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Chicago Natural History Museum -THIS MONTH'S COVER- JANUARY 6 CONCERT Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 FEATURES SOPRANO Our cover symbolizes the dawn- Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410 ing of the New Year. Designed by The Festival String Quartet makes its Staff Artist E. John Pfiffner and second appearance on the stage of James him in collaboration Theatre on 6 when THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES prepared by Simpson January Phyllis with Assistant Photographer Curtin, soprano, and Ray Still, oboist, join Lester Armour Henry P. Isham Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Homer V. Holdren, it is based on the quartet as special guest artists for the Wm. McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain the Museum's life-size diorama of The will Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller evening's performance. program Chesser M. Campbell William H. Mitchell a Neolithic sun-worshiping priest include music by Haydn, Villa-Lobos, Hin- Walter J. Cummings John T. Pirie, Jr. Joseph N. Field Clarence B. Randall welcoming a new day. The scene demith, and Debussy. Miss Curtin, making Marshall Jr. John G. Searle Field, is the avenue of her first in will Stanley Fibld Solomon A. Smith mysterious pre- public appearance Chicago, Samuel Insull, Jr. Louis Ware historic menhirs at Carnac in sing three Villa-Lobos songs, followed by 's ancient of Brit- OFFICERS province Hindemith's "Die Serenaden." tany. The time is debut in Stanley Field President represented The quartet's James Simpson Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President approximately 4,000 years ago. Theatre on December 9 was attended by Walther Buchen Second Vice-President Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President The diorama is one in a series of nearly 1,000. Members of the string quartet A. Smith Treasurer Solomon eight in the Hall of the Stone are concertmaster of the Chi- Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary Sidney Harth, John R. Millar Assistant Secretary Age of the Old World (Hall C) cago Symphony Orchestra, and his wife, Te- illustrating stages in the develop- resa—violinists; and two other members of ment of man from about — THE BULLETIN early the Chicago Symphony Rolf Persinger, 250,000 years ago to the first days violist, and Harry Sturm, cellist. EDITOR of recorded history. Other concerts will be presented on Feb- Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum ruary 10, March 9, and April 13—the entire CONTRIBUTING EDITORS series presented free to music lovers by Free Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology Concerts Foundation, headed by Mrs. J. Theodor Just Chief Curator of Botany of Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology Dennis Freund. Selection James Simpson Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology STAFF NOTES Theatre for the free music series came as the MANAGING EDITOR result of the discovery, last August, of the theater's musical At that time H. B. Harte Public Relations Counsel The Museum was represented by three potentialities. delegates at the annual meeting of the Amer- time Mrs. Freund sponsored a program of ASSOCIATE EDITOR ican Anthropological Association in chamber music. Marilyn Jindrich Assistant in Public Relations City, December 28-30. Dr. Paul S. Mar- Roger Dettmer, drama and music critic for tin, Chief Curator of Anthropology, pre- Chicago's American, commented after the Members are to inform the Museum requested sented a paper on "Recent Excavations in program: "For many it came last summer promptly of changes of address. Arizona." Dr. Donald Collier, Curator of as a pleasant surprise to discover in the west South American Archaeology and Ethnol- wing basement of Chicago Natural History AUDUBON SCREEN-TOUR ogy, presented one on "Agriculture and Civi- Museum, a theatre suitable for chamber lization in ." I. ON 'WILD EUROPE' George Quimby, music that has (1) good acoustics, (2) com- Curator of North American Archaeology and fortable seats, (3) unimpaired sight lines, A traveler may have toured, in the con- Ethnology, was the third Museum delegate. (4) ample parking facilities, (5) passable de-

