58 



NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS 



THE VIRGINIA DEER 



A CHARACTERISTIC NORTH AMERICAN 

 MAMMAL 



Line drawing from the mounted specimen. This Virginia doe stands as the first 

 example in the museum of the new methods of animal sculpture as opposed to the 

 old taxidermy- It was mounted and presented by Carl E. Akeley in 1902. 



Southeast Wing 

 MAMMALS OF NORTH AMERICA 



Continuing east beyond the elevator corridor, we enter the hall 

 devoted to North American mammals. Something like 2,000 kinds or 

 species and subspecies of mammals have been described from North 

 America, and the purpose of the exhibits is to show those that are pe- 

 culiar to that region or characteristic of it, the more important, or more 

 striking, being displayed in groups that tell something of their home life 

 or of the region in which they live. The individual specimens give some 

 idea of the variety of species found in North America and their range in 

 size and color. 



The appearance and arrangement of the hall is impaired by the 

 Boreal Mammals placed here in order to provide room in the adjoining- 

 hall for work on the great group of African Elephants and other 

 mammals. 



The first mammal to catch the eye is the Giant Moose of Alaska. 

 Back of this is a group of Moose from New Brunswick, and beyond 

 Moose this the American Bison; these groups, mounted years 



Bison ago, are still among the finest as well as the largest 



examples of their kind. See Reprint "The Story of Museum Groups." 



