3*)6 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Mat 19, 1881. 



Not Wolves.— A Lock port, New York, correspondent, 

 writing under date of the 7th inst., sends us a newspaper 

 slip; taken from the Lockport Journal, inferring. tp the cap- 

 ture of five alleged prairie wolves near that place. The cut- 

 ting is as follows :- 



" Several limes during I he past few weeks a pair of prairie 

 wolves have been seen prowling about, the farm of George 

 Dysinger and the adjacent woods at Hickory Corners, atiout 

 six miles southwest of this city. Oli Thursday lust Mr. J. 

 L. jNoaker fired five revolver shots at one of them, but owing 

 to the distance he failed to do execution. Yesterday after- 

 noon Mr. Koafcer and Mr. Davis saw one of the animals 

 sitting on a log in a field, but on approaching the spot the 

 wolf made off. The men examined the log, and were Sur- 

 prised to find in it a nest of five young wolves, which they 

 lost no time in securing. This morning 1hcy brought the 

 pesky little fluin, His, which are riboul a" month old, to this 

 city, ami exhibited Ihem upon our streets. They have set a 

 trap for the old ones, and expect to capture them one of 

 these nights." 



Our correspondent says : "I send you the inclosed thinking 

 you can give some explanation regarding the animals ei'lled 

 wolves. I say called wolves, for I do not think they are. I 

 first thought they were young foxes, but, on taking a second 

 look, concluded they were not. Instead of having a sharp 

 nose, like a fox, k was like ,•! puppy. In all other respects 

 they looked like foxes. They were the color of a voting fox, 

 and had long, bushy tails with white on the end. I think 

 they were too small to be wolves at. the age tbeyraust.be. 

 The body was about nine iDches long. Some parties said I bey 

 were a cross of fox and dog. Do you thiok such could he 

 case? They were all mules. I will t.iy to see them aanin, 

 and perhaps may send you one for a pet. J. L. O." 



Of course, without making an examination of the. animals, 

 we could not tell what the animals are. Wc feel safe enough, 

 however, in saying that they are not wolves, and there is noth- 

 ing in the descn'ption given by J. L. D. to show that they are. 

 notfox puppies. We imagine that if the old onesare captured 

 they will prove to be nothing more than common red foxes. 



It is believed that a cross of the fox and dog has been pro- 

 duced, but we do not think that experiments in this direction 

 have gone further than the first generation. 



. H»- • 



THE BEITISH MUSEUM OP NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE^ following description of the new building at South 

 Kensington, London, to which the natural Msp ■ 

 lections of the British Museum have been removed, is taken 

 from Natui-r : 



The great terra-cotta building facing Cromwell Road, South 

 Kensington, nud occupying the site of the old 1862 Exhibition, 

 about which for the past twelve months public curiosity has been 

 raised, is about to draw up its blinds, and to offer apart of its ex- 

 tensive galleries for inspection on Easter Monday. 



tiding may bo termed 

 •la unique, espedaflj 



iral character of the u 



ith from oftbe buildiug is 

 east ana wost, and i.- three 

 nt, which is above the level 



floor," is above the road, 

 broad flight of steps and by 



stou-mre is of ;„:.' 



historj 



nmh. are also introduced. 

 towei atewh una, and then 

 either side of the entrance 

 about 650 feet in length, n 

 stories high, in addition to 



of the garden in which tho t 



The '" 'mitral Hall or "Index Museum" inns from south to north; 

 it id 150 feet long, 1)7 feet wide and about sixty feet high ; along 

 its two sides arc twelve arched recesses. At the north end is a 

 wide and handsome staircase which brandies ofT right and left to 

 the open corridors or sido aisles ou either hand upon the first floor 

 ThiB Central Hall is more richly decorated tbau anv part of tho 

 building. The tloor of mosiac work, where Italian marble ih 

 employed, has bean skillfully laid by II dian workman, l he side 



frade snnnoumjBd by Ian 



one, 

 lars 



birds. 