. . . Dr. Curator of Oce- ventional sense, all of Europe and never have Roland W. Force, cor . . . Simpson Theatre turned out to be seen that side of the Old World continent anic Archaeology and Ethnology, presented the best concert hall in Greater Chicago se- that the famous ornithologist, Roger Tory a paper on "Metonomy, Metaphor and Pa- lected by the committee (Pan American Peterson will show in his color motion pic- lauan Sociai Organization" at the annual Games) for anything." Similarly, Robert " ture, Wild Europe" when he lectures for the meeting of the American Association for the Marsh of the Sun-Times, after the Decem- Illinois Audubon Society in the James Simp- Advancement of Science held in Chicago ber 9 concert, called it the "city's finest audi- son Theatre of the Museum on Sunday after- December 26-31. ... Dr. Rainer Zangerl, torium for small instrumental groups." 17. Curator of Fossil Dr. S. noon, January , Eugene Tickets are required for the concerts in the In his film he will show such Curator of Fossil Inverte- sights (usually Richardson, Jr., series and may be obtained by calling in per- the the Dr. Robert H. Curator of neglected by average tourist) as spec- brates, Denison, son at the Museum or writing Free Concerts of Fossil and William D. tacular gathering oystercatchers at Hilbre , Turnbull, Foundation, Chicago Natural History Mu- Island in the Irish the in the Assistant Curator of Fossil at- Sea; flamingoes , seum (Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, vast salt lakes of the Rhone ruffs danc- tended the recent Darwin Centennial Cele- delta; Chicago 5) and enclosing a stamped, self- in the of the bration of the for the ing bogs Netherlands, habitat and meetings Society addressed envelope. of the white spoonbill; families of storks on Study of Evolution, held in Chicago late in old churches in the Rhine valley; red kites, November. Dr. Richardson was official del- black kites, and imperial eagles among the egate of the Paleontological Society. Dr. Curator of , attended meetings of the cork oaks of Andalusia; great griffon vul- Zangerl and Dr. Richardson also attended a Society for the Study of Evolution. Mr. tures soaring about the ancient citadels of field conference with the Indiana Geological Wenzel also attended the Detroit meetings , and bee-eaters, the most colorful Survey. Mr. Turnbull attended the meet- of the Entomological Society of America, of Europe, hawking the Mediterranean air ings of the Geological Society of America and and was elected to the standing committee for dragonflies. The screen-tour includes the Society of Paleontology in on entomological nomenclature. He has

wild life refuges on the coasts of Holland, Pittsburgh. . . Most members of the Zoology been appointed a research associate in the islands off Britain's shores, the great Ca- staff attended some of the Darwin Centen- department of biology at Northwestern Uni- margue region of France, and the forests of nial meetings at the University of Chicago. versity. Mr. Dybas recently lectured on . D. Dwight Davis, Curator of Vertebrate Panama before the Chicago Entomological The lecture will begin at 2:30 p.m., and Anatomy, Rupert L. Wenzel, Curator of Society and the Thornton Township High admission is free. Insects, and Henry S. Dybas, Associate School Biology Club, Harvey, Illinois. January, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 3

By Stag Illu : Marion Pahl SOUTH SEA ISLES: WHAT LED TO EARLY DISCOVERIES By ROLAND W. FORCE over countless reefs in craft, strug- Spanish), (2) 17th century (Dutch), and CURATOR OF OCEANIC ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY landing gled through unbelievable terrain to get close (3) 18th century (English and French). Part I enough to a concrete pillbox to use a flame- Of course, the Pacific was sailed into by to con- YOU WANT frighten yourself, thrower or automatic weapon. Chinese junks for a limited distance as early sider life on a IF spending your tiny speck And some stayed on—in the military cem- as 200 B.C. Contact was established with of sand which rises no more than twelve feet etery in the Punch Bowl—that ancient and Java, the , and . Then, too, above the surface of the ocean and upon quiet volcanic cone which stands guard over there is the possibility that some unfortunate which can make a and you complete leisurely Honolulu. The Coral Sea, Leyte Gulf, Mid- voyagers from or Japan actually got circuit while a For as far smoking cigarette. way, Iwo and less well-known spots such as lost and drifted across the Pacific from west as can see on all sides there is you nothing a small isolated inlet of Iwayama Bay in the to east and landed on the Northwest Coast but wetness. And you can see only 12 miles Palaus where at low tide the aluminum skel- of America or in the Hawaiian Islands. One before the horizon limits view to your sky. eton of what looks strikingly like a ptero- thing which has never been explained is the those 12 miles there be Beyond may 1,200 dactyl projects out of the mangrove mud, all existence of iron in at the time Cap- more— as wet as those can just you see; became well-known to many Americans. tain James Cook discovered the islands in the 1,200 miles which are seldom traversed by Latter-day writers such as Ernie Pyle, late 18th century. either or —even today. Twelve ship plane James Michener, Richard Tregaskis, and Prior to the rather late period of explora- hundred miles of dark blue deep, treachery Norman Mailer put zoom lenses on the Amer- tion in the Pacific by Europeans there had that to The constantly try submerge you. ican bifocals. Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza been a long tradition of "armchair" theoriz- only thing that keeps you from wearing a — did their bit, and Hollywood helped with a ing about the Pacific even before it was life preserver twenty-four hours a day and movie of the play. Cinerama helped, and known as the Pacific. refusing to budge from the top of the highest then, of course, everyone rode Kon-Tiki to Greek geographers reasoned that such an coconut on the island is that if are palm you Polynesia. ocean must exist—just to balance the one there to a of the Pacific." you belong "people Even with the increased awareness of the they knew about (the Atlantic) which they In the first place, chances are extremely good Pacific world that books, films, and personal called the Western Ocean. Of course, this that you do not count a life preserver among visits have brought about, most people actu- conjecture was all before anybody knew that your possessions; and besides you have been ally know very little about the Pacific. If there was anything like America in between born in this environment, and a long list of asked they could probably tell their interro- the two bodies of water. Maps made as late your ancestors has to stay alive and managed gator that Bikini was in the Pacific—some- as 1492 showed an unbroken expanse of reproduce and live normal "for your island" where, that the Philippines were beyond that, water from Europe to Asia. lives. some of them have been washed Surely and that was more to the south— Another matter of speculation was the pre- away by violent storms, and others have down under. The geography of the area, let sumed existence of Terra Australis Incognito failed to return from a day's fishing junket alone the kind of people who live there and (the unknown southern land). Explorers to the to in their small reef, only be blown were still to find this continent until their history and way of life, is baffling enough trying and canoes to another flimsy postage stamp to them. Captain Cook reached Antarctica. size home which, if looked at hurriedly, might Few are aware that the U. S. Department SPICE pass for your island anyway. AND SCURVY of Interior (somewhat illogically) today ad- This hypothetical fantasy is not fantasy, ministers a portion of the Pacific which is The Pacific takes its name from Magellan but fact, for several millions of people who larger than the itself. Most who experienced exceptionally calm weather live in the part of the world we call the Pacific. have probably never considered that each on his voyage in 1520 around the tip of South It used to be that formed their ideas people time they button their shirt, wipe their feet America. Seven years before, Balboa had about the Pacific in terms of Melville or on a door mat, or shampoo their hair they stood on his Panama promontory and had or Nordhoff and Hall. Maugham, Many are en rapport with the Pacific. become the first European to view the Pa- persons had read or seen the movie version cific from its eastern shores. Because he was DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION of Rain. Sadie was an Thompson — exciting, facing south at the moment, he logically if somewhat tawdry, character the Tuttles Even though Americans have rediscovered called the body of water the South Seas. of Tahiti, immortalized by Charles Laugh- the Pacific in mid-20th century, 400 or 500 The name has been retained and even has ton, were thought of as typical island folk. years after the early Portuguese and Spanish been applied to the Arctic areas of the Pacific. Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Crusoe explorers did, there is a remarkable amount At base, the absence of the refrigerator is typified what "islands" were like. of unawareness of the nature of the discovery. really responsible for most of the disturb- Since then, tens of thousands of young The period we are concerned with here is ances of native life in the Pacific. It is truly Americans learned about the more intricate called the "Age of Discovery" in history remarkable that the world-shaking events in geography of Pearl City on Oahu, froze in books and covers the years from about 1520 history can be laid to the most pedestrian staging depots on 's North Is- to 1780. causes. land, sweated through interminable months We may divide the period into three sub- If some enterprising medieval Edison had in coastal New Guinea swamps, bounced periods: (1) 16th century (Portuguese and (Continued on page 8) Chicago Natural Hi Text by AUSTIN L. RAND Chief Curator of Zoology A NATURE CAL

