1
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21
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Miscellany
Manuscripts or printed documents excluding Bulletins, Catalogs, and Correspondence
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Transcription
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/itemno/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
Middletown, Conn., August 2, 1870
Memorandum of Agreement made this day between Orange Judd of New York, + Henry A. Ward of Rochester, N.Y.
In consideration of this sum of thirty five hundred dollars ($3500.), to be paid as hereinafter stated, Mr. Ward has this day sold to Mr. Judd a collection of plaster casts of fossils + geological models, a catalogue of which is hereto annexed. These casts are to be of perfect workmanship, finish, + execution; and are to be delivered by Mr. Ward, at his own expense, in the Orange Judd Hall of Wesleyan University at Middletown. All casts are to be painted in imitation of the originals.
Mr. Ward agrees furthermore to himself do or cause to be done at his own expense all the work of thoroughly mounting + putting in order the above series of casts (the Megatherium to be mounted on tripod, as at Boston Society of Natural History, without a railing). He further agrees to furnish + place in the Orange Judd Hall, at his own expense, five pedestals constructed in a strong, neat, + finished manner, + in harmony with the finish of the other woodwork of the Hall, for the occupancy + placing of the following specimens, viz. Nos. 23, 36, 112, 128, 148, + 279 of Mr. Ward's published catalogue.
Mr. Ward agrees to have the whole work completed by or before the 15th of November, provided that no hindrance occurs by reason of the incompleteness of the Orange Judd Hall.
All the specimens are to be numbered, + furnished with labels printed on colored pasteboard.
The list of specimens chosen, hereto annexed, may be altered by the mutual consent of Prof. Wm. N. Rice + Mr. Ward, but not otherwise. In the case of those suites of specimens mentioned in the list hereto annexed without designation of the particular species, the specimens shall be hereafter selected by mutual agreement between Prof. Rice + Mr. Ward. And, in these suites, the price of the specimens shall be subject to the same discount pro rata which is noted in the published catalogue for the entire series from which they are selected.
If, after Mr. Ward has delivered, mounted, + arranged the entire collection
of specimens here noticed, there should arise any question as to the finish or perfection of the casts themselves or of their mounting, Mr. Judd may call in as experts any or all of the following named persons, viz._ Profs. J. D. Dana + W. H. Brewer of New Haven; Prof L. Agassiz of Cambridge, Mass.; Prof. G. H. Hitchcock of Hanover, N.H.; Prof J.S. Newberry + Dr. J. Torrey of New York: and their decision in the matter shall be final as between the two parties hereto.
Mr. Judd agrees to himself bear all risk from fire or outside depredations, while the material is in the Orange Judd Hall, + being stored or arranged.
Finally Mr. Judd agrees to pay Mr. Ward the sum of thirty five hundred dollars ($3500.), on the 14th of December, 1870, provided that Mr. Ward's part of the contract be then fulfilled, reserving only any previous fragments which he may have made + Mr. Ward receipted for.
In witness whereof both parties have hereunto set their hands + seals the date just above written:
Henry A. Ward
Orange Judd
In presence of
Wm. North Rice.
Transcribed by
Romanowski, Arjay
Place of Publication
example: Rochester, New York
Middletown, Connecticut, United States of America
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Contract (Wesleyan)
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Contract
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry A.
Wesleyan University
Judd, Orange
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Rice, William North
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1870-08-02
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
Middletown, Conn., August 2, 1870
Memorandum of Agreement made this day between Orange Judd of New York, + Henry A. Ward of Rochester, N.Y.
In consideration of this sum of thirty five hundred dollars ($3500.), to be paid as hereinafter stated, Mr. Ward has this day sold to Mr. Judd a collection of plaster casts of fossils + geological models, a catalogue of which is hereto annexed. These casts are to be of perfect workmanship, finish, + execution; and are to be delivered by Mr. Ward, at his own expense, in the Orange Judd Hall of Wesleyan University at Middletown. All casts are to be painted in imitation of the originals.
Mr. Ward agrees furthermore to himself do or cause to be done at his own expense all the work of thoroughly mounting + putting in order the above series of casts (the Megatherium to be mounted on tripod, as at Boston Society of Natural History, without a railing). He further agrees to furnish + place in the Orange Judd Hall, at his own expense, five pedestals constructed in a strong, neat, + finished manner, + in harmony with the finish of the other woodwork of the Hall, for the occupancy + placing of the following specimens, viz. Nos. 23, 36, 112, 128, 148, + 279 of Mr. Ward's published catalogue.
Mr. Ward agrees to have the whole work completed by or before the 15th of November, provided that no hindrance occurs by reason of the incompleteness of the Orange Judd Hall.
All the specimens are to be numbered, + furnished with labels printed on colored pasteboard.
The list of specimens chosen, hereto annexed, may be altered by the mutual consent of Prof. Wm. N. Rice + Mr. Ward, but not otherwise. In the case of those suites of specimens mentioned in the list hereto annexed without designation of the particular species, the specimens shall be hereafter selected by mutual agreement between Prof. Rice + Mr. Ward. And, in these suites, the price of the specimens shall be subject to the same discount pro rata which is noted in the published catalogue for the entire series from which they are selected.
If, after Mr. Ward has delivered, mounted, + arranged the entire collection of specimens here noticed, there should arise any question as to the finish or perfection of the casts themselves or of their mounting, Mr. Judd may call in as experts any or all of the following named persons, viz._ Profs. J. D. Dana + W. H. Brewer of New Haven; Prof L. Agassiz of Cambridge, Mass.; Prof. G. H. Hitchcock of Hanover, N.H.; Prof J.S. Newberry + Dr. J. Torrey of New York: and their decision in the matter shall be final as between the two parties hereto.
Mr. Judd agrees to himself bear all risk from fire or outside depredations, while the material is in the Orange Judd Hall, + being stored or arranged.
Finally Mr. Judd agrees to pay Mr. Ward the sum of thirty five hundred dollars ($3500.), on the 14th of December, 1870, provided that Mr. Ward's part of the contract be then fulfilled, reserving only any previous fragments which he may have made + Mr. Ward receipted for.
In witness whereof both parties have hereunto set their hands + seals the date just above written:
Henry A. Ward
Orange Judd
In presence of
Wm. North Rice.
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
People
People
Includes correspondents, staff at Ward's, species authors, and other individuals
Person Name
Winchell, Alexander
Occupation
Geologist
Author
Educator
Date of Birth
1824-12-31
Place of birth
example: Rochester, New York
North East, New York
Date of Death
1891-02-19
Place of death
example: Rochester, New York
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Link to more information
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Winchell">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Winchell</a>
Library of Congress link
<a href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85828861">http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85828861</a>
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
University of Michigan
Syracuse University
Vanderbilt University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Winchell, Alexander, 1824-1891
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Person
Geology
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry Augustus
Correspondence
Letters, telegrams, and notes--excluding inventories, contracts, and other miscellany
Place sent from
Location letter was sent from, determined from postmark or noted in the letter itself
example: Rochester, New York
Middletown, Connecticut
Place sent to
Location letter was received from address on envelope or other confirmable information
example: Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Creator role
Correspondent
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Transcription
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/itemno/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
Wesleyan University<br />Middletown, Conn. July 6, 1870<br />Prof. H. A. Ward.<br />Dear Friend,<br />Your kind favor of the "Forth" came <br />to hand last night, &<br />I hasten to reply. I am<br />much pleased with<br />the recommend, I fear<br />it is too grand. It is<br />all right, I trust, with a <br />slight amendment &c.<br />which I will suggest to<br />you next week. Please<br />accept my many thanks<br />for it. It is a [illegible] to me.<br />Say in substance the<br />same to Mr. Judd, for<br />a new star has appeared <br />in our firmament.<br />
I am glad that you<br />had such an interesting<br />chat with Mr. Judd, for<br />I think that it will be<br />of service to you. I trust,<br />The Hall will occupy<br />the 3rd & 4th stories in one<br />room with gallery.<br />The building is 94ft x 64ft<br />with 7 windows on each<br />side & 5 on the ends, four<br />each story. Staircase at<br />one end of hall. The 1st<br />& 2nd stories are for lecture<br />rooms & work rooms.<br />[Bracement?] for heavy<br />chemistry &c<br />Pardon me for not<br />sending note, but I will<br />pay you $100.00 next week<br />when you are here to bind<br />whatever bargain we may<br />make. Pardon me again
but I misunderstood you ^at the Depot^<br />to say $75.00 for the Great<br />Kangaroo, if so we'll call<br />it a bargain for $135.00 &<br />you can have your money<br />on the delivery of those two<br />skeletons well remounted<br />(the Orange & G. Kangaroo) &<br />you may do the job just<br />as quick as possible.<br />Remember that you shall<br />give me the first opportunity<br />to talk about the Echidna,<br />Ornithorhynchus, & Coala.<br />Excuse haste and believe<br />me<br />Ever yours<br />N. Cressy<br />Wm N. Rice Ph. D.<br />Middletown Ct.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Correspondence
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Cressy, Noah
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1870-07-06
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
Title
A name given to the resource
Cressy, Noah. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1870-07-06)
Rights
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Public domain
XML Search
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Text
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Cressy, Noah. Letter to Ward, Henry Augustus (1870-07-06)
Encoder
Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Libraries
Ward Project Team Members
Robert Minckley
Melissa S. Mead
Pennilyn Higgins
Marcy Strong
Blair Tinker
Joe Easterly
Joshua Romphf
Lisa Wright
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2015
The copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories. These
materials are available free of charge subject to the following
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Any use of the material for a permitted purpose should be
accompanied by the credit shown on the item page.
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written permission. Commercial exploitation of the materials on this website is prohibited without written permission from the University of Rochester.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2015.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to natural science museums around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
Original line breaks, punctuation, abbreviations and spelling have been preserved
in the transcriptions and underlining and strikethroughs have been encoded.
Marginalia associated with a photograph or other ephemera has been transcribed
and associated with that object. Other marginalia is tagged "caption" at the
beginning of the relevant date's entry. Words or phrases deemed indecipherable
have been noted as "illegible." Nontextual original content, e.g. drawings and
diagrams, have been noted as such. Images of the original diary pages are
provided to show the creator’s original page layout and placement of
additions.
English
Wesleyan University
Middletown, Conn. July 6, 1870
Prof. H. A. Ward.
Dear Friend,
Your kind favor of the "Forth" came
to hand last night, &
I hasten to reply. I am
much pleased with
the recommend, I fear
it is too grand. It is
all right, I trust, with a
slight amendment &c.
which I will suggest to
you next week. Please
accept my many thanks
for it. It is a [illegible] to me.
Say in substance the
same to Mr. Judd, for
a new star has appeared
in our firmament.
I am glad that you
had such an interesting
chat with Mr. Judd, for
I think that it will be
of service to you. I trust,
The Hall will occupy
the 3rd & 4th stories in one
room with gallery.
The building is 94ft x 64ft
with 7 windows on each
side & 5 on the ends, four
each story. Staircase at
one end of hall. The 1st
& 2nd stories are for lecture
rooms & work rooms.
[Bracement?] for heavy
chemistry &c
Pardon me for not
sending note, but I will
pay you $100.00 next week
when you are here to bind
whatever bargain we may
make. Pardon me again
but I misunderstood you ^at the Depot^
to say $75.00 for the Great
Kangaroo, if so we'll call
it a bargain for $135.00 &
you can have your money
on the delivery of those two
skeletons well remounted
(the Orange & G. Kangaroo) &
you may do the job just
as quick as possible.
Remember that you shall
give me the first opportunity
to talk about the Echidna,
Ornithorhynchus, & Coala.
Excuse haste and believe
me
Ever yours
N. Cressy
Wm N. Rice Ph. D.
Middletown Ct.
Cressy
July/70
Echidna
kangaroo
koala
platypus
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
People
People
Includes correspondents, staff at Ward's, species authors, and other individuals
Person Name
Cressy, Noah
Occupation
Professor of Comparative Osteology
Veterinary Surgeon
Editor
Date of Birth
1839-03-06
Place of birth
example: Rochester, New York
Rome, Franklin County, Massachusetts
Date of Death
1902-08-31
Place of death
example: Rochester, New York
Hartford, Connecticut
Link to more information
<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=5OEfAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA637&dq=%22noah+cressy%22+wesleyan+death&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-yKOEzLraAhUnVt8KHeCGCm4Q6AEILzAB#v=onepage&q=%22noah%20cressy%22%20wesleyan%20death&f=false"> </a>
LC name ID
<a href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2012072913">http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2012072913</a>
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cressy, N. (Noah), 1839-1902
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Person
Osteology
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
People
People
Includes correspondents, staff at Ward's, species authors, and other individuals
Person Name
Rice, William North
Occupation
Geologist
Date of Birth
1845-11-21
Place of birth
example: Rochester, New York
Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA
Date of Death
1928-11-13
Place of death
example: Rochester, New York
Delaware, Ohio, USA
Library of Congress link
<a href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97053774">http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97053774</a>
Link to more information
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_North_Rice">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_North_Rice</a>
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
United States Geological Survey
State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rice, William North, 1845-1928
Geology
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry Augustus
Correspondence
Letters, telegrams, and notes--excluding inventories, contracts, and other miscellany
Affiliation
Use name as represented on letterhead, in Bulletin, Catalog, etc.
Ward's Natural Science Establishment
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Ward's Natural Science Establishment
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut
Correspondent
Ward, Henry Augustus
Place sent from
Location letter was sent from, determined from postmark or noted in the letter itself
example: Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Correspondence
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Judd, Orange
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1870-07-11
Title
A name given to the resource
Ward, Henry A. Letter to Judd, Orange. (1870-07-11)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output">
<p>University of Rochester</p>
<pre> Rochester, N.Y.
July 11 1870
</pre>
<p>Mr Orange Judd,. Dear Sir.</p>
<pre> You may possibly remember that I called on you (at your
</pre>
<p>Office in N. York) ten days ago with a note of introduction from Mr D.D.T. Moore. My errand was to propose to you a </s Gallery > </u Museum of Grology > for your new Hall at Middle- town. You were then too busy to consider the subject, but told me that I might write you on the subject to Middletown. This I now do; and will be as breif as possible.</p>
<pre> I have worked for many years past in the Depart-
</pre>
<p>ment of Educational Geology , undertaking to increase the extent and display and teaching value of our College Cabinets. One particular way in which I have done this is original with me in this country, although common in Europe. I refer to my </u Casts > of noted </u Fossils >.</p>
<pre> You are aware </s prob > that certain forms of Animal life
</pre>
<p>lived at distinct Periods of the Earth's former history and that their petrified remains (Fossils) characterize these periods. </s telling us > ^revealing^ by their presence the size of any given stratus, of the period in question. Many of these fossil animals are very noted for their great size or </u strange > forms </s vastly > different from these of the present day >: and their names are well known in popular writing as well as to Geologists i refer to such Monsters as the </u Megatherum. Deinothinus. ></p>
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<p>[Mammoth Mastodon, Glyptodon, Iguanodon, Icthyosaurus, Pleaiasanus, Brot. foggart, Pterodactyle,] and many others. </s Now > These Fossils are treated of in all our text books, and taught to every Geological Class in our Colleges. But the students never see the </s cast > specimens themselves: for these are so very rare or certainly unique that they are distributed sparsely in the great cabinets of the World, and are </u nearly all > in Europe.</p>
<pre> Now, without more words, my </s entire > work has been
</pre>
<p>(during six years spent in Europe) and with a heavy money outlay) to </u copy these great Fossils in plaster, > and then to make </u casts > which in size form & color shall be exact fac-similes of the originals. I have issued a catalogue of these casts (which I mail you today) and offer them to the cabinets of our large colleges or [Instiutions] where </u Science >. is really to be taught. I have full testimonials from our first Geologists in relation to these objects. I should like to show you these any time; please ^for present purpose ^ </s now > look at pages 215-16 of my book and also at letter from Prof. Alexander Winchell ^the Celebrated Michigan Geologist^ which I enclose.</p>
<pre> I have put a large series of these casts in the State
</pre>
<p>Geology Cabinet at Albany, and smaller series - from $1000. to $2000. each - in the colleges of Amherst, Cambridge, Columbia College N. York, Vasser College, Alleghany College, University of Rochester, Buffalo Acad. of Nat Sciences; and 18 months ago I sold a series for $2,500. to the Wesleyan</p>
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<p>University of Delaware, Ohio. But </u nowhere >, Sir, have I seen an opportunity to produce as graphic and so </s Magnifi8cent > </u impress - ive > an effect as in the </u magnificent > Hall which I understand is to be devoted to cabinets in the upper story of your new </s boulder > Hall of Science at Middlebury. I can arrange there a Restoration of Ancient Animal life, which shall not only be the wonder and admiration of all visitors </s but which > and be a proud adjunct to the college treasures, but which - better of it - shall give a lively impulse and aliment to the study of this noble Science of Geology, and thus shall do good to hundreds and thousands after we are all dead.</p>
<pre> I speak earnestly, Sir, but I trust that you
</pre>
<p>will excuse me, for I see more in this thing than I dare venture to detail to you in this letter. Part of this Material of mine is of a kind suited to stand on pedestals in the central area of a Geological Hall, and part is intended to hang on the </s side > walls, and to go on the shelves of wall - cases. It works right in with the other Material of a Geological Cabinet - or rather that works right in with it. A first condition of the whole is that it shall be arrayed in an orderly, systematic manner, scientifically classified and labelled, and tastifully disposed,</p>
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<p>the expense of such a cabinet as I offer you is not great. I can give you the fullest choice of everything in my book (leaving out only unnecessary duplicates) for $2,600. plus the cast of my ^walk in^ mounting them on pedestals (furnished me at Middletown) which would be $6oo. more. This collection would number </u 1000 > specimens, ranging in size from the [Megathim Glyptodon] Mastodon & c, down to shells, crinoids & Sea Urchins. It would be the best thing of this Kind which I have done or can do, and would </s give you > present - with the aid of your fine hall - one of the grandest cabinet displays in America. This is the series which you ought to have in order to fill your cabinet room with </s material > a Geolog. Cabinet worthy of its ^spacious </s grandness > area. ^ but</p>
<pre> I also enclose a list of
</pre>
<p>a smaller series which I can furnish for </u $1,500. plus the expense of mounting. This includes all the largest species included in other plans, but the number of specimens is only 200, and would occupy about 3/5 the space of previous series. It is less valuable educationaly, although it makes ^more than this probably^ </s a nearly hybrid > display, I mail you or (bond) M. S. S. catalogue of one of my Geological Cabinets, in order that you may see the photographs of </s the > a few of these casts which it [conting] (Please ^ when through with ^ </s hand > this book to ^hand it to ^Prof. Rice who will send it me.) I should like </u much > to have so fine a field in which to work - one when all would so conspire to an excellent result - as is, your great Hall. I should be proud of it, and I believe frankly that you all would. I can - with my man - do this work of which I have spoken in about 3 months time of warm weather, or 4 months of cold. But I leave his matter, Mr. Judd, to your con- sideration, believing that even if you do not favor it at present you will still not be sorry to have them had it presented. If you do favor it and would like to arrange detail or hear further explanation please write or telegraph me and I will come to Middletown. Awaiting your answer; I remain, Sir, Yours very respectfully, Henry A. Ward. [YBG]</p>
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Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
https://wardproject.org/files/original/579d1870ab0fe01c3c54985e9124957d.jpg
b805bee87f0df33f7d73f4d3bc04c7aa
https://wardproject.org/files/original/b136d2ec28398e686e8537033ee5c7f7.jpg
3965bf4c216432624bfabefad62c7d2b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry Augustus
Correspondence
Letters, telegrams, and notes--excluding inventories, contracts, and other miscellany
Place sent from
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example: Rochester, New York
Middletown, Connecticut
Institution
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Wesleyan University
Place sent to
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example: Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York, United States of America
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Judd, Orange
Date
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1870-07-22
Contributor
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Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
Title
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Judd, Orange. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1870-07-22)
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Public domain
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<div class="mw-parser-output">
<p>Office of AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST [The best Advertising Museum of the United States, for Reliable Advertising No 245 BROADWAY </S New Tork 1870 Middleton, 6Ct,^ July 22; Prof. H. A. Ward, University of Rochester</p>
<pre> Rochester, N.Y.
</pre>
<p>Dr Sir: Your letters and documents came duly to hand, but in the midst ofCommence- meant week exercises, and I have not yet been able to give them much attention. Our literary exercises are now closed, and in a few days Prof. </u Rice > and myself are intending to look fully into the matter, though I think it will be some weeks before I shall know whether I can purchase specimens. I have given a definite sum for The completion of the building, but we do not know how much that will cost yet. If there is a surplus, I shall feel quite disposed to procure but, in the mean time, I should like to examine some already up, if there are any so near here that I can conveniently go and see them I am not certain as to the</p>
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<p>absolute durability of plaster casts. Some speci- mens I made and had made, 20 to 25 years ago, gradually deteriorated, the paint cracking off. Please inform me how long a time you would need after receiving an order to set up a partial or complete set of the specimens. If I do anything about it, I shall probably want them to go into place the moment the building is ready for inauguration, so as to be there when it is opened. I shall write you further when I find health and time to look into the matter thoroughly with Profs. Rice and Johnson.</p>
<pre> Yours truly,
Orange Judd
per Imanuenus
</pre>
<p>[YBG]</p>
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Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Libraries
Ward Project Team
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2015
The copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories. These
materials are available free of charge subject to the following
restrictions:
Any use of the material for a permitted purpose must be
accompanied by the credit: Transcription / photograph
provided by and copyright © University of Rochester River Campus
Libraries. Original version available for viewing and download
at http://library.rochester.edu.
No part of this site may be reproduced or stored in any other
website or included in any public or private electronic retrieval
system or service without the University of Rochester's prior
written permission.
Commercial exploitation of the original manuscripts, their
transcriptions, or the original photographs is prohibited without
written permission from the University of Rochester.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2015.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to natural science museums around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
Original line breaks, punctuation, abbreviations and spelling have been preserved
in the transcriptions and underlining and strikethroughs have been encoded.
Marginalia associated with a photograph or other ephemera has been transcribed
and associated with that object. Other marginalia is tagged "caption" at the
beginning of the relevant date's entry. Words or phrases deemed indecipherable
have been noted as "illegible." Nontextual original content, e.g. drawings and
diagrams, have been noted as such. Images of the original diary pages are
provided to show the creator’s original page layout and placement of
additions.
English
Help transcribe this item
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
https://wardproject.org/files/original/2f5fb89f20b8596025907531b087a2db.jpg
ee75659757dc5138a3ca38a969a0860f
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry Augustus
Correspondence
Letters, telegrams, and notes--excluding inventories, contracts, and other miscellany
Place sent from
Location letter was sent from, determined from postmark or noted in the letter itself
example: Rochester, New York
Middletown, Connecticut
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Place sent to
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example: Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York, United States of America
Dublin Core
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Creator
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Rice, William North
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1884-05-31
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Correspondence
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
Title
A name given to the resource
Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1884-05-31)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output">
<p>Wesleyan Universuty, Middleton, Conn., Nay 31, 1884. Prof. Henry A. Ward:</p>
<pre> Dear Sir,
The Auzoux </s ey > ear arrived
</pre>
<p>safely. We have sent back the Ramme. I trust it will be found in perfect order.By a mis- understanding we failed to prepay the express. Let mer know the amount, and I will include it in the check which I will send in a few days.</p>
<pre> Yours truly,
Wm. North Rice
</pre>
<pre> i </u ou >ou
</pre>
<p>[YBG]</p>
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Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Libraries
Ward Project Team
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2015
The copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories. These
materials are available free of charge subject to the following
restrictions:
Any use of the material for a permitted purpose must be
accompanied by the credit: Transcription / photograph
provided by and copyright © University of Rochester River Campus
Libraries. Original version available for viewing and download
at http://library.rochester.edu.
No part of this site may be reproduced or stored in any other
website or included in any public or private electronic retrieval
system or service without the University of Rochester's prior
written permission.
Commercial exploitation of the original manuscripts, their
transcriptions, or the original photographs is prohibited without
written permission from the University of Rochester.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2015.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to natural science museums around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
Original line breaks, punctuation, abbreviations and spelling have been preserved
in the transcriptions and underlining and strikethroughs have been encoded.
Marginalia associated with a photograph or other ephemera has been transcribed
and associated with that object. Other marginalia is tagged "caption" at the
beginning of the relevant date's entry. Words or phrases deemed indecipherable
have been noted as "illegible." Nontextual original content, e.g. drawings and
diagrams, have been noted as such. Images of the original diary pages are
provided to show the creator’s original page layout and placement of
additions.
English
Help transcribe this item
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
https://wardproject.org/files/original/575b8d4aa5ab7ce61fe44544c62e2fed.jpg
749ba2cdd9f93ac6cd4372a178358e49
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry Augustus
Correspondence
Letters, telegrams, and notes--excluding inventories, contracts, and other miscellany
Place sent from
Location letter was sent from, determined from postmark or noted in the letter itself
example: Rochester, New York
Middletown, Connecticut
Creator role
Correspondent
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Transcription
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/itemno/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/13288/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
Place sent to
Location letter was received from address on envelope or other confirmable information
example: Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York, United States of America
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Type
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Correspondence
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Rice, William North
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1883-11-06
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
Title
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Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-11-06)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>Wesleyan University,
Middleton, Conn., Nov. 6, 1883.
Prof. Henry A. Ward:
</p>
<pre> Dear Sir,
Your card is received. The
</pre>
<p>stipulation that the Remme model is to be returned
to you, on receipt of the Auzoux, at our expense, and
in condition good as new, is of course reasonable.
I accordingly send check of the College Treasurer
for amount of bill.
</p>
<pre> With thanks for the accommodation,
I am yours truly,
Wm North Rice.
</pre>
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</div>
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Text
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Transcriber
Encoder
Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Libraries
Ward Project Team
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2015
The copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories. These
materials are available free of charge subject to the following
restrictions:
Any use of the material for a permitted purpose must be
accompanied by the credit: Transcription / photograph
provided by and copyright © University of Rochester River Campus
Libraries. Original version available for viewing and download
at http://library.rochester.edu.
No part of this site may be reproduced or stored in any other
website or included in any public or private electronic retrieval
system or service without the University of Rochester's prior
written permission.
Commercial exploitation of the original manuscripts, their
transcriptions, or the original photographs is prohibited without
written permission from the University of Rochester.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2015.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to natural science museums around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
Original line breaks, punctuation, abbreviations and spelling have been preserved
in the transcriptions and underlining and strikethroughs have been encoded.
Marginalia associated with a photograph or other ephemera has been transcribed
and associated with that object. Other marginalia is tagged "caption" at the
beginning of the relevant date's entry. Words or phrases deemed indecipherable
have been noted as "illegible." Nontextual original content, e.g. drawings and
diagrams, have been noted as such. Images of the original diary pages are
provided to show the creator’s original page layout and placement of
additions.
English
Help transcribe this item
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
https://wardproject.org/files/original/a7752c27cfe7c22ee0b3dd0a90dcdab7.jpg
d8a0ed38448513eb546ed8c57da4c57b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-10-23)
https://wardproject.org/files/original/c5bdf22be0713e9599ae253b46a6c961.jpg
df230e8452becfee4d9e658927f87c53
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
Creator
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Ward, Henry Augustus
Correspondence
Letters, telegrams, and notes--excluding inventories, contracts, and other miscellany
Other date (replied to, etc.)
other date on letter: date received, date replied to
1883-11-01
Place sent from
Location letter was sent from, determined from postmark or noted in the letter itself
example: Rochester, New York
Middletown, Connecticut, United States of America
Place sent to
Location letter was received from address on envelope or other confirmable information
example: Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York, United States of America
Creator role
Correspondent
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Transcription
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/itemno/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/13287/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
Dublin Core
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Type
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Correspondence
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Rice, William North, 1845-1928
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1883-10-23
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
Title
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Rice, Wm. North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-10-23)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output">
<p>Wesleyan University Middleton, Conn., Oct 23, 1883</p>
<pre> Nov 1
</pre>
<p>Henry A. Ward, M.A.:</p>
<pre> Dear Sir,
The Ramme ear is duly received.
</pre>
<p>It is not altogether satisfactory, I think we must have the best - the Auzoux model, large size. Are you willing to order the Auzoux for us, allowing us to keep the Ramme until the Auzoux comes? In that case, we will pay for the Ramme now; and, when the Auzoux comes, we will return the Ramme in good condition and free of expense ^to you^, and you will credit us sixteen dollars on the Auzoux. I am desirous of making this arrangement, in order that I may have some sort of model for use with my class this winter;</p>
<pre> Yours truly,
Wm North Rice.
</pre>
<p>[another hand Not answered] [YBG]</p>
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Encoder
Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Libraries
Ward Project Team
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2015
The copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories. These
materials are available free of charge subject to the following
restrictions:
Any use of the material for a permitted purpose must be
accompanied by the credit: Transcription / photograph
provided by and copyright © University of Rochester River Campus
Libraries. Original version available for viewing and download
at http://library.rochester.edu.
No part of this site may be reproduced or stored in any other
website or included in any public or private electronic retrieval
system or service without the University of Rochester's prior
written permission.
Commercial exploitation of the original manuscripts, their
transcriptions, or the original photographs is prohibited without
written permission from the University of Rochester.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2015.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to natural science museums around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
Original line breaks, punctuation, abbreviations and spelling have been preserved
in the transcriptions and underlining and strikethroughs have been encoded.
Marginalia associated with a photograph or other ephemera has been transcribed
and associated with that object. Other marginalia is tagged "caption" at the
beginning of the relevant date's entry. Words or phrases deemed indecipherable
have been noted as "illegible." Nontextual original content, e.g. drawings and
diagrams, have been noted as such. Images of the original diary pages are
provided to show the creator’s original page layout and placement of
additions.
English
Help transcribe this item
Auzoux model
ear
Ramme model
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
https://wardproject.org/files/original/f9f44bcb9879e6db821b00e89a7e673d.jpg
8e8e56b0bd3243189897b98588b85dd9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-10-11), page 1
https://wardproject.org/files/original/f8308ddb0722c1b5b9b2ce7d716efb87.jpg
7d947932dba04771832d1014f3eb7fb7
Dublin Core
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Title
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Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-10-11), page 2
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ward, Henry Augustus
Correspondence
Letters, telegrams, and notes--excluding inventories, contracts, and other miscellany
Creator role
Correspondent
Place sent from
Location letter was sent from, determined from postmark or noted in the letter itself
example: Rochester, New York
Middletown, Connecticut
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Transcription
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/itemno/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
<a href="/scripto/transcribe/13286/#transcription">Help transcribe this item</a>
Place sent to
Location letter was received from address on envelope or other confirmable information
example: Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York, United States of America
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Correspondence
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Rice, William North
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1883-10-11
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
Title
A name given to the resource
Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1883-10-11)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output">
<p>Wesleyan University Middletown, Conn. Oct. 11, 1883 Prof. Ward: Dear Sir,</p>
<pre> Will you have the kindness
</pre>
<p>to inform me whether you have any considerable assortment of models of crystals in stock, and, if so, what kinds?</p>
<pre> We are waiting anxiously for the
</pre>
<p>Ramme ear ordered to be sent on approval a year or so ago. I hope you will be able to forward it soon. Yours truly Wm. North Rice. Hand change We mail you the catalog which shows the crystal models we have on hand. Mr. Keowell's answer</p>
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<p>Hand change Rice Wm N Oct 11 Y83 "</p>
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XML Search
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Text
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Transcriber
Encoder
Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Libraries
Ward Project Team
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2015
The copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories. These
materials are available free of charge subject to the following
restrictions:
Any use of the material for a permitted purpose must be
accompanied by the credit: Transcription / photograph
provided by and copyright © University of Rochester River Campus
Libraries. Original version available for viewing and download
at http://library.rochester.edu.
No part of this site may be reproduced or stored in any other
website or included in any public or private electronic retrieval
system or service without the University of Rochester's prior
written permission.
Commercial exploitation of the original manuscripts, their
transcriptions, or the original photographs is prohibited without
written permission from the University of Rochester.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2015.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to natural science museums around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
Original line breaks, punctuation, abbreviations and spelling have been preserved
in the transcriptions and underlining and strikethroughs have been encoded.
Marginalia associated with a photograph or other ephemera has been transcribed
and associated with that object. Other marginalia is tagged "caption" at the
beginning of the relevant date's entry. Words or phrases deemed indecipherable
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Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
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Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1875-06-30)
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AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
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Ward, Henry Augustus
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Rice, William North
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1875-06-30
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Ward, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1834-1906
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Rice, William North. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1875-06-30)
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<div class="mw-parser-output">
<p>Dear Prof. Ward:</p>
<p>Will you send us the skeleton of a young chimpanzee, and also that of an Echidna? I believe these are marked in your catalog respect-ively $35 and $25. If you have these now in stock, and can send them on immediately, we will send draft written a few days after arrival. We hope to be able to secure hereafter quite a collection of skeletons, but these two are all that we are in a condition to purchase at present. Yours truly, Mr. North Rice</p>
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Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Libraries
Ward Project Team
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2015
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University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to natural science museums around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
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English
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Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
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Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
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Read the Article
<a title="Ward's Bulletin, Volume 1:1" href="/viewer/12623/16">Ward's Bulletin, Volume 1:1, page 16</a>
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Bulletin Article
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1881
Title
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Our Patrons-Cabinets
Language
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English
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Ward's Natural Science Bulletin
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Alfred University
Allegheny College
American Museum of Natural History
Buchtel College
Buffalo Academy of Natural Sciences
cabinet
Centre College
Chicago Academy of Sciences
Columbia College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Detroit Scientific Association
England--Cambridge
England--London
Hobart College
Illinois State Industrial University
Indiana State University
Indiana--Crawfordsville
Iowa State Agricultural College
Lafayette College
Medical College, Chicago
Milwaukee Female College
Missouri--St. Louis
Mt. Holyoke Seminary
Mt. Union College
Museum of Comparative Zoology
New York--Albany
New York--Buffalo
New York--Ithaca
New Zealand--Christchurch
Ohio State Agricultural College
Olivet College
Pennsylvania--Titusville
Pittsburgh Female College
Princeton College
sale
Smithsonian Institution
State Geological Cabinet
Union School
University of California
University of Minnesota
University of Nashville
University of Rochester
University of Syracuse
University of Virginia
University of Western Pennsylvania
Vanderbilt University
Vassar Female College
Wabash College
Washington and Jefferson College
Washington and Lee University
Washington University
Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
Wilberforce University
Williams College
Yale College
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Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
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Read the Article
<a title="Ward's Bulletin, Volume 1:1" href="/viewer/12623/16">Ward's Bulletin, Volume 1:1, page 16</a>
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Bulletin Article
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1881
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Our Patrons-Cabinet Cases
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English
Zotero
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Ward's Natural Science Bulletin
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Allegheny College
Cornell University
Indiana State University
Lafayette College
New York--Ithaca
Pittsburgh Female College
Princeton College
Smithsonian Institution
Syracuse University
Trinity College
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
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Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
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Bulletin Articles
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Read the Article
<a title="Ward's Bulletin, Volume 1:2" href="/viewer/1133/16">Ward's Bulletin, Volume 1:2, page 16</a>
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1882
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Our Patrons
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Ward's Natural Science Bulletin
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Alfred University
Allegheny College
American Museum at New York
American Museum of Natural History
Buchtel College
Buffalo Academy of Natural Sciences
Centre College
Chicago Academy of Sciences
Columbia College
Connecticut--Middletown
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Detroit Scientific Association
England--Cambridge
England--London
Hobart College
Illinois State Industrial University
Indiana State University
Indiana--Crawfordsville
Iowa State Agricultural College
Lafayette College
Medical College, Chicago
Milwaukee Female College
Missouri--St. Louis
Mt. Holyoke Seminary
Mt. Union College
Museum of Comparative Zoology
New Jersey--Princeton
New York--Albany
New York--Buffalo
New York--Ithaca
New Zealand--Christchurch
Ohio State Agricultural College
Ohio--Delaware
Olivet College
Pennsylvania--Titusville
Pittsburgh Female College
Princeton College
sale
Smithsonian Institution
State Geological Cabinet
Union School
University of California
University of Minnesota
University of Nashville
University of Rochester
University of Syracuse
University of Virginia
University of Western Pennsylvania
Vanderbilt University
Vassar Female College
Wabash College
Washington and Jefferson College
Washington and Lee University
Washington University
Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
Wilberforce University
Williams College
Yale College
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Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
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text
Bulletins
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BibID
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1791546
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Rochester, New York
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Ward's Natural Science Bulletin (Volume 1, Number 1)
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Bulletin
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Ward's Natural Science Establishment
Date
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1881-06-01
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Ward's Natural Science Establishment
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Natural history--Periodicals.
Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Inc.--Catalogs.
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English
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16 pp
v.: ill.
30 cm
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Ward's Natural Science Bulletin, June 1, 1881 (Volume 1, Number 1)Ward's Natural Science Establishment
Transcriber
Encoder
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus
Ward Project Team Members
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2017-
The copyright, where applicable, and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2018.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
Henry Augustus Ward Papers
A.W23
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to museums, universities, and colleges around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
SALUTATORY.
During the last few years I have ever desired to employ some means by which I might be brought in closer and more intelligible relations with my clients and friends, and the general public as well. The rapid growth of my establishment and the continually increasing demand for explanatory correspondence concerning it render the issue of a regular news-sheet almost necessary as a matter of self-defense, even though its publication should be prompted by no higher motive. In view of this fact, I have deemed it expedient to issue a periodical which shall meet the wants of inquiring patrons, and at the same time contain subject matter of solid interest to the museum-builder, the naturalist, and the general reader.
Putting entirely aside the question of expediency, I have been impressed with the belief ever since the founding of this Establishment, that a regular periodical account of its doings, with natural history specimens, a record of the many items of information concerning the more important objects arriving from day to day, and also of the items of scientific interest as developed in each department, would furnish reading both entertaining and instructive. Up to this date, however, a total lack of leisure and the pressure of imperative business upon the time at my command and the very abundance of the things to be done, both at the Establishment and outside, have utterly prevented my stopping to rehearse the story. Thus the issue of the Bulletin, proposed five years ago, has been delayed and hindered from year to year, until at last, as I find myself starting on an eight months' collecting tour in Australia and the East Indies, it seemed likely to be indefinitely postponed.
Now some of my assistants have proposed to me to let them take the subject in hand, and themselves write and issue the little paper, which will be called WARD'S NATURAL SCIENCE BULLETIN. I take pleasure in granting this request, and do so with entire confidence in their ability to manage the matter even better than I. At the same time I sincerely regret that, until I return from my intended tour abroad, I must be denied the pleasure I had anticipated in being able to address my clients and friends through its columns. During my absence the readers of the Bulletin will of course understand that I disclaim all responsibility for the writings of the contributors whenever they cease to have any bearing upon the regular business of the Establishment.
As before stated, the general purpose of this paper will be to notice such points in Natural Science as are brought up by the transactions of the Establishment, which from the conditions of the case will be found to include something of nature generally, with a world-wide comprehensiveness. Besides giving the scientific gossip and chit-chat of the Establishment, of which there is always a great variety, the contributors will seek to interest their readers with short articles, spiced with valuable information, on subjects found in their special branches of scientific work. It is proposed to take the reader fairly behind the scenes as it were, and point out the interesting features of the work in a large commercial Natural History Establishment.