.i-'b-.i 



roduccd. The decoration of the ceiling ia very 

 le row of panels runs along the central line, mid 

 ou either hide of this, between the iron girders and following fcbe 

 curve of the roof, are panels in groups of six ; these are ornaments 

 od with representations of different speoios of trees, shrubs and 

 uowering-phiuta treated somewhat conventionally. That portion 

 of the ceding over the main bodv of the ball is decorated with 

 trees, each of which occupies six panels, as tbey can be most easi- 

 ly soen from the floor and need bold treatment. ' At the south end, 

 where the ceiling is over a staircase and lauding leading from the 

 flrBt to the second floor, each panel contains but ouo species, tho 

 ovc being near to tbe ceiling greater detail has been introduced. 

 The effect of the whole is very, fine, and as the hall is at present 

 without any cases or specimens, it has the general appearance of u 

 cathedral. " This idea is further heightoucd by tho introduction of 

 a triiMinim. though this has been added merely for effect, the paa- 



Beyi 



s bein, 



x Museum is a smaller aud less lofty hall quite 

 ii, -., v.- by two arched entrances. '.17 feet bv 70 feet, 

 iuteuded to hold the British Zoological Collection. It ia anrround- 

 ■ d recesses Bimilar to those in the Index Jin- um. in 

 this hall the decoration of Iheoeilingisalso botanical, hut ail the 

 species selected are of British plsnK t nlci neath the staircases 

 and in the recesses a plain light color is introduced, relieved with 

 gilding. The decorations oftbe saloons or galleries are much 

 simpler. The columns throughout are of terra-cotta, ornamented 

 with natural history objects. 



Tho other parts of the building consist of series of galleries run- 

 ning north from the front or main building, but only one story 

 above the basement. The rooms on each floor, at the and of tho 

 long frout galleries and under tho two cud towers, are called pa- 

 vilions. Tho main or front galleries facing Cromwell Road aro 

 lighted by windows north and south. Tho Central Hall or Index 

 Museum, the Hall for British Zoology, and all the other gallerieB 

 of one story high running uorth aro lighted by skylights. Tho In- 

 dex Museum, has, however, in addition to its roof-lights, windows 

 in the corridors on either sido. 



The distribution of the space available is as follows : The long 

 galleries to east of the entrance on the ground-floor, and all tho 

 galleries from it, running north, are devoted to Geology and Palm- 

 ontology. The tir-d tloor above the Geological Caller/ is devoted 



tho galleries "nil the west side of the building ore given to Zoology. 

 TheTndox Museum, according to Prof. Owen, is designed to pre- 

 sent to the public, in a series of twelve recesses, typical examples 



vegetable and mineral kingdoms. Prof. Owen further desires to 

 show the marvels of nature and objects of apecial interest, as ex- 

 emplifying size, ete . Buch as whales, basking sharks, etc. These 



from tho Index Museum (on the ground floor) we enter the South- 

 East Gallery of tho Ueologioal Department (233 feet in length by 

 60 feet in width, and lighted by windows on either side), at tho 



East end of which is the Pavilion, a room 60 feet by 40 feet. TheBe 

 two galleries are entirely devoted to the exhibition of the fossil 

 Mammalia and Birds, and are provided with pier-cases and table- 

 re arranged down the centre of thB 



v all occupied '.villi the . - 

 uoinmenciDg with the Heinntlierium from 

 .usk-like incisors in the lower jaw, we pass 

 Inch, as a rule, the tuskH ore doveloped in 

 q the tower. But to this there aro excep- 

 istodon having immature tusks in tho lower 

 tugustidens, from Simsau in Prance, having 

 and the lower jaw. 



door, in the centre of the gallery, is placed 

 - Ohio, 



cases. The larger objects 

 floor. 



The cases on the left ha: 

 mains of Prbboscidea. Corj 

 Eppleshoim, with its tusk 

 to the Mastodons, in which 

 the upper jaw and not in tl 

 tions ; one American Mastot 

 jaw. and tho Mastodonaum. 

 tusks in both thi 



Nearest tho en 



the entire skeleton of the great American Masto!< 



which must have been considerably larger in bulk than that of auy 

 existing elephant ; on the same stand is placed the head of ayoung 

 Mastodon from New Jersey, and in front of it tha skull and lower 

 jaw of the South American Mastodon from Chili. It is interesting to 

 notice, that both the mastodon and elephant had overspread the 

 North and South American continents in Tertiary times, and they 

 were equally widely distributed over the European and Asiatic con- 

 tinents ; I heir modern representatives, however, aro confined, the 

 oue to the continent of Africa, the other to India, Ce\ Ion, etc. 