Soft warm breezes and sun- A silent of landscape shine, gentle showers, sudden snow-covered fields, gray squalls, thunder and lightning, leafless woodlots, frozen hail, and even snowstorms—all rimmed with dead ponds make April weather. Green and Lake Mich- cattails, leaves appear on currant and with an ice barrier igan honeysuckle bushes, daffodils the shore and float- along and tulips bloom in gardens, ing, wind-driven ice fields. and the tide of woodland flow- Farmsteads snowed in. ers swells to form a living carpet Our coldest month with of two dozen species in the still below zero. Plant days leafless woods. Smelts run up- life is dormant, as are stream to spawn, small flutter against APRIL most . But win- lighted windows, small grasshoppers and leaf- S M T W T F S ter ducks, goldeneyes, old hoppers fly up from disturbing footsteps in the JANUARY squaws, and gulls are on I 2 grass, butterflies appear, dragonflies skim ponds S M T W T F S Lake Michigan; other winter birds, chickadees, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 where bask, and leopard frogs croak. 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 I 2 cardinals and grosbeaks woodpeckers, evening Another wave of migrant birds, hermit thrushes, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 come to feeding stations, and some mammals, 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 fox sparrows, and Bonaparte's gulls passes 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 such as and raccoons leave 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 rabbits, squirrels through; the pond ducks leave and purple mar- 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 trails in the snow. tins arrive. Gardeners plant peas, farmers oats, and fishermen angle for 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 perch and seine carp. 31

Not until late in the month does Green fields and roadsides winter relax its grip more than mo- with yellow dandelions and mus- mentarily, with brief thaws that wipe tard and white daisy fleabane; away the snow. Then plant activity growing leaves on trees cast a starts with the pussy willows coming summer shade; blue lupine out; resident birds, titmice and cardi- massed in dunes; yellow lady- nals start to sing; great-horned owls slippers bloom in pinery. hoot and nest; and the early spring Lavish display of pink-white migrants, doves, song sparrows, red- blooms on fruit trees, shadbush, wings and meadowlarks arrive and sing. wild crab and dogwood; migra- When sun shines strong on snowbanks tion of warblers and scarlet tan- the tiny spring-tails or snow-fleas agers at height—you can see 30 MAY swarm on the snow, making it look as FEBRUARY species in one woodlot; vegetable gardens grow- S M T W T F S though dusted with soot; and skunk cabbage S M T W T F S ing, rhubarb ready for pies; scarlet poppies and I 2 3 4 5 6 7 the snow and dead leaves. blue iris brave in robins, thrashers pushes up through 12 3 4 5 6 yards; young 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 While ice continues on little lakes, and screech owls out of nest, and foxes fishing 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 young 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ducks court on Lake torn and elm and goldeneye Michigan; 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 squirrels running about; maple 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 cats to and coons become seed strewn on sidewalks. begin yowl; possums 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 more active; and children fly kites. 28 29

Spring—and the returning sun Summer: brown fields of planted banishes cold and snow for longer corn and soy beans at first contrast and longer spells. The ponds with the green woodlots and wheat thaw open and ducks, mallard, and alfalfa, tall enough to wave in shovelers, and widgeon swim on the wind; white daisies, red clover them. The first frog chorus yellow clover, blackberries and later comes from shallow sun-heated multiflora roses bloom along road- pools, and robins and starlings sides where catalpa trees also bloom join the morning song and ragweed and milkweed are up chorus; blackbirds roost in the enough to notice. Strawberries marshes and feed on our lawns; JUNE and some cherries and peas ripen, lawns and winter wheat fields and first hay is cut. In the yards are added are greener; snowdrops and cro- peonies, red and white roses; white mock orange cuses bloom in our yards, the and pink beauty bush. Young crows and jayf MARCH maples along our streets, the are noisy, and robins nesting again; cricket frogs S M T W T F S first wild flower, pepper-and-salt, in the wood- click and bullfrogs boom in the marshes; crane- lots, and skunk in the swamps. flies and lacewings like a haze over hay fields at 12 3 4 5 cabbage By late March the last of the shaded snow banks sunset at end of month. Small flocks of English 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 are oats and wheat; and 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 usually gone. sparrows inspect ripening in the fireflies rise like from fields. Fishermen catching 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 evenings sparks in Lake and sunfish in little lakes. 27 28 29 30 31 perch Michigan >ry Museum presents . . . iNDAR FOR 1960 Illustrations by RUTH ANDRIS

