BIRDS OF THE WORLD 49 



ing is either of skin, bark cloth, or loom-woven plant fiber. The manu- 

 facture of a skin cloak is illustrated by one of the figures in the group to 

 the left of the entrance; bark cloths from Uganda are shown in the 

 northeastern section of the Hall, while looms and the completed gar- 

 ments are shown in the large central rectangle devoted to Congo 

 ethnology. The most beautiful of the last-mentioned products are the 

 "pile cloths" of the Bakuba, woven by the men and supplied with 

 decorative pattern by the women. Very fine wooden goblets and 

 other carvings bear witness to the high artistic sense of the African- 

 natives, who also excel other primitive races in their love for music, 

 which is shown by the variety of their musical instruments. 



A unique art is illustrated in the Benin case in the northern section 

 of the Hall, where the visitor will see bronze and brass castings made by a 

 process similar to that used in Europe in the Renaissance period. It is 

 doubtful to what extent the art may be considered native. 



The religious beliefs of the natives are illustrated by numerous 

 fetiches and charms, believed to give security in battle or to avert evils. 

 Ceremonial masks are shown, which were worn by the native medicine- 

 men. 



Return to Central Pavilion. 



South Central Wing 



BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



Going north we enter the hall containing the general collection of 

 birds. In the first four main cases on the right the 13,000 known species 

 Birds of are represented by typical examples of the principal groups 



the World arranged according to what is believed to be their natural 

 relationship. The series begins with the Ostriches, the "lowest" birds 

 (that is, those which seem to have changed least from their reptilian 

 ancestors), and goes up to those which show the highest type of develop- 

 ment, the Singing Perching Birds such as our Thrushes and Finches. 

 The remaining cases on the right wall and all of those on the left show the 

 geographical distribution of the bird fauna of the world. The specimens 

 are grouped according to the great faunal regions, the Antarctic, South 

 American Temperate, American Tropical, North American Temperate, 

 Arctic, Eurasian, Indo-Malay, African and Australian realms. These 

 cases in connection with the accompanying maps give opportunity for a 

 comparative study of the birds of the different parts of the world. In 

 each region, as in the Synoptic Collection, the birds are arranged in their 

 natural groups to the best of our present knowledge. 



