THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



neighboring case showing the inheritance of coat-color in 

 rats. Now return to the East Corridor, turn to the right, 

 and underneath the stairway on the left enter 



A small room where the visitor will find the large Mainka 

 Seismograph for recording earthquakes. This instrument 

 was the gift of Emerson McMillin to the New York Acad- 

 emy of Sciences, and was deposited in the Museum by the 

 Academy. Just beyond and north of Memorial Hall is the 



SOUTH CENTRAL WING 



INDIANS OF THE NORTH PACIFIC COAST 



"Aurora had but newly chased the night 

 And purpled o'er the sky with blushing light * 



Dryden. 



Here are displayed specimens illustrating the culture 

 of the Indians of the Northwest Coast of America and also 

 of the Eskimo. 



The most conspicuous object is the Haida canoe in the 

 center of the hall. In it are figures representing a party of 

 Chilkat Indians on their way to a potlatch. In the stern 

 stands the chief, or medicine man, who is in charge of the 

 ceremony. The canoe is a huge dugout made from a single 

 tree; it is sixty-four feet long and eight feet wide. Imme- 

 diately north of it will be found groups illustrating the home 

 life and pursuits of the Kwakiutl Indians. Placed against 

 the pillars and walls of the hall are many grotesquely 



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