Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-11
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM,
Iu-AMONG THE MAMMALS.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

| With a collection of specimens ap-
| preaching 100000 in number and repre-
senting most of the 1900 species Of
mammals which now inhabit the earth. the
| National Museum stands second only to
| the British Museum among the institu-
| tons Of the world in the work of studying
| the mammal creation of the earth. 1t is
| agreed by museum authorities every
| where that the collections of the division
of mammals in the National Museum
| have developed more rapidly than those
| Of any other museum in the world during
the past score of years.
The whole world is familiar with the
collections made by ex-President Roose-
welt on his African expedition. Another
man who 1as rendered a vast service to
science along similar lines. but whose
| work is unknown to all but a compare
lively few people, is Dr. w l.. Abbott.
who several years ago fitted out a boat
at Singapore and ever since has been
visiting all the adjacent coasts and
islands in search Of new material. which
he presents to the National Museum.
The specimens Of living species in the
museum range from the great elephants
presented by Roosevelt to the tiny shrew-
and a half long.
There are approximately 1000 species
Of mammals on the North American con-
tinent. of which about loco are to be
found within the boundaries of the
United States. Gradually many of these
species are in process of extinction. The
American bison. which a half century
ago was still TO be found in droveS of
unnumbered thousands on the western
plains. is an extinct species except for
few members of its race preserved for
show purposes. The wapati of Arizona
is an animal in process of extinction.
The same fate is gradually overtaking
the mountain sheep of the Rocky noun
tain country. But for the establishment
by the government of a large number of
forest reserves it Is probable that another
half century would see the extinction of
hundreds Of species which a century ago
were represented by unnumbered. thou
sands of individuals. The work Of forest
preservation has been successful that
European countries are laying out pre-
serves modelled after the Yellowstone
Park presentations.
OF course only few of the specimens
contained in the museum collections are
exhibited. The others arc kept in light
proof cases, to be
Few Specimens used for examina
=, rxh;h;4;. ton and study by
"" scientific men. One
of the principal uses to which they are
put is that of comparing them with new
specimens brought in for the purpose of
determining what are new species. This
work has been going on for years and
years, and the naturalists of the civilized
world who are engaged in studying man.
NAL life in this way are finding and de-
scribing from 300 to 400 new species of
mammals each year.
When an expert sets to work to exam
Inc new specimens he goes to the cases
where the skulls. skeletons and skins
are kept after the order of a card index
and there selects what are known as the
related specimens. For instance if he is
examining some newly arrived bats he
goes to the bat collection and gets out the
skulls and skins most closely resembling
the ones which have just arrived He
groups the skulls of each species together
on large platter and then examines
each group Of skulls and compares the
new specimen with each group.
He also possesses a catalogue of all
the different species described, and IL he
Is unable to find any exactly resembling
the new specimen he concludes that he
has found a new species. and so advises
the scientific world By publishing de-
scription of 1t in great geological maya
zine printed I'm London. The smaller
skulls are kept in little bottles. though
each one is given number which is
written in indelible ink the skull it
self. and this number corresponds to the
number of the skin from the specimen.
The skins are preserved by being busted
with arsenic and stuffed with cotton.
the purpose of additionally safeguarding
the skins from the intrusion Of vermin.
One of the most interesting phases of
the work Of the division Of mammals is
eft OF the public. All of these exhibits
are under the control Of Dr. James E.
Benedick. He also has charge Of all
other biological exhibits. Working under
him is George B. Turner the govern
ment's chief taxidermist. Mr. Turner Is
now engaged in mounting several groups
which. when completed, are destined to
represent the highest achievement in the
taxidermist's art. One Of these a group
Of Roosevelt lions. already has been
mounted and prepared for exhibition. 1t
represents the king of beasts In his ma
tive haunts, with his lioness and whelps
about him. Two Of the young lions are
playing together like kittens, another is
drinking water from a hole paved out
by zebra. Even down to the eyes these
animals are absolutely lifelike in their
appearance. A new system of ~ nting
animal eyes. perfected by Mr.. Turner,
has served to give them perfectly life
like appearance. He takes hemisphere
cal section of a hollow glass globe and
paints the inside with appropriate col
ors. When mounted in the head of the
prepared animal 1T is almost impossible
to see wherein 1t differs from the nat
ural eye.
In making one of these groups the chief
first prepares model which
he molds from
Model in Clay clay. and afterward
His First Step. m"se,m .utbor;o
ties for approval or change. just as an
architect submits his drawings to a
builder. After the model has
been approved the taxidermist makes a
rigid support, using a pedestal and a
crosspiece firmly bolted to it. This cross
piece serves In lieu Of a backbone. The
other parts of the skeleton are attached
to it and placed in the desired position.
After this the taxidernist puts the flesh
on the bones, as it were. using clay In
stead of actual meat. From this he makes
mis- cast OF REINFORCED plaster paris. over
which the skin is mounted.
Many people wonder of what prac-
teal use are such extensive studies of
animal life. And yet 1T has been on
such studies that all scientific knowl-
edge Of the animal creation has been
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