Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-13

With collection of more than $1,000
specimens. gathered from all parts OF
the world and representing all Of the
principal families of reptiles, toads and
frogs, the division of reptiles and ba-
| trachians of the National Museum is one
| where much interesting research work Is
being done. Reptiles, fishes and like
creatures are preserved in a way differ
ing from that characterizing the preser-
walton Of mammals and birds. They must
be preserved in alcohol Treated with
such substances as formalip before being
placed in the alcohol, they can be pre-
served indefinitely.
The museum proposes to make some
thing of departure in the manner of ex-
hibiting reptiles in the future. Hereto
fore the animals themselves were never
placed in the exhibition cases, probably
because of the shudder-provoking. APP
pearance they present to the layman
Such reptiles as were on exhibition here
tofore were simply plaster casts. is
now proposed to gather together rep
resentative collection of specimens pre-
served in alcohol and place them On ex-
hibition.
The curator Of reptiles, toads and frogs
in the National Museum is DR.. Leon
hard Stejneger. who Is head curator OF
the entire department of biology. The
excellence of the collection is due large
ly to the work of this veteran naturalist
He has spent great deal of time IN
Japan and the Philippines. and the coll
lection of Japanese reptiles is now the
the world. The National Museum also
has the finest collection of Mexican and
North American reptiles in existence.
It is probable that a greater proper
ton of the worlds reptiles and mammals
have been de-
Studv 0f RentileS scribed than any
Source of Interest. animals It is
estimated by DIR. Stejneger that perhaps
90 per cent Of the living species of rep
tiles have been described ~ the natural
lists of the world. No branch of natural
history possesses more interest to the
scientist than that dealing with the rep
tiles of the world. They appeared on the
earth geological ages before the rise Oh
the birds and mammals
AS known in existing species. they are
i'm many respects modified and degener-
ate representatives of group of lung
eathing animals with backbones Wnlcn
attained their ma Ximum development IN
the MeSOZOlC DeTlOu VI StOto6Nh al lh'eS'
1t is believed by naturausts that the rep
tiles are the direct ancestors OF all mann
mails and birds. Some extinct reptlieS
were so much like ancient mammals ana
birds that for a long time 1t was an
ficult to classify them. One finds In the
giant dinosaurs which roamed through
every part of America in geological ages
gone by the highest development OF the
reptile. Since then it has degenerated.
Today the crocodile is the nearest famll-
lar approach to the golden days OF rep
titan life. 49,
There is but one species of reptile living
which bears fairly close resemblance
to it's giant predecessors of past geologic
al ages This reptile is known as the
Tautari. 1t inhabits the small, rocky
islands surrounding New Zealand 80
near to extinction has 1T become that
the government of New Zealand mas
passed a law protecting it. Yet with the
advent of the pork-raising industry ana
the accompanying civilization in Ne"
Zealand the Tautari has almost gone the
way of it's ancient ancestors, and II Is
predicted that it will not be long before
the last one will repose in alcohol in some
museum jar. This reptile looks as though
it belonged to the lizard order. but the
naturalist places it between the turtles
and the tortoiSes.