THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 65 



they are very easily tamed, and taught to perform tricks is. evidence of superior intelligence. Cuvier tells 

 offtieal who would raise himself erect, and take a staff in his flippers, like a sentinel. At the word of command, 

 he would lie down on his right side or his left, according to order, or tumble head over heels. He gave a paw 

 when requested, like a dog, and protruded his lips for a ki>s. 

 The Roman Emperor Augustus always earned the skin of a sea-leopard as a protection against lightning. 



Nos. 72, 73, 76, Albatrosses, the largest sea-birds known. 



They will swallow a salmon of 4 or 5 pounds -weight. They never attack other sea-birds. 



" If the Eagle is called the king of birds, the Albatross ought to be called the queen, so queen-like and stately 

 is her course on the wing, and so dignified, mild, and unfearing is her expression when captured. When on the 

 wing it is the very beau-ideal of beauty and grace. This glorious bird is the most beautiful and lovable object 

 of the animate world which the adventurer meets with in all the South Pacific." Rev. H. T. Cheever. 



No. 74, Saw-fish. ..No. 78, Skull of a Sea Leopard. ..No. 80, American Beaver, a splendid 

 specimen of this interesting animal, whose habits and history are familiar to all.. ..No. 81 is 

 a part of a tree cut by the Beaver. ..No. 82, Porpoise or Sea Hog. 



Porpoises swim in shoals and drive the mackerel, herrings, and salmon before them, pursuing them up the 

 bays, with the same eagerness as a pack of dogs after a hare. In some places they almost darken the sea as they 

 rise above water to take breath. In fine weather they leap, roll, and tumble about in the most sportive manner. 

 The oil procured from the fat surrounding the body of the Porpoise is of the purest kind, and the skin, when 

 tanned and dressed, is used for wearing apparel, and for coverings for carriages. As an article of food, the flesh 

 is highly esteemed. It is the great dainty of the Greenlanders, and he quaffs its oil as the most delicious of 

 draughts. 



The large fish near the east side of the case is a STURGEON, and the one near it, with the 

 fin on. its lack, is a SHARK, both caught in the Potomac river. 



CENTRE OF THE HALL, EAST END. 



Case of specimens of Silver, Lead, and Copper Ores, from the mines of the Sonora Ex- 

 ploring and Mining Company, Tubac, Gadsden's Purchase, New Mexico... Specimens from 

 the mines of New Granada. ..Gold, Silver, Galena, &c., from various parts of the world. 



Raised Model, representing the Geology of Switzerland. 



The large case contains a magnificent and unique collection of Birds' Nests and Eggs... 

 Notice especially in the upper part, the Oriole Nests. ..Marsh Wren Nests. ..The green eggs 

 of the Catbird. ..Eggs of Chuck- Will's- Widow.. ..Humming Birds' Nests, very rare and 

 valuable. These nests readily bring a high price at any time... .Night Hawk's Eggs. ...In 

 the lower part, the Pelican Nest and Eggs. ..Loon Eggs.. .Alligator and Ostrich Eggs. ..The 

 largest egg is that of the Giant Fossil Bird, of Madagascar. 



Though probably extinct, the species may be in existence in the unknown interior of the Island, as is be- 

 lieved by the natives. This egg is 12}^ inches long by % inches wide, the shell one-tenth of an inch thick. 



Notice in this part of the hall the Meteorite described on page 23 of this volume. 

 Next visit the WEST END OF THE HALL, and commence on the south side at 



CASE 28. 



No. 1, Wolverine or Glutton, from Salt Lake, very fierce and cunning. ..No. 2, Jaguar, or 

 American Tiger. 



The following narrative shows the character of this animal : " In 1825, near Santa Fe, N. M., a lay brother, 

 after having made confession and concluded his prayers, entered the sacristy. There he was terror-stricken on 

 opening the door and seeing himself face to face with a Jagnar. In a moment the poor man was in the clutches of 

 the beast, which dragged its victim into a back corner to finish the bloody work. The guardian of the convent 

 hearing the noise hurried to the room, and had scarcely become aware of what had happened when the animal 

 leaped upon his second victim and despatched him. After a while several other men attempted to open the bloody 

 sacristy, but not without meeting a similar fate, for the first one opening the door was immediately slain. After he 

 had killed four victims, the roaring of the Jaguar attracted the people of the convent, and by boring a hole in the 

 door they finally succeeded in shooting the dreadful monster. The convent where this occurred is on the banks of 

 the Rio Bravo, which, after freshets, overflows the islands in front of the town, and all the animals living in the 

 thickets are driven up. This animal entered the garden of the convent, and thence, by a small door accidentally 

 left open, the sacristy." 



No. 3, Three American Wild Cats, from the Sonorian Mountains near Fort Yuma...4, 

 Young Black Bear, from Warsaw, Illinois. ..5, Red Wild Cat, from Washington Territory... 

 6, Canada Lynx, from Medicine Bow Creek, near Fort Laramie...7, Grizzly Bear, from 

 Medicine Bow Creek, near Fort Laramie...8, Skin of Bush Goat, of Africa. ..9, Skin of Red 

 Buck Deer, of Africa. ..10, Black Orang-Outang, of Africa, female. ..11, Skull, hand, and 

 foot of the Chimpanzee, of Africa. ..12, Rope made from grass on the Gold Coast of Africa... 

 13, Sankywin Monkey, from Demarara, Guiana. ..14, Hooraway Monkey, from Demarara, 

 Guiana...l5, Ground Monkey. ..16, Ring-tail Monkey. ..17, Ground Monkey. 



CASE 29. 



Fishes from the China seas. 