Further than this, it will contain correspondence and notes from the collecting naturalists and correspondents of the establishment who are in foreign fields, from which an estimate may be gained of the work involved in furnishing museum specimens. For the benefit of those who are likely to become collectors, the Bulletin will give many valuable hints and directions for collecting and preserving zoological specimens.
Without aspiring to rank high as a scientific journal, the Bulletin will occupy a field peculiarly its own, and will strive to interest its readers by methods comparatively new. That it shall succeed in doing so is all we ask at present, although we may reasonably anticipate more than this for its future.
HENRY A. WARD.
Rochester, Feb. 1, 1881.
WARD'S NATURAL SCIENCE BULLETIN
PUBLISHED AT
WARD'S NATURAL SCIENCE ESTABLISHMENT,
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS:
BAKER, A. B.,-- Invertebrate Zoology, Oology.
HORNADAY, WM. T., -- Zoology, Taxidermy and Collecting.
HOWELL, EDWIN E., A. M. -- Geology, Mineralogy and Paleontology.
LUCAS, FREDERIC A., -- Vert. Zoology, Osteology.
STAEBNER, F. W., -- Mineralogy and Chemistry.
WEBSTER, FREDERIC S., -- Ornithology.
We purpose to issue one or two more numbers of the BULLETIN this year, which will be sent free. Next year the BULLETIN will be issued regularly with a subscription price, the amount of which will be stated hereafter.
Historical Sketch
As a brief historical sketch of our Establishment may be of interest to the readers of this, its first Bulletin, we will give a few notes concerning its commencenlent and growth.
A little more than twenty years ago, while preparing the paleontological cabinet for Rochester University, Prof. Ward found that in order to complete the series, it was necessary to procure casts of a large number of typical fossils, originals of which could not be obtained. In fact, it was with great difficulty that he obtained permission to make casts of them, owing to the jealousy and bigotry of the institutions in whose possession they were. When it was known that Prof. Ward had moulds of these unique specimens, calls for casts began to be received from various scientific institutions, which led him to increase the number of casts and fill out a complete series of Casts of Celebrated Fossils.
A cabinet of minerals was prepared at the same time with the paleontological cabinet, and when both were completed Prof. Ward was still in possession of a large quantity of fine fossils and minerals. These were soon largely added to, as Prof. Ward's previous experience gave him the best of advantages for procuring this kind of material. From these collections cabinets were furnished to various colleges, and in this way a business of considerable importance was developed.
Prof. Ward now determined to build up a complete Natural Science Establishment, a place where the naturalists and teachers of this country could obtain specimens in all departments of Natural History. The number of buildings was increased, skilled workmen -- osteologists and taxidermists -- were obtained from the museums of Europe, and the business has steadily grown till it now occupies fifteen buildings and regularly employs about twenty men. Among the latter are not only skilled workmen, but also men of good scientific knowledge, who have found here an opportunity for practical study not elsewhere afforded. In fact, this Establishment has itself been to a considerable extent an educational institution. Much of the work to be done requires careful research, together with thorough examination and comparison of the specimens. In this way some of those who have been connected with it have developed into well trained scientific men, and several have occupied prominent positions among the scientists of our country.
The late Prof. James Orton was with Prof. Ward in the early days of the Establishment, and left here to take the chair of Zoology at Vassar College, which position he occupied till his death.
Mr. G. K. Gilbert, who came here immediately after his graduation from college, and was for several years connected with the Establishment, in 1869 accepted a position on the Ohio Geological Survey, and is now Geologist in charge of the Great Basin division of the United States Survey.
Prof. Franklin C. Hill, who began his paleontological studies here, is now Curator of the E. M. Museum, Princeton College, and lecturer on paleontology.
Dr. W. S. Barnard, now Prof, of Zoology in Cornell University, during his stay here contributed largely to the building up of our invertebrate department.
Mr. Geo. A. Wild came here from the Illinois Industrial University, and after remaining about two years returned to that institution as Curator. He is now studying with Prof. Huxley in the Science Schools of London.
Prof. W. B. Barrows, after spending several years here, accepted the Professorship of Natural Sciences in the College of Concepcion del Uruguay, Argentine Republic, where he has been for the past two years.
Mr. Edwin E. Howell came to Prof. Ward in 1864 and remained till 1872, when he was appointed Geologist on the United States Survey. Leaving the survey in 1876, he returned and entered into partnership with Prof. Ward in the geological department, and in January of the present year lie took an equal interest in casts also; so that at the present time Ward & Howell control all which pertains to Geology and Mineralogy, while Zoology in all its different branches remains under the management of Prof. Ward as before.
The plan of this Establishment has always been to put within reach of American naturalists not only natural history material of every description, but especially such specimens as from their typical character are particularly adapted for educational purposes. The idea carried out here was, that quality of specimens rather than quantity should be the first consideration; that a small series of type forms, illustrating the fundamental principles of the science, was of far greater educational value than a much larger number of specimens gathered at random. This principle is coming to be more fully recognized, and the time is fast approaching when a museum of natural history will no longer contain merely a collection of curiosities and rare specimens, but systematically arranged series illustrative of the chief divisions of the animal, vegetal and mineral kingdoms.
CATALOGUES
of NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS now on hand and for sale:
Catalogues will be sent gratis to teachers requesting them, with the intent expressed to purchase
specimens. Price.
Mineral -- 60 pages,...................... .20
Special Collection of Minerals -- 40 pages,.. .10
Lithology and Geology -- 52 pages,........... .20
Special Lithological Collection -- 25 pp.,.. .10
Collection of New York State Rocks, 44 pages, .20
*Casts of Fossils -- 228 pages; 284 wood cuts, $1.25
School Series of Casts -- 60 pages; 68 wood cuts, .20
Academy Series of Casts -- 86 pages; 130 wood cuts, .30
College Series of Casts -- 144 pages,...... .75
Osteology -- 64 pages,.................... .25
Special Series of Skeletons, for Union Schools, 40 pages, ............. .25
Skins and Mounted Specimens (with Alcoholic Specimens) -- 104 pages,............ .40
North American Birds' Eggs -- 12 pages,.. .10
Foreign Birds' Eggs -- 12 pages,............ .10
Invertebrates -- 112 pages; 121 wood cuts,. .50
Human Skeletons and Anatomical Preparations -- 24 pages, .................... .15
Glass Models of Invertebrates -- 24 pages,. .10
Restoration of Mammoth -- 42 pages,........ .15
Notice of Megatherium Cuvieri -- 34 pages; Illustrated,......................... .50
* This Catalogue is now out of print, but a new edition will shortly appear.
For any of the above, address,
Prof. HENRY A. WARD, A. M.,
No. 2 College Ave.,
Rochester, N. Y.
Letters concerning Minerals, Rocks and Fossils, Address to WARD & HOWELL.
Foreign Tours for the Establishment.
None but our most intimate friends know what an amount of foreign travel has been absolutely required to bring the various departments of the Establishment up to their present state of completeness, and is still necessary to maintain their standing from year to year. While we have done all that could possibly be accomplished in foreign fields through correspondents and resident collectors, it has often been found quite impossible to secure the desiderata most sought for by the scientific world, without some member of the Establishment going in search of it. The rarest and the most valuable objects enumerated in our various catalogues, may be regarded as the direct results of visits made to foreign countries by Prof. Ward or his assistants.
A history of the collecting tours which have been made for the Establishment during the last eight years would fill volumes. The realm of nature has been fairly ransacked for the story of her works as found in natural objects, and upon nearly all occasions it has been found necessary to forego systematic investigation in the field for the sake of making collections, leaving all such critical examination of specimens to be done at the Establishment. The ambition of its founder has been to place the greatest possible number of well selected typical specimens before the greatest possible number of intelligent people.
His aim has been to render scientific material of every description accessible to students and investigators, and to this end the efforts of himself and his corps of assistants have been steadily directed.
A record of the foreign collecting tours which have been made for the Establishment during the later years of its existence may be of some interest to its friends and patrons. To go back no farther than 1874 we find that in that year Prof. Ward made a four months' tour to the Bahama Islands and Florida; in 1875 he visited Europe generally; in 1876-7 his tour embraced Europe, Egypt, Arabia and the Red Sea as far as Massowah. In 1878-9 he visited Europe, the West Indies and British Guiana. In 1880 he again went to Europe, collected at the famous sulphur localities in Sicily and the Lipari Isles, and for the first time visited Tunis and Tripoli.
In 1878-9, Henry L. Ward, son of the Professor, collected in the Leeward Islands, W. I., was joined by his father at Antigua and with him visited Demarara and Cuba.
Mr. Hornaday was first sent abroad to collect for the Establishment in 1874, during which and the year following he collected in Cuba and Florida. In 1876, accompanied by Mr. C. E. Jackson, of Wisconsin, he visited the West Indies, Venezuela, British and Dutch Guiana. In October, 1876 Mr. Hornaday was sent upon the most extended collecting expedition which has yet been made for the Establishment, embracing work in Europe, Egypt, India generally, Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, Borneo, and around the world.
For many years Professor Ward has desired to visit Australia and the far East, and at last the general revival of business and the prosperous condition of the Establishment has enabled him to consummate his long-cherished plan. He sailed from San Francisco on Feb. 14th, and reached Aukland on March 9th. After spending a month in New Zealand he proceeded to Sidney, and is probably now attending the International Exposition at Melbourne, in which the Establishment is represented by a series of collections.
It is Professor Ward's intention to spend three or four months in Australia, after which he will very probably visit Java and Amboyna, Singapore, China and Japan. It is quite possible his travels may extend to Hindustan, and his return is not expected until late in Autumn. In due course of time we may expect important and extensive additions to the Australian fauna now in our possession.
Meteors and Meteorites.
The term Meteoroid lias been given to those dark particles which are darting through space in all directions, and which become visible only when they enter our atmosphere and are ignited by the friction, when they are called Meteors or Shooting Stars. The term Meteor, however, is often improperly restricted, in common use, to the largest of these bodies, which are also called Fireballs or Bolides. And those which pass entirely through the atmosphere, and complete their fall to the earth, are called Meteorites or Aerolites, with various other names descriptive of their structure and chemical composition.
To appreciate the great heat which consumes the meteors so quickly, we have but to remember that heat is only a form of motion, and that our earth moves through space at the rate of 98,000 feet per second, and should it meet a meteoroid at rest it would increase its temperature nearly 600,000∞, and in addition to this, many of the meteoroids are traveling in an opposite direction to that of the earth with a velocity varying from 8 or 10 to 40 or 50 miles per second. The meteoroids which produce the November showers, move at the rate of 26 miles per second in a direction nearly opposite to that of the earth, so that they meet our atmosphere with a relative velocity of 44 miles per second, which corresponds to a temperature of between three and four million degrees, sufficient to consume the hardest known substance almost instantly, and only those of large size or slow motion are permitted to reach our earth before being entirely consumed. And were it not for this protection afforded by the air, in arresting and destroying the meteoroids we should be intolerably pelted with them.
It has been estimated that not less than ten million meteors, visible to the naked eye, enter our atmosphere daily. And this number must be increased 20 to 40 times if we include those which the telescope would reveal. After midnight, when everything is favorable, an average of nearly one meteor a minute is visible to a group of observers, from a single station. The greatest number are to be seen just before daybreak, because at that time we are on the front side of the earth, as it moves through space. The elevation at which most meteors are visible, has been found to be between 45 and 80 miles, very few being seen at a greater height than 100 miles; and they rarely come nearer than 30 miles without throwing down stones.
It is generally believed (but there are strong reasons for doubting it), that some very large meteors that have entered our atmosphere, have passed out into space again, their great momentum being sufficient to take them away from the earth's attraction.
Whether or not all meteoroids move in elliptical orbits around the sun, like comets, it is a well-established fact that certain groups of them do, and occasionally our earth passes through one of these groups, giving us what are known as the meteoric showers. The more notable of these are the August showers, which occur annually from the 9th to the 12th of the month, and the November showers, which have an interval of 33 years. The stream of the August meteors is estimated to be from five to ten million miles in thickness, as the earth, traveling with a velocity of two million miles per day, is immersed in it for several days, while the denser portion of the November stream is traversed by the earth in two or three hours, which implies a thickness of 40,000 to 60,000 miles. It takes three or four-years for this stream to pass the node, indicating a length of many hundred millions of miles, or about one-tenth of its orbit.
The numbers seen per minute in the middle of the brightest of these star-showers, imply a mean distance from each other of from 25 to 50 miles, while on ordinary nights there is not more than one, on an average, visible in a million or two square miles.
The November stream is much more concentrated than the August stream, and the showers are more remarkable for the great number of meteors. History mentions their recurrence at intervals for more than a thousand years, and records the great terror of the beholders, lest the end of all things was at hand. Many of our
MINERALOGY.
Our stock of Minerals at the present time is very choice and comprehensive. There is certainly no other so large and good assortment for sale in detail on this continent. The specimens are fine, fresh and beautifully crystallized, and of sizes suitable for cabinet drawers as well as for the shelves of a museum. They represent, besides North American localities, those of Chili, Peru, the States of Colombia and Brazil, in South America; the mining districts of Cornwall, Cumberland and Derbyshire, in England; the rich deposits of Saxony, Bohemia and Austro-Hungary; the Alpine region of France and Switzerland; the mines of Spain and Italy -- with the islands off the coast (Sicily, Sardinia, etc.); Norway, Sweden and Russia. In Asia they include, besides Siberia, the tract of Asia Minor, India and Malacca. In Africa, Algeria, Egypt, the diamond fields in the South, and Australia, in which latter country Prof Ward is at the time of writing gathering further material.
For full enumeration of the various mineral species consult our Catalogue of Minerals, 60 pages; price 20 cts.
Besides this large stock from which we sell individual specimens, we prepare Three Systematic Collections, with descriptive catalogues, as follows: The College Collection, for $250; the Academy and Normal School Collection, for $100; and the Union School and Amateur's Collection, for $50. In addition to these, our standard collections with catalogues, we prepare smaller and cheaper collections, as well as larger ones of any desired extent.
The College Collection contains every requisite -- even to a series of 50 crystal models -- for a thorough illustration of the science of mineralogy. All the important species and their varieties are well represented in choice, handsome specimens, neatly labeled and mounted, and accompanied by a special descriptive catalogue of 39 pages.
The Academy Collection, though numerically not so rich, has really nothing of importance omitted. Thus, in the classification adopted, the elements are represented by 8 specimens; the sulphides and allied compounds by 14; chlorides, etc., 6; oxides, 42; silicates, 64 phosphates, etc., 8; sulphates, 10; carbonates, 18; hydrocarbons, 10; in all 180 specimens, well representing the relative importance of the different divisions. Each specimen in this, as in the other collections, is mounted on a separate black walnut block, to which is attached a printed label giving name, Dana's species number, system of crystallization, chemical formula and locality. In the case of single detached crystals
"oldest inhabitants" remember the shower of 1833, in this country, and the consternation which it produced among the ignorant, particularly among the negroes at the South. The orbit of this stream extends beyond that of Uranus, and its period of revolution is 33 1/4 years. The orbit of the August meteors is about twice as great, and stretches far beyond Neptune, and their period of revolution is about 124 years.
As the meteoroids of this group are distributed over its entire orbit, we meet them every year when we cross its path, but the November meteors are confined to a small portion of their orbit, and pass the point where they cross the earth's orbit in about three years, and are not seen again until their next period of revolution. Doubtless those meteoroids will also, in time, become distributed over their entire orbit, and we shall then have a shower of meteors every year about the 10th of November.
Many theories have been advanced in the past, to account for these strange bodies, but the evidence now accumulated proves beyond reasonable doubt, that they are near relatives, and probably the debris of comets.
Tempel's comet is now known to be traveling in the same orbit as the November meteors, and is near the head of the train, and it appears, in like manner, that the second comet of 1862 (Swift's comet), is traveling in the orbit of the August meteors. And the first comet of 1881 seems to be similarly connected with the April meteors. But the most striking case of the connection between comets and meteors is afforded by the actual prediction of a meteoric shower on the night of November 27, 1872. In 1826 Biela discovered a comet which was found to have a periodic revolution of 6 years and 8 months, and to have been observed in 1772 and 1805. It was observed again in 1832, 1845, and 1852. In 1845, or January, 1846, it was observed to be in two parts, 150,000 or 200,000 miles from each other. In 1852 the two parts were separated nearly one and one-half millions of miles, since which time they have not been seen. In 1872 the conditions for observation were favorable, but no comet was seen; by calculation it should have passed the point where it crosses the earth's orbit early in September, while the earth reached the same point the 27th of November. Judging from analogy, there was every reason to believe that the earth would encounter a stream of meteoroids consisting of the remains of the lost comet, and that a small meteoric shower would be the result. Moreover, it was shown that the meteors would all diverge from a certain point in the constellation Andromeda, because that would be the direction from which a body moving in the orbit of the comet would seem to come. The prediction was fully verified in every respect, and the conclusion is irresistible that the shower of meteors in this case was originally a part of Biela's comet. Although few scientific men now question a relationship between comets and the ordinary meteors, there are those, and among them some of our ablest men, who think that the large Meteors, or Bolides, and Aerolites, may be different astronomically, and perhaps physically, from the ordinary shooting stars, and in the past some contended that they originated in our atmosphere; others that they were ejected from terrestrial volcanoes. Another theory which received the endorsement of many of the best astronomers and mathematicians is, that they were projected from the moon; but the immense velocity, of some of them at least, seems to be an unanswerable objection to this theory. And at the present time the known facts, and all scientific thought, seems to point to the conclusion that the difference between them and ordinary shooting stars is analogous to that between rain and mist, and in addition to the reasons already given for connecting them with comets, may be mentioned the fact that meteorites bring with them carbonic acid, which is known to form so prominent a part of comets' tails; and if fragments of meteoric iron or stone be heated moderately in a vacuum, they yield up gases consisting of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, and the spectrum of these gases corresponds to the spectrum of a comet's coma and tail.
By studying their microscopical structure, Mr. Sorby "has been able to determine that the
material was at one time certainly in a state of fusion; and that the most remote condition of which we have positive evidence was that of small, detached, melted globules, the formation of which cannot be explained in a satisfactory manner, except by supposing that their constituents were originally in the state of vapor, as they now exist in the atmosphere of the sun; and, on the temperature becoming lower, condensed into these 'ultimate cosmical particles.' These afterwards collected into larger masses, which have been variously changed by subsequent metamorphic action, and broken up by repeated mutual impact, and often again collected together and solidified. The meteoric irons are probably those portions of the metallic constituents which were separated from the rest by fusion when the metamorphism was carried to that extreme point."
There are allusions to the fall of meteorites, more or less definite, scattered through ancient-history, and the "shower of stones from heaven," mentioned in the 11th verse, 10th chapt. of Joshua, as well as the image which fell down from Jupiter, mentioned in the 35th verse, 19th chapt. of Acts, are perhaps correctly explained by meteoric falls. And a meteorite which fell in Thrace 467 years before Christ, is described by Pliny as being as large as a cart. Another remarkable meteorite is the celebrated Black Stone, worshipped by the pilgrims to Mecca. Still there is comparatively little reliable data in regard to the fall of meteorites before the close of the 15th century; but we now have trustworthy accounts of about 200 falls, and the fragments have been gathered into the different museums and private collections of the world.
It is a significant fact that of this number only three are iron meteorites, all the others belonging to the class known as stony meteorites (or aerolites), and (a few) to an intermediate variety called Aerosiderolites or Syssiderese, consisting of a continuous sponge-like mass of iron, the cavities of which are filled with stony material. Many masses of meteoric iron have been found, however, suggesting the thought that there may have been a period when only iron meteorites came to the earth, previous to the present stony period.
A chemical examination of meteorites shows that, although in their composition they are unlike any other natural product, their elements (over 20) are all known to us, and they are all built up of the same materials, although in each variety some particular element may predominate. In the main they are composed of metallic iron, and various compounds of silica. The iron forms as much as 95 per cent, in some cases, and less than one per cent, in others, hence the three classifications mentioned above. There are only one or two meteorites known in which metallic iron has not been found, and it is doubtful if it is entirely absent in these. The iron is always associated with a certain amount of nickel, usually cobalt, and sometimes copper, tin, and chromium. The silicates are mainly olivine and pyroxene.
The general character of all these bodies is, "(1) their great variety in size, from that of a pea to many cubic feet; (2) irregularity of form, with rough and indented surface; (3) they are coated with a black crust or varnish, which doubtless arises from the fusion of the surface by the intense heat developed during the rapid passage through the atmosphere;"(4) the specific gravity of the stony variety is between 3 and 4; that of the irons 7 to 7.8; (5) composition as already noted.
If the polished surface of the irons is acted upon by nitric acid, certain figures called the Widmannstattian figures, are developed, which are peculiar to them, and have never been found on any other stone or metal.
We have already stated that only three iron meteorites have been seen to fall. There have, however, been various masses found at different times and places, that are assumed to be of meteoric origin, on account of their peculiar form, structure, chemical composition, &c., which distinguishe them from all other bodies. Many of these are of large size and weight. One from Bates county, Mo., weighed 85 pounds; Augusta county, Ya., 152 pounds. (These two have been sawed in slices, with an immense amount of labor and patience, and largely distributed to
these are mounted on appropriate brass holders fixed in the block. Each specimen further bears a number, by which it is described in the 25 pages of descriptive text accompanying the collection. This collection will be seen to answer the purpose admirably for Normal Schools and Academies.
The $50 Collection for Union Schools and Amateurs is in nowise to be confounded with some fragment gatherings mis-called school cabinets, its specimens averaging very nearly in size and beauty those of the collections previously noted. The difference in price between it and the previous collection is due mainly to a decrease in number; while in all such specimens as are required in elementary teaching, and with which every well-informed person is supposed to be acquainted, it is not lacking.
These cabinets have all been planned with a direct and distinct regard to what was required in collections of the kind, and not from what material happened to be in stock, without thought as to what was needful. We think this will be apparent to those consulting our different catalogues, where all details will be found.
In addition to the individual Minerals and the systematic collections above mentioned, we have prepared various special series of specimens compiled to illustrate the physical and structural properties of Minerals: Lustre, Color, Diaphaneity, Fusibility, Specific Gravity, Hardness, State of Aggregation, Fracture, Structure, External Form.
We also offer suites of CRYSTAL MODELS of various sizes, in solid glass, in plate glass (with axes and angles shown by colored threads), in wood (some revolving to show combinations), and in plaster (white or with colored faces).
Likewise, models in cut glass of the CELEBRATED DIAMONDS of the world, containing exact reproductions of 15 of these beautiful historical gems, from the handsome Pole Star -- the original of which weighs 40 carats and belongs to the Princess Youssoupoff -- to the valuable Kohinoor of the British crown, and the immense diamond belonging to the Great Mogul, said to weierh 297 carats. Also, models in glass of all the PRECIOUS STONES, faithfully colored and cut in appropriate forms, put up in sets of 40, 60 and 84; fac-similes of the celebrated Welcome Nugget, the Siberian Gold Nugget now in St. Petersburg, and the immense Platinum Nugget belonging to Count Demidoff; casts of interesting Meteorites; Goniometers, and all kinds of mineralogical apparatus.
We offer an extra fine cabinet of Minerals of our largest and choicest specimens for $4,000.
Meteorites.
Our stock of these interesting objects consists at present of the following, of some of which we have numerous examples, of others but one or two specimens:
IRONS.
Augusta Co., Ya. Found in 1858 or 1859. Slices of various sizes polished and etched, $1.50 -- $2.00 per ounce; turnings, 75 cts. per ounce.
Bates Co., Missouri. Found in 1875. Slices polished and etched, $2.00 per ounce.
Cohahuila, Mexico. Polished slices, 50 -- 75 cts. per ounce; turnings, 30 cts. per ounce.
Toluca, Mexico. Found in 1784. Slices polished and etched, $1.00 -- $1.50 per ounce.
different museums). The Tucson, in the Smithsonian, weighs 1,400 pounds. The Gibbs, from Red River, in the Yale College cabinet, weighs 1,635 lbs. Eight masses from Cohahuila, obtained by Dr. Butcher, weighed from 300 to 800 pounds each, (one of them weighing 430 pounds came into our possession last fall). Others of much larger size are known in Northern Mexico. One near Zopata is 8 ft. 3 in. in its greatest circumference, and is estimated to weigh 4,000 lbs. Another still larger mass, called the San Gregorio meteorite, measures 6 ft 6 in. in its greatest length, 5 ft. 6 in. high, and 4 ft. thick at its base; and others still larger than these have been reported from Australia and Oregon.
The fall of meteorites to the earth is always accompanied with a great display of light, sometimes illuminating an area of many thousand square miles when they occur at night, and by loud detonations, so great occasionally as to shake houses as by an earthquake, and frighten men and animals for miles around. The detonations are caused by the breaking up of the meteor, and concussion of the atmosphere, which is usually, although erroneously, described as an explosion. As the passage through our atmosphere occupies but a few seconds, the heat cannot penetrate far into the interior, but expends itself in melting and volatilizing the outer portions, and the fragments are cool enough to handle a short time after they strike the ground; but as they enter the denser portion of our atmosphere at such a tremendous speed, the resistance becomes enormous, and they are broken to pieces by the contact nearly the same as if striking against a solid substance, the appearance and noise corresponding precisely to a veritable explosion.
We have seen that the great majority of meteors are consumed before they reach our earth by the heat generated in their rapid motion through our atmosphere.
A meteor traveling in the same direction as the earth, and overtaking it would enter our atmosphere at a relative rate of about 37 miles per second less than if coming in the opposite direction, and would consequently have a much better chance of reaching it; therefore, although the front portion of the earth encounters the most meteors we should expect the greatest number to reach it from behind. That portion of the earth where it is 6 a. m., is the most forward portion, and that where it is 6 P. M., is the hinder portion, consequently a meteor approaching it from the rear would be most likely to strike it between noon and midnight, although if its course lay just outside the earth it might be attracted and drawn in so as to strike it at an earlier or later hour. I have tabulated all the falls for which I have obtained sufficiently accurate data, to see if the facts bear out this supposition, and have obtained the following results:
Between noon and midnight............... 81
Between midnight and noon................. 37
At noon................................. 12
At midnight........................... 2
Between 11 A. M. and 6 P. M., (10 hours).. 92
Between 9 P. M. and 11 A. M., (14 hours).. 40
Between 11 A. M. and 6 P. M., (7 hours)--72
For the other 17 hours.................. 55
Between 6 A. M. and noon.................27
Between noon and 6 P.M.................... 56
Thus we find that so far as our theory requires more falls between noon and midnight than between midnight and noon, it is fully sustained, -- the ratio being a little more than 2 to 1; but the ratio of falls from 11 A. M. to 9 P. M. is a little more than 3 to 1, compared to the rest of the day, and from 11 A. M. to 6 P. M. it is nearly 4 to 1; and the maximum number of falls instead of being at about 6 P. M. is about two hours earlier. One or two explanations, or partial explanations, for this suggest themselves, the most satisfactory perhaps, is, that as these figures we have been dealing with are only for falls where fragments have been gathered, it is fair to suppose that daylight would be the most favorable time for noting and securing these, and if we take the six hours after noon and compare them with the six hours before noon, we still find the ratio a little more than 2 to 1, and the maximum is more nearly where we should expect it, or late in the afternoon. E. E. H.
Concerning the Diamond.
In the light of Hannay's recent success in producing artificial diamonds, it may be interesting to review briefly the more important of the researches in this and other directions undertaken on this aberrant form of carbon.
Boyle and Wallerius were among the first to describe its crystallization, as also, its hardness, specific gravity and electrical properties. The crystallization was afterward more fully determined by Del'Isle and Hauy.
Its composition was at this time of course unknown -- chemistry, and especially mineral chemistry, being then in its infancy -- but it was long supposed to be analogous with rock crystal in its constitution, which substance was still thought to be congealed water. The rock crystal theory, if it may so be called, was soon rendered untenable by the discovery of its combustibility, which had been predicted by Newtop in 1675, from its powerful refracting qualities.
The first to undertake definite experiments in this field seems to have been the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosmos III. Under his instigation Averani and Targioni, of Florence, in 1694-95, succeeded in dissipating a diamond by the action of the sun's rays concentrated through a lens. The experiment was afterward repeated by Francis, Duke of Lorraine, with the substitution of furnace for solar heat.
In an excellent translation of Theophrastus by Sir John Hill in 1774, the author quaintly observes regarding this property: "The Diamond has been thought to come nearest of all Gems to deserving the character of incombustible. It will bear extreme Degrees of common Fire, and that for a long Time together, and come out unhurt. But it suffers some Damage, if suddenly brought into the cold after these severe Trials; and much more by the Burning Glass. But there is yet a Quality which the Diamond shews in the Fire different from all other Gems, and by which it is distinguished from them all; for there is a certain degree of Fire in which it is volatile." He then states how he "shewed this, very many Years ago, to the lata Excellent Lord Granard and Mr. Charles Stanhope," at his "House in Bloomsbury, by placing a small Diamond in a wind Furnace;" and goes on to observe how, during the progress of the experiment, they saw the diamond first penetrated by the fire throughout until it appeared like a burning coal; how it "shivered and cracked in many places, and afterwards became smaller and smaller till it entirely vanished: no Part or Remnant of it was to be found."
The credibility of these results was, however, still generally questioned, even after repeated trials in the presence of the learned and other persons of distinction, and notably because it was found possible to so envelope the diamond that heat did not affect it. In at least one experiment before Lavoisier, a jeweler managed to pack three diamonds in such a manner* that after four hours intense firing they were removed uninjured. Attention was now attracted to the fact that access of air was necessary, and that the action was true combustion.
Bergmann in 1777 endeavored to explain the constitution and behavior of the diamond by assuming it to contain a peculiar substance which he called terra nobilis. But in later trials in which the products of combustion were collected, their similarity with those from coal was noticed and the suggestion of the substantial identity of the two ventured. This was soon confirmed by several observers in different ways, prominent among them being Smithson Tennant who, in 1796, proved that the oxidation of equal amounts of coal and diamond yielded equal volumes of carbonic acid.
A modification of Tennant's experiment was made by the Brothers Rogers between 1847 and 1850; the products of the oxidation of diamond were collected in Liebig's potash bulbs and the amount of carbon determined.
Probably the latest attempts at burning the diamond are those of G. Rose, in 1872, at which
* In an earthen pipe-bowl filled with powdered charcoal inclosed in another filled with sand previously saturated with salt-water, and the whole surrounded with chalk and put in au earthen tile.
Kokomo, Richmond Co., Ind.
Carthage, Smith Co., Tenn. Found 1846.
Robertson Co., Tenn. Found 1860.
Babb's Mill, Green Co., Tenn. Found 1844.
Murfreesboro, Tenn. Found 1847.
Trenton, Wisconsin. Found 1869.
AEROSIDEROLITES.
Estherville,EmmettCo.,Iowa. Fell May 10,'79.
Rittersgrun, Saxony (polished slice).
Atacama, Bolivia.
Meyellones, Bolivia (polished slice).
STONY METEORITES (AEROLITES).
Drake Creek, Tenn. Fell May 9, 1827.
Guernsey Co., Ohio. Fell May 1, 1860.
Knyahinya, Hungary. Fell June 9, 1866.
Pultusk, Poland. Fell January 80, 1868.
Iowa Co., Iowa. Fell February 12, 1875.
We also have casts of 18 interesting meteorites, showing size, form, and indented surfaces. Price of set, with printed labels giving locality and date of fall, $30. For further particulars see general Catalogue of Mineralogy (20 cts.)
We make a specialty of sawing Meteoric Iron and have machinery especially designed for the purpose, driven by steam power. We are thus prepared to cut material into slices of any required size or thickness. Parties having such will find it to their advantage to correspond with us.
GEOLOGY.
In this department we offer an extended series of material illustrating the composition and structure of our globe, and of the various phenomena which have attended its formation or are still present upon its surface. Foremost is the division of
LITHOLOGY.
Here is first an immense storehouse of Rocks from all parts of the world, and to illustrate more definitely though briefly the cosmopolitan character of our collections we enumerate a few of the more important foreign localities from which we have specimens -- many obtained during special and extended personal visits by Mr. Ward. Among Igneous Rocks, for example, we have varieties from the active volcanic regions of Lipari, Sicily and the country round Naples, as well as from the spent volcanic districts of Auvergne, the Rhenish Provinces, Giants' Causeway and New Zealand.
Metamorphic Rocks are contributed from localities in British Guiana, Trinidad, Mt. Blanc, China, Farther India away round to the Red Sea and the Valley of the Nile; while to the quota of Sedimentary Rocks Mexico, the West Indies, East Indies, Australia, Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Nubia and countless European localities have contributed. These rocks are in specimens of uniform size, neatly trimmed, with fresh surfaces and well marked characters. We have lately prepared with great care a number of
GENERAL COLLECTION OF TYPICAL ROCKS.
Three of these are arranged according to mineral composition, the importance of which in the study of rocks is daily becoming more evident as witnessed in the increase of literature pertaining to this subject. These three collections consist respectively of 50, 100 and 275 specimens differing in scope to suit the wants of Union Schools, Academies and Colleges. Two are ar-
the interesting facts were observed that during combustion minute triangular depressions appear on the upper surface parallel with the trapezohedron; and that being strongly heated without access of air, there was a conversion into graphite.
Speculations as to the origin of the diamond begin with Brewster, who concluded, from its polarizing properties, that, like amber, it was of vegetable origin, which opinion he advanced in 1835 in the London and Edinburgh Journal. Jameson and Petzlioldt also entertain this view, while others strenuously oppose it. Favre, De-ville, and Simmler are among those who assume it to have crystallized from a solution of carbonic acid or some carbon chloride.
The manifold attempts to produce it artificially, ending with those of Despretz in 1853, have either been signal failures or productive of no definite results. It remained for Hammy to achieve a deserved success, although out of over eighty laborious and dangerous experiments, only three were successful. On analysis his product yielded 97.85 carbon.
What the next step will be it is impossible to predict, but it is safe to assert that the time when the artificial will replace the natural diamond is yet afar off. F. W. S.
The Princeton Collection.
Paleontologists who have visited this Establishment in the past few years will remember the remarkably choice collection of fossils stored in Cosmos Hall. This collection is now safely lodged in the E. M. Museum at Princeton, N. J.; that Institution being so fortunate as to have for an enthusiastic and appreciative friend a gentleman willing and able to advance the entire amount necessary to secure it. The price paid -- about $18,000 -- made it really one of the cheapest, as it undoubtedly was the best, collection of fossils from all formations and world-wide localities ever sold to an American college.
The collection is not only remarkable for its well-balanced and even representations of all geological horizons and geographical sections, but from the exceptional choiceness of all the material contained in it -- it being entirely free from those poorly defined and fragmentary fossils which even the most rigid and critical curators find it almost impossible to keep out of their museums.
The Eozoon from the Laurentian of Canada, Oldhamia from Ireland, Azygograptus from England, and Nereitesfrom Maine, are represented by suites of the choicest specimens ever found.
In the Silurian are particularly fine specimens of Graptolites from New York, Ohio, Scotland and Bohemia; Crinoids from American as well as European localities, with some perfect specimens of Periechocrinus from England. But the Crustaceans are perhaps its crowning glory, being represented by a large suite of Trilobites from England, Ireland, France, Bohemia and America, as well as by a dozen perfect specimens of Eurypterus and Pterygotus.
Much might be said of the perfection of the Plants, Corals and Mollusks of the Devonian, but we must pass them by as we did in the Silurian, the most noticeable objects in this Age of Fishes being the fishes themselves. These are represented by many genera and species, the fine suite from the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland being led by a large slab containing five perfect individuals of Holoptychius, originally in the private cabinet of Hugh Miller.
In the Carboniferous are plants from England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Nova Scotia and the United States. Some of these are of large size, showing the entire trank in perfect lengths of three or four feet. The Crinoids and Echinoderms are the next most interesting feature of this age, the Melonites from the St. Louis Limestone being the finest slabs, probably, that have ever been found. Among the fishes a large jaw of Rhizodus is particularly noteworthy; and among the reptiles some well-preserved heads of Archegosaurus, from Rhenish Prussia.
Passing over the Permian and Trias with mere mention of a slab (5 feet long) of Cheirotherium tracks from Germany, and a slab containing seven perfect heads and stems of Encrinus liliiformis. This latter is the original of No. 919 "Ward's Casts of Fossils," and is undoubtedly the finest in America.
In the Jurassic is at least one slab of Crinoids that deserves to rank with it. This is 5 feet long by 2 feet wide, and shows on an unbroken surface over twenty perfect expanded heads with long stems of Pentacrinus briareus, from Lyme Regis, England. A single individual of another species {P. subangularis) covers a slab 3x2 feet, and others are nearly as large.
The Ammonites from the Trias, Jurassic and Cretaceous together form a suite second to no other in the country, if we except those in the Agassiz Museum and in the University of Rochester. But the reptiles in this Age of Reptiles are after all the most valuable, and in this division, considering the number and perfection of the specimens, the collection stands quite unequalled on this continent. Among a number of perfect skeletons of Ichthyosaurus, the largest covers a slab 11x4 feet. Complete skeletons of Teleosaurus and Plesiosaurus cover slabs but little smaller, and many other Saurians are represented by heads, paddles, vertebrae, etc. The fish rank close to the reptiles, and among them are a number of the originals of "Ward's Casts."
In the Cretaceous the Sponges are well represented, among them being a "Paramoudra"(24 inches in greatest diameter) from the chalk beds of Moira, Ireland. This is the original of No. 1191 "Ward's Casts." The Cretaceous is also rich in Mollusks, especially in the Lamellibranchs, the collection of Rudistes being unusually choice even for a European Museum.
The Tertiary is represented by hundreds of genera and species from three continents; among them a fine suite of Leaf-impressions from the Oeningen beds; Echinoderms and Crabs from the Jebel Mokattam; a splendid series of Mollusks from the Paris and Vienna basins, including half a dozen Ceritliium giganteum, one 22 inches in length, the original of No. 618 "Ward's Casts."
But we must bring this brief notice of the collection to a close by merely mentioning the fact that it contains four mounted skeletons of the Moa from New Zealand (one standing 8 feet high); a very perfect, mounted skeleton of the great Irish Elk; as also a mounted skeleton of the Cave Bear (the only other mounted specimen in America, we believe, is in our own collection); and finally a well mounted and well-preserved skeleton of Mastodon giganteus.
(Continued from 5th page.).
ranged stratigraphically, and contain 100 and 110 respectively; the former is a general stratigraphical collection, the latter a characteristic series of the Rocks of the New York system, the types of the Silurian and Devonian in America. The satisfaction these collections have given is shown by the following sample letter recently received from Prof. Chickering.
"The box containing stratigraphical series came in good order and its contents now fill their places on our shelves to my great satisfaction. I am greatly pleased with the quality of the specimens and the manner of mounting, and shall hope to send you further orders in the future."
J. W. Chickering,
National Deaf-Mute College, Washington, D. C.
Under the heading of
PHENOMENAL GEOLOGY.
we have grouped together a collection of 75 specimens which illustrate the different phenomena of Dynamical and Structural Geology, such as faults, veins, metamorphism, varieties in structure and texture, &c.
Further are
RELIEF MAPS.
of especially interesting geological regions, such as Vesuvius, Etna, Mt. Blanc, Isle of Palma, Auvergne, Colorado Canon, Henry Mts., &c. These maps are exact models of the regions represented, made to a definite scale, thus showing at a glance all the topographical features in their correct proportions. Colored as they are geologically, they not only show the relations of the different formations to each other, but illustrate the structure as well, and show the entire dependence of the topography on them, thus proving invaluable aids in the study of physical geography as well as geology, and at the same time very ornamental and attractive objects in a museum.
