
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 51 
At the right is a large wall case group of the Atlantic walrus. These 
Walrus huge mammals are relatives of the seals, inhabit the waters 
Group of the far north and are still fairly abundant along the shores 
of Greenland. The seal and walrus are the animals which play such an 
important part in the life of the Eskimo. From these animals come the prin- 
cipal food supply, skins for clothing, for fishing and hunting gear, boat 
covers, and harnesses for dog teams; from bones and tusks are made knives, 
bows, harpoons, and other hunting and cooking utensils. 
Polar Bear ,. 
The polar bear and cubs were secured for the Museum by 
Admiral Peary. 
The Roosevelt elk or wapiti inhabits the Coast Range of mountains from 
British Columbia to northern California. These animals are 
Roosevelt Elk : Oe é : 
nearing the verge of extinction through indescribable slaughter 
although formerly very abundant. 
The specimens in the musk ox group were collected for the Museum 
Peary by Admiral Peary in 1896. Musk oxen inhabit the snow- 
Musk ox covered wastes of the Aretic barrens, living upon willow 
Group leaves, lichen and bark dug up from under the snow. 

The collection of reptiles and amphibians is exhibited at the east side 
of this hall and in the adjoining tower room. Because of 
the difficulty of preserving the natural covering of many of 
these animals they are usually exhibited in jars of alcohol. 
In the specimens on exhibition here the perishable parts have been cast in 
wax from life; for example in the star tortoise the original “shells” of the 
specimens are used, while the head, neck and legs are restored in wax. 
The classification of these animals is shown in the tall cases along the 
west side of the alcove, the case to the right of the entrance being devoted 
Reptiles and 
Amphibians 
to the amphibians; the others to lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodiles. 
The mounting not only brings out the principal features of the species 
exhibited, but in many instances illustrates also some distinctive habit of 
the animals; for instance the common newt, one of the salamanders, is 
represented by a series of five life-size casts showing the process of shedding 
the skin; Pickering’s hyla or the “spring peeper”’ is shown with vocal sacs 
inflated; the poisonous bushmaster is represented with its eggs, and so on. 
The groups in the center of the hall represent various reptiles as they 
appear in their natural haunts. They include the tuberculated iguana, the 
water moccasin, the diamond-backed rattlesnake, the Texas rattlesnake, the 
copperhead, the Gila monster, the pine snake, the box tortoise and the 
common painted turtle. 
One of the most interesting of the groups isa jungle scene in India show- 