 'J.'ijp. tre..k-; or -,- .-of the old fossil elephants were of enormous pro- 

 portions ; witness the head of Elephas ganesa from the Siwalik 

 Hills, India, and that of the mammoth (Etephas yrvmigeniw) from 

 the volley of the Thames nearliford. 'Lurge numbers of elephant 

 remains have been dredged up year bv year for the past sixty years 

 off the Dogger Bank and the Norfolk coast, affording good evi- 

 dence that iu comparatively modem times the North Sea was a 

 great Valley watered by the Rhino, Moselle, etc., giving pasturag© 

 ,«t herds of deer, bison, oxen and elephant's : where also the 



goodly series 



Continental 



dant evident 



of which ha 1 

 and ice. Hi 

 my elephau 

 N-,and Pro 

 phant remai 

 Col. Sir Pr 

 P. R S. Tl 

 a prominent and 

 its branching an 

 purary, the " sa 

 mains of both an 

 ern, Torquay. 

 Passing by the. 

 fa, 



Jlle. 



r th 



found a pleaaaut home. 

 ese animals from Britwh and 

 u this lacalitv, and also abun- 

 ammoth and rhinoceros, both 



iolhli 



'mid 



if tho "pig- 

 i-om Malta, brought home by Admiral Hpralt. R. 

 eith Adam*. By far ffie [soger collection of ele- 

 e those from the Siwalik Hill-, India, obtained by 

 T. Caulley and described by Dr. Hugh Palcouer, 

 gigantic Dish deer'' (Meyact-rus llibernicus) forms 

 striking object, in the centre of the. gallery, with 

 itlers 10 feet across, a noble prey for its contem- 

 ibre-toothed tiger" (Mackairodus tatfdens), re- 

 limids having beeu found together iu Kent's Oav- 



iases of carnivora, of thick-skinned animals, and 

 attention is next arrested by the great bandless 

 armidillo from South America ( (J lyptodon), whose carapace ib big- 

 ger than a hogshead, and which measured nearly 12 feet from its 

 head to the tip of its armor-plated tail. 



Another of these extinct Edendates from the La Plata, the Jlfe- 

 gatlurium Amnriranwm, stands in the centre of the floor of the 

 Pavilion. Thi 

 its bones boh 

 plays iu even 

 combined, su 

 leaves and su 

 ern cosener B 

 ehmbiug fror 



•und-sloth" i 



•ed 18 feet in length, 

 ban those of an elephant. It dis- 

 ivork enormous strength and weight 

 own or uproot the trees, upon the 

 if which it fed, like its pigmy mod- 

 is, which leads an aboreal existence. 

 in the Brazilian forests, 

 ia of the great island continent of 

 '■'■■■'■ ■- In re well represented By the huge DipnStaibm, the 

 VotoOu .. m, and the anomalous Thylacolto. Of the Wombat fam- 

 I; "'.!; :' : .inll in ng representative is known, of burrowing hab- 

 its, found in Tasmania; formerly they wfro abundant ou the 

 continent of Australia, varying in size from a marmot to thai ol I 

 tapir. The largest of these are called PhascoSomys mar/nus and 

 P. gigas. 



The collection of remains of the great extinct wingless birds of 

 New Zealand f onus a very interesting feature of this gallery. The 

 tallest skeleton meaauroB 12 feet in height, and the smallest not. 

 more than 3 feet. 



Madagascar had also its extinct wingless birds, similar to thoBe 

 of New Zealand. Eggs of both the Dinornis and the . Ejpyornis 

 may here be seen, one of the latter having a capacity of two 

 gallons. 



