The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-11-16
"Extinct Species" Brought to
New York From the South
Sea Islands.

New York.-More than 10000 speci
mems Of multi-colored birds from the
South seas, including 30 varieties
hitherto unknown to ornithology. and
many more Of which only one or two
examples had only been vaguely heard
of. arrived in New York recently in
the custody of Rollo ii. Beck, an ex-
perienced naturalist and collector of
marine birds, who has been cruising
among the islands of the southern
Pacific for the last three years in
charge of the Whitney Ornithological
expedition. He has covered 10000
miles and visited ntvrly 100 Islands
In Polynesia ana the Marquesas.
This collection, noted for its scien-
tfic value and beauty, now is in the
Museum Of Natural History here, and
Is being catalogued. appraised and
classified by DR.. Robert G. Murphy.
assistant curator of birds at the
museum. 1t will be some time, Doc
tor Murphy told a representative of
the Christian Science Monitor, before
Mr.. Bocks collection will be ready for
publh exhibition. but 1t is already
obvious, he said, that the specimens
brought back will provide valuable
addition to archaeological data.
Strange Species Found.
Ono Of the outstanding discoveries
made by Doctor Beck was that envi-
rreruent and isolation have marked
effect on the development of birds,
both In color markings and in organic
strnetGra. Birds of the same family
discovered ON one island were found
to be q0lte different from those only
a fsv miles away. Very often two
birds of the same genus found on diff
fer@nt islands would differ in size or
their beaks might vary. or the color
markings of one would be of deeper
Shade and more pronounced than those
or the other.
The expedition has brought back
fFany specimens either totally un-
HnowE up to the present or which have
keen studied only from photographs
or written descriptions. For instance
there is Peale's Petrol, discovered by
Titan Peale in 1888 and not seen or
heard Of since, OF which several speci-
mems were secured by Doctor Beck.
1t Is a dark. demure little bird, and
as one turns 1t in the hand mysterious
greens and blues and brownish blacks
are seen
The Polynesian sandpiper, a small,
pert thing. whose feathers are white,
mottled With peculiar pale brown,
was up to few days ago only known
TO the world through FIVE carefully
guarded specimens. Doctor Murphy
proudly exhibited nearly half a tray
ful. Doctor Beck also found rare
variety Of cuckoo which, according to
some accounts, is parasitic and lays
fits eggs in the nests Of the brilliant
fruit pigeons and the sagacious look
Ing terms.
"Extinct Birds" Found.
Doctor Murphy pointed out that sew
eral of the forms discovered by the
Whitney expedition had been listed as
extinct birds" during the early years
of this century. The Christmas
island warbler has never before been
represented In any collection and was
known to ornithologists only through
q description now found to be at fault.
The museum at Turin, Italy, is the
only collecting agency that has fore
stalled the Natural History museum
IN obtaining the fruit pigeon from
Rapa, whose distinguishing feature is
crown of crushed raspberry sur
rounded by narrow clrclet of gold.
II would take fair-sizedt book to
describe the splendor and the beauty
Of Doctor Beck's collection. There are
the parrakeets, blazingly bright; there
Is the red-tailed tropic bird. whose
feathers have a pearly sheen tinted