GUIDE TO THE MUSEUM. 



Museums are collections of miscellaneous objects and relics capable of illustrating the 

 distant or the past. The word is of Greek origin, and literally signifies a place sacred to 

 the Muses the patron deities among the ancients of the various arts and sciences. 



The British Museum, the largest in the world, was opened to the public on the 15th of 

 January, 1759, and is therefore a century old. It has been the recipient, however, of im- 

 mense donations from the Government, and numerous bequests from individuals. 



The collection now in the Smithsonian Institution is of very recent origin, and is remark- 

 able for its extent and value, considering that no special appropriation has ever been made 

 by the Government for its increase. All that has been done has been to pay the necessary 

 expenses of keeping it in order, and for the preservation of the specimens. The objects 

 have been chiefly collected under the direction of the officers of the various Exploring and 

 Surveying Expeditions, and have formed only an incidental part of their duties. A large 

 number, however, have been presented by the correspondents of the Institution. 



The collections made by the U. S. Exploring Expedition under Capt. Wilkes, U. S. N., 

 1838-42, are supposed greatly to exceed those of any other of similar character ever fitted 

 out by a foreign government, no published series of results comparing at all in magnitude 

 with that issued under the direction of the Joint Library Committee of Congress. 



A full list of all the Expeditions from which specimens have been received will be found 

 in the Smithsonian Report for 1858, (page 52,) copies of which are furnished gratuitously 

 by the Secretary to those specially interested in the subject. 



In the arrangement of the specimens, strict scientific accuracy has been sacrificed to 

 convenience, and this remark will apply to this work, which is intended only for the popu- 

 lar reader. Catalogues which will give descriptions and scientific names of all the articles 

 of natural history, will be published in due time by the Institution. The student will find 

 in the volumes of the Report of the Pacific Railroad and Mexican Boundary Surveys, espe- 

 cially, accurate accounts of most of the specimens here exhibited. 



The notes in relation to the specimens are from the highest authorities the reports of 

 the various Expeditions having been consulted, as well as the guides to the British Museum, 

 &c., &c. 



On entering the hall, turn to the left, and examine 



CASE 1. 



This contains a number of interesting animals. No. 41 is the Prairie Wolf or Coyote, 

 from the Colorado. 



These animals are able to mate an incredible amount of noise, -which has no resemblance to the bark of a dog. 

 They sneak about during the day, but at night there are no bounds to their impudence. They will steal pro- 

 visions literally from under your nose. They do not attack men unless wounded. 



Nos. 42, 43, 44, Foxes. ..45, Wolf.. .46, Common Fox. ..47, Jackall...48, Chili Fox. ..49 and 50, 

 California Porcupine. ..51, Arkansas Fox. ..52, Egyptian Porcupine. ..53, Fox. ..54, Cross 

 Fox. ..55, Cross Fox from Salt Lake. ..56, Prairie Wolf, Platte River. ..57, Fox of Tierra del 

 Fuego, very bold and fierce. ..58, Fox. ..59, Gray Wolf.. .60, Gray Wolf, Platte River, the 

 common Wolf of North America. .61 and 66, Peccaries or Mexican Hogs. This animal is rarely 

 found alone. It emits an odor like that of the skunk. ..62, 63, 64, and 65, Ant Bears, or 

 Ant-eaters, from the Cape of Good Hope, etc. 



The Ant-eaters are remarkable for their long cylindrical tongues, covered with a glutinous saliva, by means 

 of which they entrap and devour the insects upon which they live. The tongue is nearly twice the length of 