Tho rarest of all avia 

 from the lithographic i 

 for the iucredulous a 



taiaed, and is pri rvec 



Unities arc well she 



id iU three-clawed dig 

 lead of the. Berlin speciiDi 



fossds is still the Archtxoph 

 me marries of Soleuhofen. Fortunately 

 lecoud specimen has recently been ob- 

 in the Berlin Museum. Its lacertilian af- 

 1 rat-like tail of twenty verte- 



tho gran 



wing ?). The 

 ■> ooseure to give evidence of 

 • ecu in the photograph The 

 Owen is headless. 

 east gallery is the Reptilian 

 wide, the south wall of which 

 leriea of sea-lizardH, the Ich- 

 abiindaut in the old Liassw 

 seas of Europe, and the fossil remains of which have even been 

 brought homo from the Arctio regiouB and from New Zealand. 

 The largest of the long-necked Plesiosaura measures 22 feet in 

 length and H feet across its oxtended paddles. The largest lch- 

 thyosaur was probably even bigger than thiB. On the north side 

 are displayed the remains of the great land lizards, Dinosauria, of 

 which the Iquamxlon is perhaps the most familiar example. A 

 more recent discovery is that of the Ontoraurus from the Kimme- 

 ridgc Clav of Swindon, Wilts, tho femur of which is more than i 

 feet in length, and tho humerus nearly 3 reet long, and enormous- 

 ly broad; they wore probably to some oxteut amphibious in their 

 habits, but their lunbs were well fitted for progression on the 

 land. 



Numerous other hue Dinosauriau remaius are to be seen in these 

 cases. As wo do not know the teeth of many of those huge rep- 

 tiles, we are unable to speak positively as to their habits ; but it is 

 certain that from tho Trias to the Chalk two groups have existed 

 sido by sido, one having a carnivorous deutition and the other be- 

 iug herbivorous. The Teratotimrwi of the Trias of Stuttgart and 

 the Lyeoxaurus and Cynodraco from tho Cape, the Megalosauriis 

 of the StonesQeld Slate and Wealdou were all carnivores, while the 

 IguatuxUin, Acantlwpliclts, BceMosaunts, and tha South African 

 genera Anihodon and A'ytlujsaurus were all vegetablo-feoders. 

 But of Polavantluis, Qmoxaurw, Ifylieosaunitt and Cetoaaitrius we 

 have no direct dental evideuce. No doubt, as among the mam- 

 nialia at the present day, tho majority were vegetable-feeders, and 

 the minority were predacious in habit 



Iu this gallery are also exhibited the flyiDg lizards of the Sec- 

 ondary Rocks, most of which have been found in the lithographic 

 stoue of Solouhofon and a few in our own Lias, Stoueshold Slate 

 Chalk and Grcensand. 



If Comparative Anatomy may be trusted, 30me of the Pterodac- 

 tyles from the Chalk of Kent give ovidenec of a flying lizard hav- 

 ing probably au expanse of wings of from eighteen to twenty feet. 



An Australian novelty is the great horned lizard (Meg'alania 

 prised), 14 feet or more in length, with nine horn-like prominen- 

 ces on its skull aud an armor-plated tail similar to that of the 

 Olyptodon. 



The Triassic reptiles from South Africa form a singular addition 

 to our knowiedgo of anciont life forms long since passed away. 

 Tbcy arc comprised iu Prof. Owen's groups of Anomodcmtia arid 

 Thtroidonlin. 



Among the fossil Cbelonians we have representatives of both the 

 marine turtles, the fresh-water Trioni/x andi?mj/s, and the gigan- 

 tic and lesser land- tortoises. Of tho first of these are the remains 

 of the great Clietonc lloffmanni from Maestrieht, and the Ohelom 

 gigas from the London Clay of Sheppey, larger by far than the 

 "logger-head" turtle of the present day. Of the last (land-tor- 

 ( he mentioned the Colossochelys atlas from the Siwalik 

 Hills, which out-nvals the Glyptooon'm bulk. 