The features of structure and erosion are still more graphically illustrated by means of a series of stereograms, which show the country as it would be folded and faulted without erosion.
We also have in this department a series of dissecting models in wood which show more clearly than is possible in diagrams the effects of erosion, veins, faults, outcrops etc. Finally, we have geological charts of all kinds, pictures of ideal geological landscapes, by Dr. Unger, restorations of extinct animals by Water-house Hawkins, and a set of Water Color Drawings of characteristic fossils comprising Graptolites, Zoantharia, EcTimodermata, Mollusca Crustacea, for details of all of which see General Catalogue of Geology and Lithology; 52 pages; price 20 cents.
Descriptive Catalogue of the Rocks of the New York system; 44 pages; price 20 cents.
Paleontology -- Fossils.
We have on hand at the present moment a large and unusually rich store of actual Fossils. We have used great care to keep our drawers free from all but perfect, distinct, well-preserved specimens. From these we offer -- at the option of the purchaser -- either individual specimens, or we will make up, for any given sum, collections representing either a particular age or all geological epochs. The richness and extent of our material give us unprecedented facilities for doing this.
A few of the more noteworthy forms are -- in the Cambrian numerous fine examples from Canada and Northern New York of that much-disputed fossil Eozoon Canadense. Also good specimens of at least two species of the oldest British plant Oldhamia. In the Silurian we offer among Foraminifera Receptaculites from Illinois, and gigantic sponges of the genus Stromatopora from the Calciferous of New York. Among Crustacea perfect specimens of Euryp-terus and Trilobites. In the Devonian numerous fine specimens of the strange Dictyophyton from the Chemung Group, and the interesting supposed Lamellibranch Calceola as well as Fishes of different genera from the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland. In the Carboniferous, fine leaf-impressions of many genera and species (Pecop-teris, Neuropteris, Alethopteris, etc.), as well as roots and stems of these and other Cryptogams. Extensive series of Crinoidea from Burlington and Crawfordsville, and some noble examples of Melonites from the St. Louis Limestone. Also beautiful Archimedes. In the Trias, fine slabs of various size of the interesting Reptilian tracks (Ichnites) from the Sandstone of the Connecticut Valley, first brought to the notice of scientists by Dr. Hitchcock as "Bird-tracks." In the Lias, large slabs of Crinoids (especially Pentacrinus briareus and subangularis) from the celebrated localities of Lyme Regis, England, and Boll, Wurtemberg; as also Saurian remains in every degree of perfection. Cephalopoda (Ammonites, Nautilus, Belemnites) in abundance. In the
Oolite, Insects, Crustaceans and Fish from the Lithographic Slates of Solenhofen. In the Cretaceous, handsome leaf-impressions of Angiosperms of the genera Sassafras, Platanus, Liquidambar, etc., from the Dakota Group of Kansas. Among Spongidae notably Chenen dopora, Coeloptychium, and Ventriculites -- the latter including the variety known by Buckland's name of Paramoudra -- chiefly from the Greensand and Chalk of England and France. Likewise Echinodermata (Micraster, Anancliytes, Galerites, Goniaster, etc.). Also Lamellibranchs -- Hippurites, Sphxerulites and the other singular forms composing Lamarck's great family of Rudistes. In the Tertiary, we have a large series of finely-preserved Mollusca from the Claiborne beds of Alabama, the Eocene beds (D'Orbigny's Parisien) of the Paris Basin, and the Moicene deposits around Vienna. Nummulites from the Great Pyramid, and excellent specimens of the Echinoderm Clypeaster Gizelienm from Gizeh, Egypt. Also the interesting Crustacean Lobocarcinus from the Jebel Mokattam. In the Quaternary, numerous remains of Proboscideans (Elephas and Mastodon), consisting of bones and teeth, and including the skeleton of Mastodon giganteus found near Newburgh, N. Y., in 1879. Also remains of the Great Cave Bear and Hyena, of the former a complete mounted skeleton, the only one (with the exception of that at Princeton) in this country; and several complete skeletons of the great struthious birds (Moa) of New Zealand. Finally Corals and Shells from the Raised Beaches along the Red Sea.
Casts of Fossils.
In addition to the actual fossils from the different geological periods, we still continue to furnish "Ward's Casts of Celebrated Fossils." These are copies -- exact fac-similes in form and color -- of both celebrated and typical fossil forms, from the British Museum, Jardin des Plantes, Vienna Museum, St. Petersburg Museum, and other noted cabinets of Europe and America. These were moulded in these institutions about fifteen years ago. As this method was the only one by which these treasures illustrating the early life on our planet might be brought within the reach of American students, studying on American soil, the enterprise was undertaken with a conviction of its utility to educational science, and with a confidence that the service would be appreciated. This confidence has not been disappointed.
The call for these casts has been large, and is steadily increasing. Our highest institutions of science have been the first to recognize their value and secure their aid. The following institutions are among those who have endorsed these casts in the most unmistakable manner by ordering from $1,000 to $3,000 worth: Smithsonian Institution; New York Geological Cabinet; Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences; Boston Society of Natural History; University of Virginia; University of California, and twenty others. Considerable numbers have also been sent to the Museums of England, Austria, Bavaria, South America, India, New Zealand, and Australia.
The orders which have been received during the past years have indicated the fact that certain forms in this large series are more constantly preferred. This has decided us to make up three considerable suits or series of these casts, including in them, severally, those forms which have proved to be of more particular attractiveness and interest for our lesser and our larger institutions. In this way three distinct Geological Cabinets have been compiled, but of different magnitude and scope. These comprise the
COLLEGE SERIES,
of three hundred and thirty specimens, at $1,000. Descriptive catalogue; price, 75 cts.
ACADEMY SERIES,
containing one hundred and seventy specimens, at $300. Descriptive catalogue; price, 30 cts.
SCHOOL SERIES,
containing seventy-six specimens, at $175. Descriptive catalogue; price, 20 cts.
GENERAL NOTES.
Prof. W. B. Barrows has sent to us from the Argentine Republic quite a series of bird skins, representing over 100 species, and also a number of mammal skins and skeletons. Among these latter are several fine specimens of the Viscacha, concerning which Mr. Barrows remarks, "nothing hardly could be commoner than the Viscacha, and yet it is almost impossible to secure one." This illustrates a point that is seldom taken into consideration, viz: that because an animal is common in a given locality it is not necessarily easy to obtain good specimens of it. We have examples of this right at home in the Prairie Dog and Pouched Rat, or Gopher, of which it seems almost impossible to obtain good skins or skeletons. F. A. L.
Models for an Artist. -- Late last year we had the pleasure of mounting for Mr. Albert Bierstadt, as fine a Mountain Sheep and Pronghorned Antelope, both males, as have ever left our hands. Both these specimens were to do duty as models. Since those specimens were shipped, we have mounted for the same artist two heads of male Mountain Sheep, the last one of which has just been sent to him.
We understand that Mr. Bierstadt is becoming interested in animal painting, and we hope that in time this subject will claim as much of his attention as landscapes. Last year he spent three weeks among the rugged rocks, foaming breakers and herds of sea lion on the Farallone Islands for the purpose of making sketches of the animals and their haunts.
Among the latest arrivals is the skin of a fine male walrus, about ten and a half feet in length, from Bafflns' Bay. This animal is yearly be coming more and more scarce and will probably be entirely exterminated at no distant day. Good stuffed specimens are rare in museums, and examples of the Pacific walrus are rarer still. A fine male skin of the latter species, now on hand, has tusks two feet three inches long. We often see statements that the tusks of the walrus are three feet long, but the pair mentioned above was the largest pair out of some dozen skins, skeletons and skulls, that we have handled during the past few years. Prof. J. A. Allen fixes the names of the two species of walrus, as follows:
Atlantic walrus -- Odobcemis rosmarus, Malm-gren.
Pacific walrus -- Odobamus obesus (III.), Allen.
A Noble Ruminant.
We have just mounted and shipped to Prof. Agassiz, for the Museum of Comparative Zoology, a noble old bull Indian bison, or gaur (Bos gaurus), which stands 5 feet 10 inches in vertical height to the top of his hump. This animal is the oriental counterpart of our American bison, or buffalo, but in size it greatly exceeds the latter, being the largest of all the hollow-horned Ruminants. Specimens have been killed which, it is claimed, measured over six feet in height.
The gaur is found in large herds in the dense hill forests of India generally, but is most abundant in Southern India. This fine specimen and seven others of the same species, were shot on the Animallai Hills by Mr. Hornaday while there collecting for Professor Ward. In the mounting of the skin, which was assisted by measurements and drawings of the freshly killed animal, great care was taken to reproduce as accurately as possible the animal's marked peculiarities of lofty hump, well-rounded sides, small and shapely legs, short neck, drooping head, and mild, intelligent expression of countenance. We believe this specimen is the only mounted one of the species in America, and it is gratifying that is has gone to the Cambridge Museum to be brought in direct comparison with its American cousin, the buffalo.
INVERTEBRATES.
Our stock in this department is exceptionally full, amd is continually receiving additions of fresh material from all parts of the world. This steady influx of material enables us to keep constantly on hand a supply of typical specimens in the different branches of this great group. We are necessarily unable to obtain all the genera in the different divisions, yet we can furnish most of the type forms -- those species which stand out prominently in the systematic zoological series -- as well as those which show stages of growth or other physiological characteristics. Our Catalogue of Invertebrates enumerates considerably more than one thousand species, and additions are constantly being made. Among the most interesting forms are the following:
In PROTOZOA, actual specimens of Foraminifera, Radiolaria and Rhizopods with plaster models, enlarged 100 diameters, of a number of the most interesting forms.
SPONGES from the delicate Glass sponge to the massive Neptune's Cup; also the wonderful Glass Rope sponge and Clione, interesting from its curious habit of boring shells.
G0RG0NIAS from the West Indies, Africa and the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The CORALS include many curious and beautiful forms: Fungias from the Red Sea and Pacific Ocean, Brain Corals from the West Indies and Red Sea, the charming pink Stylaster from Samoa, and the precious Corallium from the Mediterranean.
The most interesting of the CRINOIDS is the rare Pentacrinus Caput Medusae of which we have several unique specimens; also Comatula, Alecto, Antedon &c. Following these come the STAR FISHES and SEA URCHINS in scores of species. The former include Astrophyton, Ophio-coma, Oreaster &c., and among the latter are Echinus, Heterocentrotus, Clypeaster, Brissus and many other forms.
SHELLS, univalve, bivalve and multivalve; also of Octopods and Sqids about twenty species in alcohol.
CRUSTACEANS furnish perhaps the quaintest forms of all; Barnacles, Horse-shoe Crabs, Fiddler Crabs, Lobsters, the odd Birgus latro, famous for its peculiar habit of climbing trees, also scores of other interesting species. Of most of these we have both alcoholic and dry or mounted specimens.
Catalogue of Invertebrates, 112 pages, 121 wood-cuts, 50 cents.
GLASS MODELS.
In addition to the actual specimens we also offer a full series of the exquisitely made Blasch-ka models of Actinias, Acalephs, Cephalopods &c. These are of glass and are most accurate in form and coloring, the greatest care being taken to show in all perfection of detail, these frail and perishable forms which it is almost impossible to preserve satisfactorily. Prof. Ward has been appointed by Herr Blaschka sole American agent for these models. Owing to the increasing demand for the models, we have for some time been unable to keep a supply on hand, and we would request that parties desiring them ¬´will order as early as possible.
Catalogue of Class Models, 24 pages, 10 cents.
DIAGRAMS.
Prof. Ward has also been appointed by the German publishers as American Agent for the sale and distribution of Profs. Leuchart & Nitsches' celebrated Zoological Diagrams, showing the growth and development of chosen representative forms throughout the whole series of Invertebrates. These diagrams -- about 3x5 feet in size -- are beautifully designed and graphically colored in explanation of the subject proposed. They are greatly sought by teachers of Zoology, to whom they are invaluable.
The Silver Medal and accompanying Diploma, awarded to Prof. Ward for his exhibit last year at the Berlin Fisheries Exposition, have just been received. The Diploma is the most artistic work of the kind that we have ever seen. Just as we go to press we learn that two medals have been awarded for the display in the International Exposition at Melbourne, Australia.
The adjoining cuts show the two sides of the Berlin Medal.
Faunal Collections.
The geographical distribution of animals is a branch of zoology which has received much attention of late years, largely on account of the light it throws on the probable former extent and configuration of the land surface of the earth. Differences of opinion exist as to the correct division of the earth into Zoological regions and the intergradation, or overlapping of the forms of the various proposed regions is so great as to render a sharply drawn boundary line between any of them a matter of great difficulty. So far as we know the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., is the first to present the subject to the public in such a manner that it can be readily understood. One great feature of this museum is a series of rooms devoted to collections illustrating the characteristic fauna of the most important of the divisions as defined by Prof. J. A. Allen of that institution. These rooms are assigned to the various faunas as follows: North America, South America, Europeo-Asiatic, Indian, Ethiopian, Madagascar, and Australian. The number of specimens, required for this purpose was necessarily very great, and as the requisite material was not available among the stores of the museum, Prof. Ward was commissioned to supply the missing species. This order as originally given was for over 2,000 species of mammals and birds, and has since been largely increased. Much of the required material is, from its rarity, very difficult to procure, and the filling of an order comprising animals from all parts of the globe, ranging in size from full grown elephants to humming birds, is necessarily a work of time. A large number of specimens has already been delivered, and correspondents in various parts of the world called upon to furnish material.
In addition to the above large order for mounted animals, the same museum has called for a large series of typical Mammalian and Avian skeletons, amounting in all to over 500 species, and representing very fully all the orders of Mammalia and Aves.
From the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
The Missing Link.
He roamed the forest free,
With a proud untrammelled air,
He built a nest on the palm tree's crest, And dwelt a master there.
The monarch of all the earth,
The lord of wood and plain,
The lion fled when his angry tread
Shook the earth with proud disdain.
He dined on elephant, did
This cy-no-ceph-a-lus,
And rhinoceros, and the river horse
And the hip-po-pot-am-us.
Brawny of limb was he,
Yet supple and agile,
On rock or tree his arms were free,
For his toes were prehensile.
Yet doth the monarch sigh
As he paces up and down,
And soliloquize with downcast eyes
And a highly regal frown.
Sad is the royal heart,
Wounded the royal pride,
For the lords of state say the king shall mate
With a Nshiego Mbouve bride.
"What! marry a subject!
I Espouse a chimpanzee!
No, I'm not a Guelph if I know myself,
No mesalliance for me!
Perish my royal blood,
Perish the princely line,
Ere I desecrate with a vulgar mate,
This lineage of mine."
The monarch paused, transfixed,
Vanished his growing wrath,
And a bright surprise beamed in his eyes
As he gazed down the forest path.
A vision of beauty, such
As by Simian eye, before
Had never been seen in the woodland green,
Or been known to Simian lore.
A maiden young and fair
As the charcoal"s ebon tint,
With teeth as white as cowries bright
From the Royal Congo mint.
Her locks of a crispy curl,
Her feet of a mammoth size,
All made her seem a bewitching dream
To the fond gorilla's eyes.
To a high o'er-arching limb
He swung by his sinewy arms,
And dangling there, 'twixt earth and air,
Gazed on her dusky charms.
"Now by my kingly troth
This maid shall be, I think,
My royal bride, and supply beside
Mr. Darwin's missing link."
The thoughtless ebon maid,
Suspicionless of guile,
To the tree trunk strayed and beneath its shade,
Tarried in thought awhile.
Then the monarch spake his love
As he swung by the lofty limb,
He was gifted, they say, with a taking way,
For the lady smiled on him.
He pats her curly locks,
With his great prehensile toes Entwined in her wool -- a vigorous pull --
A shriek -- and up she goes!
Thus was the monarch wed,
And thus the race began,
Whence, thro' various links, somewhat strange, methinks
Came the "Descent of Man!"
The "divine law of compensation" is well illustrated by the fact that while we have just sent some fine specimens of our Antelope and Rocky Mountain Goat to Switzerland, we are awaiting the arrival of some skins of the Mouflon or Wild Sheep of Corsica which are now on the way. It is almost wonderful that the Mouflon has not been exterminated in Sardinia and Corsica, and nothing but the very mountainous character of these islands preserves the animal from extinction.
The Group of Orangs in the Central Park Museum.
(From Harper's Weekly, Dec. 18, 1880.)
The specimens composing the group represented in our illustration, were shot on the Sadong River, Borneo, by Mr. William T. Hornaday, who was sent to the East Indies by Professor Henry A. Ward, of Rochester, to collect specimens for his Natural History Establishment. He visited Borneo in 1878, and in a paper read by him last year before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at Saratoga, we find an interesting account of his experience in hunting the orang, and many new facts relating to the habits of the animal.
* * * * * *
The American Museum of Natural History, in this city, has just come into possession of a striking group of orang-outangs, which was purchased of Professor Ward, and presented to the Museum by Robert Colgate, Esq., of this city. The specimens composing it were mounted by Mr. Hornaday, who has devoted several months of patient labor, in Professor Ward's establishment, in reproducing in a life-like form these wonderful animals, which fell to his rifle in Borneo. The specimens were mounted from careful drawings and measurements of the freshly killed animals, and as a piece of artistic taxidermy this group is-probably unsurpassed in the country.
The group represented by our illustration is intended to show the surroundings and habits of the orang-outang as well as the animals themselves. It is composed of five specimens, viz., two old males, one old and one young female, and a baby, all of the specimens known to science as the Simia Wurmbii. The central and most striking figure is a very large old male orang, with wide cheek callosities and very long hair, who is hanging by one hand and foot to a stout tree, and reaching stealthily out and down with his right hand to snatch a large durion from the foot of the old female who hangs to a tree on the left. She is quietly eating of a durion she holds in her free hand, quite unsuspicious of the stealthy attack being made from behind. Behind this female, high up in a small tree, is her baby, looking very much like a huge, fat spider, hanging in precisely the position he had assumed when discovered in the forest. On the right of the group in the foreground is a young female orang lying on her back fast asleep, upon a nest she has just built of green boughs broken off and piled crosswise in the top of a small sapling. Although fast asleep, she grasps the nearest large limbs as naturally as the feet of a sleeping bird grasp its perch. This is an exact reproduction of the nest constructed by the orang-outang. Behind the "sleeping beauty," perched upon a large horizontal branch, sits another large male orang, eating another durion, while he watches the stealthy movement going on below. The entire group is to be regarded as a section cut out of the top of a Bornean forest, with animals, leafy trees, and all.
Mr. Hornaday informs us in the paper mentioned above that the orang is very seldom known to descend to the earth, and that upon the ground he is a picture of almost abject helplessness. Even in his native tree-tops he is neither graceful nor active in his movements. His body is very heavy, and owing to the disproportionate shortness of his legs, his progress depends mostly upon his long, sinewy arms. Very often he goes swinging through a tree-top or beneath a horizontal branch by their aid alone, often reaching six feet at a stretch. When passing from one tree to another, he reaches out and gathers in his grasp a number of small branches that he feels sure will sustain his weight, then swings himself across. The orang never dares to leap from branch to branch or from tree to tree, as the monkeys do so fearlessly, but when feeding he can hang to a limb by one hand for a great length of time.
Although a full-grown male orang, with his powerful arms and hands, his formidable canine teeth and darkly scowling face, is an object that never fails to inspire a timid person with dread, and cause every other visitor to exclaim, "Well, I would not like to meet him alone in the woods,"
your orang is, after all, perfectly harmless and inoffensive so long as he is let alone. He was never known to attack man unless absolutely brought to bay, and even when attacked and wounded he only exerts himself to the utmost to run away or hide himself. Nothing could be farther from the mind of an orang than the idea of coming down from his tree-top to club his pursuers. There is no authentic account of one of the animals using a club. If the orang is wounded, or brought to bay in any way, then he will fight desperately, and with his powerful teeth inflict very ugly wounds.
The two male specimens in this group possess the wonderful cheek callosities peculiar to all the males of this species, the form and dimensions of which have been reproduced with care. This hard, gristly expansion of the cheeks is a peculiar sexual characteristic, or ornament (?), since it serves no useful purpose, and is not controlled by voluntary muscles. The largest male measures thirteen inches across the face -- the maximum width. From head to heel his vertical height is four feet three inches, or one inch taller than any previously recorded by naturalists, while its weight was 140 pounds. The hair where it is longest measures twelve or fourteen inches in length, and is of a dark reddish-brown color. The skin is of a shiny black hue, and under the throat hangs in a loose, flabby fold. The female is smaller, of a lighter brown color, and covered with short hair, which grows more evenly over the body and limbs.
Anthropoid Apes.
The term Anthropoid Apes is applied to the large, tailless quadrumanes, and is usually held to include the Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Nshiego-Bouve, Orang and Gibbons, although by some these last are placed apart. The group is characterized by the absence of a tail and by having the fore limbs much longer than the hind.
The only fossil representatives are Dryopithecus Fontani, from the miocene of France, and a species of Pithecus, from the pliocene of the same country.
Curiously enough no fossil remains of Apes have been discovered in Africa or Borneo, although the lime-stone caves of Borneo have been carefully explored during the past three or four years by Mr. A. H. Everett.
The distribution of these animals is peculiar. The Gorilla and Chimpanzee range on the west coast of Africa, from 8∞ south to 15∞ north, and inland to lake Tanganyika.* The Orang is found in Borneo and Sumatra, while the Gibbons inhabit Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, Siam, Burmah, N. E. India, and a small part of southern China.
So much has been written about the Gorilla and Chimpanzee that it is useless to more than allude to them. They are dark grey or black in color and inhabit the densest forests, passing a considerable portion of their time on the ground. They assume an erect attitude with tolerable ease, but ordinarily walk on all fours. From the length and curve of the digits, the toes are doubled under the foot, and from the same cause the animal rests on the knuckles of the partially closed hands. On account of this peculiar mode of locomotion the large apes are sometimes termed knuckle walkers.
Neither the Gorilla nor Chimpanzee can be called gregarious, although as many as eight or ten individuals are occasionally seen together; but the Chimpanzee is apparently the more sociable of the two, besides being a little less shy in its habits.
The Nshiego Bouve closely resembles the Chimpanzee in size and habits, but is distinguished by the narrowness of its pelvis, a point in which it approaches the Gibbons.
In connection with the tales of the ferocious disposition of the Gorilla, it may be worth while to mention Prof. Owen's statement that nearly all appear to have been shot in the back. A skeleton of Chimpanzee recently received here had been killed by a bullet in the eye, but the
*This is given on the authority of Cameron and Stanley.
pelvis bore evidence that at some previous time the animal had received a charge of buckshot in the rear. Apparently the animal had learned that it was dangerous to run away, and had decided to face the enemy.
According to the Baron Yon Koppenfels, the Gorilla crosses with the Chimpanzee, and the Gorilla, Mayema and Troglodytes calvus are results of this; but it seems very doubtful that wild animals should cross so often as the Baron intimates.*
All the Asiatic Apes are much more arboreal in their habits than the African species, and it is doubtful if they ever descend to the ground, unless for the purpose of traversing some treeless strip of land intervening between them and some coveted fruit tree. The fore limb is also proportionately longer in the Asiatic Anthropoids than in their African relatives, reaching its extreme in the Gibbons, most of whom can rest a great portion of the palm on the ground without stooping. The number of species of Orang has been variously put at from one to four, but there are certainly no more than two and very possibly but one species. The males of Simla Wurmbii are distinguished by the possession of a thick protuberance on the cheek, which gives the face a flattened appearance and circular outline when viewed from the front. In some specimens the face is thirteen inches broad. The skull is marked by two ridges, which start above the orbit and converge to form a saggital crest. There is also a prominent projection of the lambdoidal ridge just above the auditory foramen. Simla satyrus has no sagittal crest nor lambdoidal prominence, and the temporal ridges never unite.
Prof. J. A. Allen considers that S. Wurmbii is only the adult male, and that the change in position of the temporal crests, together with the acquisition of cheek callosities, is entirely due to age. He bases this opinion on a very similar cranial change observed by him in the Spider Monkey.
As the habits of the Orang are dwelt upon at some length in another article, we will only say that it ranks next to the Gorilla in size, and is solitary in its habits, preferring level, swampy forests.
The Gibbons comprise the Siamang (Siamanga syndactyla) and seven species of the genus Hylobates. Dr. J. E. Gray, who as a rule did not hesitate to found a species on very slight grounds, thinks that these seven should be united in one, or at the most two; and from the amount of known variation in some of the species it is not improbable that some reduction is necessary. The Hylobates lar, for example, varies from uniform yellowish white to an almost uniform black, a range of color that is only equalled by the Ruff (Machetes pugnax) among birds.
As the various species of Gibbons have nearly the same habits, we will take for illustration the Wou Wou {Hylobates leuciscus), which is found in Java, Borneo and Sumatra, in the thick forests, preferring a hilly country to a level one. They are the most active of the Apes, and swing from tree to tree with great rapidity, clearing from ten to twenty-five feet at each swing. This mode of progression (brachiation) is peculiar to the Gibbons, for the smaller monkeys jump from tree to tree, while the large Apes do not let go of one limb until they have firmly grasped another. An idea of the quickness of these animals may be gathered from the fact that a Gibbon kept in the Zoological Gardens has been known to swing across its cage, a distance of twelve feet, and while so doing strike down a bird on the wing. While on their feeding grounds, where they assemble in considerable numbers, the Wou Wous utter a peculiar cry, which is very useful to the collector in revealing their whereabouts, which is otherwise decidedly difficult to discover.
Besides this cry the Gibbon has its ordinary call, from which it derives its name, and which can be heard at a distance of a mile. When we consider that this sound is made by an animal no larger than a small child, we can readily credit the stories Du Chaillu tells of the roar of the Gorilla. The Gorilla, Gibbons and
* See letter to Prof. Ward in June number of Am. Naturalist.
Orang are furnished with dilatable pouches in the neck, which communicate with the larynx and doubtless aid in intensifying the animal's cry. The Orang utters a deep roar; but the note of the Gibbon runs regularly through an octave from E upward, and according to Owen can be said to sing. When disturbed the Gibbon retreats down hill if possible, apparently knowing that while it would lose ground by swinging from tree to tree up hill, that by descending it can easily keep in the tops of the trees.
The numbers of the larger Apes are steadily decreasing as they are driven from the dense forests, which seem a necessity to them, by the advent of man. The Gorilla and Chimpanzee were formerly found on the African coast south of the Niger, but have been driven inland until it is quite difficult to procure the former.
In concluding these brief notes it may be worth while to notice the fact that the large African Apes are, like the inhabitants, black, while the Orang, like the Malay, is brown.
Frederic A. Lucas.
Rocky Mountain Goats.
We have just received from the Northwestern Territories (British) a few skins of the rare Rocky Mountain Goat (Aploceros montanus), which is one of the most difficult to procure of our North American mammals. Not only are the herds of mountain goats few in number, but they live high up in the mountains in the most inaccessible places, taking refuge -- so say the hunters -- where even a dog can not follow them. It sometimes happens that after a goat has been killed his body can not be reached, or else falls from a cliff and is so much mutilated as to be useless. Even after specimens have been secured and "backed" to camp the trouble is by no means ended, for in order to get them to the nearest station it is necessary to transport them over rough and rocky mountain passes and across swollen and turbulent rivers at imminent risk of loss. The specimens just received had been on the road for over four months.
The price for these skins is from $50 to $75, and for mounted specimens, $125 to $150.
The following are extracts of letters from two of our correspondents in the region where the Mountain Goat is found:
"The Mountain Goat is very scarce -- only found in a few places. They range very high up among the rough rocks and cliffs, where it is almost inaccessible to man, and will go where a dog cannot follow. They do not seem to be a shy animal, but after killing one it is extremely difficult to get it out. I have on two occasions killed a goat, and could not possibly get to the animal."
"Could you see, or could I describe to you the configuration of the mountain chasms and peaks whence the Indians procure the animals in question, you would understand what a task it is to procure a specimen that is not mangled, torn and utterly ruined (save for food) by a fall of perhaps thousands of feet into some gloomy abyss when the fatal shot is fired which kills. In this connection I may be allowed to mention that last autumn, the Indians while bringing the carcass of a goat a distance of eight miles to reach my ranch (at the foot of the main range), lost horse and carcass over a precipice, so that to avoid trouble with the Indians I purchased horse as well as goat.
WANTED.
Skeletons of Pouched Gopher {Geomys bursar-ius); skeletons of Prarie Dog (Cynomys ludovi-cianus); skeletons of large male Buffalo (Bison americanus); well preserved, choice specimens of American Minerals and Fossils. Also, of American (Indian and "Mound Builders") relics, Axes, Hatchets, Pipes, Pottery, &c., &c.
We want only good typical specimens, and would request that in every case persons write us in regard to the specimens before sending them. If specimens are sent "on approval" without first consulting us, the freight on them must be prepaid.
OOLOGY.
Our stock of eggs is at the present time larger than ever before. The last edition (March, 1881) of our CATALOGUE OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS' EGGS enumerates 240 species, and the number is steadily increasing. The number of our correspondents all over this continent has become so large that we are likely to be able to furnish anything which is obtainable in this country.
All species noted in the catalogue were on hand at the time it was issued, and we endeavor to keep them constantly in stock.
The CATALOGUE OF FOREIGN BIRDS' EGGS gives a list of 360 species; a few of these, however, we have not on hand at present, but a large lot of eggs now on the way from Europe will include all these species, as well as a number not in the present catalogue. A new edition will be issued as soon as these are received.
We have taken all possible pains to include in our stock only perfect specimens, and to exclude from it any not carefully prepared or whose identity was in the least doubtful.
Of some few species only single eggs can be furnished, while of most -- even of the rarest birds -- we have a good supply. Nests of many species can be furnished at about double the price of the egg, but the price would vary with the condition of the individual specimen.
For the convenience of persons commencing collections, and needing only the common species, we have prepared two special series of these, which we offer at very low prices, as follows:
Set A, American Eggs, 25 species for $5.00.
Set B, Foreign Eggs, 35 species for $5.00.
All eggs will be sent postage or express prepaid, but beyond this no discount can be made. They will be carefully packed, and forwarded in wooden or tin boxes, after which they are at buyer's risk.
Catalogue of North American Birds' Eggs, price 10 cents.
Catalogue of Foreign Birds' Eggs, price 10 cents.
A Rare Specimen.
The establishment has just received "by direct importation" from the Arctic ocean, a skeleton of Orca gladiator, commonly known as the Grampus or killer, which measures 21 feet in length. Like the narwhal, specimens of this species are very difficult to obtain, and are rarely seen, save in the largest museums. The most interesting feature of this skeleton is the head, which is of massive proportions, and furnished with a frightful array of teeth, which in size and shape greatly resemble the teeth of the sperm whale.
This animal has been rightly named "The Killer," for it is truly the tiger of the seas. It is very voracious, and besides devouring young seals, small porpoises and young whales, it even attacks the full grown right whale, tearing large chunks of flesh from around its mouth, the lip edges forming the most accessible point of attack. The grampus possesses great strength and activity, and marvellous stories are told of its attacks upon whales.
This rare specimen is the first of the kind we have been able to secure. It was ordered immediately upon its arrival by Prof. Agassiz, for the Museum of Comparative Zoology.
LIST OF QUADRUMANA,
(Apes, Monkeys, Etc.)
As Skins, Stuffed Specimens, Skeletons and Skulls now on hand and for sale at the Establishment.
PRICES. SKIN. Stuffed Skin. SKELETON. SKULL.
Troglodytes gorilla (Gorilla), male, 5ft. 6in. _W. Africa, $--- $--- $ 325 $---
Troglodytes niger (Chimpanzee), male, Gaboon, Africa, --- 225 200 ---
Troglodytes niger (Chimpanzee) female, --- 175 140 ---
Troglodytes niger (Chimpanzee) young, --- --- 45 ---
Simia Wurmbii (Orang Outan), Borneo, 100-150 80-275 150-250 ---
Simia satyrus (Orang Outan) male, Borneo 65-130 120-250 100-200 10-15
Simia satyrus (Orang Outan) female, Borneo 35-90 75-165 --- ---
Hylobates lar (Gibbon), India, 22 35 30 ---
Hylobates leuciscus (Silvery Gibbon), Borneo, 14-20 30-35 28 ---
Nasalis larvatus (Nose Monkey), Borneo, 34-40 50-65 45 ---
Semnopithecus cucullatus (Langur), S. W. India, 12-14 20-24 28 3.50
Semnopithecus entellus (Entellus Monkey), S. India, 12 22 28 3.50
Semnopithecus leucoprymnus, Ceylon, 9 18 --- ---
Semnopithecus sp.? Borneo, --- --- 20 3
Cercopithecus rufoviridis, W. Africa, --- 18 --- ---
Cercopithecus saboeus (Green Monkey), W. Africa, --- 20 --- ---
Cercopithecus ruber (Patas Monkey), Senegal, 7 18 --- ---
Cercocebus collaris (White-collared Mangabey) W. Africa, 12 22 --- ---
Cercocebus fuliginosus (Sooty Mangabey) W. Africa, 12 24 --- ---
Macacus pileatus (Capped Macaque), Borneo, --- 18 26 ---
Macacus nemestrinus (Pig-tailed Macaque), Borneo, 7-9 16-19 --- 3.50
Macacus cynomulgus, Borneo, 7 16 --- 3.50
Macacus Assamensis, Malay Penin, 7 16 --- ---
Macacus rhesus (Lion Monkey), India, --- --- --- 3.50
Inuus ecaudatus (Barbary Ape), N. Africa, --- --- 35 ---
Cynopithecus niger (Black Macaque), Philippines, --- --- 28 ---
Cynocephalus porcarius (Chacma), S. Africa, --- 30-35 40 ---
Cynocephalus papio, undersized, Africa, 12 26 --- ---
Mycetes seniculus (Golden Howler), Venezuela, 9-12 25 28 ---
Mycetes palliatus (Mantled Howler), Venezuela, --- --- --- 3.50
Ateles paniscus (Coaita), Brazil, 18 30 --- ---
Ateles Bartletti, Orinoco, 18 35 --- ---
Ateles hybridus (Brown Spider Monkey), Brazil, 10 22 --- ---
Chrysothrix entomophagus (Blackheaded Teetee),
Chrysothrix Demarara, --- --- 14 ---
Pithecia leucocephala (Black Yarkee), Venezuela, 6-12 15-22 --- ---
Pithecia monachus (Yarkee), Brazil, 9 18 --- 3.50
Leontopithecus rosalia (Marikina), Brazil, --- --- 14 ---
Hapale Oedipus (Pinche), Brazil, --- 9 --- ---
Oedipus titi (Pinche), Brazil, --- --- 12 ---
Oedipus Geoffroyi, Panama, 7 14 12 ---
Varecia varia (Ruffed Lemur), Madagascar, 22 35 30 4
Lemur catta (Ring-tailed Lemur), Madagascar, 15 28 --- ---
Lemur albifrons, Madagascar, 16 30 --- ---
Lemur xanthomystax, Madagascar, 16 30 --- ---
Nycticebus tardigradus (Slow Lemur) Borneo, 7 14 16 ---
Galago senegalensis, W. Africa, --- --- 15 ---
Propithecus diadema, Madagascar, --- --- --- 3
Loris gracilis (Slender Lemur), S. W. India, --- --- 9 2
Tarsius spectrum (Tarsier), Borneo, --- 14 --- ---
Callithrix cuprea, Ecuador, 7 15 --- ---
A BIBLICAL MUSEUM.
The Rochester Theological Seminary has made a new departure by establishing for itself a collection of animals and other natural history specimens, such as figure prominently in Bible history. Since this is the first step which has been taken in this direction, so far as we are aware, and is likely to lead to similar efforts on the part of other institutions of the same kind, it is of special interest. We have already supplied the Seminary with a series of stuffed animals, besides a large number of Egyptian and Syrian antiquities, including a mummy, mummy coffins, copy of Rosetta stone, &c. &c. also a series of Minerals, Rocks and Fossils from Egypt, Arabia and Palestine. To these collections will be added from time to time, any
specimens which will aid in giving a clear understanding of the Bible.
In this connection we would mention that the Chautauqua Sunday School Assembly is expecting a new Museum building and has begun to gather material for an Archeological Museum. We were visited a few weeks ago by Rev. Dr. Vincent and Rev. Dr. Kittredge, who purchased for the museum a number of archeological specimens, including copies of Winged Bull and Winged Lion from Ninevah; also copies of other Assyrian figures with inscriptions in the cuneiform characters, a cast of the "Rosetta Stone," &c., originals of which are in the British Museum. These with other specimens will be sent to the museum next month, perhaps in time for the opening session of. the Assembly.
Description of a Tropical Forest.
The Baron Hugo Von Koppenfels, in an interesting letter from West Africa to Professor Ward, for whom he is now collecting gorillas and chimpanzee, gives the following graphic description of the damp tropical forests, the miasmata from the swamps and their influence upon the traveler. Every one who has traveled in an equatorial forest will instantly recognize the truthfulness of this pen picture. This letter will be given in detail in the June number of the American Naturalist.
"No writer can give a just description of a primitive tropical forest. It is too grand and diversified, but with all its exterior splendor and beauty it is a deceitful and dangerous thing. Woe to the inexperienced man who essays to penetrate into its interior. He soon becomes involved in a chaos of roots, of interlacing lianas, of fallen trunks covered with a tangled growth of thorny underbrush, all growing from a dank and swampy soil. Here he breathes a stagnant, musty, green house air, which depresses the spirits and deadens the energies. Added to this there is a deep, gloomy silence, which broods over this place of most luxuriant growth and rapid decay. Although these mysterious shadows hide an active and varied animal life, the ear is seldom struck by a sound of any kind. Only now and then the falling of a fruit or a dry branch breaks the oppressive stillness. Early in the morning and in the short evening twilight of the tropics some birds are heard to herald the advent or departure of the day. Such a forest is a subject of unending study, and only he whom nature has endowed with peculiar tastes and acute senses can, with use and experience, become faxniliar with its varied constituents, its changing phases and its silent language. Woe to the novice who without guide wanders into its recesses, where death lurks for him. In most cases he is soon hopelessly lost; and when weary and despairing he throws himself on the ground to rest, swarms of ants and other insects soon feting him into movement again. Almost no wholesome food is attainable in these forest depths, and should the traveler not die of starvation or fall a victim to violent, acute fever, the poisonous atmosphere slowly acting on the system paralyzes the digestion, corrupts the blood, and produces irritating eruptions of the skin, and frequently malignant ulcers. Such is the primitive forest on the alluvial bottoms of the rivers of tropical Africa. It has been represented as a paradise, and poetical descriptions drawn from the imagination have inspired in many a longing desire to penetrate its mysteries. One must, however, do as I have done, wander lost and alone for days together enduring terrible suffering and constant fear of death, before he can form for himself a true image of the real tropical primeval forest."
Travelers who have visited Naples will be pleased to know that this establishment has just received seventeen complete skeletons "in the rough," and thirteen skulls of Italians who lately flourished under the shadow of Vesuvius. The majority of these relics undoubtedly belonged to beggars once, and we fondly believe the remainder represent some of the "guides" who in 1876-77 infested the sides of Vesuvius and Naples generally, and made a profession of badgering and bullying travelers. It is interesting to note that in all the skulls, thirty in number, the teeth are all even, well formed and in an unusually perfect state of preservation, like the teeth of all other animals of a predatory nature.
