2 14 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



The insect life of the Black Mountains is the most Alpine of 

 the southern AUeghanian fatina and, therefore, most typical of 

 that fauna which skirted the great ice pack of the glacial epochs. 

 The species of this fauna occupied a large part of the area of 

 eastern North America during glacial times, during which most 

 of them became extinct. Therefore, the species of the Appa- 

 lachian system are a remnant of an at one time very extensive 

 fauna. Their present relationships are, to a certain extent, with 

 the modified forms of lower altitudes in their neighborhood, but, 

 to a far greater extent, with the boreal forms found in more 

 northern latitudes. This boreal fauna is the one from which 

 fully one-half of the present species in this country have been 

 derived. Consequently a proper understanding of the species 

 from these regions gives one a better idea of the origin of all the 

 types having northern affinities. 



The Black Mountains being the loftiest of the great Appa- 

 lachian System (Mt. Mitchell, with an elevation of 6,710 feet, 

 being the highest peak,) were therefore selected as a region in 

 which the remains of this pre-glacial life could be studied to the 



best advantage. 



William Beutenmljller. 



THE TJADER EAST AFRICA EXPEDITION. 



[.^"^^ ^^ 1 ECENT reports from the Tjader Expedition, which 

 |pKx*>r^\vl[^ igf-t New York early in the year for an extended 

 iii \'\^^' ?' collecting trip in British East Africa, indicate 

 Ifel-L-^^LeJi that the party has been remarkably successful in 

 ' securing fine specimens of large mammals.' This 



expedition was made possible through the generosity of Mr. 

 Samuel Thome and is conducted by Mr. Richard Tjader, who 

 is accompanied by Mr. Herbert Lang, one of the Museum's 

 preparators. 



The party entered Africa by way of Mombasa and made its 

 first camp in May on the banks of the Athi River. In this 

 region Mr. Tjader and his assistants secured specimens of zebras, 

 hartbeests, Thompson's gazelle, antelopes and birds. From the 

 Athi River the party marched northward, making its head- 

 quarters for three weeks at Kijabe (Jabe Hillj. In the hunting 