Throe wide and four narrow galleries built at right angles to 

 I the Reptile Gallery, each 137 feet in length, tho former being 40 

 | feet and tho latter 20 feet in width, are placed alternately, running 



due north aud south, and bghted from above. These fine rooms 

 offord ample accommodation for the fossil fishes, all the classes of 

 the Invertebrate (mollusca, brachiopoda, bryozoa, insecta, myno- 

 poda, arachnida, Crustacea, annelida. ecbinoderinata, corals, fora- 

 minifera, spougee and plants). These long galleries or annexes, 

 and the oues corresponding with them on the western side, are 

 built upon the plan recommended bv tho Boyal Commission of 

 1874. But the wall cases are all constructed to open in front, not 

 at the back of the case, as suggested. They aro, however, the 

 best lighted galleries in the whole building, and best suited for 

 museum purposes. Two of these large galleries are not yet ready 

 for occupation, and the third is under arrangement ; the narrow 

 galleries give space for a bbrary, special refercuce collections, a 

 Btratigraphical series, and working-rooms for students. 



In the basement are twelve workshops, studies aud store-rooms 

 devoted to Geology, ten studies, work-rooms and laboratories to 

 Mineralogy) and three to Botany. 



The Mineralogical Gallery, on the first floor, which corresponds 

 with the Southeast Gallery and Pavilion in extent, is also lighted 

 by windows on either hand j it has seven wall cases, two at each 

 end of the long gallery and three in the Pavilion, the colleotiou 

 being mainly contained in forty-eight large table-cases. 



These table-cases form a long row on either baud, commencing 

 at the entrance of the gallery, the odd numbers being ou the left 

 hand and the even on the right Each of the first forty cases 

 nearly equals in capacity two of the eases in the old mineral gal- 

 lery ; we have therefore a much more magnificent display than 

 could have been attempted formerly, w-hen the minerals and fossila 

 were all crowded together in the same gallery. 



The collections of naturally and artificially prepared crystals oc- 

 cupy two large cases in tho Pavilion, whilst two of similar con- 

 struction are filled with meteorites. Tho groat Cranboume Me- 

 teorite and that from Mexico occupy special pases on the east side. 

 In the wall cases are arranged the extensive collection of rocks, 

 two cases being devoted to polished marbles. 



The general plan pursued in the arrangement remaius the same 

 as in the old Museum gallery", so that by using boxes correspond- 

 ing to one-quarter of a table-care, the minerals were transported 

 from the old to the new building and rearranged iu an incredibly 

 Bhort Bpace of time, and, with the exception of the Pavilion and 

 the wall cases, have long been ready for exhibition. 



In the Botanical Gallery the glazed cases for the exhibition of 

 specimens project from the wall into the room like square shop 

 fronts, having three plate-glass sides. The whole of the glass is 

 permanently fixed, except one division forming the door. A 

 " cell " inside, inclosed by curtains, gives access to tho specimens. 

 By this contrivance it is hoped that the dust will be excluded to a 

 groat extent. 



Accommodation for large specimens, as, for example, portions 

 of stems and sections of various kinds of wood, such as oak, wal- 

 nut, pine, cedar and other dicotyledons, and trunks of palms, 

 cycads, free fernB, bamboos, aud other striking examples of the 



vegetable kingdum, is provided for by flu '.'.,11 metlil Kiid cl„ Sr i 



cases 14 feet high, occupying the floor space in the centre of the 

 gallery. 



One-half of the main gallery is partitioned off from the pubbc 

 room, aud fitted up with cabinets for the reception of the Utrba- 

 -riirni. the nucleus of which was obtained by Sir Joseph Banks and 

 Solander in their voyage round the world with Captain Cook. This 

 first series of cabinets is entirely occupied with the flowering 

 plants, which are all fastened on single sheets of paper. The Pa- 

 vilion contains similar cabinets for the reception of the British 

 plants and Filicina:-, while the room above iu the tower is intended 

 for the Cryptogamia . Down the centre of the large room are 

 cabinets fitted to recoho the groat collection of fruits and seeds, 

 each being place! near its appropriate family in the Herbarium on 

 cither sido. These inner roums, with the valuable library attached 

 to them, are of course only available for purposes of study, but 

 are always accessible to the botanical student and worker. 