W. T. H.
We cordially endorse the above sentiments and think that a series of about 15,000 selected skeletons would render a visit to Naples and vicinity a very pleasurable event. F. A. L.
On one of Prof. Ward's trips up the Nile he wished to inquire of a native if any crocodiles were found in the vicinity, and not having a large acquaintance with the language, he drew a picture of the animal to show what he wished. After carefully studying the drawing for some time in order, as the Professor thought, to make sure of the species, the Egyptian replied in a confidant tone, "A boat, a boat."
TAXIDERMY.
Ten Commandments for the Hunter-Naturalist.
1. Don't shoot a specimen too much.
2. Don't cut off portions of the skin and throw them away, as some heathens do.
3. Don't haggle the eyelids, nostrils nor lips.
4. Don't leave the legs or feet of a mammal, nor the head of a bird unskinned.
5. Don't be so mean and stingy as to cut off the leg bones at the foot and throw them away, thus necessitating the making of wooden bones to replace them in mounting, but always cut the flesh from the leg-bones and leave them attached to the skin. Ditto for the skull.
6. Don't attempt to cure skins with nothing. Use arsenic or arsenical soap with dry alum or salt; or else put the skins in strong alcohol or brine.
7. Don't dry a skin which has any blood upon it; either clean it or throw it away.
8. Don't ram a skin full of rubbish, and stretch it to twice its natural size; neither hang it up by the nose; nor unduly stretch it in any outlandish way, lest the taxidermist who cometh after thee shall call down curses upon thy head.
9. Don't dry any skin in a hot sun, nor roast it in any other manner for that matter, but put it in a shady place where the wind will blow upon it and hungry dogs cannot climb the tree and drag it down.
10. Don't be too modest to label your skins,
but tie to each one a pard giving its name, and P. O. address, and also your own name and address, so the man who mounts your skins will know where to find you. W. T. H.
To Preserve Small Birds Entire. -- Take strong alcohol and dissolve in it about 1 drachm of corrosive sublimate to every quart of the spirits. Test with a black feather to see that it is not too strong of the sublimate. Soak small birds in this preparation three or four days; then take them out and allow to dry. For a bird the size of a pigeon remove the entrails, wash it clean, and let it remain ten to fifteen days.
Glue for Feathers and Hair.
Gum arabic, .... 4 ounces.
White sugar, .... 1 ounce.
Arsenical soap, .... 1/2 ounce
Starch,.... 4 ounces.
Water, .... 8 or 10 ounces.
Melt the gum arabic in water, after which boil all the ingredients well together.
Arsenical Soap.
INGREDIENTS.
White soap, .... 2 pounds.
Powdered arsenic, .... 2 pounds.
Camphor, .... 5 ounces.
Sub. carbonate of potash, .... 6 ounces.
Lime,.... 2 ounces.
Alcohol,.... 8 ounces.
Directions. -- Slice the soap and melt it in a small quantity of water over a slow fire, stirring it sufficiently to prevent its burning. When melted, add the potash and lime, and boil until it becomes quite thick. Now stir in the powdered arsenic, after which add the camphor, previously dissolved in the alcohol. When the mass has been boiled down to the consistency of thick molasses, pour it into an earthen jar to cool and harden. Stir it frequently while cooling to prevent the arsenic settling to the bottom. When cold it should be like lard or butter. For use, mix a small quantity with water until it resembles buttermilk, and apply with a common paint brush.
CUSTOM WORK IN TAXIDERMY.
PRICES FOR MOUNTING SKINS.
AMERICAN MAMMALS. FOREIGN MAMMALS.
Moose -- male, $135 Rhinoceros, $250
Ditto -- female, 100 Bactrian Camel, 150 to 175
Bison; "Buffalo," 125 Dromedary, 125 to 150
Elk -- male, 100 Giraffe -- 15 or 16ft. high, 175
Ditto -- female, 80 Ditto -- 9 or 10 ft. high, 125
Black-tailed Deer -- male, 70 Eland, 90
Ditto -- female, 60 Koodoo, 80
Caribou, 75 Nylghau, 75
Virginia Deer -- male, 60 Bubale, 75
Ditto -- female - 50 Lion, 70 to 90
Mountain sheep, 75 Tiger, 70 to 90
Ditto -- female, 60 Leopard, 30 to 50
Pronghorn Antelope, 55 Ocelot, 15
Grizzly Bear 80 Walrus, 100 to 150
Black Bear, 50 Sea Lion, 75 to 100
Panther, 60 Seal, 20 to 45
Lynx; Wildcat, 18 Otter, 12
Wolf, - - 30 Great Ant Eater, 35
Coyote; Prairie Wolf, 20 Small Ant Eater, 13
Pox, - - - - 15 Sloth, 8 to 15
Otter, - 15 Armadillo, 8 to 15
Raccoon, 14 Great Kangaroo, 30 to 50
Badger, 13 Derby's Kangaroo, 18
Beaver, - - - 16 Koala, 16
Jack Rabbit, 8 Wombat, 14
Grey Rabbit, 6 Phalanger, 12
Woodchuck, 6 Baboon, 20
Skunk, 8 Howling Monkey, 15
Sable, - - - 7 Green Monkey, 12
Opossum, - 7 Marmozet Monkey, 6
Fisher, - - - 8 Lemur, 8 to 14
Mink, 6 Capybara, 20 to 35
Muskrat, 5 Paca, 10
Prairie Dog, 5 Rousette Bat, 6
Weasel, 3 Porpoise, 15 to 30
Grey Squirrel, 3
PRICES FOR MOUNTING HEADS.
Heads of mammals are mounted in the highest style of the art at the prices given below, without shields:
Bison; "Buffalo," ... $25 to 30
Moose, ... 25 to 30
Elk, ... 20 to 25
Caribou, ... 16 to 20
Mountain Sheep, ... 14
Deer, ... 12
Antelope, ... 12
A massive Black Walnut Shield with moulded edge will be furnished for Bison and Moose for $5; for Elk, Caribou and Mountain Sheep, $4; for Deer and Antelope, $2.50.
The prices noted above are for dry skins of average preservation, with the skulls. If a skin is badly cut or torn, lacks patches of hair (which must be replaced), or is without a skull, the price will necessarily be more than that given. If, on the other hand, it be & fresh skin it will be less than these rates.
Parties sending skins to be mounted are earnestly requested to first examine the same carefully, in order to be themselves aware of the exact state of the specimen as to tears, bare spots, loose hair, etc. It sometimes happens that a skin is supposed by the owner to be a good one, when close inspection would show him that it is really poor.
For all further information on this subject, address
PROF. HENRY A. WARD,
2 College Avenue,
Rochester, N. Y.
The Second General Meeting and Exhibition of the S. A. T. will be held in Boston, at a date to be fixed hereafter by the executive committee, probably the last week in November. For any information concerning it, address the Secretary.
If the Society of Taxidermists is ever financially able, it will offer a gold medal and a prize of one hundred dollars for the best original treatise in any language, offered by any person, on the Preservation of Skins in all Climates. To those interested the importance of this subject cannot be overestimated.
The largest stuffed animal in America has just been completed at this establishment. It is a noble old tusker elephant, 9 feet 5 inches high, who less than four years ago roamed through the grand hill-forests of Southern India. The next number of the Bulletin will contain a short account of how he was shot, skinned and mounted.
The Society of Taxidermists has now forty-five active members, representing seven different states, and one corresponding member in India. Twenty-six members took part in the late exhibition. Eleven classes of work in taxidermy were represented by 232 entries, beside which there were seven entries under the head of adjuncts to taxidermy.
In his last letter the Baron Yon Koppenfels announced his intention of making an expedition some distance to the interior of Africa, and we have-just forwarded to him full directions for skinning a full grown elephant in the jungle, and preserving and transporting the skin. He intends to secure for us an African elephant, which has been ordered by Prof. Agassiz for whom our large Indian elephant has just been mounted.
We have just mounted for the Smithsonian Institution the skin of a female Mountain Sheep from Siberia, which may be cited as an example of the difficulties our taxidermists are sometimes obliged to surmount. The lower half of the neck down to the breast was wanting, and no portion of the head remained save one eye and ear, and a narrow strip down the forehead. "The rats did it." The skin was mounted, however, the neck and head restored in papier mache which was afterward covered with suitable hair, and thus a rare specimen was saved from being a total loss to science. But it took time. We claim that it is possible to mount the skin of any mammal or bird so that it will make a passable museum specimen, provided some one is willing to meet the expense.
At no period in the history of the Establishment have we had in course of mounting at one time such a number of rare, valuable and gigantic pieces as have occupied our taxidermists and osteologists during the last three months. Without attempting to number the host of small specimens, we may note among the skeletons a fine male gorilla and two chimpanzees; the skeleton of the famous race-horse Henry Clay; eight Moa skeletons from New Zealand, being remounted for the Central Park Museum; and a male elephant skeleton eight and one-half feet in height. Among the stuffed animals the most noteworthy are two chimpanzees of the largest size; two white Mountain sheep, supposed to have come from Siberia; an Indian gavial, or Gangetic crocodile; a salt water crocodile from Borneo; a noble old male Indian bison, or gaur, measuring 5 feet 10 inches in height; and lastly a magnificent tusker elephant (Indian species) looming high above all the rest, measuring 9 feet 5 inches in vertical height.
We might also mention that we have in process of maceration three whales: one 23 feet long for the United States National Museum, another for the Museum of Compaaative Zoology, 58 feet long, and a third 65 feet in length, for the New York State Cabinet.
A word about Localities. -- Always mark the locality of a specimen on the label attached to it. A specimen can sometimes be identified by that alone, and it is always of the greatest service. Some collectors would rather have a locality without a specimen than a specimen without a locality.
OSTEOLOGY.
Interesting Skeletons.
Among the most interesting skeletons that have recently been mounted at the Establishment are those of three native Australians, which were prepared for the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, New York. The lowness of forehead and great development of the superciliary ridges was especially noticeable. On one point we feel compelled to differ from Mr. Wallace, who says, in "Australasia," page 86, that "the bones are delicately formed." The three specimens examined were remarkable for the great proportional size and angularity of the leg bones. The posterior part of the femur was very sharp, presenting a great contrast in that respect to the femur of a European. The tibia was similarly angular, but the fibula presented the greatest amount of departure from the trapezoidal shape, a section of it presenting an almost crescentic outline.
The accompanying cuts give a better idea of its appearance than any description can:
Cut A -- Section of right fibula of European.
" B -- " " " " Australian.
These skeletons are now in the Zoological Hall at Central Park. F. A. L.
Prices for Mounting Skeletons.
These prices are for average specimens and vary according to the difficulty of cleaning, repairing, &c.:
Homo sapiens.........................$ 25 to $ 35
Giraffe, large Walrus................ 100 to 125
Moose, Sea Lion (Eumetopias),............... 85
Ox, Bison, Horse, Camel.............. 70 to 80
Lion, Tiger, Grizzly Bear................... 60
Deer, Llama, Mountain Sheep, Black Bear... 50
Wild Boar, Ostrich, medium Alligator, Giant Kangaroo, Sea Leopard (Zalophus)... 40
Rhea, Emu. Porpoise, Capybara, Harbor Seal................................. 30
Coyote, Condor............................. 25
Lynx, Glutton, Small Alligator.............. 20
Beaver, Otter, Sloth, Iguana................ 18
Fox, Raccoon, Badger, Turkey, Swan..... 12 to 15
Opossum, Skunk, Rabbit, Owl........ 8 to 10
Mink, Duck, Squirrel, Crow, Partridge.... 8
Pigeon, Quail........................ 7
Rat, Mole, Frog, Toad.............. 5 to 9
The Codfish (Gadus morrhua)
The above cut is taken from the "Illuminated Descriptive Catalogue op School Series of Skeletons" just issued, 40 pages, price 25 cts. The "School Series" consist of the following mounted Skeletons: -- Cat, Cow (foot only), Crow, Water Snake, Lizard, Turtle, Frog and Codfish as typical of the five classes of vertebrata. The Catalogue contains a brief description of the osteological pecularities of each with references to those of various members of their respective classes, thus forming as it were a "primer" of Osteology. The price of the "School Series" is $100 boxed.
Catalogue of Specimens of Comparative Osteology.
September, 1880. Price, 25 cents.
This catalogue enumerates about six hundred species, representing very fully all classes of Vertebrates, and among Mammalia the greater part of the families.
The skeletons and skulls offered in this catalogue are perfect, and belong to full-grown animals, except when otherwise stated.
The prices as given, are based upon this perfection in the specimens. When a skeleton is ordered, and the specimen on hand is not (as sometimes happens) of this first-class category, it will be announced at once in its real character and a lower price fixed upon it. I take great pains, however, to exclude medium or undersized specimens from my stock so far as is possible under the conditions which govern the first collecting of this class of objects.
Each skeleton is mounted with brass or (in the larger ones) bronzed standards, on a Black Walnut pedestal. The skulls have the lower jaw movably articulated with spiral brass springs. Both the skull and the fore and hind legs of the larger specimens are so articulated that they may be readily removed from the body, for closer examination or lecture room illustration, and again replaced. A handsome printed label accompanies each specimen, giving name, sex, locality, etc.
Disarticulate specimens of the larger skeletons, bleached, with bones separate, in box or bag, with vertebrae numbered and strung, and with each hand and foot by itself, furnished at one-half to three-fifths the prices noted for mounted specimens.
Parties ordering for $300 or more, will receive a reduction of 5 per cent, from catalogue prices. No charge for packing, except for the box itself in the case of specimens of the size of the Wolf and larger.
In this catalogue (as in all my others), I have mentioned no specimens but such as I have actually on hand at the time of going to press. Many of these, however, are still unmounted. Parties wishing to purchase are therefore requested to send in their orders promptly, so as to allow time for mounting.
Mounting Skeletons.
We think that very few appreciate the great amount of mechanical work in cleaning and mounting a skeleton, and many labor under the delusion that the hardest portion of the work is in finding the proper places for the various bones, the wiring them together being a secondary matter. This corresponds to the remark, so frequently made in reference to taxidermy, "Oh! if I could skin a bird I think I could stuff it without much trouble," and is quite as incorrect. In most large animals it is comparatively easy to assign each bone to its proper place, and an expert can readily arrange the skeleton of a ruminant in half-an-hour. "Putting it up," however, is quite a different matter, entailing the boring of several hundred holes in hard bone, the forging of the rod for the vertebrae, fitting of considerable metal work, and finally the making of ther supports; all this, to say nothing of the fact that wild animals usually have bones broken by bullets, and minor breakages arising from unskilful packing, all of which must be neatly repaired.
Moreover, care must be taken in piercing holes for the numerous wires and adjusting the various joints that all is done correctly; for mistakes once made can not readily be rectified, and the result may be that a skeleton which it has taken a week to mount, instead of having a correct form and appearing to sustain its own weight, seems merely hung on its supports, with its weak legs giving way beneath it. "Would that mine enemy had written a book" finds an echo in "would that my critic had mounted a skeleton."
Human Skeletons.
It is said that "the proper study of mankind is man," and that there is some truth in this -- probably as much as is usually found in poetry -- is shown by the frequent demand for human skeletons. This has been so great that we have heretofore had considerable difficulty in keeping a sufficient supply on hand, but we have recently made arrangements which we trust will furnish us with an adequate number. The price for a mounted skeleton is $40 to $50, for a skull, $7 to $12. When so desired, one hand and foot instead of being immovably wired together are strung on catgut, so that the bones can be studied separately. For a slight additional charge the skull is vertically bisected. Besides human skeletons mounted and disarticulate, we keep on hand or prepare to order various other osteological preparations, such as limbs, hands and feet, pelves, skulls a la Beauchene, disarticulate or mounted in sections, all of which will be found noted in the Catalogue of Human Skeletons, etc.
The skeleton of the celebrated trotter "Henry Clay," recently mounted here, and now in the U. S. National Museum, is an example of how long a skeleton may be buried and still be mount-able. This horse was buried fourteen years ago, and the bones were in a very fragile condition; but by using great care they were successfully put together, although of course they could not be rendered white.
The First Taxidermists' Exhibition.
A SUCCESSFUL MEETING AT ROCHESTER -- THE DISPLAY VISITED BY A MULTITUDE OF INTERESTED PERSONS -- FINE AND CURIOUS SPECIMENS
Correspondence of the New York Tribune, 1880.
Rochester, Dec. 17. -- There is now being held in this city an exhibition of no common merit and interest, under the auspices of a society which, though not yet one year old, gives promise of a brilliant future. In March last the taxidermists of this city and vicinity decided to found a National Society of Taxidermists, which should be devoted to the development and improvement of their art. The plan proposed was to hold annual meetings and competetive exhibitions, and the public of Western New York are now witnessing the first effort of this kind. The society is composed of professional and amateur taxidermists from all parts of the Middle States, who have worked with a will to make their first exhibition a success, and the result has been a surprise both to the public and themselves. Since it is probable that the next effort of the society will be made in New York city, a year hence, on a far grander scale, this exhibition claims more than a passing notice. Although the art of taxidermy had its birth in the old world, this society is the first of the kind ever organized, and this exhibition possesses the charm of being an entirely novel enterprise.
Through the generosity of two public-spirited business men of this city, James Vick and John Fahy, a fine hall 110x30 feet in size was placed at the disposal of the society, and is now occupied by the exhibition. As the visitor enters the door he is confronted by a splendid lion, which seems to have turned its head suddenly to the left and opened its mouth to seize him. This specimen is the work of a well-known New York taxidermist. On the left of the entrance stands a tiger, almost of the largest size, 9 feet 8 inches in length, perhaps the largest and finest in America, which was killed in India by the secretary of the society. At the upper end of the hall, occupying a prominent position, is a large and striking group labeled "A Fight in the Treetops." It is composed of two immense male orang-outangs engaged in a fierce struggle. The largest has seized the hand of the other, drawn it to his mouth and is just in the act of biting off the middle finger at the second joint, from which the blood is flowing. The owner of the finger is swinging down upon his antagonist, with mouth wide open and a savage expression of mingled pain and rage upon his face. The surroundings have been worked up with great care to reproduce a section of a Bornean forest, with its trees and dark green foliage, orchids and creepers. This striking group is the work of the same artist who mounted the now famous group of orang-outangs in the American Museum in New York.
Near the group of orang-outangs, in strong contrast with their fierce black faces, brawny limbs and general ugliness, stands a large group called "The Flamingo at Home." In the shallow water at the edge of a lagoon a female flamingo has built her nest of mud and grass, and in a half standing posture is covering her eggs. On the left of the group a stately male bird is standing proudly erect, while on the right a third male bird is stooping down intently watching a small turtle which can just be distinguished at the bottom of the water. On the surface of the water there float most life-like leaves and flowers of the pond lily, and other aquatic plants grow at the water's edge. This beautiful group is the work of the president of the society. Near by, upon two easels, are a pair of medallions of exquisite beauty, done by the same-skillful hand. Against a background of black velvet, upon a gilt log, stands a snowy heron, with one foot raised, his plumes showing like threads of spun glass against the background. A massive frame of purple velvet and gilt completes an elegant work of art.
Another artistic group of birds is entitled "An Interrupted Dinner." A hawk has just killed a partridge and is preparing for a feast, when a peregrine falcon swoops down to rob him of his prize. The artist has represented the moment of
attack. The hawk has turned upon its back to receive the assailant, partly covering its prey with one of its outstretched wings, its bloody beak and talons reaching upward. The artist has represented the falcon as hovering in mid air directly above the hawk, with claws extended, endeavoring to strike the former at an unguarded point. The group has been prepared with the skill and care which characterize the artist who loves his art.
On one side of the hall, occupying a wall space twenty feet square, is a fine display of decorative pieces, comprising deer and elk heads, panel pieces of dead game, feather fire screens, owls of every description, and miscellaneous pieces in great variety. This exhibit is the centre of attraction to the throng of ladies who visit the exhibition. Further along is a display of artistic groups of birds, from the bald eagle to the humming bird. Usually each case contains a flock of birds of one species only, or at most two, arranged with natural scenery and background effects to represent the haunts and habits of the birds. The catalogue enumerates ninety-seven groups of birds, and in work of this class the display is very rich and attractive. Along the opposite side of the hall is ranged a row of deer heads, cabinet groups of birds and single bird specimens. Down the centre, on an elevated platform, are the single mammal specimens, among which we find a noble American bison, a mountain sheep of great beauty, standing proudly on a rock, an antelope, a lioness, a black bear, a fur seal and her young, and various smaller animals.
Another prominent feature of the exhibition is the display of grotesque groups which furnish an endless amount of amusement to old and young. There are frogs, sqrirrels and kittens playing cards and dominoes, duelling, drinking, smoking, fishing and making love, in all of which the attitudes, facial expression and accessories are worked out with consummate skill. One frog group, labelled "The Taxidermist," represents the president of the society sitting at his table mounting a humming-bird. Another, called "Sitting for a Portrait," is exceedingly droll. The most attractive of all the grotesque groups is called "The Story of Cock Robin, Complete," and is precisely what the name indicates.
A beautiful sleigh-robe, made of a leopard skin with the head mounted in fine style, is seen at one end of the hall, and beside it stands an ottoman made of an eleplmnt's foot.
Besides the above, the display includes groups of fishes and crabs, a fine lot of bird skins, taxidermists' tools, glass eyes, perches, artificial leaves and general accessories to taxidermy. A carefully arranged catalogue enumerates 239 entries, all branches of taxidermy being well represented. Each specimen is fully labelled, so that the visitor has full information concerning it.
The opening reception of the exhibition was held on last Tuesday night. Since that date the exhibition has been open to the public, and as its character and merits are becoming more widely known it is becoming very popular. A disappointed visitor has not yet been seen, and the attendance steadily increases. It was the intention of the society to close the exhibition at the end of four days, but by the general request of the press and public, it has been decided to continue it three days longer. The success of the society is now assured and its permanence as a national organization established. It had the good fortune to secure as judges of the exhibition three prominent patrons of taxidermy, Professor J. A. Allen, of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.; Dr. Joseph B. Holder, of the American Museum of Natural History, New York city; and Professor W. E. D. Scott, of the Princeton College Museum. Their sealed report is now in the hands of the secretary and will not be made known until near the close of the exhibition.
At the general meeting of the society, held on the 16th inst., Professor W. E. D. Scott, of Princeton, was elected president for the next year; Mr, F. S. Webster was elected vice-president; Mr. William T. Hornaday was re-elected secretary, and Mr. F. A. Lucas treasurer. Already the various members are designing large
groups and special exhibits for the next exhibition. The society is as yet undecided whether to hold the next exhibition in Boston or New York, but at present the preference is in favor of the latter.
The Taxidermists.
THE LAST NIGHT OF A SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION.
From Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Dec. 23,1880.
Last night was the closing night of the American Taxidermists' society's exhibition, and as usual the hall was filled with people who seemed to take great pleasure in viewing the many handsome exhibits which the room contained. This exhibition was in the outset merely gotten up as an experiment, the members as a rule being uncertain as to the result of their efforts in bringing before the public something that was never before attempted; but the people have demonstrated in a manner eminently satisfactory to all concerned that they will uphold every enterprise that has for its fundamental principle the advancement of science and general knowledge. The success of the undertaking has a deeper significance than is at first apparent. It proves conclusively that this society contains a large number of gentlemen whose skill as taxidermists is such as to produce work that will command the admiration of a large class of people whose aesthetic tastes are highly cultivated, and it also shows in a happy manner the growing disposition on the part of the masses to become acquainted with the different branches of art. Throughout the exhibition a great many sales have been made by the members, of different pieces of their handiwork, and the last day was particularly noticeable on account of the large number of fancy pieces, such as deers' heads, game screens and the like, which were disposed of. Owls were in eager demand, and a gentleman connected with the society averred that there were at least fifty orders during the day, for specimens of these dignified bipeds. Some of the exhibitors, particularly those who displayed cases of birds, were unsuccessful in disposing of anything, but probably it was on account of the value of their productions, more than anything else,that forbade many from purchasing.
It was the original intention of the society to devote only one week to an exhibition, but on account of the great interest taken in the affair, the managers decided to hold open until last night, and possibly another week might be made jone of profit, judging from the expressions and remarks of those present last night, but as several of the members are obliged to remove their exhibits, it was eminently proper that the management decided its close last night. Although the financial matters have not yet been adjusted, the members are confident that the result will be more than satisfactory to all, and in a few days the amount will be published. It is the present intention to issue a volume of the proceedings of the society, and doubtless the matter contained therein will be of interest to all.
Probably the next annual meeting of the society will be held either in Boston or New York, but if by any chance the members could be induced to honor Rochester with their exhibition they would be certain to receive the patronage of the people. In conclusion, the society is to be congratulated on the great success of its venture, and is assured that the public is with it in its work.
The first Annual Report of the 8. A. T. is now ready. It is a neat pamphlet of 36 pages, containing a full report of the progress of the Society, of the first general meeting and exhibition, the address of President Webster, the judges' report, list of honors -- general and special -- to be awarded at the Boston exhibition, besides much other matter of general interest. It is illustrated by three autotype plates, one of which is a general view of the late exhibition. Copies may be obtained post-paid for fifty cents each, by application to the secretary, Wm. T. Hornaday, 31 Prince street, Rochester, N. Y.
Our Duty to the Taxidermists' Society.
No one who has critically examined the zoological collections of our scientific museums will deny that the art of taxidermy is yet in its early stage of development, or that taxidermists, the world over, have a great deal to learn.
During the past we have seen painters of every description, sculptors, engravers, students of art needlework and decorative art, and skilled craftsmen of every description forming themselves into societies for mutual advancement, or founding art schools of the highest order, and we have seen great things accomplished in the world of art by means of combined and systematic effort.
It has long been a source of wonder why those interested in taxidermic work in both the old world and the new should for so many years be content to struggle on as isolated workers, each one carefully guarding his knowledge of methods, instead of all combining on friendly terms in a mutual effort to advance the interests of the whole number. For years it has been supposed that the professional jealousies of taxidermists was an unsurmountable obstacle in the way of any attempt at founding a society.
We are glad to know that at last a well organized and persistent effort is to be made for the advancement of this art. We are proud to see that the taxidermists of America are the first to rise above the spirit of jealous exclusiveness which they naturally inherit, and join hands in a cordial and united effort to elevate the standard of taxidermic work in general and to improve themselves in particular; The Society of American Taxidermists represents an earnest effort honestly made for the greatest good of the greatest number, and as such, Ward's Natural Science Bulletin bids it God speed. We believe that the dissemination of knowledge and a general improvement in taxidermic work cannot fail to be of great benefit to all patrons of the art, and a source of intense satisfaction to all students and lovers of animated nature.
In view of the fact that Rochester contains a larger number of taxidermists than any other city in America, it is but natural that the-first step toward organization should be made here. Already its good influence has been shown in many ways and we are pleased to note that ever since the Society has been in existence our taxidermists have worked with a spirit and enthusiasm which augurs well for the future.
The Society's first exhibition showed how earnestly the members were entering upon the work before them, and fully merited the success it achieved. Only those who examined the specimens there displayed can realize how greatly the work of this body is likely to improve the general aspect of the zoological collections in our museums. In view of this fact it becomes the duty of every museum superintendent and curator, every zoologist, and above all every taxidermist, to aid the movement which was so successfully inaugurated by this organization last year. One swallow does not make a summer, and a society with a small income cannot be expected to accomplish great things speedily unless it receive some friendly assistance from without. The Society has a right to expect the support of those who will be benefited by its success, and so far we have found pleasure in contributing to the success of its plans. Every earnest taxidermist, amateur or professional, and every one interested in taxidermic work should join the organization, help carry its burdens and share its triumphs.
East and West.
Among other objects recently shipped to New Zealand were a number of interesting models for the Canterbury Museum, comprising representations of the curious Moqui towns and ancient cliff dwellings of Colorado and New Mexico, and restorations of the prehistoric lake dwellings of Switzerland. On the same day we forwarded specimens to the University of Bologna, Italy. Thus while one shipment was speeding westward to New Zealand, where not many years ago a Museum was unthought of, the other was on its way east to a city for centuries a seat of learning.
ANATOMICAL MODELS.
The justly celebrated Auzoux models,for which Prof. Ward is agent, are undoubtedly the best that are made, but their cost and the time required to fill an order for them deter many from purchasing who nevertheless feel the need of illustrating lessons in physiology in such a manner that they can be readily understood. For this purpose the papier mache models of Ramrne and Sodtmann are admirably adapted, being well made and at the same time moderate in price. There are over thirty of these models, most of which are constantly on hand, showing the anatomy of various portions of the body, and especially of the head, eye and ear.
For full description, see Catalogue of Human Skeletons and Anatomical Preparations, price 15 cents.
ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY.
In this department we have an extensive and varied assortment of material, comprising articles of dress, tools, weapons, utensils etc., of historic and prehistoric races.
Danish stone and bronze implements and pottery, in large number and in great variety of form. Articles of various kinds of the Swiss Lake Dwellers, together with models of their habitations. Implements and fac-similes of bone carvings from the French troglodyte caves.
Pottery, Carved Images and Stone Implements of the Aborigines of the United States, Mexico and Central America; and models of the Cave Towns of Colorado and New Mexico, and the Animal Mounds of Wisconsin.
Pottery, Cloths, Mummies, &c., from Peruvian graves. Mummies (human and animal) and Coffins, from the Mummy-Pits of Egypt. Also, specimens of bead-work, carving and Sculpture, articles of dress and personal ornament, weapons, &c., of the existing races of North and South America, the Pacific Islands, &c., &c.
Finally, series of human skulls, including Egyptian, Nubian, Peruvian, and American Indian. Also,
Typical Crania Copied in Plaster.
On page 17 of Catalogue of Human Skeletons and Anatomical Preparations is noticed this series of 37 casts of skulls of various races of mankind which was prepared under the supervision of Prof. Flourens, director of the department of Anthropology in the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. This series is invaluable to the student of Ethnology or Anthropology, the originals from which the casts were taken having been carefully selected so as to present typical specimens of the races inhabiting the principal Ethnographical regions of the world.
Price of series, boxed, $80.
"Prof. Ward's casts have introduced a feature quite unique in American museums. They have reproduced before the student fac-similes of the identical specimens upon which have been founded many of the grandest generalizations of geology, and the figures and notices of which have been incorporated permanently into the very history and traditions of science. -- Prof. Alex. Winchell, in New Englang Journal of Education.
Photography for Naturalists.
Our attention was recently called to a complete photographic outfit for the use of naturalists and tourists. We have examined it carefully and with much interest, and as the results obtained by it are most satisfactory, we desire to bring it to the notice of readers of the Bulletin.
This little "Pocket Camera" is a model of convenience and lightness, and is designed especially for use in the field. The tripod legs fold together and with the rest of the instrument are stowed away in a small box, the complete outfit, ready for service, weighing but two pounds. One of the features which should be noted is the "ball and socket" hinge connecting the camera and tripod and enabling the camera to be adjusted without moving the legs. Persons who have used the old style cameras will readily perceive the great advantage of this arrangement.
The gelatine dry plate is used, being for this purpose far superior to the wet plate from the fact that it retains its sensitiveness indefinitely, and the developing can be postponed for months after exposure. These plates -- 2 3/4 x 3 1/4 inches in size -- are now extensively prepared and can be had at very low rates (fifty cents per dozen). By obtaining prepared plates the most difficult operations in taking photographs are dispensed with, so that a person who has had no previous experience in the art can at once obtain good results.
A compact, portable photographic apparatus is a thing long needed, and this instrument is well fitted to supply the want. As such we take pleasure in recommending it to the attention of naturalists and all persons interested in this kind of work.
Inquiries concerning this camera should be addressed to the manufacturer, Mr. William H. Walker, Lock Box 200, Rochester, N. Y., who will cheerfully answer all questions, and on receipt of nine cents in stamps will send sample photograph.
Echoes From College Recitation Rooms.
"What is the significance of the geological term, 'Silurian'?"
"It is derived from Silurii, the name of a race who inhabited Wales at the time of this formation."
"What is Coprolite?"
"Another kind of a reptile, I suppose."
"Will you define lography?"
"Lography, Sir, is the science of logs, the art of reducing logs to kindling wood. The process is" ----
"Sufficient!"
"What is 'Boyle's Law'?"
"Never to trump your partner's ace."
"What are the tropics?"
"Well, they begin where the Zodiac leaves off, and they" ----
"Sufficient!"
"What is the effect when an animal is placed in the exhausted receiver of an air-pump?"
"It immediately dies."
"How do you account for this?"
"It dies not only from the lack of air in the receiver, but from the tendency of the air in the animal itself to blow it up."
The annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science is held this year at Cincinnati, and in view of this fact educational exhibits will be made the chief feature of the Exposition to be held there. Prof. Clark, of Cincinnati University, was delegated by the Exposition Committee to make arrangements for an exhibit from this Establishment, and visited us a few days ago for that purpose. The exhibit which we shall send will include the restoration of Mammoth, cast of Megatherium, and large Whale skeleton, besides series of Rocks, Minerals, Skeletons, &c.
We have just shipped three car loads of geological and zoological material to San Francisco, including a complete series of Casts of Fossils, large collections of Rocks, Fossils and Minerals, and a series of Skeletons, led by a very large and fine Elephant.
United States Geological Survey.
Two years ago Congress abolished the different Geological Surveys and created the present Survey, which covers the whole public domain, and Mr. Clarence King, who had just completed the exploration of the fortieth parallel, was, with the general approval of the scientific men of the country, appointed the first director. The two years of his administration have been eminently satisfactory, and it is to be regretted that he has found it necessary to resign and that the Survey is to lose his services in the future; but in the appointment of Prof. Powell as his successor we are pleased to see that his mantle has fallen on one so well qualified by knowledge and experience to carry on the work.
Major Powell resigned the professorship of geology in the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Ill. in 1867, and commenced the exploration of the Colorado Canon, which, for deliberate facing of danger, will ever stand as one of the greatest achievements in scientific exploration. The plan of the work enlarged as it went on, and Congress continued to grant increased appropriations from year to year, until the survey under his direction became established as the "United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region," but as it became evident that the work being done by the different surveys could be better done under the direction of one person, he joined heartily in the movement to consolidate his own survey with those under the direction of Dr. Hayden and Lieut. Wheeler, and favored the appointment of Mr. King as Director. He was himself appointed Director of the Bureau of Ethnology, which position he continues to hold.
Major Powell has done himself a great injustice in failing to publish his discoveries; none but those intimately acquainted with him and his work know what he has accomplished for geology, and with what generosity he has turned over his work to others, who must necessarily, to a large extent, receive the credit which they would gladly give him as his due. We trust that the survey under his direction may continue to prosper, and not be interfered with by politicians.
SONG OF THE SCIENTIFIC SWAIN.
Air -- "The Wearing of the Green."
My sweetheart is a lassie
Whose charms none can resist;
Her brow is pure and glassy,
Like a plate of mica schist;
A plesiosaurian neck has she,
With which my arm entwines,
And the veins upon her bosom be
Like spectroscopic lines.
I will search for hidden treasures,
Which I'll bear the girl I sing --
Search the Mesozoic measures
For the pterodactyl's wing.
Where the zoophytes are swelling,
Where the infusoria play,
We will keep ourhumble dwelling
Through the whole siderial day.
To enhance my love's collections
I will ravage land and sea;
I will win her best affections
With a brilliant scarabee.
We will taste serenest pleasure
Amid brisk electric shocks,
And roam in bliss unmeasure-
D through the metamorphic rocks.
What lump of anthropology
Such Joy can boast as I,
Since doctrines of biology
Make lovely girls comply ?
And inductions psychological
Are tending still to prove
That I'll win the pedagogic gal --
The maiden that I love.
Prof. Ward writes from New Zealand that he has secured a few specimens of the very rare Hatteria punctata. A description by him of the habits of this interesting Lizard -- the sole representative of the order Rhynchocephalina -- will appear in the next Bulletin.
YOUNG GRIZZLIES.
Although we prefer to receive our specimens not only dead, but with as little flesh on them as possible; yet it occasionally happens that live animals are either brought, or sent to us. Early last fall came a letter from a collector in the Northwest Territories announcing that two Grizzly Bear cubs were on the way, and in due course of time, the American Express brought up a good sized box, which from the occasional grunts and growls proceeding from within evidently contained something "that was alive." That something proved to be the little Grizzlies, who, being duly transferred to a slatted-box, intimated that they were cross, dirty and hungry after their long ride. A thorough washing and a good dinner restored them to good nature, and they settled down in comparative content in their new quarters. These little Grizzlies were six months old when received, weighed about fifty pounds, and were remarkably strong for their size. Young as they were, they exhibited much of that ugliness of disposition for which the Grizzly is noted, and it never was safe to put hand or foot within their reach. They would sit apparently absorbed in thought and looking thoroughly innocent, until some one incautiously stepped within range, when they would stick out a paw so quickly, that it was down on the visitor's foot before there was time to dodge. Taking a bath was one of their great pleasures, and they would stand in a tub of water splashing about for half an hour at a time. In fact the bath-tub was a frequent source of dispute between them; but the one first in usually maintained possession. After a bath and a good meal they would romp together in a very amusing manner, standing on their hind legs and wrestling in a very human like fashion. The ease with which they assumed an erect attitude was astonishing, the change from all fours to an upright position being apparently effected without an effort, while their seemingly clumsy build was belied by their quick and supple movements. They were comparatively good-natured when left alone; but it was only too easy to arouse their bad temper, and a peach -- of which they were very fond -- could readily be made a very apple of discord. It was only necessary to hold one between them, let them get a good look at it, and then drop it, to convert two happy little Grizzlies into two infuriated brutes. It was not so much that either bear wished for the peach, only he was bound that the other should not get it, and the way that they clawed, growled, bit and rolled over and over revealed unthought of possibilities in the way of muscle and ferocity. At first their teeth were too small to do damage; but after two months captivity it was found necessary to place them apart, although they resented the separation, and did not cease complaining until their boxes were put so that they could see one another. Their ordinary voice was more like the grunt of a pig than anything else, and when feeding they ate and grunted in a similar manner. When excited they uttered a deep, harsh ah ah, increasing in loudness as they were aroused.
After staying with us for four months, they were purchased by the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens, where we hear that they have steadily increased in size and irritability of disposition.
OUR PATRONS.
We give below a list of 46 institutions to which we have furnished cabinets (including cases in several instances) at a cost of from $1,000 to $51,700. The average cost of each of the 46 cabinets is $4,217.
University of Virginia.
University of Rochester.
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Vassar Female College.
Princeton College, Princeton, N. J. Washington and Lee University.
Lafayette College.
Mt. Union College.
Allegheny College.
State Geological Cabinet, Albany, N. Y.
Smithsonian Institution.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct.
Indiana State University.
Vanderbilt University.
Yale College.
University of Syracuse.
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park.
Cornell University.
Columbia College.
Buffalo Academy of Natural Sciences.
Ohio State Agricultural College.
Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.
Illinois State Industrial University. Chicago Academy of Sciences.
Buchtel College.
Mt. Holyoke Seminary.
University of Western Pennsylvania.
Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio.
Detroit Scientific Association.
Wilberforce University.
Pittsburgh Female College.
Alfred University.
Dartmouth College.
University of Minnesota.
University of Nashville.
Washington and Jefferson College.
Milwaukee Female College.
Hobart College.
Williams College.
