INTRODUCTION 



Many sportsmen have gone far, risked much 

 and toiled long in the procuring of rare animals 

 and accessories for habitat groups. In the list 

 of unpaid men who have done so, we find the 

 names of Theodore Roosevelt, Col. Cecil Clay, 

 John M. Phillips, Childs Frick, Richard Tjader, 

 C. V. R. Radcliffe, W. S. Rainsford and the 

 author of this volume. 



Work of this kind appeals particularly to 

 sportsmen with an inborn love for creative work, 

 and delight in the construction of fine, monu- 

 mental things out of the raw materials. Mr. 

 McGuire first "tasted blood" in the making of 

 museum groups when he hunted and killed the 

 largest specimens for the splendid group of silver- 

 tip grizzly bears that now is a source of pride to 

 his home museum in Denver. Beyond a doubt, 

 it was the joyous contemplation of that master- 

 piece, so ably and satisfactorily wrought out 

 by and under the direction of Director Jesse D. 

 Figgins, that inspired the trip over the long trail 

 to Alaska and Yukon Territory, and here do I 

 ask this question: 



What finer sentiment could inspire any trip in 

 quest of big game than the intent to bring into 

 existence two or three great habitat groups to 

 entertain and to educate Americans, old and 

 young, long after Time has overtaken the gallant 

 hunter, and his rifle has been hung up forever? 



I have seen "the White River country" of 

 North-eastern Alaska and Yukon Territory re- 



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