JULY

3 M T W T F S Page 6 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN January, 1960 NATURE GAVE THIS STRANGE BUILT-IN BIFOCALS By LOREN P. WOODS the fish frequently bob- CURATOR OF FISHES bing down to keep their one hot, humid afternoon in eyes moist. They are LATESeptember the U. S. Fish and Wildlife wary and very active, Service M.V Oregon found a berth at the swimming so rapidly end of a long pier that crossed a mud bank they can rarely be along the shore of the Surinam River at caught with a net. The Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. I was gather- usual method of col- ing cameras and film to go ashore when an lecting adults is with a engineer came running back with the news rifle loaded with dust that there were fish crawling all over the shot. mud flats. So postponing the shore trip until Certainly in the Gui- a cooler hour, I spent the rest of the after- anas, Anableps swims noon watching numbers of the four-eyed and schools at the sur- fish, Anableps, swim up out of the water face; but in the section to wiggle across the mud or lie at the water's of the sluggish, silty, edge with their tails remaining in the lapping brackish portion of the billows. Surinam where the Almost every general popular book on the tides change the river natural history of fishes at least mentions level and salinity, large the four-eyed fish and its peculiar eyes. numbers were out of Actually there are only two eyes, as in other the water, small sec- fishes, but in Anableps the eyes are in humps, tions of the mud flats — raised well above the rest of the head, and Figure 2. Habitat of Anableps the Surinam River at Paramarib Dutch being occupied by as Guiana. The mud flats are seen at left. are divided horizontally by a pigmented line, many as 50 fish at a so the eye appears to have two pupils. Ana- time. Most of the fish, bleps habitually swims at the surface with scientific and travel literature since the mid- 3 to 12 inches long, rested out of water on the the upper part of the eye in the air and the 18th century, very little is actually known mud just where the ripples washed over them of their habits. Most accounts describe and kept them moist (Figs. 2 and 3). Some them swimming and feeding in schools at fish would travel with eel-like motions across the surface. When alarmed they do not the flats as far as 30 feet from the open submerge, but the school scatters, individual water, but these would move into pools or fish rapidly skipping over the water, sculling channels at intervals of five or ten minutes with their tails. It has been reported that and then back up on the mud again. The they cannot submerge for more than 30 or passage of the fish across the mud would be 40 seconds, but this is not true. The Shedd Aquarium formerly had six or eight indi- viduals acclimated in a large tank 6 by 7 by 1. shown Figure Anableps, the four-eyed fish, 4 feet, containing ap- resting at the surface. Its on humps, project eyes, proximately 1,200 gal- partly above water. (Photo made at Shedd Aquarium) lons of water. Surface schooling and scatter- lower part in water (Fig. 1). The lens is ing was the usual pat- pear-shaped with different focal lengths in tern of their behavior each half; the retina receiving light from in this tank, but when the air is of different structure from the fed they frequently retina that receives light from the water went to the bottom to below. Their built-in bifocals enable them pick up food, remain- to see in both air and water. ing well below the sur- There are three species of Anableps, all face for considerable with similar eyes and, in many respects, periods. similar habits. All reach a length of 8 to In Surinam none 12 inches. One species lives in the Tehuan- was seen swimming in tepec River of southern Mexico, a broad, open water during low shallow, clear stream where I collected them tides of the late after- several years ago. The range of this species noon and early morn- extends down the Pacific coast to Panama. ing. When they went Figure 3. A group of Anableps lying in a rivulet on mud flats. There are two additional species in South into the turbid water America ranging from Venezuela to the they disappeared. At Amazon. One of these is chiefly marine, the river edge of the mud flat, one would marked by a smooth track about half an entering brackish