8 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1961 



virtual extinction, make it important to show here each of these groups. 

 Species such as bighorn sheep and wolves, for example, now occupy 

 in the wild state only a fraction of the area that was once theirs when 

 the continent was first known to European settlers. This presenta- 

 tion is important in zoological training. It gives a record of ani- 

 mals that played a large part in providing through their fui*s much 

 of the wealth of colonial America as well as food and clothing for the 

 pioneers of the new land. 



12. BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



Ornithology is one of man's oldest scientific interests. This is at- 

 tested by the frequent reference to birds in the Bible and in the writ- 

 ings of ancient classical authors. The Smithsonian possesses one of 

 the world's great collections of birds. The new Bird Hall of the 

 Institution has been organized to show the principal birds of the world 

 in natural, effective, and pleasing settings. But the hall goes far 

 beyond a mere presentation of specimens. It depicts the biology of 

 bird life in relation to feeding habits, aerial locomotion, nest build- 

 ing, and the rearing of young. On the ceiling are lifelike paintings 

 of birds in flight so skillfully done that they seem to be seen in full 

 round of three-dimensional form as if arrested in flight. A unique 

 case called "Birds and Man" portrays the role of birds in mythology 

 and art. In addition to the displays in this hall, the Smithsonian 

 has, of course, in its study collections, bird specimens from almost 

 every geographical region of the globe. 



13. LIFE IN EARLY AMERICA 



The Hall of Life in Early America is an easy transition from the 

 characteristics of the Indian population of the country and the mam- 

 mals and birds of America to the life of early European settlers before 

 the mechanization of the industrial revolution changed the American 

 way of life. It shows the early life of the European settlers in 

 America by demonstrating the tools and furniture that they used. 

 For many years generous donors have brought together at the Smith- 

 sonian large collections of objects used by Americans in what may 

 be called the era of the handcrafts. In the present hall are displayed 

 selected items from these collections, including implements and fur- 

 niture that the colonists brought with them from England, Ireland, 

 Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, and many other countries. Next is 

 shown the adaptation that was made on these shores of these imported 

 objects as a new and truly American culture gradually emerged. 

 One may see an entire house built in New England about 1690. In 

 this building, which was taken down board by board and brick by 

 brick and transported to Washington and reassembled, are objects 

 that were actually used during the early period when the house was 



