White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-06-03
PLAN ADVANCE ON
"SCIENTIFIC FRONT"
Smithsonian Explorers Have
Ranged Many Lands.

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Washington.-How science ranges
the world in quiet, ceaseless ques,
for material with which to build fuller
conceptions of our universe is well
illustrated by the Smithsonian insti
tution's exploration pamphlet for 1926
which is just off the press. The book
might properly be called 1.-THE Adven.
ture of. Science" 1t describes briefly
30 excursions into the field--if trips
to Sumatra, to China, to Algeria, Balu-
chlstan and southwest Africa, to Alas
ka, may correctly be called excursions.
Their purpose included, among
others, the capture of live wild game,
the unearthfng of buried villages
which fourished In prehistoric Amer
lea, the collection of fossil footprints
and fossil elephants and shells, the
gathering of ferns in West Indian
mountains, and of minerals in Mex
leo. The short impersonal narratives
evoke the picture of men keenly ex-
pectant before the curtained stage of
nature. They bury forever the dead
myth Of the "dry-as-dust" character
Of science.
The introduction to the pamphlet
reveals that "during the past year
more expeditions in which the Smith
sonian was represented have gone out
than ever before, and this in spite Of
the fact that the institution has prac-
t1cally no unrestricted funds for field
work."
Field Work Essential.
"Field work is essential to the ad-
vance of nearly all branches of sci
ence," continues the introduction,
particularly those which the Smith
sonian institution is at present en-
gagged in promoting, namely, geology,
biology, anthropology and astrophys-
les. The institution, therefore, en-
braces every opportunity of putting
expeditions in the field to obtain de-
sired information or collections, either
under it's own auspices through tinan.
cial assistance from it's friends or in
cooperation with other agencies which
will benefit equally from the work"
The years expeditions were headed
by 30,0OO-mile journey to Algeria,
Baluchistan and southwest Africa, un-
dertaken by DR.. G.. G. Abbot, acting
secretary Of the Smithsonian, under
the auspices Of the National Geo.
graphic society and the Smithsonian,
to select a site for solar observatory
In the eastern hemisphere. He picked
Mount Brukkaros among the Hotten-
tots of southwest Africa and the OBJ
servatory is already functioning there
The purpose Of the field work of the
Smithsonian's metaphysical observa-
tory, according to Doctor Abbot, has
been aimed for the last eight years to
solve the question of whether the sun
varies, and, If so, what effects on our
weather do the changes of solar heat
produce?
Another section of Africa-Tangan-
yika erritory-provided the scene for
the Smithsonian-Ch rysler live-game
collecting expedition under DR.. Will
liam B. Mann. The expedition brought
home about i, 700 live animals for the
national geological park under Smith
sonian direction, including a pair of
giraffes, five impalla, greater kudu,
an Gland, a blue duiker, red duiker,
three white-bearded kru, four wart-
hogs and quantities of birds, small
mammals and reptiles.
The success of the expedition was
made possible by the hearty co-opera-
ton Of the game department Of Tan
ganyika, and an all-inclusive license
from the governor. This proved in
valuable, because of the numerous ma
tive gamekeepers who were con-
stantly dropping in on the camp, ask
ing to see the license, taking it's num-
Der and the names of the party and
inquiring from the native hunters
what the purpose of the expedition
was. The license also enabled Doctor
Mann to hire 30 porters of the VAN
boro and Wambugo tribes, who are so
swift that they can run down animals.
Several attempts to capture young
rhino failed, due to the absence OF
young. Adult rhinos charged the party
five times without inflicting serious
damage. Doctor Mann refutes the
theory that the tick birds warn their
hosts Of an approaching enemy. These
birds cluster thickly on the rhinoceros
to eat the ticks which are so abundant
on his body. At the approach of any
suspicious object the tick birds make
loud twittering, thereby indicating
to men the whereabouts of the rhinoc-
eros.