estuaries; the other lives occasionally jump out of the water, imme- inch wide. When established on the mud in rivers, bayous and lakes. diately curving back without much splash. and no longer awash, they used their pectoral Although these fish and their peculiar eyes When heading toward the exposed mud, the fins to brace their heads higher than the have been described again and again in upper part of the eyes would be above water, body. They could see and hear quite well January, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 7 in the air, for although we were 20-25 feet tected when they stirred up the loose silt LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES away from them, sudden motion or scuffing and, as the cloud settled, only the elevated OF NATURE PHOTOS on the wooden dock would frighten them eyes could be seen. If I remained perfectly back into the water. still they would emerge not only from the silt Photographers, both amateur and profes- to submit entries for the The fish lying out on the mud formed loose but from in the sides or holes in the sional, desiring 15th International Exhibition of aggregations of all sizes with no evident at- bottoms of their puddles, crawl to the edge Chicago Nature are to send their tempt to avoid contact with others or to be close against the water surface, and begin Photography, urged prints and color slides near others. Neither was there any orien- eating the silt and straining it through their promptly. The deadline is 18. From the thousands of entries tation in relation to the position of the sun, gills for whatever organic material could be January the will select several hundred to shore, water or pools; but they lay like so extracted. This eating process was followed judges be exhibited in Field Hall of the Mu- much loose-strewn kindling, facing all direc- by a fine cloud of silt ejected from the gill Stanley seum the from tions. There were channels through the mud opening and resulted in a pretty pattern of during period February 6 to 26. Medals and honorable will — little drainage rivulets — and many fish lines radiating from feeding spots where each mentions be awarded to those considered the best. The rested in or along the edges of these or with fish had nibbled away the darker surface silt, exhibition is held under the of the mouth over a little water-filled depres- exposing lighter mud beneath (Fig. 4). joint auspices the sion. At intervals the mouth would be dipped When I focused the camera close to them, Chicago Nature Camera Club and the this movement caused all to disappear either Museum. into the mud or into holes. Some of the holes While the facilities in Stanley Field Hall had two or more entrances and a fish would are suitable only for the exhibition of prints, either black-and-white or in the seldom move far from its home, always re- color, slides turning to the same hole. Some could feed will be exhibited by projection on the screen of the James Theatre on two with their tails still part way down in the Simpson Sunday 7 14 at hole. I never saw two fish using the same afternoons, February and 2:30 P.M. Admission to the theatre is free. retreat, though the entrances were some- showings The division the color times only an eighth to a quarter-inch apart. print and slide divi- As the tide rose covering these miniature sion each have three subject classifications: pools the tiny fish disappeared completely (1) Life; (2) Plant Life, and (3) Gen- into the mud and into their holes. The bot- eral which comprises landscapes and sea- tom could be seen as clearly as when the scapes, clouds, and other inanimate natural were isolated but fish no phenomena. Contestants are permitted to 4. A small where live, pools the were Figure11pool young Anableps submit to four entries of four with holes for protective retreat when danger threat- longer visible. This high tide retreat may up prints plus ens. The lines mark areas in which the of slides. forms will radiating be to escape the larger fishes, drums, cichlids Entry be supplied by fish have been eating mud. young and characins that come onto the flats to the Museum on request. Photographs should feed when these flats are covered with water. be mailed directly to the Museum. into the water and movements of both rapid There are tracks of shore birds all around the The panel of judges is composed of Mrs. mouth and covers could be seen. I think gill puddles, so shyness on the part of the young, George W. Blaha, APSA, photographer and this action took in water to moisten the gills. Arthur teacher nat- the ability to bury themselves where they naturalist; Hunter, and As the tide raised the river level, the fish are, the alertness to withdraw quickly into a uralist; Ray Souers, photographer, and two moved higher onto the mud flat maintaining of the — hole are all necessary to