Union School, Titusville, Pa.
Centre College.
Olivet College.
Medical College, Chicago.
Iowa State Agricultural College.
University of California.
Wabash College.
List of Institutions where Cabihet-Cases have been sent and erected, at a cost of from $1,000 to $14,000:
Smithsonian Institution.
University of Virginia.
Lafayette College.
Vassar College.
Alleghany College.
Indiana State Univ.
Princeton College, N. J.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Trinity College.
Syracuse University.
Vanderbilt University.
Cornell University.
Pittsburgh Female College.
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
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Dublin Core
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AW23 Ward (Henry Augustus) Papers (Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester)
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Ward, Henry Augustus
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Manuscripts or printed documents excluding Bulletins, Catalogs, and Correspondence
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<br />EIGHTY<br />NATURAL SCIENCE CABINETS<br />On the 9th of October, 1869, my Natural Science Buildings were destroyed by a disastrous fire, and my collections (except my large “Ward Cabinet” in the University) were reduced to ashes.<br />Since then I have erected new buildings which I have stocked with specimens of all kinds, from which I have both sold at retail and have made up Cabinets of various sixes at different prices,<br />As I am frequently asked where my Cabinets have been placed, I now give subjoined a<br />LIST OF EIGHTY INSTITUTIONS<br />In the United States to which I have within the past twenty years furnished Cabinets at a cost of $1,000 or over.<br />Henry A. Ward<br />Ward’s Natural Science Establishment,<br />Rochester, N.Y.<br />January 1890<br /><br />Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., $61,272<br />University of Virginia (including cases furnished), 51,006<br />Princeton College, Princeton, N.J. (including cases furnished), 32,425<br />Coronado Beach Museum, Coronado, California 31, 989<br />American Museum of Nat. History, Central Park, New York, 24,594<br />University of Rochester, N.Y. 22,769<br />Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (incl. cases furn.) 16,066<br />California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, Cala., 16,000<br />Vassar Female College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 15,667<br />State Geological Cabinet, Albany, N.Y., 12,252<br />Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. (including cases furnished), 12,009<br />Cornell, University Ithaca, N.Y., (including cases furnished), 12,009<br />Public Museum of Milwaukee, Wis., 12,000<br />Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va., 12,000<br />Mount Union College, Mt. Union, Ohio, 10,560<br />Tulane University, New Orleans, La., 10,005<br />Alleghany College, Meadville, Pa., (including cases furnished), 9,000<br />University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., 7,951<br />Tufts College, Hartford, Conn., 6,588<br />Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct. (incl. cases furnished), 6,833<br />Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., 6,588<br />University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., 6,568<br />Yale College, New Haven, Conn., 6,409<br />Indiana State University (incl. cases furn.), Bloomington, Ind., 6.275<br />Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. (incl. cases furnished), 5,689<br />Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa, 5,260<br />Columbia College, New York, 5,152<br />Michigan Agricultural and Mechanical College, Lansing, Mich., 4,831<br />University of Syracuse, N.Y. (including cases furnished), 4,116<br />Michigan Mining School, Houghton, Mich., 3,927<br />Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., 3,900<br />State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 3,858<br />United States Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., 3,594<br />Buffalo Academy of Natural Sciences, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,285<br />Bement Mineral Cabinet, Philadelphia, Pa., 3,048<br />DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., 3,035<br />Illinois State Industrial University, Champaign, Ill., 3,003<br />Mt. Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, Mass., 2,662<br />University of Texas, Austin, Texas (including cases furnished), 2,643<br />College of Charleston, S.C., 2,642<br />Olivet College, Olivet, Mich., 2,507<br />Chicago Academy of Sciences, Chicago, Ill., 2,439<br />Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, 2,369<br />University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., 2,343<br />Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio (including cases furnished), 2,275<br />McGill University, Montreal, 2,257<br />Boston Society of Natural History, Boston, Mass., 2,173<br />Alfred University, Alfred Centre, N.Y., 2,164<br />University of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2,097<br />University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., 2,014<br />Wilberforce University, Xenia, Ohio, 2,000<br />Pittsburgh Female College, Pittsburgh, Pa. (incl. cases furn.), 2,000<br />Detroit Scientific Association, Detroit, Mich., 2,000<br />Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1,650<br />Amherst College, Amherst, Mass., 1,640<br />Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., 1,621<br />Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind., 1,600<br />University of California, Berkeley, Cala., 1,597<br />Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., 1,451<br />Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., 1,412<br />Hobart College, Geneva, N.Y., 1,390<br />Michigan State Normal School, Ypsilanti, Mich., 1,309<br />Milwaukee Female College, Milwaukee, Wis., 1,304<br />Harvard College Mineral Cabinet, 1,299<br />New York State Agricultural Society, 1,250<br />Union School, Titusville, Pa., 1,227<br />Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, 1,220<br />Wagner Free Institute, Philadelphia, Pa., 1,219<br />Centre College, Danville, Ky., 1,200<br />Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., 1,188<br />Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass., 1,153<br />Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 1,088<br />U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., 1,070<br />Medical College, Chicago, Ill., 1,031<br />Chautauqua S.S. Assembly, Chautauqua, N.Y., 1,025<br />Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa., 1,101<br />University of the Pacific, Santa Clara, Cala., 1,000<br />(80 Cabinets at an average cost, each, of $6,753), $540,251
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Eighty Natural Science Cabinets
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Ward's Natural Science Establishment
Date
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1890-01-00
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English
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1 page
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paper
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HA Ward Papers
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80 Natural Science Cabinets
Ward's Natural Science Establishment
Transcriber
Michael Dondorfer
Encoder
Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Librares
Ward Project Team Members
Robert Minckley
Melissa S. Mead
Pennilyn Higgins
Marcy Strong
Blair Tinker
Joe Easterly
Joshua Romphf
Lisa Wright
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2017-
The copyright, where applicable, and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2018.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
Henry Augustus Ward Papers
A.W23
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to museums, universities, and colleges around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
EIGHTY
NATURAL SCIENCE CABINETS
On the 9th of October, 1869, my Natural Science Buildings were destroyed by a disastrous fire, and my collections (except my large “Ward Cabinet” in the University) were reduced to ashes.
Since then I have erected new buildings which I have stocked with specimens of all kinds, from which I have both sold at retail and have made up Cabinets of various sixes at different prices,
As I am frequently asked where my Cabinets have been placed, I now give subjoined a
LIST OF EIGHTY INSTITUTIONS
In the United States to which I have within the past twenty years furnished Cabinets at a cost of $1,000 or over.
Henry A. Ward
Ward’s Natural Science Establishment,
Rochester, N.Y.
January 1890
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., $61,272
University of Virginia (including cases furnished), 51,006
Princeton College, Princeton, N.J. (including cases furnished), 32,425
Coronado Beach Museum, Coronado, California 31, 989
American Museum of Nat. History, Central Park, New York, 24,594
University of Rochester, N.Y. 22,769
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (incl. cases furn.) 16,066
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, Cala., 16,000
Vassar Female College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 15,667
State Geological Cabinet, Albany, N.Y., 12,252
Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. (including cases furnished), 12,009
Cornell, University Ithaca, N.Y., (including cases furnished), 12,009
Public Museum of Milwaukee, Wis., 12,000
Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va., 12,000
Mount Union College, Mt. Union, Ohio, 10,560
Tulane University, New Orleans, La., 10,005
Alleghany College, Meadville, Pa., (including cases furnished), 9,000
University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., 7,951
Tufts College, Hartford, Conn., 6,588
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct. (incl. cases furnished), 6,833
Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., 6,588
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., 6,568
Yale College, New Haven, Conn., 6,409
Indiana State University (incl. cases furn.), Bloomington, Ind., 6.275
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. (incl. cases furnished), 5,689
Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa, 5,260
Columbia College, New York, 5,152
Michigan Agricultural and Mechanical College, Lansing, Mich., 4,831
University of Syracuse, N.Y. (including cases furnished), 4,116
Michigan Mining School, Houghton, Mich., 3,927
Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., 3,900
State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 3,858
United States Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., 3,594
Buffalo Academy of Natural Sciences, Buffalo, N.Y., 3,285
Bement Mineral Cabinet, Philadelphia, Pa., 3,048
DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., 3,035
Illinois State Industrial University, Champaign, Ill., 3,003
Mt. Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, Mass., 2,662
University of Texas, Austin, Texas (including cases furnished), 2,643
College of Charleston, S.C., 2,642
Olivet College, Olivet, Mich., 2,507
Chicago Academy of Sciences, Chicago, Ill., 2,439
Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, 2,369
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., 2,343
Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio (including cases furnished), 2,275
McGill University, Montreal, 2,257
Boston Society of Natural History, Boston, Mass., 2,173
Alfred University, Alfred Centre, N.Y., 2,164
University of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2,097
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., 2,014
Wilberforce University, Xenia, Ohio, 2,000
Pittsburgh Female College, Pittsburgh, Pa. (incl. cases furn.), 2,000
Detroit Scientific Association, Detroit, Mich., 2,000
Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1,650
Amherst College, Amherst, Mass., 1,640
Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., 1,621
Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind., 1,600
University of California, Berkeley, Cala., 1,597
Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., 1,451
Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., 1,412
Hobart College, Geneva, N.Y., 1,390
Michigan State Normal School, Ypsilanti, Mich., 1,309
Milwaukee Female College, Milwaukee, Wis., 1,304
Harvard College Mineral Cabinet, 1,299
New York State Agricultural Society, 1,250
Union School, Titusville, Pa., 1,227
Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, 1,220
Wagner Free Institute, Philadelphia, Pa., 1,219
Centre College, Danville, Ky., 1,200
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., 1,188
Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass., 1,153
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 1,088
U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., 1,070
Medical College, Chicago, Ill., 1,031
Chautauqua S.S. Assembly, Chautauqua, N.Y., 1,025
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa., 1,101
University of the Pacific, Santa Clara, Cala., 1,000
(80 Cabinets at an average cost, each, of $6,753), $540,251
Allegheny College
transcribe-miscellany
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
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https://wardproject.org/files/original/1e372b976a6dd17da018474de6d4cc7f.pdf
0309ccf5af7a30e243988545cb06a0ce
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
People
People
Includes correspondents, staff at Ward's, species authors, and other individuals
Ward's Employee (based on city directory listings)
lists dates of employment
1877-1878
Schmidt notes about WNSE staff
Notes from Ward's Staff list compiled by Karl Schmidt
Son of New England Minister.
Came to Wards in 1876, left in 1879.
While at Wards he disposed of his bird skins to the establishment and to E.N.G.
To College of Concepcion del Uruguay, Argentina.
Married one of the Misses Withall (Elizabeth) who had also been a favorite of Lucas and Fred Howell. The 4 or 5 Misses Withall were daughters of the Superintendent of Grounds (Elijah Withall) of the University of Rochester; one or two of them were members of the Shakespeare Club.
Elijah Withall’s one son went to Bureau of Printing.
Barrows was in charge of Establishment in January 1879. Lucas [apparently?] off on some job.
(Find obituary in Science)
Biographical text
Instructor in physics and chemistry Colegio Nacional, Concepcion del Uruguay, Argentine Republic, S.A., 1879-1881
Instructor in Science, Mass. State Normal School, Westfield, Mass., 1881-1882,
Instructor in Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., 1882-1886.
Instructor in Botany, Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., 1884-1886
First Asst. Ornithologist, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1886-1894
Professor of Zoology and Physiology, Michigan Agricultural College, East Lansing, Mich., since 1894
"...classification and arrangement of invertebrates and in looking after correspondence." (Fisher 1925)
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
University del Concepcion del Uruguay
Wesleyan University
Westfield State University
Trinity College
United States Department of Agriculture
Michigan State University
Date of Birth
1855-01-10
Date of Death
1923-02-26
Link to more information
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_B._Barrows">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_B._Barrows</a>
<a href="https://wardproject.org/files/original/1e372b976a6dd17da018474de6d4cc7f.pdf" title="Fisher-1925">Fisher-1925</a>
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3565695
Occupation
Zoologist
Place of birth
example: Rochester, New York
Grantville, Massachusetts, United States of America
Place of death
example: Rochester, New York
East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
Person Name
Barrows, Walter B.
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Barrows, Walter B., 1883-1923
Alternative Title
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Barrows, Walter Bradford
Barrows, W. B., 1855-1923
Ornithology
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
WNSE Employee
-
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
People
People
Includes correspondents, staff at Ward's, species authors, and other individuals
Scientific Name Authorship
example: Spirifer striatis Martin 1809 where Spirifer striatis is italicized
Goode, G. Brown (George Brown)
Date of Birth
1851-02-13
Date of Death
1896-09-06
LC name ID
n79139635
Library of Congress link
<a href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79139635">http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79139635</a>
Person Name
Goode, G. Brown (George Brown), 1851-1896
Occupation
Ichthyologist
Institution
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Wesleyan University
Harvard University
National Museum of Natural History
United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries
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example: Rochester, New York
Washington, D.C.
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Goode, G. Brown (George Brown), 1851-1896
Type
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Person
Is Referenced By
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Bulletin
Curator
Ichthyology
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
-
Institutions
Institutions named in or associated with the Bulletins, Catalogs, Correspondence, and Miscellany
Country
USA
City/Town
Middletown
State/Province
Connecticut
Postal/Zip Code
06459
Institutional website
<a href="http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/history.html">http://www.wesleyan.edu/</a>
Link to more information
<a href="http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/history.html">http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/history.html</a>
<a href="http://wespeoplesfossils.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2017/10/11/the-glyptodon-more-news-and-pictures/">http://wespeoplesfossils.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2017/10/11/the-glyptodon-more-news-and-pictures/</a>
<a href="http://wesleyanargus.com/2018/03/01/glyptodons-and-taxidermic-birds-relics-from-old-science-museum-rediscovered/">http://wesleyanargus.com/2018/03/01/glyptodons-and-taxidermic-birds-relics-from-old-science-museum-rediscovered/</a>
Library of Congress link
<a href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n80034912.html">http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n80034912.html</a>
Latitude/Longitude
comma separated, decimal value
52.500556, 13.398889
41.5566, -72.6569
Institution
The modern name of the institution--leave blank if uncertain
Wesleyan University
Institution Type
Educational (School, College, University)
Related Project Materials
Other documents, items, articles which relate to this one
<a href="/items/browse?search=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=&range=&collection=&type=28&user=&tags=Wesleyan+University%2C+Middletown+Conn.&public=&featured=&exhibit=&submit_search=Search+for+items">Bulletin Articles</a>
<a href="/items/browse?search=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=&range=&collection=&type=18&user=&tags=Wesleyan+University%2C+Middletown+Conn.&public=&featured=&exhibit=&submit_search=Search+for+items">Correspondence</a>
<a href="/items/browse?search=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=&range=&collection=&type=30&user=&tags=Wesleyan+University%2C+Middletown+Conn.&public=&featured=&exhibit=&submit_search=Search+for+items">Miscellany: Contracts, Inventories, etc.</a>
<a href="/items/browse?search=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=&range=&collection=&type=&user=&tags=Wesleyan+University%2C+Middletown+Conn.&public=&featured=&exhibit=&submit_search=Search+for+items" title="All related items">All related items</a>
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Wesleyan University
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POINT(-8088129.1106178 5094789.95344969)
Is Referenced By
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Bulletin
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<a href="/items/browse?search=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=&range=&collection=&type=&user=&tags=Wesleyan+University%2C+Middletown+Conn.&public=&featured=&exhibit=&submit_search=Search+for+items"> </a>
Type
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Institution
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.
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v1n2p14.jpg
Description
An account of the resource
<p>The Hatteria (Sphenodon) Punctatus.</p>
<p>Prof. Ward, sending specimens from New Zealand, wrote as follows:</p>
<p>"You will be pleased to see that at last I have obtained this rare and much-wished-for Saurian. No longer will our catalogues, which aim at systematic fullness, have an odious blank after 'Order III, Rhyncocephalina.' Now for the first time can naturalists procure, by simple purchase, specimens of this rarest and most abnormal of Lizards, which is itself a species, a genus, a family and an order. Dr. Gunther, of the British Museum, who described it some years ago, says, 'No other specimen appears to have reached Europe; indeed, so far as I am aware, no museum out of Europe appears to possess Hatteria. French naturalists do not even mention it. Narrowly restricted in its distribution, exposed to easy capture by its sluggish habits, esteemed as food by the natives, pursued by pigs, it is one of the rarest objects in zoblogical and anatomical collections, and may one day be enumerated among the forms which have become extinct within the memory of man.' Captain Cook, who in his third voyage entered the Bay of Plenty, in New Zealand (and lost half a boat's crew by the savage natives), mentions 'a monstrous animal of the lizard kind.' But Dieffenboch, the traveler, seems to have been the first (in 1843) to have secured a specimen. He says, 'I had been apprised of the existence of a large lizard which the natives call Tuatara, and of which they were much afraid. But although looking for it at the places where it was said to be found, and offering great rewards for a specimen, it was only a few days before my departure from New Zealand that I obtained one, which had been caught in a small, rocky islet, called Karewa, in the Bay of Plenty. From all that I could gather about this Tuatara, it appears that it was formerly common in the islands (of the Bay of Plenty), lived in holes near the sea-shore, and the natives killed it for food. Owing to this latter cause it is now very scarce, and many, even, of the older residents of the islands have never seen it.' My earliest enquiry when I reached Auckland, the chief port of Northern New Zealand, was, 'Where is the Tuatara to be found?' They told me at the museum that they were nearly extinct, but showed me two specimens in spirits, and told me what they could about the locality. Two days later I took my collecting can and a drum of alcohol and went aboard a steamer bound down the coast to Tau-ranga -- 140 miles south. Tauranga is a little port of no special importance, except as being the point from which tourists strike into the interior of the island to visit the famous New Zealand Geyser district. It (the port) lies at the bottom of the Bay of Plenty, that great curve inland of the Pacific Ocean, on the east side of the northern island of New Zealand, which you will see on any map. It is in this bay, at its eastern extremity, 40 or 50 miles from here, that lay a</p>
<p>group of rocky islets, where the lizards are. I had some delay in finding a craft suited to my purpose -- one large enough for the heavy seas which roll outside, and yet not so large as to be altogether too expensive. At length I found just the thing -- a cutter of 25 tons burden, which had come up the coast with a load of wood. Moreover the captain (a most genial Scotchman named Macpherson, who had beat about the world over, including California), was pleased to meet with a Yankee with whom he could talk on common ground of his old mining experiences. For this and because he wanted to 'get a sight at the durned leezards,' he reduced his regular charter price to ___ pounds sterling per day, with conditions that it should be for no longer than a week, and that no 'varemunts' should be let loose in his cabin! So we laid in some supplies of food and water, and started from, our mooring before the town, with a mild evening breeze. Outside the 'Heads' darkness set in, and with it came a stiff breeze which soon raised a heavy sea. Through this, with blackness all around, we dashed at a tremendous rate all night, shipping many a sea, and thoroughly wet and cold. In the morning we found ourselves close by Whaikare or White Island, a quietly active volcano 60 miles at sea -- the last point, in this direction, of a line of volcanic activity which extends for over 150 miles in a north-east by south-west direction, and includes at its other end the Geyser district, and terminates in the great volcano mountain 6,500 feet high, of Tangariro. We ran close into shore at Whaikare, and went ashore for the day. What we did there -- how we hauled our cutter's boat oyer a part of the volcano's crater-bed and launched it on a lake of boiling water, strong with alum and sulphuric (?) acid, how we collected specimens of sulphur and selenite, and how we caught with our hands eleven full grown gannets (Sula australis), who were too dazed and too stupid to fly away -- all this I have written to Father and Henry. With the night wind we ran 40 miles to landward, and cast anchor in a cove of Whale Island, an extinct volcano, where is a sulphur deposit which has been lately worked. From the top of this island we could see, looking to be close under our feet, the Ru Rima rocks, those little rocky islets six miles away, against which the sea broke in a circle of tossing foam. For two days we waited impatiently at Whale Island for the wind to cease and the waves to subside, so that we might run over to the Ru Rimas, or rather that we might land when we got there, which latter would only be possible to do with a calm sea. The third day the wind had completely fallen, and the sea was calm as a lake. So we started at early morn with the faintest of breezes, which withal was from an adverse quarter, and forced us to sail by long tacks. At noon we were about two miles nearer to the rocks, and four hours more of tacking brought us still one mile nearer. The situation was most tantalizing; we could see the rocks plainly, and, had that been safe to do,</p>
<p>could have left our cutter and rowed to them in the dinghy in less than an hour. And who could say what tempestuous weather might come tomorrow and for days after, drive us away from our goal altogether! Fortunately, just before dark there sprung up a light breeze, and in a few minutes we were close at the Ru Rimas. They are three rocky islets, each of them of but four or five acres in extent. Two of them are united by a reef, bare at low tide; the third lies a little more to sea. Between this and the other two we found a narrow channel with sandy bottom, where, with fair shelter from the waves, we cast anchor. The sun was just setting behind the twin islands, and sharp against the western sky a few hundred yards away was the outline of low rocks, and on the highest line of these stood a great he-goat -- the relict of those once placed on the island -- who came up to welcome us. After an impatient night we landed early on the twin isles, and searched them over for an hour in vain, seeking for the Tuataras. We then took our boat to cross to the other island. In launching it one of our men, wading in the sea up to his knees, sprang lustily out with a yell of pain. He had stepped into a spring of boiling water which came up through the sand, and was so hot as to smartly scald his foot. The third outer islet is the smallest of the group, containing scarce five acres. On one side of it rose a rocky mount thirty or forty feet high, with precipitous sides and a wooded top. The balance of the isle was covered with great, angular fragments of rock grown over with a dense covering of thorns (prickly scrub). Few paths or clear ways led through this anywhere, while to crowd through the scrub itself seemed actually impossible. One of the men found a broken track which led to a hole into which he thrust his arm at a venture. He pulled it out very quickly, bringing out a penguin, which, with its sharp, hooked beak, was fastened to his finger with a bull dog grip, and had to be finally chopped off. For two hours we searched assiduously, but in vain; no Tuataras were to be seen. It seemed as if all had left the rocks or had never been there. At last on an out-heap I found the whitening skull of one, and a few vertebrae were attaqhed to it by some ligaments which were still rather fresh. Thus encouraged we searched anew. The difficulty lay in the size of the rock fragments, over which no lizard ran, while the clifts between them were so narrow and so grown up with the bushes that it was difficult to get the body or even one's head into them and down to the gravel level, so as to see the creatures under the rocks. One of our men, however, succeeded in getting quite down flat on the ground, and in this way he crawled about under the bushes and</p>
<p>between the rocks, without trying to rise, as, indeed, it would have been hard for him to do so. After a long time he found a first Tuatara, then another, then another still. They were hidden under the edges of the rocks, sometimes in the natural space, sometimes in a small burrow like a rat-hole. Here he either reached them by hand or snared them with a bit of twine. This the sluggish animal permitted, rarely trying very hard to escape and never offering to bite. Only if taken by the tail it would frequently shake off that member, leaving it in the aggressor's hand, and creep out of reach under the rock. We spent the entire day on the islet, a part of us burrowing under the brush and a part alternating with rest. A long, busy day, during which we hardly stopped to eat, at length came to a close, and we took the boat and went back to the cutter. Then we transferred our Tuataras from the collecting bag to a can of alcohol. There were 14 of them, each from 14 to 18 inches in length.</p>
<p>"The accompanying illustration gives a far better idea of the animal's personal appearance than could be conveyed by a lengthened description. The most noticeable feature is the tail, which is compressed and crested, having in its shape a suggestion of the alligator. The general color is a dull olive green, whitish below, and plentifully sprinkled with yellowish spots. In some specimens the tail, while of the same length and general shape as that of the others, had a peculiar appearance, which induced its examination. The scales, which on the under side of the tail are ordinarily arranged in regular cross bands, were, to within a short distance of the body, crowded together indiscriminately, and with no uniformity of pattern. Further, these tails possess no vertebrae, but in their place a flattened, jointless strip of cartilage. Like the geckos the Hattera is one of those lizards in which the tail when lost by violence is reproduced, but as above noted, minus its vertebrae. Many individuals had thus suffered, doubtless from combats during the breeding season.</p>
<p>"The next morning we returned to the islet and sought for the entire day, with a smaller yet still a satisfactory result. On the third day we found but a single specimen; so we returned early to our cutter, and catching a fair wind at sundown, we sailed all night back toward Tauranga, and in the morning were at the high rocky island of Karewa, where with some difficulty we made a landing with the dinghy, while the cutter tacked off and on waiting for us. On this island we saw but three Tuataras, all of which we secured. They averaged larger than those from the Ru Rimas. Then we sailed some thirty miles up the coast to Mayor Island, one side of which had -- reaching from sea-level to summit -- a talus of large blocks and fragments of pure, black, shining obsidian. Of this we took in a few hundred weight to break into cabinet specimens, and then sailed back to Tauranga, whence we were in all just a week absent upon our excursion.</p>
<p>"But we must not dismiss our Hatteria without noting a few peculiarities of its framework, in which in fact its strangeness consists. The vertebra are bi-concave, a fish-like feature which obtained in the Ichthyosaurus of old geologic times, but, the geckos excepted, is not found in modern reptiles. Fifteen of the twenty-two ribs are provided with uncinate processes as in birds and crocodilia. The sternal and vertebral ribs are united by the interposition of a third segment -- the intermediate rib -- as in many other reptiles,* and there is a very peculiar system of abdominal bones (see cut), which are supposed by Dr. Gunther to assist the animal in creeping under low rocks where it cannot use its feet.** The skull is highly osseous, and built up with great firmness of its parts. The infra-temporal arcade is completed by bone in this, but in no other recent lizard.</p>
<p>Hatteria is an acrodont in the strictest meaning of the term, the teeth being so intimately anchylosed with the edge of the jaws as to</p>
<a href="/ward-dev/files/show/24">v1n2p15</a>
<p>appear to be merely projecting portions of them, while the edges of the maxillae are like the teeth, highly polished, and in old individuals, whose teeth are worn down, perform the same functions. There is in Hatteria a longitudinal series of teeth upon either palatine bone, running parallel with those upon the maxillae and the teeth of the lower Jaw fit, into the deep groove which lies between the maxillary and palatine teeth, and as they come together in mastication, keep each other sharp by mutual attrition. Dr. Gunther claims for this New Zealand lizard, which differs in some important structural respects from every other known saurian, and it is in its osteology the most bird-like of existing reptiles, a higher rank than that of a family, and makes it the type of a distinct order of reptilia, equal in value to the ophidians and crocodilians. He points out that the crocodiles are removed from the lizards, into a distinct order, on the ground of osteological peculiarities as well as on account of the higher organization of their soft parts, and that in Hatteria the modifications of the lacertine skeleton extend to the same parts. So he assigns it to the position of Order III of reptiles, under the name of Rhyn-cocephalina. As such let us give the quaint stranger a place in our Rochester collections and catalogues."</p>
<p>H. A. W.</p>
<p>* This arrangement is found among mammals in the sloths and the monotremes.</p>
<p>** These "abdominal ribs" repeat acharacter found in Crocodile. On many accounts Hatteria seems more nearly related to these huge reptiles than to the Geckos, which it resembles in external appearance.</p>
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Ward's Natural Science Bulletin, January 1, 1882 (Volume 1, Number 2)
Ward's Natural Science Establishment
Transcriber
Michael Dondorfer
Encoder
Melissa Mead
University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering and River Campus Librares
Ward Project Team Members
Robert Minckley
Melissa S. Mead
Pennilyn Higgins
Marcy Strong
Blair Tinker
Joe Easterly
Joshua Romphf
Lisa Wright
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627
2017-
The copyright, where applicable, and other intellectual property rights in the Ward Project
are owned by their respective source repositories.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
4.0 International License
The License was added on January 1, 2018.
University of Rochester
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
Henry Augustus Ward Papers
A.W23
From 1862 to 1906, Ward’s Natural Science Establishment supplied specimens to museums, universities, and colleges around the world. The goal of this project is to enable scientists, historians, and archivists to recreate Ward’s inventory by linking 19th century materials and documents at their institutions to the original catalogues, bulletins, and manuscripts.
Original line breaks, punctuation, abbreviations and spelling have been preserved
in the manuscript transcriptions and underlining and strikethroughs have been encoded.
Words or phrases deemed indecipherable have been noted as "illegible." Nontextual original content, e.g. drawings and
diagrams, have been noted as such. Images of the original diary pages are
provided to show the creator’s original page layout and placement of
additions.
English
WARD'S
Natural Science Bulletin.
PUBLISHED AT
WARD'S NATURAL SCIENCE ESTABLISHMENT.
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS:
BAKER, A. B., -- Invertebrate Zoology, Oology.
HORNADAY, WM. T., -- Zoology, Taxidermy and Collecting.
HOWELL, EDWIN E., A. M. -- Geology, Mineralogy and Paleontology.
LUCAS, FREDERIC A., -- Vert. Zoology, Osteology.
STAEBNER, F. W., -- Mineralogy and Chemistry.
WEBSTER, FREDERIC S., -- Ornithology.
When the first number of the Bulletin was issued it was expected that this number would be prepared under the personal supervision of Prof. Ward, but as he has
been greatly delayed in his tour, and will
not return till the last of January, we must
forego this advantage, and do the best we
can in his absence. With this number the Bulletin begins
its regular publication as a quarterly. The
paper will be
conducted during the year on
the same general plan which has been followed in this and the previous number,
with any slight changes which may tend
to increase its value. It will contain mainly
original matter; articles from the various
contributors on subjects connected with
their particular departments, observations on specimens received at the establishment,
and interesting notes from collecting naturalists in the field. There will be given
from time to time many useful hints on
the collecting, preparation and care of natural history specimens, and valuable recipes
for compounds necessary for the collector
and practical, working naturalist. For the
benefit of those who may desire information on any particular points in Natural
History, a column will be opened for queries and answers.
Illustrations will be used whenever they will be of value, and no efforts will be spared to make the paper both interesting
and profitable.
The Bulletin will occupy an entirely
new field, and will, we trust, make a place
for itself with
all lovers of Natural Science,
and receive their hearty support.
The price of the Bulletin will be 50
cents per year; single numbers, 15 cents.
The first number of the Bulletin will be
sent to any subscribers who may desire it
to complete their series.
CATALOGUES
of Natural History Specimens now on hand
and for sale:
These Catalogues are not mere price-lists, but
contain much interesting matter; but as they are
intended to be free to our clients, the money paid for
them will be credited on the first order. To teachers
expressing an intent to purchase specimens, they will be
sent gratis.
Price.
Minerals -- 60 pages, .20
Special Collection of Minerals -- 40 pages, .10
Lithology and Geology -- 52 pages, .20
Special Lithological Collection -- 25 pages, .10
Collection of New York State Bocks -- 44 pages, .20
*Casts of Fossils -- 228 pages; 284 wood cuts, $1.25
School Series of Casts -- 60 pages; 68 wood cuts, .20
Academy Series of Casts -- 86 pages; 130 woodcuts, .30
College Series of Casts -- 144 pages, .75
Osteology -- 64 pages, .25
Skins and Mounted Specimens (with Alcoholic Specimens) -- 104 pages, .40
North American Birds' Eggs -- 12 pages, .10
Foreign Birds' Eggs -- 12 pages .10
Invertebrates -- 112 pages; 121 wood cuts, .50
Human Skeletons and Anatomical Preparations -- 24 pages, .15
Glass Models of Invertebrates -- 24 pages, .10
Restoration of Mammoth -- 42 pages, .15
-- 34 pages; Illustrated, .50
*This Catalogue is now out of Print, but a new
edition will shortly appear.
For any of the above, address,
Prof. HENRY A. WARD, A. M.,
No. 2 College Ave.,
Rochester, N. Y.
Letters concerning- Minerals, Rocks and Fossils, Address to WARD & HOWELL.
Songs of the Sciences.
Punch.
Oh! merry is the Madrepore that sits beside the sea,
The cheery little Coralline hath many charms for me;
I love the fine Echinoderms of azure, green and gray,
That handled roughly, fling their arms impulsively away;
Then bring me here the microscope and let me see the cells,
Wherein the little Zoophyte like garden floweret dwells.
We'll take the fair Anemone from off its rocky seat,
Since Rondeletius has said when fried 'tis good to eat;
Dyspeptics from Sea Cucumbers a lesson well may win,
They blithely take their organs out and then put fresh ones in.
The Rotifer in whirling round may surely hear the bell,
With Oceanic Hydrozoids that Huxley knows so well.
You've heard of the Octopus, 'tis a pleasant thing to know,
He has a ganglion makes him blush not red, but white as snow;
And why the strange Cercaria, to go a long way back,
Wears ever, as some ladies do, a fashionable "sack;"
And how the Prawn has parasites that on his head make holes,
Ask Dr. Cobbold, and he'll say they're just like tiny soles.
Then study well zoology, and add unto your store
The tales of Biogenesis and Protoplasmic lore;
As Paley neatly has observed, when into life they burst,
The frog and the philosopher are just the same at first.
But what's the origin of life remains a puzzle still,
Let Tyndall, Haeckel, Bastian go wrangle as they will.
It was Prof. Ward's intention to reach San
Francisco on his return early in November, but
owing to unforeseen delay he will not arrive there
till late in January. Concerning the causes of
this delay he writes as follows: "The Australian ports on the east coast have been full
of small pox, and every steamer was started late,
delayed by the way, and sometimes permanently
stuck in quarantine. I escaped the latter, but
was held back outrageously. When we struck
Java there was cholera, and we suffered much
the same embargo. When at last we reached
Singapore, I might have taken three hours there
and then gone on by steamer, which if it made
exact time, and if not quarantined at Hong Kong
would connect me at that city with the through
steamer for San Francisco.
With the uncertainty of catching that steamer
and the certainty of missing all this part of the
world, I concluded to stay."
After reaching San Francisco, Prof. Ward
will be joined by Mr. Howell, and they will
remain there several weeks to arrange a large
exhibit, nearly $20,000 of material having been
sent on from here.
GEORGE A. WILD.
[DIED AT LAS ANIMAS, COL., NOV. 12, 1881.]
We regretfully announce the death of George A. Wild, a young man formerly in the employ of
this establishment, and of whom brief mention
was made in the Historical Sketch in the last
number of our Bulletin.
He belonged to that band of patient, plodding
workers in the walks of science of whom the
great outside world hears little or nothing, and
who, dying early, are destined to leave their impress more particularly on those immediately surrounding them. Coming to this establishment in
1876, fresh from the Illinois Industrial University
(through which he had characteristically worked
his way unassisted), with the tone and vigor of
the Great West in his veins, his willing hands
and earnest mind soon conquered the respect and
admiration of those with whom he came in con tact, as the writer hereof can abundantly testify.
Endowed with an intellect neither exceptionally
acute nor many-sided, his patient and untiring
industry, seconded by an excellent memory, enabled him to conquer for himself what greater
ability and less power of application would have
utterly failed to accomplish. While adhering
tenaciously to his opinions, he commanded attention by that wholesome respect for himself and
faith in his own abilities common to those who,
unaided, work their way successfully through
life. He kept his object constantly in view.
After his brief sojourn here -- where he applied
himself zealously to the practical work of taxidermy and osteology (often working until late at
night) -- he returned in January, 1878, to take
charge of the museum of his college. In the autumn of 1880 he went abroad to pursue his favorite science, under Prof. Huxley, where he distinguished himself, and later, under Prof. Balfour,
when ill-health compelled him to relinquish his
studies and return home in June last. Going to
Colorado to regain his health, he died there of
pulmonary disease,on November 12th, in the 27th
year of his age, when almost ready to enter on
original work. He lived just long enough to say:
"In nature's infinite book of secrecy a little have I read."
In his death the fact is once more forced upon
us of the wonders that patience and perseverence
will accomplish, even in a short time; and that
other more saddening, but so often associated
fact, that neglect of necessary rest will do much
to destroy the most vigorous, and may abruptly
terminate what might otherwise prove a highly
useful career. F. W. S.
Scientific Demands.
BY PROF. W. S. BARNARD, OF CORNELL
UNIVERSITY.
The many great biological questions which
have come up for public discussion within the
last few years have aroused general interest in
most zoological matters, revivifying the materials
of museums, giving them new interest and im portance. This is also being intensified by the
adoption of the objective system of instruction
in schools and colleges. Laboratory studies on
actual specimens, and class observation of real
things put in the hands of students must be em ployed hereafter instead of books and the imagination as the means of imparting available
knowledge of the forms and structures of natural
objects. Information thus obtained can be practically applied in after life, whereas if gained
from books or oral instruction alone, it is liable
to be forgotten soon and so unnaturally fanciful
that the things learned of are not known when
col2
seen. Nothing is better calculated to develop
originality of observation, thought and investigation, or the linguistic power of describing
accurately, than to be taught by nature herself
and speak what she dictates.
The recent rapid advances in science have created strong demands for this kind of education,
and those institutions which do not provide necessary equipments with which to afford it will
certainly be regarded as behind the times and of
low rank, besides being damaged by the reputation of having poor appointments. The natural
sciences must now be properly taught, not only
to specialists, but in all general courses, and for
no profession or calling is a man qualified with out them.
These facts, their practical bearings on all
the applied sciences, and the endless source of enter tainment which they afford cannot fail to im press us that biological and other natural studies have at present assumed an importance of the highest order.
Some Queer Science.
The kind of science furnished forth by the gen erality of newspaper and magazine writers, and
disseminated by certain popular lecturers, is
already sufficiently notorious, but some, out of a
number of illustrations which the writer recently
happened on, may be interesting from a humorous point of view. Such "science," indeed, as
the "Rev." Joseph Cook inflicted on an Edinburgh public early in the year, and which one of
the British medical journals declined to characterize, on the ground that it would be "insulting
to the sense of its readers," is, in some aspects,
saddening. The alcohol-and-egg experiment is
here alluded to, where the aforesaid gentleman
showed the effects of liquor on the albumen in
the human body by coagulating the albumen of an
egg with alcohol! That there are many persons
unacquainted with the facts who accept such
stuff seriously is, alas, only too true, and this de tracts from what in another light would be
intensely amusing.
Again, where such statements as the following,
taken from a certain text-book on Zoology, are
taught as fact, the mischief they do quite overbalances their comicality. In a note on the habits
of the sloth, the author says:
"In avoiding pursuit they spring from tree to
tree with great rapidity, particularly in a gale of
wind, when the branches are swaying toward
one another. Their flesh is good eating, and
they need all their agility to escape their numerous enemies."
This is certainly the newest contribution to our
knowledge of an animal whose very name is supposed to indicate its habits, and which credible
observers assert is captured by being literally
pulled from the tree.
A slip of the pen may charitably be assumed
to, in part, account for the above, but such slips
are dangerous.
In Scliwatka's recently-published volume are
two bits nearly as good, as where the snipe is
alluded to as a "sweet little songster," whose
melody is a "simple, sweet song, somewhat similar to the lark's," thus flatly contradicting that
much older opinion:
"'The lark,' says he,
'Has got a wild, fantastic pipe,
But no more music than a snipe'" - and where we are told, in another place, that
with Eskimo dogs "often twenty days will intervene between meals."
