Jan. 1935 Annual Report of the Director 217 



the proboscis monkey, the sloth bear, and the Bengal tiger. The 

 two African groups are those of the aardvark and the bongo, 

 installed in Carl E. Akeley Memorial Hall (Hall 22). 



The sambar deer group includes a large stag, a female, and a 

 half-grown young deer in an open space in heavy forest where they 

 are engaged in licking the exudate of the soil at a so-called "salt- 

 lick," a practice common with nearly all deer. The specimens 

 were obtained by the James Simpson-Roosevelts Asiatic Expedition 

 and the late Colonel J. C. Faunthorpe. The group was prepared by 

 Staff Taxidermists Julius Friesser and Arthur G. Rueckert. The 

 background was painted by Staff Artist Charles A. Corwin from 

 original studies made in India by artists employed for the purpose 

 through the cooperation of the Bombay Natural History Society. 



The swamp deer group adjoins the sambar, making comparison 

 easy, and emphasizing the contrast in the appearance and habits of 

 the two largest species of Indian deer. Its setting is an open swamp 

 where tall grass in autumn color harmonizes with the brown coats of 

 the animals. A bugling stag stands at one side and three demure 

 females are shown near-by at the edge of a stretch of water. This 

 group also was produced by Messrs. Friesser and Rueckert and the 

 background is by Mr. Corwin. Three of the specimens were taken 

 by the Simpson-Roosevelts Asiatic Expedition and the fourth by 

 Colonel Faunthorpe. 



A group of proboscis monkeys, originally prepared by the late 

 Carl E. Akeley and installed in a plain floor case, was successfully 

 rearranged and placed in a large alcove space adjoining the west 

 entrance to William V. Kelley Hall. This was done by Staff Taxi- 

 dermist Leon L. Pray, who regrouped the animals, painted a suitable 

 background, and, with Assistant Taxidermist Frank Letl, reproduced 

 a treetop scene with artificial branches, leaves, and vines. 



The sloth bear group occupies one of the four enclosures which 

 face the center of Kelley Hall. It is the second of four groups of 

 carnivorous mammals planned for these spaces, the first, installed 

 several years ago, being the giant panda group. A family of the 

 curious, long-snouted sloth bears is shown busily engaged in search- 

 ing for insects among loose stones, roots, and debris of a dry stream- 

 bed or "donga." Included are two adult animals, and a young 

 cub which rides on its mother's back in the fashion habitual 

 with this species. The specimens for the group were received from 

 Colonel Faunthorpe, the grown animals having fallen to his own 

 rifle, and the cub being contributed by an East Indian friend, Mr. 



