The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-01-26
DO|NGs OF A FROG
New Group in New York National
History Museum.
Work Represents About Two Years,
study and Preparation by Mary
Cynthia Diekerson-Everythlng
10 Shown, Even croakIna.

New York.-The last word In fros
sociology is the way Prof. BashforC
Dean describes the new bullfrog grour
which has just been installed in the
east tower OF the second floor of the
american museum of natural history
Inc bullfrog group represents a July
scene typical OF southern New Eng.
land and is unique inasmuch as It Is
the frst group with descriptive labels
70 be placed on view in a public mu-
scum showing the general biology OF
the frog. its swimming, croaking. its
FOOD habits In connection with small
mammals, snakes and fish and also the
metamorphosis from tadpole.
The bullfrog group represents about
two years of study and preparation by
Mary Cynthia Dickerson, of the mu.
scum staff, and is novel In that it has
transparent porous background
curved in panoramic fashion and made
OF fine and durable linen. The back.
ground was painted by Hobart Mich.
ols and Albert Operti and is in trans.
Parent colors, the high lights on the
front. the shadows on the back in an
EFFORT to obtain a realistic woodland
scene with shifting light in and
through 1t as in nature.
The light at the back OF the canvas
mas been kept at the minimum and
balanced on the canvas in front by
weak indirect light, while a relative.
ly strong direct light has been focused
on the foreground as If from the west.
ern sky. To help the perspective in a
minor degree, the arranger OF the
group has resorted to various small /
devices. For instance. the foreground
slopes upward to meet the back,
ground; tall shrubs In the front are
made to lead into others less tall far
tner back, while the large leaf plants
such as alder and birch have been
placed In the Immediate foreground.
Ine story of the group tells itself
at sight One frog Is moulting its
skin In typical frog fashion; a second
IS dashing from the water to catch a
white footed mouse descending from
sparrow's nest; another Is croakipg
ana fourth Is demonstrating how
large mouthful of young water
snakes bullfrog can master. A
smaller bullfrog, giving his attention
% chickadee just alighted on birch
oranch above his head, and oblivious
)I Danger, Is about to fall prev to
'iacksnake. A swimming frog is send
ng up stream Of bubbles from her [
lostrils, showing that the lungs are
'mpued or air as the skin comes into
'iay for breathing.
In addition to the bullfrog xroun
mere have been put on view recently {
Monitor group and various smaller !
xhibits. The modelling OF these +
roups in form life; all work on both
orm and color Is done from the living s
himai, tha New York geological park t
nd the New York aquarium having f
ent many living specimens for study
News has been received of the o
ongo expedition of the museum v
mich Is being conducted in Africa nm. Ii
er the leadership of Herbert Lang. a
ne expedition has been unusually P
lccessiul among the Mangbetu. il
me collection in anthropology now Ct
insists of some 1,4OO specimens. ac. ii
ordlng to Mr.. Lang. and is UNIQUE not
nly on account of its numbers. bur D,
specially by reason of the selection ST
lat has been made throughout the al
'rritory inhabited by the Mansbetu fc
Id other tribes. The expedition haa d.
ayeled with a caravan of 1870 men b,
ID In the report 2,4OO mammals are 81
sted, 1900 reptiles and 1850 birds.
'ecimens include white rhinoceros M
70 elephants. black rhinoceros and Jr
20 buffaloes. ne