In the April Scribner that genial writer and
usually accurate observer, John Burroughs,
gravely relates a story (repeated from "A Re cent American Traveler in Mexico") of a "Mex ican black squirrel nearly as large as a cat," cap tured by some boys, and which, in escaping from
its captors, was compelled to jump "down a
precipice six hundred feet high," where it "landed
on a ledge of limestone, * * * and scamp ered away." He naively remarks that "the story
at first blush seems incredible," but hastens to
add that he does not doubt it. Unfortunately,
however, sober fact compels us to say that even
at the hundredth blush the story would be equally
incredible. In the first place, there is no Ameri-
col3
can squirrel nearly the size of a cat -- the one referred to being, probably, Sciurus hypopyrrhus;
in the second place, six hundred feet is too great
a height for any mammal to fall from without
injury, since even monkeys are known to break
their limbs in falling from trees whose measure
is no comparison with this vast abyss.
In a little periodical issued by a Natural Science Society in a New Jersey town, a writer promulgates as his opinion that the curious concretionary structure known as "cone-in-cone" is a group of fossil cup corals! and mineralogists will surely appreciate the following extract from an otherwise excellent work on popular science ("The Earth and its Treasures,") in speaking of Pyrite, as:
"The sulphuretted ore of iron which mineralogists call Pyrites, or Yellow Pyrites, is known in jewelry by the name of Marcassite. Its crystalization belongs to the cubic hemaedric system, with parallel faces; * * * its color is sometimes an iron-gray, and sometimes a yellow, like rich milk, or even gold. It is found principally in Peru."
This is a sample of the absurdity which inexactness in statement is apt to confer. Occasionally, however, such choice bits as the following, written years ago when the Connecticut Valley tracks were supposed to be ornithic, and due to a slip of the pen, will escape the most searching proof-reader: "The Brontozoa were probably scansores, like the Ostrich and Dinornis." Imagine the ostrich coolly climbing a tree -- but whisper if gently, for man is but mortal, and that passage was written in this establishment.
But to refer once more to the more serious phase of the subject, what shall be said of such "science" as the following, which appeared in a Western educational journal, under the heading of "The Remarkable Planetary Phenomena of 1881:
"We are told that our planet is entering a magnetic condition relative to other bodies in the solar system; that during this period -- termed the "perihelion passage" -- great physical changes will be wrought upon the earth's surface; mighty and continued earthquakes and deluges in various quarters of the globe, accompanied by famine, war and pestilence. These are among the terrors which may be looked for during this remarkable epoch. This period began about the middle of the year 1880, and will continue until about the close of the year 1885. The most startling phenomena occurring during this time will be about 1881-2, or thereafter."
After reciting numerous conjunctions of planets to occur in 1881, "all in the sign Taurus" (which would seem to exert a potent influence on mundane affairs), the article proceeds:
"As Asia Minor was declared by Ptolemy to be ruled or influenced by Taurus, and as Zadkiel says disastrous events befell those countries during the last conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the sign Taurus, in the year 1146, we shall await with interest the development of events in those countries in 1881 and the years immediately following."
Then come more quotations from the astrologic ravings of "Raphael, another English astrologer of celebrity," and his predictions of "general European war and great pestilence in 1881, more especially in places influenced by Taurus," and then --
"These and many similar prophetic perihelion consequences are common in all astral ephemeris for 1881. It is worthy of note that Zadkiel foretold, within six days, the assassination of the late Czar of Russia. And many truthful sign readings are, indeed, a matter of record. In the cabala nine is a mystic number, signifying "completion," and 1881 has the singular property of being divisible thus: l+8=9; 8+1=9. Nine is a peculiar number, for in all its multiples the sum is nine" -- a very important and novel fact -- after which the question is asked, "What, then, do these mystic numbers portend?" which is answered in the following lucid fashion : "Pythagoras said: 'Numbers and music are the principles of the entire universe, that the world is regulated by numerical harmony.'"
If science is, as Huxley says, only the educated common sense of mankind, we must look elsewhere for it. F. W.
Staebner.
Dead ?
BY G. K. GILBERT, U. S. GEOLOGIST, IN CHARGE OF THE DIVISION OF THE GREAT BASIN.
Fumarole Butte stands near the north edge of the Sevier Desert. The Sevier Desert lies in Western Utah, a hundred miles south from Salt Lake City. The desert is a treeless plain, forty miles broad and nearly twice as long, floored by sand and white clay, and sparsely set with low bushes. Its only stream is the Sevier River, which rises among the mountains to the eastward, and after meandering across the waste, dwindling by evaporation as it goes, finally discharges its scanty remnant into a small salt lake, whence its "elements return to earth and air." The butte is an insignificant crag, one hundred and fifty feet high, which would pass unnoticed in a region of mountains, but is here rendered conspicuous by the flatness of its surroundings. The diameter of its base is about twice its height, and it is so steep-sided that he who ascends it must exercise judgment in the selection of a route. From a distance it appears to be flat-topped, but in reality it is cratered, a central depression being surrounded on three sides by a rim or parapet. Its material is a gray basalt, superficially tinted by oxidation to various shades of brown. Its general form, and especially the precipitous nature of its outer walls, show that the mass is coherent, but to the eye it conveys the impression of being shattered, and its surface abounds in small crevices of irregular form. From many of these openings there issue streams of warm, moist air, having a temperature, alike in winter and in summer, of 73 Fahrenheit, and these are the fumaroles which have given name to the butte. Their throats are lined with emerald green moss, sustained by the perennial warmth and moisture, and upon the moss beds sparkle drops of water, brilliant as jewels. In winter the rising moisture is condensed by contact with the colder air, forming visible clouds, or jets of steam, which can sometimes be seen from a distance of many miles.
Near the butte there are two fields of basaltic lava, the broader toward the south, the higher toward the north, and each field forms a table limited on all sides by a cliff. The northern field has no ascertained connection with the butte, but the southern rises gently toward it in such manner as to indicate that the source of its lava was in that direction, and probably at the very point occupied by the butte. This opinion is strengthened by an examination of the ground about the base of the butte, including the swale which separates it from the lava field. It consists of lapilli or volcanic scoriae, tinted in rich shades of red, yellow and brown, and interspersed here and there with reefs of spongy lava. The dip of these reefs, the distribution of the lapilli, and the relation of the butte to the lava beds, convey to one who is familiar with the structure of craters a tolerably definite history. The butte marks the position of the volcanic vent. The early stages of the eruption were of the explosive type, and a quantity of light, spongy, perishable ejecta were piled about the vent in a circular hill, with a crater at the center. Then followed fluid lavas, which overflowed the rim upon the south side and ran down upon the plain, congealing in the fields, which still remain. This occurred more than once, and doubtless there were intervals of quiescence and of alternating explosive activity, as with modern active volcanoes. Eventually, when eruption finally ceased, the crater was filled with a somewhat compact lava, which hardened in place, constituting a solid core to the cone of frothy lapilli.
Then followed erosion, not by a deluge or other catastrophic agency, but by the slow wear of rain beating upon the cone, and gradually disintegrating it and washing it away. The lapilli, when they were first piled up, constituted a hill which must have overtopped all its surroundings, and may have risen a thousand feet from the plain, but their spongy nature exposed them to rapid disintegration by frost, and their lightness and incoherence caused them to be easily removed by rain, and now their position is marked by a depression, above which the core and the lava field, preserved by their superior hardness, rise abruptly. The core itself is a ruin in appearance, and doubt-
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MINERALOGY.
Besides our usual supply of material in replenishment of stock, we have lately received some fine specimens of
NEW ZEALAND JADE;
Also, a magnificent suite of
QUEENSLAND OPALS.
This handsome variety is quite different from either the Hungarian or the Mexican, the colors inclining towards blue and green, with less of the red reflections. The blues vary from the palest azure to the most intense indigo, interspersed with scintillating points of those rich metallic greens observed in the plumage of the Trochilidae. The specimens appear to be infiltrations of hydrated silica into the crevices of an argillaceous brown iron ore.
Among American minerals we have the new green spodumene from Alexander county, North Carolina,
HIDDENITE,
and an especially choice and interesting lot of
AGATES.
Besides these, we have received, since the last issue of our Bulletin, among other
MINERALS:
Ambrite, from New Zealand
Anhydrite, from Nova Scotia
Apatites, from Canada
Azurite, from Australia
Barite, from New Jersey
Cassiterite, from Australia
Chiastolites, from New Hampshire
Chalcedony, from Australia
Diamonds, from Brazil & S. Africa
Fluor, from Kentucky
Garnieiute, from New Caledonia
Geodes, from Illinois and Iowa
Gold Quartz from Montana
Itacolumite, from North Carolina
Malachite, from Australia
Ozocerite, from Wasatch Mts.
Pyrophyllite, from North Carolina
Sulphur, from New Zealand
Sphene, from Canada
Stibnite, from Utah
Wavellite, from Arkansas
WOLLONGONGITE, from Australia
Wood Opal, from Tasmania
Zircons, from South Carolina
and many others in less quantity.
For full enumeration of the various mineral species consult our Catalogue of Minerals -- 60 pages; price, 20 cents.
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less has been diminished by erosion. The lava field, which consists of the hardest and most durable of all the erupted material, retains nearly its full proportions, but has lost the original roughness of its upper surface, so as to be partially covered by soil, and a few small ravines have been cut in it near its margins.
After the greater part of this erosion had been accomplished, the desert was flooded by a lake from the waters of which were deposited the clays and sands now constituting its surface. At its highest stage the water submerged the southern lava field, and washed the base of Fumarole Butte. Its ancient beach can still be traced at the foot of the crag, and its sediments are to be found in sheltered spots about the lava field, and especially in the ravines that divide its margin. They overspread, too, a considerable share of the zone of lapilli.
The erosion which has succeeded the advent of the lake is insignificant in comparison with that which preceded it. The shore-marks, cut by waves upon the lava at various stages of the rising water, have not been obliterated, and the lake beds which clogged the ravines of the lava table have not been entirely re-excavated. In the absence of any reason for supposing the rate of erosion to have been more rapid at one time than another, we must believe that the time which elapsed between the epoch of eruption and the epoch of the lake was qot merely longer than the time which has elapsed since the disappearance of the lake, but was many times longer; and this helps us to a conception of the antiquity of the Butte, -- for the geological date of the lake is definitely known. It was a contemporary of the glaciers of Northern Europe and Northern America, owing its existence to the same great revolution of climate. It is true we do not know, in terms of our ordinary units of time, the antiquity of the Age of Ice, and cannot even say whether it should be expressed in tens or hundreds of thousands of years, but we do know that it greatly transcends all written and legendary history. When, there fore, we add to the period of human history a period several times greater, in order to carry us back to the close of the lake epoch, when we add to this sum the equal or even greater period during which the lake existed, and when we multiply this total by a large number in order to make allowance for the antecedent period during which the crater was demolished by slow atmospheric wasting, we cannot fail to recognize the high antiquity of the epoch of eruption.
How marvellous is it, then, that the heat brought by the rising lava to the surface of the ground should not have been completely dissipated from the vent! The temperature of the fumaroles is not, indeed, high, but it is twenty degrees higher than the mean annual temperature of the country, and the amount of heat which now annually passes off by means of these warm air currents cannot be inconsiderable. Is the volcano really dead, and does this heat come from the once molten lava which through long ages has been slowly cooling within its flue? Or, is it only dormant, and are new pulses rising through its veins, threatening to break forth once more and build another cone?
Before we wrote our article on Meteorites for the Bulletin, Dr. Hahn had published his work on fossil organisms in meteorites (Die Meteorite -- Chondrite -- und ihre Organismen), but his conclusions seemed so wild and contradictory to the known facts in the case that we considered it merely as a literary curiosity. Since then, however, the question has caused so much discussion that it is a matter no longer to be passed by in silence, particularly as his conclusions have been accepted as correct, or at least probable, by some scientific journals; and we had hoped in this number to review the whole subject, but are obliged to postpone it until our next issue.
We make a specialty of sawing Meteoric Iron, and have machinery especially designed for the purpose, driven by steam power. We are thus prepared to cut material into slices of any required size or thickness. Parties having such will find it to their advantage to correspond with us.
Besides the large stock of minerals mentioned from which we sell individual specimens, we prepare THREE SYSTEMATIC COLLECTIONS, with descriptive catalogues, as follows:
The COLLEGE COLLECTION contains every requisite, even to a series of 50 crystal models, for a thorough illustration of the science of mineralogy. All the important species and their varieties are well represented in choice, handsome specimens, neatly labeled and mounted, and accompanied by a special descriptive catalogue of 39 pages. Price, securely packed and delivered at freight office in Rochester, $250.
The ACADEMY COLLECTION, though numerically not so rich, has really nothing of importance omitted. Thus, in the classification adopted, the elements are represented by 8 specimens; the sulphides and allied compounds by 14; chlorides, etc., 6; oxides, 42; silicates, 64; phosphates, etc., 8; sulphates, 10; carbonates, 18; hydrocarbons, 10 -- in all 180 specimens, well representing the relative importance of the different divisions. Each specimen in this, as in the other collections, is mounted on a separate black walnut block, to which is attached a printed label giving name, Dana's species number, system of crystallization, chemical formula, and locality. In the case of single detached crystals, these are mounted on appropriate brass holders fixed in the block. Each specimen further bears a number by which it is described in the twenty-five pages of descriptive text accompanying the collection. This collection will be seen to answer the purpose admirably for Normal Schools and Academies. Price, packed, $100.
The COLLECTION FOR UNION SCHOOLS and Amateurs is in no wise to be confounded with some fragment-gatherings miscalled school cabinets, its specimens averaging very nearly, in size and beauty, those of the collections previously noted. The difference in price between it and the previous collection is due mainly to a decrease in number; while in all such specimens as are required in elementary teaching, and with which every well-informed person is supposed to be acquainted, it is not lacking.
These cabinets have all been planned with a direct and distinct regard to what was required in collections of the kind, and not from what material happened to be in stock, without thought as to what was needful. We think this will be apparent to those consulting our different catalogues, where all details will be found.
In addition to these, our standard collections with catalogues, we prepare smaller and cheaper collections, as well as larger ones, of any desired extent.
We offer an extra fine Cabinet of Minerals of our largest and choicest specimens for $4,000.
PHYSICAL AND STRUCTURAL SERIES.
In addition to the individual Minerals and the systematic collections above mentioned, we have prepared various special series of specimens compiled to illustrate the physical and structural properties of Minerals:
Lustre, Color, Diaphaneity, Fusibility, Specific Gravity, Hardness, State of Aggregation, Fracture, Structure, External Form.
We also offer suites of CRYSTAL MODELS of various sizes, in solid glass, in plate glass (with axes and angles shown by colored threads), in wood (some revolving to show combinations), and in plaster (white or with colored faces).
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How Agates Are Cut.
The variety of quartz known as Agate is a variegated chalcedony, with the color distributed in clouds, spots, or concentric layers. The variety called Moss Agate occurs in veins, while the banded agate is found in the form of geodes or balls, and occasionally there will be found in the side of these balls a sort of funnel through which was introduced the silicious matter forming the layers.
Judging from the number of these agates to be seen one might be led into the error of supposing that they could be found almost anywhere along our shores, and as the prices at which they are sold are very low, it is evident that the cutting and polishing must be done in some country where labor is cheaper than here. However, the explanation is given when we are told that they are German Agates, for although for a number of years comparatively few agates suitable for cutting have been found on German soil, yet we may safely say that, at the present time, nine-tenths of all the commercial agates are cut and polished at the mills of Oberstein. The chief source of agates now is South America, where, especially in Brazil, they occur in great numbers. They are shipped thence as ballast in vessels bound for Hamburg, and from this port are forwarded by rail to Oberstein, where they are sorted into lots, usually in the yard of some well known inn, and sold at auction. When purchased, they are sent to the agate mills, where they are cut and polished on wheels turned by water power, though of late years steam has been introduced in a few mills.
Along the Idar River, between the towns of Idar and Oberstein, there were, in 1867, one hundred and fifty-three mills, working seven hundred and twenty-four stones. Each mill contains from three to five stones, set on a horizontal axle, one end running outside the workshop and communicating with the water-wheel. The mill-stones are usually red sandstone, about five feet in diameter, and rotate in a vertical plane, the broad edge of the wheel being kept moist by a stream of water trickling down upon it from above. The choice agates are usually cut into shape with steel wheels and diamond powder. The common ones, however, are not sawn, but roughly dressed with hammer and chisel, the workmen acquiring, by long experience, great dexterity in applying their blows so as to obtain the desired fracture.
The grinding is done on the broad edge of the wheel, which is furrowed with channels corresponding in shape with the form which it is desired to give the object in hand. The agate is usually attached to a small stick, and thus applied to the moving wheel.
Each stone accommodates two men, but these men, instead of sitting at the wheel, are stretched in an almost horizontal position upon a wooden stool made to fit the body. The limbs are thus left free, the hands holding the agate to the wheel, while the feet are strongly pressed against blocks of wood fastened to the floor. After being ground, the agates are polished on cylinders of hard wood, or on lead or zinc discs, fed with a mixture of Tripoli and water.
Many of the agates, beautiful as they are in nature, are artificially colored in the following manner: having been well washed, they are placed in a sirup of honey and water, sometimes in olive oil; after this, they are exposed for some time to moderate heat in a vessel embedded in hot ashes, care being taken that the liquid does not boil. When removed, they are washed, placed in sulphuric acid, and exposed to gentle heat. After they have taken color they are again washed, and it is often the practice finally to lay them in a bath of oil, which improves the lustre. Some layers of agate are quite porous, while others are dense and well-nigh impervious. When steeped in oil only the porous layers absorb the liquid, which, being deoxidized and blackened by the acid, makes the contrast between the layers more striking, thus enhancing greatly the beauty and value of the agate. Other colors are given agates by various processes; some, such as the reds, by simple exposure to heat; others by immersion in certain solutions, but these methods vary with the different lapidaries, and are more or less trade secrets. H. L. Preston.
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Likewise, Models in cut glass of the CELEBRATED DIAMONDS of the world, containing exact reproductions of fifteen of these beautiful historical gems, from the handsome Pole Star -- the original of which weighs 40 carats and belongs to the Princess Youssoupoff -- to the valuable Kohi-noor of the British crown, and the immense diamond belonging to the Great Mogul, said to weigh 297 carats. Also, models in glass of all the PRECIOUS STONES, faithfully colored and cut in appropiate forms, put up in sets of 40, 60 and 84; fac-similes of the celebrated Welcome Nugget, the Siberian Gold Nugget now in St. Petersburg, and the immense Platinum Nugget belonging to Count Demidoff; casts of interesting Meteorites; Goniometers, and all kinds of mineralogical apparatus.
GEOLOGY.
In this department we offer an extended series of material illustrating the composition and structure of our globe, and of various phenomena which have attended its formation, or are still present upon its surface. Foremost is the division of
LITHOLOGY.
Here is first an immense storehouse of Rocks from all parts of the world, and to illustrate more definitely, though briefly, the cosmopolitan character of our collections, we enumerate a few of the more important foreign localities from which we have specimens -- many obtained during special and extended personal visits by Mr. Ward. Among IGNEOUS ROCKS, for example, we have varieties from the active volcanic regions of Lipari, Sicily, and the country round Naples, as well as from the spent volcanic districts of Auvergne, the Rhenish Provinces, Giant's Causeway and New Zealand.
METAMORPHIC ROCKS are contributed from localities in British Guiana, Trinidad, Mt. Blanc, China, Farther India away round to the Red Sea, and the Valley of the Nile; while to the quota of SEDIMENTARY ROCKS Mexico, the West Indies, East Indies, Australia, Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Nubia and countless European localities have contributed. These rocks are in specimens of uniform size, neatly trimmed, with fresh surfaces and well-marked characters. We have lately prepared with great care a number of
GENERAL COLLECTIONS OF
TYPICAL ROCKS.
Three of these are arranged according to mineral composition, the importance of which, in the study of rocks, is daily becoming more evident as witnessed in the increase of literature pertaining to this subject. These three collections consist, respectively, of 50, 100 and 275 specimens, differing in scope to suit the wants of Union Schools, Academies and Colleges. The first of these, the UNION SCHOOL COLLECTION, contains the most essential rocks, and is furnished packed for $20. The ACADEMY COLLECTION is more complete, and its price is $45. The COLLEGE COLLECTION is very full in varieties and localities, and contains many handsome, polished specimens illustrating the economical bearing of rock material. This collection will be furnished for $200. Two are arranged stratigraphically, and contain 100 and 110, respectively, and are accompanied by chart of geological time; the former is a general STRATI-GRAPHICAL collection from all parts of the world, price $50; the latter a characteristic series of the Rocks of the NEW YORK SYSTEM, the types of the Silurian and Devonian in America. Price $80. The collections are all neatly mounted on black walnut blocks with printed labels.
Dictyophyton.
During the past season a nest containing several hundred fine specimens of this interesting fossil was found, in Steuben county, N. Y., and we were fortunate enough to secure the whole "find." Mr. Conrad first described the fossil, and gave to it the generic name of Hydnoceras, with the belief that it was a Cephalopod, and Prof. Hall, in the 16th Annual Report on the State Cabinet of Natural History of New York,attempts to show that it is a marine plant, and considers it one of the "Algae of a peculiar form and mode of growth." and proposes the name Dictyophyton, which has been universally adopted. And now (see American Journal of Science for July and August) we find Prof. Whitfield and Dr. Dawson claiming, and apparently with good reason, that the true place for Dictyophyton (and Uphantsenia of Yanuxem) is with the sponges, and that it is a near relative of the beautiful Euplectella of the present day,
found at the Phillipine Isles. Prof. Whitfield says, "These bodies (Dictyophytons) are more or less elongated tubes, straight or curved, cylindrical or angular, nodose or annulated, and that they have been composed of a thin film or pellicle of network, made up of longitudinal and horizontal threads which cross each other at right angles, thereby cutting the surface of the fossil into rectangular spaces, often with finer threads between the coarser ones. When the specimens, which are casts or impressions in sandstone, are carefully examined, it is found that these threads are not interwoven with each other like basket work, or like the fibres of cloth, nor do they unite with each other as do vegetable substances; but one set appears to pass on the outside, and the other on the inside of the body. The threads composing the net-work vary in strength, and are in regular sets in both directions, while the entire thickness of the film or substance of the body has been very inconsiderable." * * *
"In examining the structure of Euplectella it is found to be composed of longitudinal and horizontal bands similar to those above described, with the additional feature of sets of fibres passing in each direction obliquely across or between the longitudinal and horizontal sets, but not interwoven with them; so that the longitudinal series forms external ribs extending the length of the sponge, and the horizontal series inside ribs or bands, and they appear as if cemented to each other at their crossings. The oblique threads, besides strengthening the structure, cut the angles of the quadrangular meshes formed by the two principal sets of fibres, and give to them the appearance of circular openings, making the structure much more complicated than in Dictyophyton. The addition of oblique fibres in Euplectella is the most noticeable difference between the two forms; but if placed horizontally and longitudinally between the primary sets they would produce precisely the structure seen in Dictyophyton."
Dr. Dawson remarks of a specimen of Uphantaenia sent him by Prof. Whitfield: "The spicules of the transverse bands cross those of the longitudinal ones without any organic connection. Among the long spicules of the bands can be seen multitudes of very minute and apparently short spicules confusedly disposed, and these abound also in the dark colored areoles. On the whole the structures are not identical with those of any plant known to me, and rather resemble those of silicious sponges of the genus Euplectella."
The Dictyophyton is very remarkable in its mode of occurrence. Although by no means a common fossil, when found at all it seems to be found in great numbers. The friend from whom we obtained our specimens helped to dig them out, and says they were all found in a space only eight or ten feet in diameter and four or five feet in depth, and some specimens of the rock we have show how very thickly they were bedded together. We believe, also, that most of the specimens previously obtained were found in a pocket similar to this one.
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PHENOMENAL GEOLOGY
We have grouped together a collection of 75 specimens which illustrate the different phenomena of Dynamical and Structural Geology, such as faults, veins, metamorphism, varieties in structure and texture, etc., including the wood models mentioned below. This is one of the first collections a teacher in Geology should have.
RELIEF MAPS
of especially interesting geological regions, such as Vesuvius, Etna, Mt. Blanc, Isle of Palma, Auvergne, Colorado Canon, Henry Mts., &. These maps are exact models of the regions represented, made to a definite scale, thus showing at a glance all the topographical features in their correct proportions. Colored as they are geologically, they not only show the relations of the different formations to each other, but illustrate the structure as well, and show the entire dependence of the topography on them, thus proving invaluable aids in the study of physical geography as well as geology, and at the same time very ornamental and attractive objects in a museum.
The features of structure and erosion are still more graphically illustrated by means of a series of stereograms, which show the country as it would be folded and faulted without erosion.
GEOLOGICAL MODELS.
We also have in this department a series of six dissecting models in wood, which show more clearly than is possible in diagrams the effects of erosion, veins, faults, outcrops, ets. Price of set, in handsome case, and accompanied with printed explanatory catalogue, $20.
GEOLOGICAL CHARTS AND PICTURES.
We have geological charts of all kinds. We would call particular attention to the CHART OF GEOLOGICAL TIME, prepared by Mr. Howell for the U. S. Geological Survey In this Chart the strata of the different States of the Union, Canada and Europe, are correlated, and approximate thicknesses given, the whole so arranged as to show at a glance to what Epoch, Period, Age and Era they belong. Size, 3x4 ft. Price, mounted with black walnut roller, $2.
Also, a series of sixteen Lithographic Pictures of ideal geological landscapes, by Dr. Unger. Size 19 x 24 inches; price of set, nicely boxed and framed, $70.
Restoration of Extinct Animals, by B. Waterhouse Hawkins. Size 2 ft. 6 in. x 3 ft. 3 in. Price of this famous set of six pictures, nicely framed, $60.
CHARACTERISTIC FOSSILS.
These are careful hand-made, water-color drawings of a celebrated series, by the late Edward Forbes, now in the Museum of Practical Geology, London. The pictures are all on first quality drawing paper, of uniform size (27 x 36), and the price of each is $8. From the number we have made a selection of ten pictures to constitute a series by itself, and this series comprises the following: One Graptolites, two Zoantharia, one Echinodermata, four Mollusca, two Crustacea.
Price of this special series unframed, $75; framed, $110.
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GOLD MEDALS.
The Gold Medals mentioned in our last Bulletin, which were awarded at the late International Exposition at Melbourne, Australia, have just been received, and the accompanying cuts exhibit the two sides. These two "Highest Awards" are for "Systematic Collections of Minerals and Rocks," and for "Natural History Collections Intended for Higher Instruction and Scientific Research."
Precious Opal.
Since the time Pliny accurately described his opalus, to the present day, this handsome mineral has been esteemed a gem, though not always assigned the same rank; for fashion, in its capricious vagaries, displaces and reinstates it in favor at irregular intervals. Its innate beauty, so happily characterized in the lines,
"Milky opals that gleam and shine
Like sullen fires through a pallid mist,"
coupled with the fact that it is perhaps the only stone really defying imitation, has enabled it to eventually hold its own. The high rank awarded it in ancient times was undoubtedly largely due to the comparative ease with which it could be worked, and also to the fact that unlike all other precious stones much of its beauty was revealed and available without any labor. The strange popular belief of modern days that opal is an unlucky stone to the wearer, appears to be directly traceable to Sir Walter Scott's romance of "Anne of Geierstein." In its usual occurrence in seams or veins in porphyry and igneous rocks, it is plainly an infiltration of gelatinous silica (silica in the colloid state), often mixed with considerable crystalloid silica, and retaining more or less of the originally combined water. Indeed, precious opal proper seems, as a rule, to contain more water than the other varieties. Until within the past few years the greater part of the material for commerce has been of Hungarian and Mexican origin, but a new source of supply has been discovered in Queensland. In the variety from this locality, which may in some respects be considered unique, the usual fiery reflections are displaced partly, or even entirely, by the most splendent metallic hues -- greens and blues of every conceivable shade -- the individual colors in some instances being arranged in more or less distinctly defined bands or zones, or again imperceptibly melting into each other and vying with the plumage of humming birds in magnificence. Clearly the old descriptions will need enlarging to cover this latest addition to the numerous forms of silica. F. W. S.
We have fine specimens of Dictyophyton tuberosum and D. nodosum from 50 cts. to $3.00
PALAEONTOLOGY.
We have on hand at the present moment a large and unusually rich store of fine, perfect fossils. We use great care to keep our stock free from all but perfect, distinct, well-preserved specimens. From these we offer -- at the option of the purchaser -- either individual specimens or we will make up, for any given sum, collections representing either a particular age or all geological epochs. The richness and extent of our material give us unprecedented facilities for doing this. A few of the more noteworthy forms are -- in the
CAMBRIAN numerous fine examples from Canada and Northern New York of that much-disputed fossil Eozoon Ganadense. Also good specimens of at least two species of the oldest British plant Oldhamia. In the SILURIAN we offer among Foraminifera Recept-aculites from Illinois, and gigantic sponges of the genus Stromatopora from the Calciferous of New York. Among Crustacea perfect specimens of Eurypterus and Trilobites. In the
DEVONIAN numerous fine specimens of the strange Dictyophyton from the Chemung Croup, and the interesting supposed Lamellibranch Calceola as well as Fishes of different genera from the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland. In the CARBONIFEROUS, fine leaf-impressions of many genera and species (Pecopteris, Neuropteris, etc.), as well as roots and stems of these and other Cryptogams. Extensive series of Crinoidea from Burlington and Crawfordsville, and some floble examples of Melonites from the St. Louis Limestone. Also beautiful Archimedes. In the TRIAS, fine slabs of various size of the interesting Reptilian tracks (.Ichnites) from the Sandstone of the Connecticut Valley, first brought to the notice of scientists by Dr. Hitchcock as "Bird-tracks." In the
LIAS, large slabs of Crinoids (especially Penta-crinus briareus and subangularis) from the celebrated localities of Lyme Regis, England, and Boll, Wurtemberg; as also Saurian remains in every degree of perfection. Cephalopoda (Ammonites, Nautilus, Belemnites) in abundance. In the
OOLITE, Insects, Crustaceans and Fish from the Lithographic Slates of Solenhofen. In the
CRETACEOUS, handsome leaf-impressions of Angiosperms of the genera Sassafras, Platanus, Liqidambar, etc., from the Dakota Group of Kansas. Among Spongidae notably Ghenendopora, Goeloptychium, and Ventriculites -- the latter including the variety known by Buckland's name of Paramoudra -- chiefly from the Greensand and Chalk of England and France. Likewise Echinodermata (Micraster, Ananchytes, Galerites, Goniaster, etc.). Also Lamellibranchs -- Hippurites, Sphmrulites and the other singular forms composing Lamarck's great family of Rudistes. In the
TERTIARY, we have a large series of finely-preserved Mollusca from the Claiborne beds of Alabama, the Eocene beds (D'Orbigny's Parisien) of the Paris Basin, and the Moicene deposits around Vienna. Nummulites from the Great Pyramid, and excellent specimens of the Echiuoderm Glypeaster Gizehensis from Gizeli, Egypt. Also the interesting Crustacean Lobocarcinus from the Jehel Mokattam. In the
QUATERNARY, numerous remains of Probos, cideans (Elephas and Mastodon), consisting of bones and teeth, and including the skeleton of
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Mastodon giganteus found near Newburgh, N. Y., in 1879. Also remains of the Great Cave Bear and Hyena, of the former a complete mounted skeleton, the only one (with the exception of that at Princeton) in this country; and several complete skeletons of the great struthious birds (Mod) of New Zealand. Finally, Corals and Shells from the Raised Beaches along the Red Sea.
CASTS OF FOSSILS.
In addition to the actual fossils from the dif-geological periods, we still continue to furnish "Ward's Casts of Cclebiiated Fossils." These are copies -- exact facsimiles in form and color -- of both celebrated and typical fossil forms, from the British Museum, Jardin des Plantes, Vienna Museum, St. Petersbug Museum, and other noted cabinets of Europe and America. These were moulded in these institutions about fifteen years ago. As this method was the only one by which these treasures illustrating the early life on our planet might be brought within the reach of American students, study on American soil, the enterprise was undertaken with a conviction of its utility to educational science, and with a confidence that the service would be appreciated. This confidence has not been disappointed.
The call for these casts has been large, and is steadily increasing. Our highest institutions of science have been the first to recognize their value and secure their aid. The following institutions are among those who have endorsed these casts in the most unmistakable manner by order ing from $1,000 to $3,000 worth: Smithsonian Institution; New York Geological Cabinet; Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences; Boston Society of Natural History; University of Virginia; University of California, and twenty others. Considerable numbers have also been sent to the Museums of England, Austria, Bavaria, South America, India, New Zealand and Australia.
We have made up three considerable suits or series of these casts, including in them, severally, those forms which have proved to be of more particular attractiveness and interest for our lesser and our larger institutions. In this way three distinct Geological Cabinets have been compiled, but of different magnitude and scope. These comprise the
COLLEGE SERIES,
of three hundred and thirty specimens. Many of the forms in this series are fossils of general celebrity, often possessing historical interest in connection with the growth of Paleontology, and are referred to in every text-book on the subject; among them being such forms as the Neanderthal Skull, the human skeleton from Guadaloupe, the Glyptodon and Dinotherium, the Dodo, the Pterodactyle, and other forms too numerous to detail here, but which will be found fully described in the special catalogue accompanying the series. The fact need only be mentioned here that of the great Zoological Province of the Vertebrata alone, there are included the remains of 80 genera and 98 species, many of these colossal forms. This entire collection, securely packed, is offered at $1,000. Descriptive catalogue; price, 75 cts.
ACADEMY SERIES,
contains the more important forms of the preceding series, amounting in all to 170 specimens. As compared with the other, the Vertebrata consists of 52 genera and 60 species. This series will be furnished for $300. Descriptive catalogue, price 30 cts. To make the collection more imposing and attractive, we have an addition to it in the way of a Supplement containing 3 noted large forms -- Glyptodon, Diprotodon, and Mastodon -- which will be added to the series for a further sum of $200.
SCHOOL SERIES.
A carefully chosen series, giving a well-proportioned exhibit of all the classes, is adapted especially for union schools, and offered at a price within their reach.
There are in all seventy-six specimens, which will be delivered at railroad, for $175. Descriptive catalogue, 20 cts.
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ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY.
In this department we have an extensive and varied assortment of material, comprising articles of dress, tools, weapons, utensils, etc., of historic and prehistoric races.
DANISH stone and bronze implements and pottery, in large number and in great variety of form. Articles of various kinds of the SWISS LAKE DWELLERS, together with models of their habitations. Implements and fac-similes of bone carvings from the French troglodyte caves.
Pottery, Carved Images and Stone Implements of the Aborigines of the United States, Mexico and Central America; and models of the CAVE TOWNS of Colorado and New Mexico, and the Animal Mounds of Wisconsin.
POTTERY, CLOTHS, MUMMIES, &c., from Peruvian graves; Mummies (human and animal) and Coffins, from the Mummy-Pits of Egypt.
ETHNOLOGY.
We have been adding a great variety of material to that already on hand, by extensive importations, through Prof. Ward, direct from the Malay Archipelago, Australia, New Ireland, New Britain, New Hebrides, New Zealand, and the South Pacific generally, including Clubs, Paddles, Shields, Matting, Masks, Canoe Carvings, Boomerangs, Armlets and other personal ornaments of shell and bone; Idols of wood and chalk, many giving evidence of Phallic worship.
Finally, series of human skulls, including Egyptian, Nuhian, Peruvian, and American Indian. Also
TYPICAL CRANIA COPIED IN PLASTER.
On page 17 of Catalogue of Human Skeletons and Anatomical Preparations is noticed this series of thirty-seven casts of skulls of various races of mankind, which was prepared under the supervision of Prof. Flourens, director of the department of Anthropology in the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. This series is invaluable to the student of Ethnology or Anthropology, the originals from which the casts were taken having been carefully selected so as to present typical specimens of the races inhabiting the principal Ethnographical regions of the world. Price of series, boxed, $80.
"Prof. Ward's casts are copied from the bes specimens to be found in any collections, and are colored to correspond with the originals. They give, at comparatively little expense, wonderful effectiveness to a cabinet as a means of instruction. A gift of a collection of Ward's casts from any patron of learning to an academy or college would render great service to the instructor, the pupils and the institution." -- American Journal of Science and Arts, July, 1866.
WHY?
When with humility I walk the night,
And on their golden tracks
See myriad suns with crowns of quivering light,
Why creeps some thought athwart this vision bright,
Of parallax?
When at the opera the moments pass,
And with a joy ecstatic,
Lorgnette in hand, I watch yon lovely lass,
What sneaking phantom asks me if my glass
Is achromatic ?
When, 'mid the place of graves, with solemn tone,
And in a metre Orphic,
Soft elegies I lisp for one I've known,
Why asks some hell-fiend if that pale head-stone
Is metamorphic ?
-- Acta Columbiana.
GENERAL NOTES.
We have just finished and shipped to Mr. A. Bierstadt two Rocky Mountain Goats, male and female, both of which were very large and fine specimens, and will do duty as models.
It is by no means uncommon for native superstition to stand resolutely in the way of the collector in the field. One of our correspondents in Alaska writes that he has found it almost impossible to secure for us any skeletons of the Sea Otter, because the natives believe that when they kill an Otter they must cut off the head and throw it into the sea, or else their canoe will be lost.
Being in Cincinnati recently, we visited the Zoological Gardens to see our former pets, two little Grizzlies which we sent there about a year ago. We found, however, much to our disappointment, that they had been sent to Europe in exchange for other animals, and they are now amusing with their antics the visitors to the Zoological Gardens at Berlin.
The Cincinnati Gardens are well filled, and the animals all in fine condition. Several species of tropical deer have been acclimated, so that they now require no more shelter in winter than is given to the Virginia Deer or Elk. The Gardens possess an unusually fine series of Pheasants, among which we noticed several hybrids between the Golden and Amherst Pheasants, surpassing in beauty of plumage both their parents.
We have just received from West Africa the skin and skeleton of a fine, large male Gorilla, both in an excellent state of preservation. These rare specimens render our splendid series of Anthropoid Apes still more complete. Two gorillas, and other valuable zoological specimens shipped to us by the Baron Von Koppenfels, from the Gaboon River, were lost on the steamship Benin, which came into collision with another vessel and was a total loss.
A snowy owl (Nyctea nivea) was recently sent here to be mounted, which came to its death under peculiar circumstances. A gentleman from this city was in the St. Clair Flats duck-shooting, and before daybreak one morning his guide was sent out to anchor the decoys. The task was accomplished, and the guide sat down upon the shore to rest, when the owl mistook him for a stump, and alighted upon his head. Reaching up quickly he siezed the bird by its legs and strangled it on the spot. This bird is the fourth snowy owl which has been sent in this season, and we hear that they are appearing further west. Are we to have, during the coming winter, another such a visitation of snowy owls as occurred in 1876?
The mortuary list for the year drawing to a close includes quite a number of names prominent in one way or another, in the domains of science, among them: Dr. Emanuel Boricky, well known for his researches in microscopical petrography; Prof. James Tennant, the English Mineralogist; Achille Delesse, the eminent Geologist; Henri St. Claire Deville, the celebrated French Chemist; Dr. Ferdinand Keller, the Swiss Arch-reologist, rendered famous by his researches into the origin of the Lake Dwellings ; and last in order of time, but not least in the estimation of Americans, one whose active interest in the progress of science, entitles him to mention in this connection: James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States. F. W. S.
Since the above was written the list has been swelled by the addition of two other noted names: Prof. Robert Mallett, the authority on earthquake phenomena, and the Hon. Lewis H. Morgan, well known as a writer on early civilization, and of whom a notice will be found in another column.
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INVERTEBRATES.
