2 Annals of the Carnegie Museum, 



canine. On the other side of the group is his mate, with three cubs. 

 She is holding under her paws a large iguana, while the cubs are taking 

 their first lessons in the art of carving. The details and accessories 

 of the group are all worked out with the most minute fidelity, but in a 

 most wonderfully artistic manner. Another group in process of 

 preparation by Mr. R. H. Santens consists of six specimens of the 

 Abyssinian Nyala, Tragelaphus huxtoni, collected by Mr. Childs 

 Frick on the occasion of his last journey in Africa. The species has 

 only comparatively recently been made known to science, and this 

 is the first group of these magnificent animals which has been set up 

 in any museum, and may well be the occasion of pride and admiration 

 to all Pittsburghers as well as lovers of the beautiful in nature every- 

 where. 



Another exhibit in the hall of mammals is the lower jaw of a sperm- 

 whale, which is reputed to be the largest jaw ever brought to New 

 Bedford, Massachusetts. It is i6 ft. 3^ inches in length, and shows 

 all the teeth in place. The specimen was long hidden in storage at 

 New Bedford, but carefully preserved. Owing to the settlement of 

 the estate of the gentleman who had owned it, its sale became neces- 

 sary, and we were fortunate enough to secure it at a very reasonable 

 figure. 



In the gallery of birds there have been placed upon exhibition the 

 birds of paradise belonging to the Museum, which were mounted several 

 years ago by Mr. J. A. Santens; and also an interesting collection of 

 penguins purchased two years ago from Umlauf, of Hamburg, and 

 mounted by him. 



In the gallery of useful arts, under the superintendence of Mr. 

 Douglas Stewart, a great many interesting changes have been made 

 and a great number of installations have taken place. One of the 

 new exhibits which is attracting a great deal of attention is the col- 

 lection of pistols by Mr. Otho J. Bierly, and a collection of rifles by 

 Mr. Harry Praeger. These collections, which illustrate the evolution 

 of modern firearms, are very interesting. Placed in close proximity 

 to the collection of ancient Japanese weapons, loaned to the IVIuseum 

 by Mr. Irwin Laughlin, with which they furnish a striking contrast, 

 these exhibits have been the center of large groups of admiring 

 visitors. 



