When disturbed it fires a e
wad of blue smoke from its abdomen
with sharp report
Story OF World Progress.
There are a thousand interesting and
scientifically valuable things in the Ma
tional museum which cannot even be
referred to here With specimens
coming in at the rate of 100000 a wear.
it is certain that 1t Will become one
of the most truly national institutions
of the country, valuable for the serv
ice 1t win render Americans M large
as an exhibition of the many wonders
or nature. as well as being a reflection
OF the splendid story of world progress.
Tomorrow-Historic NeY Orleans
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