Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-17
SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS

WASHINGTON, u c., August IA
The Smithsonian Institution has re-
Gently published a fully Illustrated
pamphlet containing brief accounts of
the more important explorations and
field work undertaken during 1914 by
members OF the staff of the institution
proper and OF its branches. tho Ma
t!onal Museum. the bureau OF Amer
lean Ethnology and the Astro-phys!-
cal observatory. The researches Gov
cred practically the entire world. expc-
ditions having been sent to fifteen diff
ferent countries, on every continent OF
the globe, and TO seventeen different
states In this country. They include
work along geological, geological. boz
tanical. anthropoloGical and astrophysi-
cal lines of investigation.
secretary Charles D. Waicott BREEZY
outlines his summers work in British
Columbia and Montana. in continue
ton of his previous geological cxplo-
ratons in those regions. In the lower
portion OF Deep Creek Canyon, south
east OF the city of Helena, a deposit
or siliceous shalc was examined where
some years ago DR.. Walcott discoy-
cred the remains OF crab-likc animals,
suggesting in form the fresh water
cray fishes found in streams and ponds
all over the world.
These fossils" says DR. Walcott
ARE the oldest animal remains now
known. and tho algal deposits which
occur at intervals for several thous-
and feet below the shalcs containing
tho crustaceans, are the oldest au-
thentic vegetable remains. 1t is also
most interesting that two types of bac
terra have been found In a fossil state
In the rock, In association with the
algal remains"
Among other interesting illustra-
lions the account includes beautiful
ana unusual panoramic photograph OF
the entire Asulkan Glacier, taken by
Mrs. Walcott.
continuing the excavations at the
cave deposit near Cumberland Md, Mr.
j. w. Gidley. of the United States Ma
ttonnl Museum, added to the already
important collection from this region
over 400 specimens Of fossil animals.
deposited there in far-off PIeistocene
time Among these was practically
complete skeleton of the large extinct
peccary, measuring something over
four feet In length: n partial skull of
n wolverine. and several skulls of ex-
tinct species of the black bear. Mr..
Gidiey hopes that the proposed fur
Their work on this deposit Will yield
even more interesting and important
results.
In letter from distant Celebes, Ma
lay Archipelago, Mr.. II. G. Raven, who
has been collecting animals and birds
erosity of Mr.. w. L. Abbott. gives in
teresting information OF the region
and its inhabitants and on the animals
of that section. Mammal life, accord
ing to Mr.. Raven, is not nearly SO
plentiful in Celebes as In Borneo. where
ho was collecting during the previous
season, but several peculiar animals
have been captured by him, among
them a specimen OF Babirussa n pig
with peculiar erect tusks. curved back
ward above the forehead. The spcci-
mems from Borneo sent in by Mr. Ra-
ven to the National Museum number
over 5000 animals and birds. forming
a very important addition to the mu-
seum's natural history collections.
An expedition under the joint auspices
Of the Smithsonian Institution and the
Cuban government spent two months
on the coast OF Western Cuba for the
purpose of making a complete biologi-
ical survey of the waters of that re-
gion and, incidentally. to obtain speci-
mems for tho exhibition series of tho
National Museum. The Smithsonian
was represented by Mr.. John B.
Henderson. regent Of tho Institution,