Our stock in this department is exceptionally full, and is continually receiving additions of fresh material from all parts of the world. This steady influx of material enables us to keep constantly on hand a supply of typical specimens in the different branches of this great group. We are necessarily unable to obtain all the genera in the different divisions, yet we can furnish most of the type forms -- those species which stand out prominently in the systematic zoological series -- as well as those which show stages of growth or other physiological characteristics. Our Catalogue of Invertebrates enumerates considerably more than one thousand species, and additions are constantly being made. Among the most interesting forms are the following:
In PROTOZOA, actual specimens of Foraminifera, Radiolaria and Rhizopods, with plaster models, enlarged 100 diameters, of a number of the most interesting forms.
SPONGES from the delicate Glass Sponge to the massive Neptune's Cup; also the wonderful Glass Rope Sponge and Clione, interesting from its curious habit of boring shells.
G0RG0NIAS from the West Indies, Africa and the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The CORALS include many curious and beautiful forms: Fungias from the Red Sea and Pacific Ocean; Brain Corals from the West Indies and Red Sea; the charming pink Stylaster from Samoa, and the precious Corallium from the Mediterranean.
The most interesting of the CRINOIDS is the rare Pentacrinus Caput Medusae, of which we have several unique specimens; also, Comatula, Alecto, Antedon, &c. Following these come the STAR FISHES and SEA URCHINS in scores of species. The former include Astrophyton, Ophiocoma, Oreaster, &c., and among the latter are Echinus, Heterocentrotus, Clypeaster, Brissus, and many other forms.
SHELLS, univalve, bivalve and multi valve; also, of Octopods and Squids, about twenty species in alcohol.
CRUSTACEANS furnish, perhaps, the quaintest forms of all; Barnacles, Horse-shoe Crabs, Fiddler Crabs, Lobsters, the old Birgits latro, famous for its peculiar habit of climbing trees; also, scores of other interesting species. Of most of these we have both alcoholic and dry or mounted specimens.
Catalogue of Invertebrates, 112 pages, 121 wood cuts, 50 cents.
Glass Models.
In addition to the actual specimens, we also offer a full series of the exquisitely made Blaschka models of Actinias, Acalephs, Cephalopods, etc. These are of glass, and are most accurate in form and coloring, the greatest care being taken to show, in all perfection of detail, these frail and perishable forms, which it is almost impossible to preserve satisfactorily. Prof. Ward has been appointed by Herr Blaschka sole American agent for these models. Owing to the increasing demand for the models, we have for some time been unable to keep a supply on hand, and we would request that parties desiring them will order as early as possible.
Catalogue of Class Models, 24 pages, 10 cents.
DIAGRAMS.
Prof. Ward has also been appointed by the German publishers as American Agent for the sale and distribution of Profs. Leuchart & Nitsches' celebrated series of Zoological Diagrams, 10 in number, showing the growth and development of chosen representative forms throughout the whole series of Invertebrates. These diadrams -- about 3x5 feet in size -- are beautifully designed and graphically colored in explanation of the subject proposed. They are greatly sought by teachers of Zoology, to whom they are
invaluable.
Price of series, unmounted... $10
Price of series, mounted... 15
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The Dredging Song.
BY EDWARD FORBES.
Hurrah for the dredge, with its iron edge,
And its mystical triangle,
And its hided net with meshes set,
Odd fishes to entangle.
The ship may move through the waves above,
'Mid scenes exciting wonder.
But braver sights the dredge delights
As it roveth the waters under.
Down in the deep, where the mermen sleep.
Our gallant dredge is sinking;
Each finny shape in a precious scrape
Will find itself in a twinkling.
They may twirl and twist, and writhe as they wist,
And break themselves into sections,
But up they all, at the dredge's call,
Must come to fill collections.
The creatures strange the sea that range,
Though mighty in their stations,
To the dredge must yield the briny field Of their loves and depredations.
The crab so bold, like a knight of old,
In scaly armor plated,
And the slimysnail, with a shell on his tail,
And the star-fish -- radiated.
That Prof. Ward is in a region rich in marine life is most forcibly shown by the many boxes of beautiful shells and corals continually coming in. Prominent among the corals are
Stylaster sanguineus.
Pociilopora damicornis, Eydouxi and maeandrina.
Seriatopora lineata.
Distichopora nitida.
Halomitra pileus.
Lophoseris Knorri, frondifera and praetorta.
Tubipora musica.
Alveopora daedalea.
Madrepora, Oculina, Galaxea, and numerous other genera.
Since the departure of the Cambridge Elephant, which stood 9 ft. 5 in. in height, and would have weighed, when living, about four tons, the animal which excites the greatest interest amongst our visitors is our baby elephant. This absurd little pigmy is only 2 ft. 9 in. in height, from which wc estimate that he was about six months old when living, and is, perhaps, the smallest elephant in this country.
GEOLOGY.
At the second session of the International Geological Congress, held at Bologna, in September last, the prizes offered for the best essays on the coloring of maps were awarded to MM. Heim, of Zurich; Carpinski, of St. Petersburg, and Maillard, of Lausanne. For uniformity in Geological nomenclature the following terms were adopted, beginning with the most general.
Physical Division: Group, System, Series, Bed,
Chronological Term: Cycle, Period, Epoch, Age,
for which all the European languages have near equivalents. The color scheme adopted for all nations is as follows:
Pre-Cambrian crystalline schists -- Bright rose-carmine.
Crystalline Schists of unknown age -- Pale rose-carmine.
Palaeozoic rocks --(Question reserved).
Trias -- Violet.
Lias -- Dark blue.
Jurassic -- Blue.
Cretaceous -- Green.
Tertiary -- Yellow --
The latter divisions lighter shades of the same; shades of the adopted colors, or colored lines, indicating the subdivisions, the darker tints being applied to the older; sedimentary formations denoting by the initial Roman capitals of their respective names; subdivisions by initial small letter of name in addition; smaller subdivisions by figures added to the other signs -- 1, indicating the oldest; Eruptive rocks, distinguished by the initial Greek capital of the name.
The next meeting of the Congress will be held in 1884, in Berlin. F. W. S.
AUSTRALIAN FAUNA.
From Tasmania (Van Dieman's Land) and Australia we have received an immense series of the forms peculiar to those countries. Among the mammals of the placental division are many Bats, the Dingo or native dog (skins, skeletons and skulls) Rats and Mice, including Hydromys or Great Water Rat, Seals and Sea Lion, and the Dugong, an Australian congener of our American Manatee., In the division of Aplacentalia or marsupials, for which the Australian continent is so famous, there are several hundred fine skins and skeletons, including the Giant Kangaroo and other species, such as Wallaby, Petrogale, Bettengia and Rat Kangaroo; also, Phalangers, Phascolomys, Petaurista -- a marsupial like a gigantic flying squirrel -- Belideus, Acrobata, Dromicia, Tarsipes, Myrmecobius (noteworthy as resembling in its dentition the earliest fossil mammal yet discovered), Koala or "Native Bear." Dasyurus, Antechinus, Sarcophilus, "Tasmanian Devil," and Thylacinus, or "Tasmanian Tiger." Of this latter strange, wolf-like animal -- a marsupial without marsupial bones -- the Professor obtained four specimens, and "From my best sources of information while in the island I am convinced that there are not above 20 to 25 specimens still alive in Tasmania." What, then, will our American museums do, of which but three or four are provided with this strange form, so interesting and so essential in any systematic collection? Of the anomalous Monotremata, Echidna and Ornithorhynchus, Prof. Ward has by special effort secured more than a score of skins, skeletons and alcoholic specimens. These have always been difficult to obtain, especially in alcohol, and even of Ornithorhynchus skeletons we have had but three in ten years! Of Australian birds we have received several thousand skins and skeletons, among them gorgeously-colored Parrots, Parrakeets, Lories and Cockatoos, Lyre Birds, Bower Birds, Diamond Birds, Emus, Bqstards, Brush Turkey (Megapod), Friar Birds, Rifle Birds, Kingfishers -- including the famous "Laughing Jackass," a gigantic abnormal form which has left the water side and lives in trees around the settlers' barns -- Pheasant Cuckoos, Fruit Pigeons, Ospreys, White Goshawks, Boobook Owl, Bee Eaters, Honey Eaters, Fly Catchers, Goat Suckers, Crow Shrikes, Emu Wrens, Wattle Birds, Pittas, Herons, Cranes, Bitterns, Avocets, Ibis, Coots, Rails, Ducks, Geese -- including Chlamydochen jubatus, the smallest Goose known, -- the beautiful Black Swan -- the coat of arms of W. Australia -- Terns, Gulls, Cormorants, Gannets, Petrels and Penguins. This series of forms is too large to enumerate, but it is most interesting in its variety of species. The Turtles, Snakes, Lizards, Frogs and Fishes are also represented by many interesting forms preserved in alcohol. Among the fishes none are more worthy of notice than the Cera-todus, which will be described and figured in our next number. Prof. Ward also sends two large collections of birds from New Britain and New Guinea, "that country," as says the ornithologist Viellot, "in which are found the most beautiful birds in the world, and the most remarkable for the singularity of their plumage." Among these are interesting Parrots, Cockatoos, Kingfishers -- including species of Tanysiptera,a genus restricted to New Guinea and its immediate vicinity, -- Crowned Pigeons -- Goura -- beautiful Doves,
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Megapods, Helmet Birds, Hornbills, and nearly fifty fine Birds of Paradise! Concerning these latter Prof. Ward writes that "they were obtained by a collector whom the citizens of that country (New Guinea) killed and ate last October." Among other mammals from New Guinea Prof. Ward obtained a fine specimen of Echidna. The Echidna was first discovered in New Guinea about four years ago, and is thus far extremely rare.*
*The next number of the Bulletin will contain a complete list of the Mammals and Birds from New Britain, of which there are one or two not hitherto noted as coming from that locality, and a species of Hawk which may prove to be new.
Prof. Ward's New Zealand Collection.
The collections made by Prof. Ward during his stay in New Zealand and Australia are coming in thick and fast. While many boxes have arrived others are still on the way, and it will be some time before the "returns" are all in. While the number of species, and often the number of individuals of a species, is great, yet the special value of these collections lies in their representation of important, strange and interesting forms, many of which have never before reached us, nor have been obtainable by purchase from any source.
It has been a part of Prof. Ward's policy for long years past, that when anything was of great interest in itself -- for its beauty, its rarity or its importance as a member of a systematic series -- to obtain that object by direct collecting at the locality, whatever might be the cost or the trouble. His present tour is giving us many such rare and valuable forms, the first of which reached us from New Zealand. Among them are the two genera of bats, Scotophilus and Mystacina, the only two mammals which this great sub-region possesses. Among birds are the Tui or Parson Bird (Prosthemadera Nova Zealandica), with its neat tie of white feathers, and its black neck; the Huia (Hetxrolocha Gouldii), of which the male has a short, straight beak, and the female a long, curved one, a distinction which at first caused them to be described as two species. "Such a remarkable difference in the sexes," says Wallace, "does not occur in any other known bird;" then the Crook-Billed Plover (Anarhynchus frontalis), remarkable for being the only bird known which has its bill bent sideways;
the Great Penguin (Aptenodytes) from Macquarie Id., situated far south toward the border of the Antarctic ice continent. Of this king of its family which stands straight as a soldier, over three feet high, Prof. Ward sends both adult and young -- the latter a droll looking gosling as large as a full-grown goose, and covered with soft,
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fluffy, chocolate-colored down. With these are other species of Penguins (genera Spheniscus, Eudyptes and Eudyptula), both skins and skeletons, as well as eggs. Their skeletons with long, sharply keeled sterna and elongated uncinate processes to strengthen the thorax, are striking illustrations of the adaptation of the bony framework to the special life of these "paddle-winged Sea Turtles" among birds.* Of the Great Water Hen (Porphyrio melanotus) are many fine examples, and the Professor writes elsewhere how near he was to obtaining a speciman of the famous Notornis Mantelli -- the third in the world.
Of the Kakas, Keas, Kakapos and Kiwis (Nestor meridionalis, N notdbilis, Strigops habroptilus and Apteryx) we have received many specimens, both of skins and skeletons. The two first mentioned look very similar -- large, long bodied Parrots, of a brownish olive color, with long curved and sharp pointed bills.**
But while the Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) feeds upon tree flowers and the ordinary vegetable diet of its family, the Kea (N. notabilis) has adopted a strange abnormal food. It preys upon the living sheep of the New Zealand settlers, lighting on their flanks, while with feet fast fixed in their wool it buries its beak savagely in the flesh and rends a way to the kidneys, which it tears out, and then, only, leaves its dying prey. As New Zealand has no indigenous mammals (except the bats previously noted), it becomes an interesting question how and when this Parrot assumed its animal diet, and its strange, bold ferocity.***
Although the Kea is strange, yet the Kakapo or Owl Parrot (Strigops habroptilus) is even more interesting. It has the loose, soft, mottled plumage and facial disk of an owl, with the feet, beak and general form and attitude of a parrot. With fully developed wings it still does not fly,****
* Those who have not seen a Penguin in the water can hardly realize its activity. I find in looking over my note book that the first ones observed near Cape Horn are spoken of as fish. This mistake was due to their fish-like leaps, which much resembled those of the Porpoise. Afterwards I saw them nearer, going through the same maneuvres on their way to the huge beds of floating kelp which abound in that vicinity. Having reached these they would lie with only their heads above water until the ship had passed.
** In this respect, however, they do not even approach the New Guinea Cockatoos Microglossum aterrimum, et als.) whose bills are the longest and most attenuated of the Order Pici, so much so, indeed, that it seems singular that they should not be frequently broken.
*** In some respects the Philip Island Parrot (N. production) is the most interesting species of this genus. It is apparently restricted to Philip Island, a spot of land only five miles in circumference, and situated near Norfolk, Id. Since this latter was settled the parrots have been rapidly killed off by the colonists, and in a few years will doubtless be completely exterminated. Prof. Ward gives an additional instance of carnivorous habits among the parrots, in the fact that the bodies of seals killed at Macquarie, Id., are eaten by a small Parrakeet (Platycercus erythrotis).
**** Although the wings are well developed, yet the keel of the sternum is almost wanting, and consequently the power of flight is gone. When surprised in a tree the bird drops heavily to the ground and runs awray, using its wings to aid it in running. Flightless birds with keeled sterna, like the Penguin, use their abbreviated wings for flying under the water.
but seeks its food along the ground or by climbing arduously in trees. For a nest it has a burrow in the ground, where it spends the day, coming out only at night to seek its food. This bird is fast becoming extinct, owing to the increase in the island of cats, which, escaped from settlers, run wild in the bush.
Strangest and most remarkable of all the birds of New Zealand, perhaps of the world, are the Kiwis, of which Prof. Ward has sent us three species (Apteryx Oweni, A. Mantelli and A. australis). These birds are tailless, to all appearance wingless, and covered with hair-like feathers, altogether unlike our usual idea of a bird. In its skeleton with keelless sternum, it is a miniature ostrich, with the beak of a snipe. We will say more of the Apteryx elsewhere. In his Geographical Distribution of Animals Wallace figures -- as characteristic of the New Zealand Sub-Region -- the genera which we have hastily enumerated, and says of them, "No country on the globe can offer such an extraordinary set of birds as are here depicted."
In addition to all these modern forms, Prof. Ward has been fortunate in securing a fine series of the fossil Moas, including several genera, and among them a suit which received the highest award at the late Industrial Exposition at Melbourne. These, on account of their perfection and size, are unquestionably superior to any specimen outside of New Zealand. A more extended notice will be given in the next Bulletin.
Intelligence of Fishes.
During the latter part of 1869 it was my fortune to spend several months at the Chincha Islands, off the west-coast of Peru. In December a species of small fish, much resembling the white perch, came in for the purpose of spawning. They made their appearance in schools, varying in number from a hundred to as many as a thousand, or even more, swimming in compact bodies so close to the surface that the back fin and part of the tail was exposed. Here was a rare opportunity to spear fish, and one which I, as well as others, employed to the best advantage. Now, at first, it was a comparatively easy matter to row within spearing distance of a school and make a successful throw, but after a short time it was more difficult, and in the end the fish became so watchful that after the spear was thrown, and while it was still in the air, the fish would dive and escape. Here, it seems to me, is a clear case of reasoning. The fish discovered, by bitter experience, that a projectile meant disturbance and danger, and consequently dove whenever they saw one coming. F. A. L.
Transportation of Insects.
The following note shows how comparatively feeble animals may be transported considerable distance across the water: Several years ago it was my fortune to be on a sailing vessel bound from Peru to London. One evening in the South Atlantic we had several severe squalls of wind and rain coming from the direction of land, during which many Lepidoptera flew on board. The next morning I gathered about fifteen species, mostly small moths, although there was one large sphinx among them, and one or two delicate butterflies. The nearest land was the coast of Brazil, distant nearly 300 miles, and judging by the number of insects that reached us many must have gone much farther. F. A. L.
Why is a Zulu belle like a prophet? Because she has little on'er in her own country.
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Nest of a Megapod.
Letter from Prof. Ward, from Port Darwin, near the Western shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria, in Northern Australia.
"You will observe among my birds from New Britain and New Guinea several skins of the Megapod. It is in appearance a gallinaceous bird the size of our barnyard fowl, but of more sober color, being a dark brown and olive tint. It has, also, longer and more slender legs, with great feet and lengthened claws unusually curved. I saw the same species -- Megapodius tumulus -- on several occasions in Queensland, in its short, heavy flight across wooded gullies, with its legs hanging straight down, as if broken by a shot, after the manner of a porphyrio or water-hen. It was a great regret to me that, owing to the density of the scrub and the doubtful character of the natives in that neighborhood, I was unable to search for any distance for their strange nests, of which you will remember to have read in Wallace's 'Malay Archipelago.' Here at Port Darwin I have been more fortunate. Soon after reaching here, while getting from all sides information as to the animals of the coun try, I was informed of the 'Jungle Cock,' which I recognized as being the bird in question. My informant had only seen the bird itself as it was brought in by the natives, but he said that he could probably get me a guide to their haunts or breeding places. So we went to the edge of the settlement where was a camp of the natives, or rather a lying down place, for they have no huts or covering structure of any kind. Here we found some forty or fifty of the 'black fellows,' as they are called in Australia, who clustered around us and made signs for tobacco and something to eat. Some of them could speak a few words of English, and to one of them, a sort of leader, named 'Billy Muck,' we addressed ourselves. 'Oh, yes,' said Billy, 'me know where plenty Gungle Cock fellow sit down; me take Inglees fellow (that meant me), suppose he give us plenty bixit (biscuit) fellow.' I assured him that I would give him and all the party plenty of 'bixit fellow,' but that first they must show me the nests. So we started that same afternoon, I with nothing but a cutlass to clear my way through the thickest bushes, and Billy and his four companions with one or two spears each. They were all clothed (save a scant breech-cloth) in natural attire -- the brown-black skin in which they were born -- with the addition of a profuse painting of their faces and chests with white clay and red and yellow ochres. They were low in stature, and well formed, but their features were hideously ugly, and their tangled hair hung over their foreheads and into their eyes. There is nothing more to admire in an Australian 'Aborigine' than there is in one of our Piute or Digger Indians, except that they stand and walk beautifully erect-, and when they poise their spears their attitude would delight a sculptor. First we followed the shore for two miles to a point adjacent to a coral reef, where the day before I had fished up a lot of coral and left it on the beach to dry. Leaving there we crossed a table-topped promontory, where a pretty dense growth of palms and other trees grew out of almost bare rock. My Blacks were very hungry, and made several casts of their spears at some great black cockatoos which flew screaming around the tops of the trees above our heads. Failing in this -- for the height was too great -- one of them nimbly climbed a tree and tore off some onion-like epiphytes which grew on its upper branches, and threw them down to his companions who, much to his disgust, ate them all before he got down to claim a share. Then we struck a sandy beach with an inner lagoon of brackish water, on the border of which were the tracks of an
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osphranter or great antelopine kangaroo. Its foot prints were sixteen inches long and some of its leaps were fully fifteen feet. The sandy reach was succeeded by a rocky shore, where were many curious crabs, one kind of which my hungry Blacks pursued eagerly, and ate them raw and alive. Here, too, I found, washed up by the waves, a curious sponge, of, I think, a genus as well as species new to science. Its body part was like a large, round turnip, with a crater-like hollow in the top through which opened the oseula. From the bottom, slightly spreading as they leave the sphere, are eight hollow roots, hanging stiffly down like sticks of maccaroni. Further on we came to a mangrove swamp, stretching quite out into the sea. The tide was low, and the hot, seething mud was vocal with the grating noises and pop gun explosions of the crabs and shells which had their burrows in it. The soft surface, too, was furrowed in all directions by trailing cerithia -- you know the shell -- the largest two species of which were three or four inches long, and large in proportion. One of these was the rather rare Cerithium telescopium, prized by conchologists. It is a cone with a flat base nearly two inches across, and tapering in beautifully straight lines to a fine, sharp point. By careful search I obtained some twenty of these, and still more of another species in which the mouth of the shell is developed with a wide, volute swell, as in the C. giganteum, which I used to collect fossil in the Paris basin. My Blacks sought these shells as eagerly as I, but not for me. No; they would no more relinquish them, except as I forced them out of their hands, than a dog will give up a-bone. As fast as they got them they broke a hole through the mouth part of the shell and strung them bead-wise on a bit of reed. Their intent is to hang them in the sun until the animal dies and begins to putrify, when it releases its adhesion in the shell and can be drawn out and eaten. The tide here has twenty feet of rise and fall, so that we followed inland through the mangrove bushes for more than two miles before we got out of the mud. Then the land rose a few feet and changed to a sandy loam. And here, stretching far along on either side were great piles of the same shell which we had been collecting, but old and wasting away. Every one had been broken open to get at the animal, and many had been roasted and burned to help the process. There were millions of these shells, which were mostly in irregular, lengthened heaps as large and as high as a small dinner table. These represented years of feasting of the Aborigines, and I sought interestedly among them for other remnants. I found no human bones, although these Blacks have been great cannibals, and, on occasion, still are so. But I found bones of the Dingo or native dog; of the opossum, and of the flying fox or great bat, which you may see here any night, its wings spreading something over three feet. Also fragments of the great Fusus (F. proboscidialis) and the great clam (Tridacna gigas). -- Strange that these, the two largest shells of the world, one univalve and the other bivalve, should be found together on this shore and in adjoining Queensland. Also there were many old fire-sticks, and several broken stone spear-heads. Thus far it was a 'Kitchen-midding,' the refuse of habitual feasting places of pre historic shore-tribes, such as I had walked over and sifted for reliquia in Denmark along the cattegat, in the West Indies, and in Florida. But here the upper layers were interspersed with broken bottles and old tin cans, which told how recent they are. Travelling further inland the trees grew thicker and taller, and the sandy surface was broken by an occasional hillock. Stopping at one of these, Billy Muck said, 'Gungle Cock fellow sit down
here.' I hardly knew what to make of it. Here was a mound fully twenty-five feet across at base, and about five feet high, covered with a few bushes and one young tree with trunk over six inches in diameter. I shook my head vigorously with denial. But Billy said yes. 'Yas, he old fellow nest.' Then he beckoned me, with finger-tips downwards, as do all savages, to come further. Roaming at random for five or ten minutes more, we came to a place somewhat bare of trees, in which, in a space of ten or twelve acres, were no less than three of these mounds. They were all old ones, much worn down by rain and grown over with bushes. But they all had a distinctive shape -- a truncated cone, with a peculiar hollowing out of the ground for several yards around the base. I saw clearly that they were what I had come out to see, that I had not been deceived, and I made the amende honorable to Billy by telling him so. He only scowled, but said, 'Suppose me find Gungle Cock heself you give Billy plenty bixet fellow?' I said yes, and thereat he started, still skulking through the woods. We went in many directions, and for a long time, until I was thoroughly tired, yet we saw no Jungle Cock. But we came to one fine nest, apparently but lately finished. Dropping my cutlass I stopped and stared at this in wonder. Can this great mound really be the work of a bird? How much it looks like a 'Mound Builder's' tumulus, which I have formerly dug into in Minnesota and Missouri, and brought out a human skull and bones there buried. But this present mound is fresh, is more abrupt, and it has a curious truncated top. It is, in short, a fine, systematic cone of loamy sand which has clearly been taken from the hollowed area which extends for over four yards all around its base, I measured the cone carefully. It was almost an exact circle, twenty-two feet across at the base and five and a half feet high. There has been no rain for several months past, and the sides are quite full and entire; not furrowed, as were the previously seen nests. Its top was truncate, with an area of about thirty inches across, and this area had in its center a sunken part of about the dimensions of a common washbowl. In this crater and around its edge were many fragments of a coarse, reddish egg shell, which I recognized as the egg of the Megapod. So the nest had at least been used for one previous season, although the freshness of the cone would show that it had been built up (renewed) lately, or since the last rains. This and what I heard from others convinces me that the nest is used for two or three consecutive seasons, being, doubtless, each time repaired a little. I asked Billy to dig for eggs; but he replied, saying, 'No egg fellow sit down there; him all go way;' and then he imitated how the little ones had scrambled out through the dirt -- some the crater and some breaking out at the side, and had run away into the bushes. He said, 'Bye bye soon come plenty rain; then come Gungle Cock, two, three, four, then plenty eggs fellow.' Billy went on to show me, partly by words and partly by pantomine, the eggs (he said there were more than twenty of them) were placed in a circle two feet in diameter in the crater, and that the first laid were clear down toward the bottom of the mound, and the last (uppermost) ones were some three feet below the bottom of the crater. Then he added that 'Plenty bush fellow (he meant leaves and stalks) sit down there,' pointing to bottom of the cone. I knew that he was correct, for a gentleman in Queensland who had excavated a Megapod mound told me all about it. To this friend and to authors I am then indebted for further facts, for I had not half a dozen laborers with picks and shovels to open this strange nest for me and show me its inner building. This great cone-nest is a family affair, in the making of which three or four, or sometimes as many as six of the Megapod birds, both cocks and hens, unite their labors. Choosing a clear spot in the dense scrub, they first dig a broad, circular basin some eighteen inches deep in its center. Then from the vicinity they gather quantities of fresh leaves, and stalks, and grass, and with it they not only fill this hole, but go on and make a pile a foot or two high above the ground level. This done, they proceed to cover all with the dirt cone. Seizing a claw-full of dirt
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(here come in play their sharp, curved claws) they run quickly backward for three or four steps, as if to gain momentum, and throw the dirt on to the pile. This they keep up from day to day, seeking their material further and further from the base of the cone, which ever grows higher, and ever gives the toiling bird greater exertion to throw its claw full to the top. Several weeks are spent in the building of the cone, which is commenced in the early spring -- here August and September -- and completed before the rains come on. The laying time is just before the rains. With patient labor the fowl, starting in the crater, digs out a hole, reaching down almost or quite to the leaves. There it lays its eggs in a large ring, placing them, with great care, the large end up, and covering them over. This process takes a full fortnight, for as the egg, three and a half inches long by two and a half in diameter, is very large for the bird, it follows that but one of them can be matured at a time, and that at least one day must intervene between each laying. As before stated, the nest is a family one, and from two to four birds -- probably as many as were engaged in its construction -- lay in it in turn. By the time that all are laid and the hole is filled, the fermentation and decomposition of the leaves, aided, no doubt, by the rain which filters down from the crater, creates a heat which is constant and of a degree suitable to hatch the eggs. In due time the young emerge from the shell, and at once scratch their way up and out and run off to the scrub, where they find ready at hand their food of seeds, and berries, and coleoptera. It seems well established that in all this they are unaided by the parent birds, who, moreover, are never seen with or near the young. A fellow passenger on our steamer tells me that in the Marshall Islands, where he has resided for some years, the Megapods dig deep holes in the sands on the hottest banks, and leave the eggs in them, slightly covered, to be hatched by the sun's heat. Also that there the parent birds never see their young. How at variance is this with the usual habit of birds, where with the natural parent the incubating parent is so constant and often so violent. Yet the ostrich, which lays its eggs in the desert sand, or, nearer home, our cow bunting, which lays in other nests for other parents to hatch and to rear the young, are other notable instances of this altered nature. A Bible writer is quite happy in his expression about the former bird when he says (Job, xxxix: 16) 'She is hardened against her young ones as though they were not hers.' But how far is he from the fact when he adds, 'For God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.' Nothing in other acts of maternal instinct surpasses the prefatory care (before laying their eggs) of these non-incubating birds.
"But while I have been looking at the Megapod nests my Blacks have gotten very hungry, and are foraging in every directiod for something to eat. They have been clubbing from a tree a sort of green almond-looking fruit, and it amuses me to see how each one scrambles for all that he can get, without any reference to whose club brought it down. Another has chased a frilled lizard Chlamydosaurus Kingi) into a hollow limb, and when he has arduously pushed the saurian through to me, I quietly wrap it in my handkerchief and put it in my pocket, while the Black stares at me, his looks saying, 'Twas not for that I took you into the partnership.' Billy has found in a shady place a group of half a dozen low, succulent, flower-like stalks which look greatly like our 'Jack-in the-Pulpit' or 'Indian Turnip' (Arisaima triphyllum). Softly, that others may not be attracted, he says to me, 'Yam fellow sit down there,' and then he goes on to dig them up and he their potato-like roots in his hair. I am much pleased when he tells me about this root. 'Him fellow very bad, burns mouth (this by pantomine), first cook plenty fire.' How exactly is this like our American plant. Billy, in digging up the roots, has found a grub-like caterpillar more than half a foot long. I stop him a bit to look at it, and then as I give it back what a tussle there is between him and two others, each snatching for pieces of the tid-bit, which they eagerly swallow. These Blacks care for nothing so much as for food. Promise them that and they will
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do anything; give them that and they will go to sleep and do nothing. This I have seen abundantly during the last few months, down the coast of Queensland and New South Wales. Even when my black divers had waited with me in a boat for one or two hours, for the tide to be at its lowest, so that we might reach something on a coral bank, they would, if I had incautiously given them any food, lie down to sleep at the most critical moment, and neither words nor blows could start them up.
"Leaving our Megapod nest we came out of the brush by another way, and struck the same sand-reach where we had before seen the osphranter tracks. There my Blacks, who had now filled their bellies, lay down for a sleep, although we were still three miles from the port and night coming on. They had all the food they required and cared nothing for me, for my persuasions, or even for my 'bixit.' But Billy -- I ought not to have said that he was naked, for he wore a piece of plaited palm-leaf around one arm, through which was thrust a short pipe -- Billy had another want to be met. So I promised him tobacco, and with that magic word I drew him away from the rest, and he piloted me home. Before I let him go I got from him two spears which had long stone heads of a sort of crystalline quartzite, the fracture of which is much like obsidian, and thus is well suited for its purpose.
"The Overland Telegraph line, 2,000 miles long, comes out to the coast here at Port Darwin. For some time after its completion the Blacks in the interior climbed the poles and tore away the porcelain insulators to break up and use as knives. Now this has ceased, for the telegraph company has considerately put broken bottles at the foot of the posts for many miles, and the Blacks have loyally accepted the exchange. On our way back to the settlement Billy caught for me a beautiful specimen of the rare, tiny marsupial, the Belideus ariel, much like our flying squirrel in its general appearance. It had two young, which were grown too large to creep into her pouch, yet clung to their mother. Thus impeded they all fell into my hands. This adds a much desired species to my already large list of Australian Marsupials. And as in this case, so in several scores of others, I have with the adult the young, the latter often still adhering to the mammae within the mother's pouch.
Yours, etc., Henry A. Ward.
[SONG.]
The Wild Fejees.
'Tis said the wild Fejees,
Who live across the briny seas,
They kill each other just for fun,
And pick their bones when they are done.
Chorus -- O! ye horrible Fejees,
Where in the world are your leges?
Have you no laws
To govern your jaws,
To keep you from feeding on homo?
Some seek them from pure love,
To point them to the world above,
But these they snatch with cruel ire,
And place them broiling on the fire.
Chorus -- O! ye horrible Fejees, &c.
The victim, thus prepared,
Is passed around and duly shared,
And from the remnants, 'tis their boast,
They have a dish called Priest on Toast.
Chorus -- O! ye horrible Fejees, &c.
A New Definition. -- "What did you say your friend is, Tommy?" "A taxidermist." "What's that?" "Why, he is a sort of animal upholsterer."
Fred is a naturalist, but when a lady visitor asked to be shown a "cro-cod'-i-le" he had to blush and acknowledge he never heard of such an animal.
Eggs of Apteryx.
Among the specimens recently received from Prof. Ward are two eggs of the New Zealand Kiwi, or Apteryx, representing the species Oweni and Mantelli. The Apteryx itself presents a most odd appearance, having only the merest rudiments of wings -- a peculiarity which has gained for it its name -- and a plumage more resembling hair than feathers. This singular bird was formerly quite common in New Zealand, but is now in a fair way of becoming extinct, for although its nocturnal habits and remarkable fleetness of foot may make it more than a match for the native hunter, yet even these cannot save it from the white man and his attendant, the dog.
The egg of the Apteryx is almost as unique as its parent, for while the bird weighs only about four pounds, yet the weight of the egg is from fourteen to fifteen ounces, or nearly one-fourth the weight of the bird itself. The egg of A. Oweni is a regular oval, tapering considerably toward the small end, and measures 121mm in long and 81mm in short diameter.
A. Mantelli is a more elongated oval, tapering less at the small end, and measuring 129mm in long and 79.5mm in short diameter. The shells of both species are smooth and of a dirty white color.
The addition of these two species completes our already rich series of the Struthiones, as follows:
Struthio camelus -- N. African Ostrich ... $3 50
Struthio camelus (meridionalis) -- S. African Ostrich... 3.00
Rhea Americana -- American Ostrich... 3.00
Dromaius Novae Hollandiae -- Emeu... 2.50
Casuarius Bennetti -- Cassowary... 3.50
Apteryx Mantelli -- Apteryx... 25.00
Apteryx Oweni -- Apteryx (cracked)... 6.00
Apteryx Oweni -- Apteryx (cast)... 1.00
Dinoris -- Moa (cast); length of egg 9 in... 2.50
Special Offers.
We desire to call particular attention to our two sets of cheap eggs for amateur collectors. These eggs have been carefully selected, and form systematic series of the most characteristic species throughout the different orders and families, giving any one an opportunity to secure a large variety of desirable eggs at far less than catalogue rates.
These series, well labeled and carefully packed, will be sent, postage or express prepaid, to any address in the United States on receipt of price:
Set A. American Eggs -- 25 species for $5.00.
Set B. Foreign Eggs -- 35 species for $5.00.
A list of the species contained in these series will be sent on application.
Barbarous Cruelty to Fishes. -- The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals should memorialize the Government authorities of Hong Kong on the above subject. The Chinese fish mongers in the public market of that city invariably keep their fish alive until sold, but the manner of it is simply barbarous. The fish, usually of small size, are kept in tubs with just enough water to cover the gasping, writhing mass and keep the victims from dying outright. A hundred fish will be kept alive with two or three gallons of water and remain on the point of suffocation for days. One has only to look upon a tub full of those wretched little creatures and see them miserably dying by inches to realize how refined human cruelty can become, and still be permitted under the authority of humane Englishmen. The attention of the Hong Kong authorities was publicly called to the above facts in 1879, but without apparent effect. W. T. H.
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THE APTERYX.
At present four, or possibly five, species of this singular bird are known, all of which are from New Zealand. These are as follows:
Apteryx australis, Middle Island.
"Mantelli, North Island.
"Oweni, Middle Island.
"Middle Island.
"Haasti, Middle Island.
Of A. Haasti but three specimens have reached Europe and of A. maxima none, only two being recorded. This bird is said to be as large as a turkey. Strictly speaking the Apteryx is not wingless, but the wings being only three inches in their entire length, are so completely hidden by the dense, soft feathers with which the bird is clad that it is no easy task to find them. These birds are strictly nocturnal in their habits, coming out at night in search of the worms and insects on which they feed. Their favorite haunts are among the dense fern thickets of the uplands, where, when pursued by dogs, they take refuge among the roots or hide in the crevices of the rocks. Their retiring and nocturnal habits are their only protection and almost the sole reason why they have not been exterminated. As it is they have rapidly diminished in numbers since the islands were colonized, and year by year it becomes more and more difficult to secure them. Dogs and cats are their worst enemies, for they can not only detect them by the scent, but follow into recesses where man cannot penetrate. Add to this steady destruction the fact that they are slow of increase, laying but one egg at a time, and we can readily see that the extinction of this bird is merely a matter of a comparatively few years. This egg, by the way, is a curiosity, and when one notes its size he ceases to wonder why the bird lays no more.
This egg is deposited in a burrow, and is extremely difficult to discover, so much so that in over a thousand miles of travel in New Zealand Prof. Ward was able to obtain only two specimens.
Among other reports as to the incubation of the kiwi it has been stated that the bird sits under the egg and not upon it. The bird, it was said, buried the egg at some distance below the surface and then dug a burrow below it until about one-third of the egg was exposed, so that it would rest on the back of the bird. From observation of specimens living in zoological gardens it seems proved that this, like many statements made by natives, is entirely false, the bird incubating like any other. It is also probable that the Apteryx breeds twice a year. The Apteryx runs and hops, and is able to leap over objects two or three feet in height.
As the external appearance of this bird is so well known, we will notice briefly a few of its skeletal peculiarities.* First, the nostrils are situated at the end of the long beak and not on the sides near the base, as in all other birds. The orbits are very small, low down in the skull and their boundaries are not sharply defined as in most birds. The brain cavity is of moderate size, large in proportion to the size of the head, owing to the small size of the orbits, and some of the sutures of the skull remain visible for a con-
*The bird from which the above notes are taken is A. Mantelli.
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siderable time. The cervicals, 16 in number, are short, stout and strikingly suggestive of its huge relative, the moa. The last bears a good-sized rib, with large uncinate process. Four of the eight dorsals are covered by the pelvis, and the last, which is solidly anchylosed with "the sacrals," bears an extremely short rib. The ribs are proportionately wider and flatter than in any other bird with which I am acquainted. Four are joined to the sternum and the anterior five large uncinate processes. In these respects the Apteryx approaches the ostrich and departs widely from the moas, in which the rounded ribs bear very small uncinate processes. The sternum is dinornithic in character, being slightly convex. The coracoid and scapula are anchylosed. There is but one digit on the wing. The pelvis is long, narrow and much compressed, in this respect differing from Dinornis and resembling Dromaius. There are apparently 12 vertebrae in the "sacrum," but never having examined a young specimen I speak with some hesitation on this point. There are eight caudals rather compressed and curving downward. The legs are decidedly moa-like in character, except that the femur is relatively longer. In this point it also differs from all other struthiones. There is a stout hind claw articulating to a small metatarsal. We cannot better close these brief notes on the more striking points in the osteology of Apteryx than by quoting from Prof. St. George Mivart's memoir on the axial skeleton of the Struthiones : "Judging by the characters of the axial skeleton, the Emu presents the least differentiated type, from which Rhea diverges most on the one hand and Apteryx on the other. * * * The resemblance between Dromaius and Casuarius is exceedingly close. * * * The axial skeleton of Dinornis is intermediate between that of Casuarius and Apteryx, its affinities, however, with the existing New Zealand forms very decidedly predominating. * * * Thus Apteryx may be spoken of as the diminutive representative of colossal ornithic types that have disappeared." -- F. A. L.
Rare American Eggs.
