The American Museum Journal 



Volume XVIII 



MAY, 1918 



Number 5 



My Life as a Naturalist 



WITH A PRESENTATION OF VARIOUS FIRST-HAND DATA ON THE LIFE 

 HISTORIES AND HABITS OF THE BIG GAME ANIMALS OF AFRICA 



By THEODORE ROOSEVELT 



Illustrations of African big game from previously unpublished photographs by Kermit Roosevelt' 



1AM asked to give an account of my 

 interest in natural history, and my 

 experience as an amateur naturalist. 

 The former has always been very real; 

 and the latter, unfortunately, very 

 limited. 



I don't suppose that most men can 

 tell whv their minds are attracted to 



certain studies any more than why 

 their tastes are attracted by certain 

 fruits. Certainly, I can no more ex- 

 plain why I like "natural history" than 

 why I like California canned peaches; 

 nor why I do not care for that enor- 

 mous brand of natural history which 

 deals with invertebrates any more than 



' The J0URN.\L is particularly glad of the privilege to publish this zoological photographic record, 

 with its many portrait studies and views of the animals in their natural environments. The series is 

 remarkable, especially when we consider that taking photographs was one of the least items of Kermit 

 Roosevelt's work on the Smithsonian expedition. His main aim was to second his father in the work 

 of collecting the game animals of Africa for the permanent collections of the United States National 

 Museum. It is reported by his companions that on a long run or all-day tramp no member of the expe- 

 dition, black or white, could quite keep up with him. He collected 216 types of game, outside of the 

 small mammals; it was his indefatigable energy which secured species of highest scientific value, — and, 

 therefore, the i)hotograplis of them also, — such as the sable antelope, bongo, and greater kudu. He col- 

 lected the kudu on his twentieth birthday, having, while he was still nineteen, hunted and successfully 

 encountered all the dangerous African big game — buffalo, rhinoceros, elephant, leopard, and lion. 



The .Joi'RXAL wishes to express gratitude to Charles Scribner's Sons for the use of certain cuts, 

 particularly those on pages 326, 336 (topi), and front and back covers. — The Editor. 



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