NORTH AMERICAN RUMINANTS 



where their numbers arc being rapidly diminished by Indians and 

 Eskimos and by Arctic explorers. 



There are two species of Musk-().\en, the Barren Ground and 

 the Greenland, both irf which are well represented in the Museum 

 collection. Six specimens of the Greenland species, secured for 

 the Museum by Lieut. R. E. Peary, have been mounted and 

 installed as a group in Hall No. 207 of the East Wing. The 

 Barren Ground species, also, is well represented by mounted 

 specimens, including the young as well as the adult. 



Prom the foregoing it is evident that the Museum is very de- 

 ficient in the large game animals of North America, many of the 

 forms being entirely absent and others very inade- 

 quately represented. It is the wish of the Museum au- * ! ! * s 

 thorities to exhibit each prominent species by a group, 

 planned on a large scale, with proper accessories to illustrate 

 the life habits of the animal ; in other words, on the same scale as the 

 present Moose and Bison groups in the North American Hall. The 



ful construction of these groups implies not only a consider- 

 able expenditure of money in procuring specimens of the animals 

 for mounting, but also in furnishing the accessories and making 

 the studies for its setting. The designer of a group should visit 

 the country inhabited by the animals it is intended to illustrate, 

 plan the group in the field, and collect samples of rock, soil and 



etation for use in the construction of the exhibit. In no other 

 way can the results be realistic and satisfactory, -exact repre- 



■ itions of nature, which it is the purpose of these groups to 

 reproduce. Since not every Specimen is suitable for mounting, 

 a considerable series must be collected or purchased in order to 

 t therefrom material that will be satisfactory. 



Notb. — The attention of the reader is called to the fad that in 

 the halls of Ethnology, Nos. ioi. 102, 10S, on the ground floor of the 



building, will be found many articles < >\ <}vi-^ made from the ski- 

 the Deer and other members of the family of Ruminant any 



implements of tl and of home industries made from the DO 



and antlers of tl teeth of some of the Rumi- 



-7 