We take pleasure in announcing to our Oological friends that we have just succeeded in obtaining from the Bahamas several eggs of the Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber). It is needless to say that these eggs are rare, and we consider ourselves fortunate in securing them. They were carefully prepared, are in fine condition, and with full data. Price, $3.00.
We give below a list of a few American eggs now on hand which are not in our catalogue:
Western Chickadee......................... $ .50
Plumbeous Vireo.......................... .50
Oregon Towhee,........................... .75
Audubon's Oriole,..................... 1.00
Dwarf Cow-bird,........................... .50
Rufous-backed Humming bird,............... .75
Great Horned Owl,....................... 1.50
Dusky Grouse, ....................... 1.75
Plumed Partridge,........................ 1.25
Wilson's Plover,...................... 1.25
Peale's Egret,.......................... 1.50
Flamingo, .............................. 3.00
Ring-billed Gull, ........................ .75
Cabot's Tern, .......................... .50
Thick-billed Guillemot,................. 1.50
We desire to call the attention of our readers to the list of Human Skeletons on page 13. The demand for these has been so great that we have heretofore had considerable difficulty in keeping a sufficient supply on hand, but we have recently made arrangements which we trust will furnish us with an adequate number.
TAXIDERMY.
Fifteen Commandments for the Taxidermist. Applying to Mammals.
1. Clean every skin thoroughly and pare it down thin.
2. Clean thoroughly the leg bones and skull.
3. Sew up all holes, from the inside, neatly and strongly.
4. Choose leg wires or irons which are fully strong enough.
5. Anoint the inside of the skin with arsenical soap.
6. Do not stuff the legs round like Indian clubs.
7. Do not stuff the body round like a sausage.
8. Do not stuff the animal full of hard lumps like a bag of nuts, but
9. Stuff smoothly.
10. Do not get the back line twisted.
11. Give the animal its hips and shoulders.
12. Do not make either body or neck too long.
13. Do not make the eyes bulge out of their sockets as they usually do in stuffed animals, but never in living ones.
14. Watch every animal carefully while it is drying, and see that all the soft parts dry in position.
15. Don't paint the mouth and tongue a bright crimson or blood red, for nature never does.
W. T. H.
Hints About Making Bird Skins.
Skin the head close down to the base of the beak, especially in front of the eyes. Otherwise the feathers may come out when the skin is relaxed for mounting, and even if they do not, whoever mounts the bird will find it necessary to separate the skin from the skull in order not to leave a ridge of feathers marking the boundary between the skinned and unskinned portions. Always leave in all but the head of the humerus in a good-sized bird. Never on any account detach the secondaries from the ulna in birds of the size of the Red-shouldered Hawk and upwards. True, the bird may never be mounted, but very likely, too, he may, and to do good work on a large bird the secondaries must be attached to the bone. Especially is this the case where the bird is to have the wings spread. You may clean the roots of the feathers and sew them carefully to the ulna, but you can not get them as solid as they were, while to give them the even spacing and regular spread that they have in nature is quite out of the question. You can remove the muscles and tendons by making a cut on the under side of the wing from the elbow to the wrist, and the taxidermist who mounts your skins will set you down as one of the few who know how to make up a large skin properly. Take out the tendon back of the leg in long-legged birds of prey and waders, thereby rendering it possible for a leg to be wired readily, to say nothing of the fact that it is a great aid to keeping the scutellse of the tarsus intact. To do this make an incision back of the heel, i.e., tibio-tarsal joint, and a second in the fleshy part of the foot. Sever the tendon at the heel, get an awl under it at the cut in the foot and pull it down. Remove the part contained in the tibial portion from above when you skin the leg.
Remove blood stains. Grease and dirt can be removed, but blood hard dried upon feathers is almost impossible to take off. Warm water and sugar will do something towards it, but not much.
Do not "bung out" a bird's eyes by putting too much cotton in the orbits. Be particularly careful about this in Hawks, who have deep set eyes, which should be pressed inward rather than distended.
Get off as much fat as possible from the inside of a skin; otherwise it will be very apt to crack when it comes to be mounted.
Don't be afraid of opening a bird too high up on the breast. If you ever mounted half-a-dozen dry skins you will know why. In the majority of skins the cut is too short for ready manipula-
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CUSTOM WORK IN TAXIDERMY.
PRICES FOR MOUNTING SKINS.
AMERICAN MAMMALS. FOREIGN MAMMALS.
Moose -- male, $125 Rhinoceros, $250
Ditto -- female, 100 Bactrian Camel, 150 to 175
Bison; "Buffalo," 125 Dromedary, 125 to 150
Elk -- male, 100 Giraffe -- 15 or 16ft. high, 175
Ditto -- female, 80 Ditto -- 9 or 10 ft. high, 125
Black-tailed Deer -- male, 70 Eland, 90
Ditto -- female, 60 Koodoo, 80
Caribou, 75 Nylghau, 75
Virginia Deer -- male, 60 Bubale, 75
Ditto -- female - 50 Lion, 70 to 90
Mountain sheep, 75 Tiger, 70 to 90
Ditto -- female, 60 Leopard, 30 to 50
Pronghorn Antelope, 55 Ocelot, 15
Grizzly Bear 80 Walrus, 100 to 150
Black Bear, 50 Sea Lion, 75 to 100
Panther, 60 Seal, 20 to 45
Lynx; Wildcat, 18 Otter, 12
Wolf, - - 30 Great Ant Eater, 35
Coyote; Prairie Wolf, 20 Small Ant Eater, 13
Pox, - - - - 15 Sloth, 8 to 15
Otter, - 15 Armadillo, 8 to 15
Raccoon, 14 Great Kangaroo, 30 to 50
Badger, 13 Derby's Kangaroo, 18
Beaver, - - - 16 Koala, 16
Jack Rabbit, 8 Wombat, 14
Grey Rabbit, 6 Phalanger, 12
Woodchuck, 6 Baboon, 20
Skunk, 8 Howling Monkey, 15
Sable, - - - 7 Green Monkey, 12
Opossum, - 7 Marmozet Monkey, 6
Fisher, - - - 8 Lemur, 8 to 14
Mink, 6 Capybara, 20 to 35
Muskrat, 5 Paca, 10
Prairie Dog, 5 Rousette Bat, 6
Weasel, 3 Porpoise, 15 to 30
Grey Squirrel, 3
PRICES FOR MOUNTING HEADS.
Heads of mammals are mounted in the highest style of the art at the prices given below, with-
out shields:
Bison; "Buffalo," ... $25 to 30
Moose, ... 25 to 30
Elk, ... 20 to 25
Caribou, ... 16 to 20
Mountain Sheep, ... 14
Deer, ... 12
Antelope, ... 12
A massive Black Walnut Shield, with moulded edge, will be furnished for Bison and Moose for $5; for Elk, Caribou and Mountain Sheep, $4; for Deer and Antelope, $2.50.
The prices noted above are for dry skins of average preservation, with the skulls. If a skin is badly cut or torn, lacks patches of hair (which must be replaced), or is without a skull, the price will necessarily be more than that given. If, on the other hand, it be a fresh skin, it will be less than these rates.
Parties sending skins to be mounted are earnestly requested to first examine the same carefully, in order to be themselves aware of the exact state of the specimen as to tears, bare spots, loose hair, etc. It sometimes happens that a skin is supposed by the owner to be a good one, when close inspection would show him that it is really poor.
For all further information on this subject, address
PROF. HENRY A. WARD,
2 College Avenue,
Rochester, N. Y.
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tion of the bird in mounting, and it is necessary to prolong it. Now the skin on the edge of the old cut will be shrunken and thickened, and a stitch taken in it holds and does not tear out; but in the new cut the edges are thin and weak, and a thread pulls easily through, thereby causing great annoyance to the individual who is at work thereon.
The above notes cover some of the most annoying mistakes that are made by collectors, and as observations made upon the mounting of about four thousand dried skins ought to teach one what should be done and what left undone, we trust they may not be without some influence.
F. A. L.
How to Soften Dry Bird Skins.
As usual with all processes in taxidermy, there are various ways in which a dried bird skin may be relaxed and made ready to mount, but I will describe the one I consider the simplest, easiest and most effective.
1. For Small Birds. -- Open the skin and remove the filling from the body, neck and head. Tear some old cotton cloth into strips from an inch to two inches in width, wet them thoroughly in warm water and wrap them round the leg and foot until it is covered with several thicknesses of the wet cloth, quite to the ends of the toes. Lift up the wing and put two or three thicknesses of wet cloth round the joint, and also between the wing and the body. Put some wet cotton or small rags inside the skin, wrap the whole skin completely in several thicknesses of cloth and lay it aside. If the bird is not larger than a robin, the skin will be soft enough to mount in about twelve to fourteen hours.
2. For Large Birds. -- Under this heading it is necessary to place nearly all birds above the size of the robin, for the reason that the legs, being large and thick in comparison with the skin of the body, require extra treatment The legs of some birds require several days' soaking, and were the skin of the body relaxed for the same length of time it would macerate and the feathers fall off. The legs of large birds must, therefore, be started first in the relaxing process.
Take, for example, the skin of a pheasant: cover the nails and beak with wax, if the skin is an old one, or else they will flake off; wrap the feet and legs with wet cloths as described above, and let the skin lie without other wrapping for one day. At the end of this time the joints can be bent somewhat, and they should be manipulated until they bend easily. When they will do this, put wet cloths round the joints of the wings -- in the body, neck and head, and wrap the whole skin in a wet Cloth. At the end of the second day the entire skin will be soft. The next step is to scrape all the hard parts of the skin and manipulate it until it is as soft as when fresh.
By the above process, skins may be softened and made ready to mount according to their size, about as follows: Wren to robin, in twelve to fourteen hours; ruffed grouse, two days; great blue heron, three days; bald eagle, four days; condor, five days; ostrich, six to eight days. Skins which are but a few months old will soften in about half the time they would require were they five years old, and if properly made in the first place will make as handsome mounted specimens as fresh skins. W. T. H.
Recipe for Luting for Alcohol Jars, Etc. -- Soak say two ounces of common gelatine (glue) all night in any quantity of water; then pour off the water and dissolve the swollen gelatine by heat; dissolve, say one-quarter ounce of bichromate of potash in about an ounce of hot water, and mix the solution with the dissolved gelatine. Apply hot to the place requiring luting, and leave (24 hours, if possible,) exposed tp the sun.
CATALOGUE OF SPECIMENS OF COMPARATIVE OSTEOLOGY.
September, 1880. Price, 25 cents.
This Catalogue enumerates about SIX HUNDRED SPECIES, representing very fully all classes of Vertebrates, and among Mammalia the greater part of the families.
The skeletons and skulls offered in this Catalogue are perfect, and belong to full-grown animals, except when otherwise stated.
THE PRICES as given are based upon this perfection in the specimens. When a skeleton is ordered, and the specimen on hand is not (as sometimes happens) of this first-class category, it will be announced at once in its real character, and a lower price fixed upon it. I take great pains, however, to exclude medium or under-sized specimens from my stock, so far as it is possible under the conditions which govern the first collecting of this class of objects.
EACH SKELETON IS MOUNTED WITH BRASS, or (in the larger ones) bronzed standards, on a BLACK WALNUT PEDESTAL. The skulls have the lower jaw movably articulated with spiral brass springs. Both the skull and the fore and hind legs of the larger specimens are so articulated that they may be readily removed from the body, for closer examination or lecture-room illustration, and again replaced. A handsome PRINTED LABEL accompanies each specimen, giving NAME, SEX, LOCALITY, etc.
DISARTICULATE SPECIMENS of the larger skeletons, bleached, with bones separate, in box or bag, with vertebrae numbered and strung, and with each hand and foot by itself, furnished at one-half to three-fifths the prices noted for mounted specimens.
Parties ordering for $300 or more will receive A REDUCTION OF 5 PER CENT, from Catalogue prices. No charge for packing, except for the box itself, in the case of specimens of the size of the Wolf, and larger.
In this Catalogue (as in all my others) I have mentioned no specimens but such as I have ACTUALLY ON HAND AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. Many of these, however, are still unmounted. Parties wishing to purchase are therefore requested to send in their orders promptly, so as allow time for mounting.
ANATOMICAL MODELS.
The justly celebrated Auzoux models, for which Prof. Ward is agent, are undoubtedly the best that are made, but their cost and the time required to fill an order for them, deter many from purchasing who nevertheless feel the need of illustrating lessons in physiology in such a manner that they can be readily understood. For this purpose the papier mache models of Ramme and Sodtmann are admirably adapted, being well made and at the same time moderate in price. There are over thirty of these models, most of which are constantly on hand, showing the anatomy of various portions of the body, and especially of the head, eye and ear.
For full description, see Catalogue of Human Skeletons and Anatomical Preparations. Price, 15 cents.
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Human; Skeletons.
PRICES FOR MOUNTING SKELETONS.
The skeletons and parts of skeletons offered in the following series are of first quality in every particular of bleaching, mounting, and other preparation. A large proportion are imported from Paris; the balance are prepared by Parisian workmen in my own establishment.
Adult Human Skeleton, mounted, with suspension ring,.............. $40 to $50
Ditto: Mounted with bronzed standard on Black Walnut pedestal, and with cambric tunic,......................... $50 to $55
Ditto: Mounted in handsome Ash case, with extensible bracket, and lock and key, $70
Ditto: Disarticulate. With bones of one hand and one foot united by artificial ligaments,............................ $28
Adult Human Skull,..................... $8 to $12
Ditto: Disarticulate. In box with compartments, .................................. $15
Ditto: With horizontal section,................. $10
Ditto: With vertical section,................... $10
Ditto: Mounted with various sections, showing special parts,........................ $20
Ditto: Mounted a la Beauchene, with bones slightly spaced. Under glass shade,.. $55
Skull, representing the three component vertebrae; after Oken, ................. $18
Skull of Child, cut away on the jaws, so as to show the first and second dentition, ..................................... $18
Adult Arm, with scapula. Bones united with artificial ligaments,............... $10
Adult Leg, with portion of pelvis. Bones united with artificial ligaments,........ $10
Adult Hand or Foot. Bones united with artificial ligaments (twisted sinews),
allowing the bones to be separated or drawn together in their proper places, $5
SKULLS OF RACES.
Skull of ancient Egyptian (Mummy), $12 to $15
Ditto: Nubian... $12
Ditto: Peruvian ... $12 to $15
Ditto: Cheyenne Indian... $12
Ditto: Pawnee... $4 to $10
Ditto: Sioux... $7 to $10
Ditto: Flat Head... $10 to $15
Skeleton of Sioux Indian. Disarticulate, ... $70
Ditto: Mounted... 100
HORSE SKELETONS.
As there have been many inquiries in regard to these skeletons, we give prices below. These prices are for adult specimens, clean and thoroughly bleached, unless otherwise stated.
Mounted Skeleton. Ends of long bones
a little greasy,... $70
Ditto: A trifle undersized,... $75
Ditto: Medium size,... 80
Ditto: Large,... 85
Ditto: Large, showing various bone diseases,... 90
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These prices are for average specimens, and vary according to the difficulty of cleaning, repairing, &c.:
Homo sapiens,... $25 to $ 35
Giraffe, large Walrus,... 100 to 125
Moose, Sea Lion {Eumetopias),... 85
Ox, Bison, Horse, Camel,... 70 to 80
Lion, Tiger, Grizzly Bear,... 60
Deer, Llama, Mountain Sheep, Black Bear, 50 Wild Boar, Ostrich, medium Alligator, Giant Kangaroo, Sea Leopard (Zalophus),... 40
Rhea, Emu, Porpoise, Capybara, Harbor Seal,... 30
Coyote, Condor,... 25
Lynx, Glutton, Small Alligator,... 20
Beaver, Otter, Sloth, Iguana,... 18
Fox, Raccoon, Badger, Turkey, Swan,... 12 to 15
Opossum, Skunk, Rabbit, Owl,... 8 to 10
Mink, Duck, Squirrel, Crow, Partridge... 8
Pigeon, Quail,... 7
Rat, Mole, Frog, Toad,... 5 to 9
The Second Annual Exhibition of the Society of American Taxidermists opened in Horticultural Hall, Boston, on December 14th, and closed December 22d. Eighteen members were represented, and the work as a whole showed a very marked improvement in quality over that of last year, an improvement estimated by some as high as twenty-five per cent. The work generally showed more study and care in preparation, better choice in subjects, and was far more attractive than the first inexperienced effort of the Society. It is gratifying to know that the Society is so steadily and surely accomplishing the object for which it was formed. The judges of the Boston Exhibition were Mr James C. Beard, artist, of N. Y.; Prof. J. W. P. Jenks, of Brown University; and Mr. Thos. H. Hinckley, artist, of Milton, Mass. Their report was received by the Society with great satisfaction, and their criticisms will be remembered to good advantage.
A general meeting of the Society was held on the 15th inst., before which the following papers were read: "Critique on Museum Specimens," by F. A. Lucas; "On the Uses of Clay as a Filling Material," by Wm. T. Hornaday; and on "Mounting Fish for the Cabinet," by the same author.
It was decided to hold the next exhibition in New York City.
A business meeting of the Society will be held in Rochester early in March next, and all persons desirous of joining the Society should communicate with the Secretary (Wm. T. Hornaday, 33 Prince street) at an early date.
The Hatteria (Sphenodon) Punctatus.
Prof. Ward, sending specimens from New Zealand, wrote as follows:
"You will be pleased to see that at last I have obtained this rare and much-wished-for Saurian. No longer will our catalogues, which aim at systematic fullness, have an odious blank after 'Order III, Rhyncocephalina.' Now for the first time can naturalists procure, by simple purchase, specimens of this rarest and most abnormal of Lizards, which is itself a species, a genus, a family and an order. Dr. Gunther, of the British Museum, who described it some years ago, says, 'No other specimen appears to have reached Europe; indeed, so far as I am aware, no museum out of Europe appears to possess Hatteria. French naturalists do not even mention it. Narrowly restricted in its distribution, exposed to easy capture by its sluggish habits, esteemed as food by the natives, pursued by pigs, it is one of the rarest objects in zoological and anatomical collections, and may one day be enumerated among the forms which have become extinct within the memory of man.' Captain Cook, who in his third voyage entered the Bay of Plenty, in New Zealand (and lost half a boat's crew by the savage natives), mentions 'a monstrous animal of the lizard kind.' But Dieffenboch, the traveler, seems to have been the first (in 1843) to have secured a specimen. He says, 'I had been apprised of the existence of a large lizard which the natives call Tuatara, and of which they were much afraid. But although looking for it at the places where it was said to be found, and offering great rewards for a specimen, it was only a few days before my departure from New Zealand that I obtained one, which had been caught in a small, rocky islet, called Karewa, in the Bay of Plenty. From all that I could gather about this Tuatara, it appears that it was formerly common in the islands (of the Bay of Plenty), lived in holes near the sea-shore, and the natives killed it for food. Owing to this latter cause it is now very scarce, and many, even, of the older residents of the islands have never seen it.' My earliest enquiry when I reached Auckland, the chief port of Northern New Zealand, was, 'Where is the Tuatara to be found?' They told me at the museum that they were nearly extinct, but showed me two specimens in spirits, and told me what they could about the locality. Two days later I took my collecting can and a drum of alcohol and went aboard a steamer bound down the coast to Tau-ranga -- 140 miles south. Tauranga is a little port of no special importance, except as being the point from which tourists strike into the interior of the island to visit the famous New Zealand Geyser district. It (the port) lies at the bottom of the Bay of Plenty, that great curve inland of the Pacific Ocean, on the east side of the northern island of New Zealand, which you will see on any map. It is in this bay, at its eastern extremity, 40 or 50 miles from here, that lay a
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group of rocky islets, where the lizards are. I had some delay in finding a craft suited to my purpose -- one large enough for the heavy seas which roll outside, and yet not so large as to be altogether too expensive. At length I found just the thing -- a cutter of 25 tons burden, which had come up the coast with a load of wood. Moreover the captain (a most genial Scotchman named Macpherson, who had beat about the world over, including California), was pleased to meet with a Yankee with whom he could talk on common ground of his old mining experiences. For this and because he wanted to 'get a sight at the durned leezards,' he reduced his regular charter price to ___ pounds sterling per day, with conditions that it should be for no longer than a week, and that no 'varemunts' should be let loose in his cabin! So we laid in some supplies of food and water, and started from, our mooring before the town, with a mild evening breeze. Outside the 'Heads' darkness set in, and with it came a stiff breeze which soon raised a heavy sea. Through this, with blackness all around, we dashed at a tremendous rate all night, shipping many a sea, and thoroughly wet and cold. In the morning we found ourselves close by Whaikare or White Island, a quietly active volcano 60 miles at sea -- the last point, in this direction, of a line of volcanic activity which extends for over 150 miles in a north-east by south-west direction, and includes at its other end the Geyser district, and terminates in the great volcano mountain 6,500 feet high, of Tangariro. We ran close into shore at Whaikare, and went ashore for the day. What we did there -- how we hauled our cutter's boat oyer a part of the volcano's crater-bed and launched it on a lake of boiling water, strong with alum and sulphuric (?) acid, how we collected specimens of sulphur and selenite, and how we caught with our hands eleven full grown gannets (Sula australis), who were too dazed and too stupid to fly away -- all this I have written to Father and Henry. With the night wind we ran 40 miles to landward, and cast anchor in a cove of Whale Island, an extinct volcano, where is a sulphur deposit which has been lately worked. From the top of this island we could see, looking to be close under our feet, the Ru Rima rocks, those little rocky islets six miles away, against which the sea broke in a circle of tossing foam. For two days we waited impatiently at Whale Island for the wind to cease and the waves to subside, so that we might run over to the Ru Rimas, or rather that we might land when we got there, which latter would only be possible to do with a calm sea. The third day the wind had completely fallen, and the sea was calm as a lake. So we started at early morn with the faintest of breezes, which withal was from an adverse quarter, and forced us to sail by long tacks. At noon we were about two miles nearer to the rocks, and four hours more of tacking brought us still one mile nearer. The situation was most tantalizing; we could see the rocks plainly, and, had that been safe to do,
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could have left our cutter and rowed to them in the dinghy in less than an hour. And who could say what
tempestuous weather might come tomorrow and for days after, drive us away from our goal altogether! Fortunately, just before dark there sprung up a light breeze, and in a few minutes we were close at the Ru Rimas. They are three rocky islets, each of them of but four or five acres in extent. Two of them are united by a reef, bare at low tide; the third lies a little more to sea. Between this and the other two we found a narrow channel with sandy bottom, where, with fair shelter from the waves, we cast anchor. The sun was just setting behind the twin islands, and sharp against the western sky a few hundred yards away was the outline of low rocks, and on the highest line of these stood a great he-goat -- the relict of those once placed on the island -- who came up to welcome us. After an impatient night we landed early on the twin isles, and searched them over for an hour in vain, seeking for the Tuataras. We then took our boat to cross to the other island. In launching it one of our men, wading in the sea up to his knees, sprang lustily out with a yell of pain. He had stepped into a spring of boiling water which came up through the sand, and was so hot as to smartly scald his foot. The third outer islet is the smallest of the group, containing scarce five acres. On one side of it rose a rocky mount thirty or forty feet high, with precipitous sides and a wooded top. The balance of the isle was covered with great, angular fragments of rock grown over with a dense covering of thorns (prickly scrub). Few paths or clear ways led through this anywhere, while to crowd through the scrub itself seemed actually impossible. One of the men found a broken track which led to a hole into which he thrust his arm at a venture. He pulled it out very quickly, bringing out a penguin, which, with its sharp, hooked beak, was fastened to his finger with a bull dog grip, and had to be finally chopped off. For two hours we searched assiduously, but in vain; no Tuataras were to be seen. It seemed as if all had left the rocks or had never been there. At last on an out-heap I found the whitening skull of one, and a few vertebrae were attaqhed to it by some ligaments which were still rather fresh. Thus encouraged we searched anew. The difficulty lay in the size of the rock fragments, over which no lizard ran, while the clifts between them were so narrow and so grown up with the bushes that it was difficult to get the body or even one's head into them and down to the gravel level, so as to see the creatures under the rocks. One of our men, however, succeeded in getting quite down flat on the ground, and in this way he crawled about under the bushes and
between the rocks, without trying to rise, as, indeed, it would have been hard for him to do so. After a long time he found a first Tuatara, then another, then another still. They were hidden under the edges of the rocks, sometimes in the natural space, sometimes in a small burrow like a rat-hole. Here he either reached them by hand or snared them with a bit of twine. This the sluggish animal permitted, rarely trying very hard to escape and never offering to bite. Only if taken by the tail it would frequently shake off that member, leaving it in the aggressor's hand, and creep out of reach under the rock. We spent the entire day on the islet, a part of us burrowing under the brush and a part alternating with rest. A long, busy day, during which we hardly stopped to eat, at length came to a close, and we took the boat and went back to the cutter. Then we transferred our Tuataras from the collecting bag to a can of alcohol. There were 14 of them, each from 14 to 18 inches in length.
"The accompanying illustration gives a far better idea of the animal's personal appearance than could be conveyed by a lengthened description. The most noticeable feature is the tail, which is compressed and crested, having in its shape a suggestion of the alligator. The general color is a dull olive green, whitish below, and plentifully sprinkled with yellowish spots. In some specimens the tail, while of the same length and general shape as that of the others, had a peculiar appearance, which induced its examination. The scales, which on the under side of the tail are ordinarily arranged in regular cross bands, were, to within a short distance of the body, crowded together indiscriminately, and with no uniformity of pattern. Further, these tails possess no vertebrae, but in their place a flattened, jointless strip of cartilage. Like the geckos the Hattera is one of those lizards in which the tail when lost by violence is reproduced, but as above noted, minus its vertebrae. Many individuals had thus suffered, doubtless from combats during the breeding season.
"The next morning we returned to the islet and sought for the entire day, with a smaller yet still a satisfactory result. On the third day we found but a single specimen; so we returned early to our cutter, and catching a fair wind at sundown, we sailed all night back toward Tauranga, and in the morning were at the high rocky island of Karewa, where with some difficulty we made a landing with the dinghy, while the cutter tacked off and on waiting for us. On this island we saw but three Tuataras, all of which we secured. They averaged larger than those from the Ru Rimas. Then we sailed some thirty miles up the coast to Mayor Island, one side of which had -- reaching from sea-level to summit -- a talus of large blocks and fragments of pure, black, shining obsidian. Of this we took in a few hundred weight to break into cabinet specimens, and then sailed back to Tauranga, whence we were in all just a week absent upon our excursion.
"But we must not dismiss our Hatteria without noting a few peculiarities of its framework, in which in fact its strangeness consists. The vertebra are bi-concave, a fish-like feature which obtained in the Ichthyosaurus of old geologic times, but, the geckos excepted, is not found in modern reptiles. Fifteen of the twenty-two ribs are provided with uncinate processes as in birds and crocodilia. The sternal and vertebral ribs are united by the interposition of a third segment -- the intermediate rib -- as in many other reptiles,* and there is a very peculiar system of abdominal bones (see cut), which are supposed by Dr. Gunther to assist the animal in creeping under low rocks where it cannot use its feet.** The skull is highly osseous, and built up with great firmness of its parts. The infra-temporal arcade is completed by bone in this, but in no other recent lizard.
Hatteria is an acrodont in the strictest meaning of the term, the teeth being so intimately anchylosed with the edge of the jaws as to
* This arrangement is found among mammals in the sloths and the monotremes.
** These "abdominal ribs" repeat acharacter found in Crocodile. On many accounts Hatteria seems more nearly related to these huge reptiles than to the Geckos, which it resembles in external appearance.
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appear to be merely projecting portions of them, while the edges of the maxillae are like the teeth, highly polished, and in old individuals, whose teeth are worn down, perform the same functions. There is in Hatteria a longitudinal series of teeth upon either palatine bone, running parallel with those upon the maxillae and the teeth of the lower Jaw fit, into the deep groove which lies between the maxillary and palatine teeth, and as they come together in mastication, keep each other sharp by mutual attrition. Dr. Gunther claims for this New Zealand lizard, which differs in some important structural respects from every other known saurian, and it is in its osteology the most bird-like of existing reptiles, a higher rank than that of a family, and makes it the type of a distinct order of reptilia, equal in value to the ophidians and crocodilians. He points out that the crocodiles are removed from the lizards, into a distinct order, on the ground of osteological peculiarities as well as on account of the higher organization of their soft parts, and that in Hatteria the modifications of the lacertine skeleton extend to the same parts. So he assigns it to the position of Order III of reptiles, under the name of Rhyn-cocephalina. As such let us give the quaint stranger a place in our Rochester collections and catalogues." H. A. W.
WANTED.
Enhydra marina (Sea Otter), Skins.
Lynx fasciatus, Skins
Vespertilio carolinensis (Brown Bat), Skins
Arvicola xanthigenosus, Skins
Arvicola rufescens, Skins
Neotoma floridana, Skins
Sigmodon hispidus, Skins
Reithrodon humilis, Skins
Perognathus pencillatus, Skins
Ovibos moschatus (Musk Ox), Skins
Stemmatopus cristatus (Hooded Seal), Skins
Larus marinus, Skins
Puffinus major, Skins
Ceratorhina monocerata, Skins
Synthliborhamphus antiquus, Skins
Bison Americanus (Buffalo), large male skeletons. Geomys bursarius (Pouched Gopher), Skins
Cynomys ludovicianus (Prairie Dog), Skins
Eggs of North American birds as follows (numbers according to Coues' Check List) -- 7, 55, 57, 71, 93, 177, 180a, 215a, 217, 228a, 241, 245, 264, 265, 336, 354, 400, 409, 461, 484, 499, 505, 506, 526, 546, 582, 611, and any species not in our catalogue.
Well preserved, choice specimens of American Minerals and Fossils. Also, of American (Indian and "Mound Builders") relics, Axes, Hatches, Pipes, Pottery, etc., etc.
We want only good typical specimens, and would request that in every case persons write us in regard to the specimens before sending them. If specimens are sent "on approval" without first consulting us, the freight on them must be prepaid.
Foreign Correspondents.
To our foreign readers we would say that we desire to secure correspondents in all parts of the world to procure for us material in the various departments of Natural History, ahd we should be glad to hear from any one who may be able to furnish specimens. We have not space to give a list of our foreign desiderata, but to any one who may wish to supply material we will send a list of our desiderata from his region.
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Amateur Photography.
To make a rapid and accurate record of anything in these days of high pressure, has become a necessity. The printing press of today does ten thousand fold more work than that of Franklin's time. In almost every office the click of the type-writer is heard; we have automatic telegraph and fire alarms; an endless number of instruments registering with marvellous accuracy the constant meteorological changes; league after league of sea is measured with the recording log; while its hitherto unmeasured depths make their own record upon the recording plummet.
No wonder then that amateurs hail with delight the advent of Dry Plate, and the accurate apparatus of today, which when contrasted with the old wet process, with its hosts of discomforts and actual dangers, make photography seem like a new art.
We noticed in our last Bulletin a new apparatus designed especially for amateurs, and predicted then a great future for it, on account of its extreme compactness and lightness -- the entire apparatus weighing but two pounds -- together with the fact that complete accessories,chemicals, plates, and instructions accompany each instrument, enabling any person of common intelligence to master the art of photography.
At the exhibition of scientific apparatus made before the "American Association for the Advancement of Science," at Cincinnati, this apparatus and the work produced by its use elicited universal admiration -- and having used the instrument ourselves under a variety of conditions we are happy to endorse Professor Lattimore's statements regarding them, when he says:
"Walker's Pocket Camera and its accessories constitute a marvel of mechanical ingenuity. It reduces a whole photographic outfit to the very minimum of bulk. Every part, down to the most hidden detail, shows the highest skill of contrivance and the most thorough workmanship.
It so happily overcomes the difficulty of manipulation that any careful person, who will faithfully follow the directions, although without previous experience, may be satisfactorily successful from the very start."
Sample photograph and catalogue will be sent by Mr. Walker upon receipt of communication enclosing ten cents, addressed to Box F. 200, Rochester, N. Y.
BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB.
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY, SEVENTH YEAR OF PUBLICATION.
Though intended primarily as a medium of communication between working ornithologists, and consequently maintaining a high technical character, this Bulletin aims to be entertaining as well as instructive, and contains a fair portion of sufficiently popular matter to suit all those who are interested in birds. It is mainly devoted to the Ornithology of North America. Being a general
MAGAZINE OF ORNITHOLOGY,
its review department promptly gives critical notes, not only of all American works and papers, but of the more important publications relating to Ornithology at large ; with its department of General Notes, is rich in the experiences of the working ornithologists of this country.
Mr. J. A. Allen, Editor.
Assisted by Prof, S. F. Baird and Dr. Elliott Cones.
Terms. -- $2.00 a year, including postage; strictly in advance. Back volumes at the same price. Single numbers 50 cents. Remittances by mail at the risk of the sender, unless sent by postal order, or draft on Boston or New York.
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Lewis Henry Morgan.
DIED IN THIS CITY DECEMBER 17TH.
Those who come after us will appreciate more fully than we can, what a truly great man has been among us. Mr. Morgan was one of those original thinkers, so far ahead of his time, that but few can comprehend sufficiently to appreciate the significance and value of his work.
He had just completed his sixty-third year, having been born near the village of Aurora, in this State, Nov. 21, 1818. The best sketch of the man and his works yet published, is in the November number of Popular Science for 1880, by Prof. J. W. Powell. Mr. Morgan graduated at Union College, in 1840, and immediately commenced the study of law, and locating in Rochester, he devoted himself for a number of years successfully to his profession. In 1861 he was elected a member of the Assembly, and in 1868 of the State Senate.
From 1855 to 1872, he was actively interested in a railroad and iron mines upon the Michigan peninsula, in which enterprises he was so successful that he was able to retire from business and devote himself almost exclusively to scientific work.
Always a keen observer of what was going on around him, he became interested from his first visit to the wilds of Northern Michigan in the Beaver. He writes: "At the outset I had no expectation of following up the subject year after year, but was led on by the interest which it awakened, until the materials collected seemed to be worth arranging for publication." The result was the publication, in 1868, of "The American Beaver and his works;" so perfect a model as a monograph that it is often referred to by critics as the standard by which to judge other works of its kind. Perfect as it is, it is, however, only a digression from his great life-work, and it is as the great pioneer ethnologist that he will be known and honored by posterity.
Soon after he commenced the study of law he became interested in the habits and customs of the Iroquois Indians, and gave the subject much time and careful study, and published from time to time various articles in different periodicals, and finally, in 1851, "The League of the Iroquois," "in which the social organization and government of this wonderful confederacy were carefully and thoroughly explained. The volume also contains interesting accounts of the daily life, customs, and superstitions of these Indians, and was the first scientific account of an Indian tribe ever given to the world."
While engaged in his railroad and mining enterprises at Marquette he discovered with much surprise that the Ojibwa Indians had essentially the same system of kinship and tribal organization as the Iroquois. This suggested to him that the system which he had heretofore considered as peculiar to the Iroquois might extend to all American Indians, and finally to the whole world. This was, indeed, a stupendous generalization, but years of patient, industrious labor, extensive travel and correspondence, enabled him to gather together the facts to justify it; these were carefully systematized, and finally published, in 1870, by the Smithsonian Institution, which had all along greatly aided him in his work. This publication, called "Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family," is a quarto vol-
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ume of 600 pages, and contains the systems of kinship of more than four-fifths of the world, and, we are told, is the most expensive work yet published by the Smithsonian Institution.
Space will not permit us even to mention his various articles in North American Review, Johnson's Cyclopaedia, and elsewhere. In 1877, "Ancient Society," the greatest of all his works, was published. In this volume he has "gathered together all the materials he had collected on tribal society into one philosophical treatise." "His main thesis is the development of the science of social and governmental institutions through evolution," and he traces the origin of the family and nation back to the lowest communism, where men and women herded together like wild beasts.
Mr. Morgan was President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and presided at the Boston meeting, although then in feeble health. He continued to decline, and was unable to attend the last meeting, at Cincinnati.
His last work, "Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines," has just been published by the Bureau of Ethnology. We quote these prophetic words from the preface: "As it will undoubtedly be my last work, I part with it under some solicitude for the reasons named, but submit it cheerfully to the indulgence of my readers;" and one of his last conscious acts, as the completed volume was placed in his hands, was to turn the pages feebly and murmur, "My book."
And now he is gone, and the world mourns its greatest ethnologist. We cannot close this brief notice without bearing testimony to the qualities of his heart. He was always the kind, genial friend and true gentleman: always ready to recognize the work of others, and no young man, however diffident and feeble his attainments, but was placed at his ease in his presence, and was treated as an equal. His was one of those large, noble natures, that felt it not beneath his dignity to stoop to the level of those with whom he came in contact.
BUSTS OF EMINENT SCIENTISTS.
CUVIER, LINNAEUS, BUFFON, St. HILAIRE, HUXLEY.
We have on hand fine busts of these great scientists, intended for museums, public libraries and scientific societies. The busts are of life size, and carefully finished in either bronze or white. Price in white, $5; in bronze, $6.
Also now ready Cabinet size busts of CUVIER, LINNAEUS and BUFFON, being the first issue of a forthcoming series. These busts are accurate copies of the works of prominent European sculptors and are designed for the library, drawing room or study, being made with great care and finished in a most superior manner. They are prepared by C. H. Ward, with the assistance of a Parisian artist, late of the Beaux Arts, and an experienced French moulder. The average height of the busts is about 83 1/2 inches. They are finished in a variety of styles: WHITE, ANTIQUE BRONZE, CLAY TINT, and ARTISTIC BRONZE. Price, packed, for White, Clay Tint or Artistic Bronze, $2, or the set for $5.50; Antique Bronze, $2.50, or the set $7. Also a bust of JAMES A. GARFIELD, 12 inches in height, same styles and prices as the scientists.
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OUR PATRONS.
We give below a list of forty-six institutions to which we have furnished cabinets (including cases in several instances) at a cost of from $1,000 to $51,700. The average cost of each of the forty-six cabinets is $4,217.
University of Virginia.
University of Rochester.
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Vassar Female College.
Princeton College, Princeton, N. J.
Washington and Lee University.
Lafayette College.
Mt. Union College.
Allegheny College.
State Geological Cabinet, Albany, N. Y.
Smithsonian Institution.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Indiana State University.
Vanderbilt University.
Yale College.
University of Syracuse.
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park.
Cornell University.
Columbia College.
Buffalo Academy of Natural Sciences.
Ohio State Agricultural College.
Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.
Illinois State Industrial University.
Chicago Academy of Sciences.
Buchtel College.
Mt. Holyoke Seminary.
University of Western Pennsylvania.
Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio.
Detroit Scientific Association.
Wilberforce University.
Pittsburgh Female College.
Alfred University.
Dartmouth College.
University of Minnesota.
University of Nashville.
Washington and Jefferson College.
Milwaukee Female College.
Hobart College.
Williams College.
Union School, Titusville, Pa.
Centre College.
Olivet College.
Medical College, Chicago.
Iowa State Agricultural College.
University of California.
Wabash College.
List of Institutions where Cabinet Cases have been sent and erected, at a cost of from $1,000 to $14,000:
Smithsonian Institution.
University of Virginia.
Lafayette College.
Vassar College.
Alleghany College.
Indiana State University.
Princeton College, N. J.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn Trinity College.
Syracuse University.
Vanderbilt University.
Cornell University.
Pittsburgh Female College. .
Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887
Wesleyan University, Middletown Conn.