On the southwest Bido of tho Index Sluseum, the gallery on the 

 second floor wluch corresponds with that appropriated to' Botauy 

 is designed to contain the great collection of Recent Osteology; that 

 on the first floor is to be devoted to stuffed animals, and the front 

 ground floor gallery to birds. The eight galleries iu rear of tho 

 mam building on the west side will be appropriated to the Reptilia, 

 Piahes and Invertebrate. The collections preserved in spirits are 

 to be placed in a Bpecial buildiug at the uorth end of these galler- 

 ies. The baBement on the west aide contains sixteen studies and 

 workrooms and a large opeu space well fitted for workshops aud 

 stores. 



There are a few scientific men who still strongly protest against 

 the removal of the Natural History Collections froin the old to the 

 new building, ou the ground that the londHy is iiicoevenient.iy far 

 west, aud that they are thereby precluded from using the collec- 

 tions so ii eely as heretofore. Oue of the strong grounds for pro- 

 testing against the cemoval has been the serious inconvenience 

 arising from the separation of the collections from the great Na- 

 tional Library. This injury will, however, be gradually removed 

 by tho formation of a Natural History Library in the present 

 building, a vote for which has been already taken. 



The comparatively small baud of scientific men who use the 

 Natural History Museum for purposes of special work and study, 

 would always do go wherever the collections happened to be lo- 

 cated. 



So too tho holiday-makers, who come to the musoum merely to 

 be amused, wdl as willingly travel to South Konaiugton as to'tho 

 Regent's Park Zoological Giu'deus, or to the Crystal Palace. 



Undoubtedly the highest: aim and use of our great National Nat- 

 ural Historical Collection should be to impart instruction to the 

 young and rising generation, aud afford every facility for the ad- 

 vaucement of our scientific students, and the question whether 

 they are now conveniently placed i3 mainly for theni to auswer. 

 If in the future South Kensington is to become a great centre of 

 scientific instruction, then, aud not otherwise, the Natural History 

 Collections have been placed in their most suitable position. 



— A farmer of London township noticed one. morning that a 

 wild goose had joined his flock. Somewhat surprised at this 

 sudden change to domestic life, he carefully observed tho be- 

 havior of the visitor. He soon learned that it had not ac- 

 tually joined its barn-yard relatives, but only appeared at 

 meal time. Further investigation showed that after the 

 goose had thoroughly satisfied her osvn appetite she would 

 pick up an ear of corn and Hy away Greatly interested by 

 the strange conduct of the bird, the farmer one morning 

 watched the direction of its flight. It was but. a short dis- 

 tance to the river, and he noticed that after circling the goose 

 dropped, apparently, into the river. Going down the bank, 

 he discovered his visitor standing by a companion who was 

 lying On the ground and feeding on the ear of corn. In 

 order to understand this restaurant, project lie walked up to 

 the feeder and found that it had been so disabled that it could 

 neither walk nor fly. Without disturbing it he returned, 

 and morning after morning watched the generous goose carry 

 away an ear of corn. Finally the visits ceased, but shortly 

 afterwards the sick gander himself wandered into the camp 

 and gobbled up the corn himself. He has remained all win- 

 ter, and the indications are that he has made up bis mind to 

 settle down and go to housekeeping. — Montreal Witness. 



edpai 



: One Oeelol 



i']r, 



allpmoliasea; oae coJIurert pee-any, jj-;,-c;nic.i .'ae^rt'. presented hy 

 Mr. R. Williams, Jr., N. Y. City: five y mm; foxes, (-».'/*•< fitlatu, 

 presented by Jlr. W. A Sherman, Dover Plains . one leierang, sipilr- 

 vel, Sttwras Iwcior, !,.- b ln;l'.-t, present"! oy \ilvi ntnwle u. DOW, 



.i""'' I ", '.' '.." ' ' .'. .'....'....„ . :-.,. l:i ..'..'', T'l'. -,..■!' I i ii- ".(:'. :ii.l\ !i I 



Knox, N. Y. City; one brown bear, Urmm „,■.:/,,.,, h.ib, Europe; one 

 albino raccoon. /'».■«» Mm-; one dernol: "lie crane, A nthropoitles 

 •nirt/o, hab. North Africa. All placed i ■ iion. w. A, conkuh, 

 Director. 