their survival. members Museum staff Dr. Alan their relative distance from the edge of the Solem, Curator of Lower Invertebrates, and water ripples. By dark (6 p.m.) the advanc- Dr. John W. Curator of RARE FISHES OBTAINED Thieret, Economic ing tide had completely covered the mud flat Botany. and no fish could be seen anywhere. IN WEST INDIES The Nature Division of the Photographic As with of their minnow rela- of will many top During the latter part of 1959, Loren P. Society America award special medals tives such as the sword tail and black for slides the of color guppy, Woods, Curator of Fishes, participated in a adjudged best examples in- in nature. other awards will mollie, Anableps produces living young 31-day exploratory fishing cruise of the U. S. harmony The stead of eggs. Fully grown fish are very good Fish and Wildlife Service Motor Vessel Ore- be made by the Nature Camera Club. to and in the Guianas there is a In of eat, great gon to the West Indies. Very poor trawling volume entries submitted by photog- for but is avoided all in demand fish; Anableps by grounds were found at depths of 17 to 380 raphers over the world, number of pic- the of because the tures and in of majority people young fathoms in the waters of the Virgin Islands, exhibited, number awards, found inside the fish has caused the belief Saba Banks and Puerto Rico. Everywhere this contest has always been the world's larg- that is Anableps cannibalistic. the bottom was very rough, rocky or cov- est devoted especially to nature photography, in is one of world's In Mexico a female Anableps 7 inches in ered with growths of coral or sponges, result- and fact the largest photo of length was reported to contain nine young, ing in torn nets and relatively few fishes. contests any type. 1 . 5 inches long. The young I observed in the However, those few were of unusual interest early morning in pools on the mud flats were because so little has been done in collecting Mammalogist Study 2 Completes Trip 1 to inches in length. Possibly the smallest such difficult areas. Many undescribed spe- Philip Hershkovitz, Curator of Mammals, were only a few hours or few days old. They cies and many kinds previously very rare in recently returned from a three-week trip were exceedingly abundant, as every pos- collections were secured along with a variety to study African and South American mam- sible puddle on the uneven surface of the of better known, widely distributed species. mals in the collections of the museums in mud flat contained a large number. By the These latest collections are especially useful Cambridge of Harvard University, the time they are 3 or 4 inches long they swim for comparison in the study of specimens American Museum of Natural History, and behave as the adults described above. from the Western Caribbean and - New York, and the U.S. National Museum None of the 1 to 2-inch young was seen to Guiana offshore waters gathered on Oregon in Washington, D.C. swim, but only to crawl over the bottom. cruises during the past three years. The young under 2 inches in length lived Activities were hampered by frequent high on the mud flat in shallow pools three to storms and high seas but these were not of The giant clam of the Pacific and Indian six inches across and one-half to one inch sufficient intensity or duration to prevent oceans, largest known bivalve, is exhibited deep (Fig. 4). These tiny fish could be de- covering of each island and bank area. in Hall M. Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN January, 1960

SOUTH SEA ISLES- better. Even beer was strongly seasoned clove and the nutmeg, the cinnamon-laurel with and mulled wine was so laden and the thick as weeds (Continued from page 3) ginger pepper plant grew with spices that it tasted like liquid fire. and were not considered rare at all. But by himself with out the first occupied bringing Now, it would be quite unfair to conclude the time the trade goods passed from hand then there would have been no Frigidaire, that Europeans of this period were completely to hand the old story was repeated — too need for the Portuguese and the Spanish to oriented toward ingestion—or indigestion as many middlemen. Somehow they, too, had be so interested in well-worn tracks beating the case may be. The scents of the East were to be circumnavigated. So now we must over the seas to search out pungent spices to important too. Musk, ambergris, attar of burst another bubble—altruism did not in- and camouflage the pungent meats preserve roses, sandalwood, and incense came to be spire regents to sponsor expeditions at vast of tables. In other words, the European much sought after. Fine fabrics such as silks expense. Ideals were served less than the for it all. quest spices began and damasks were essential to the noble ward- concern of royalty over the local exchequer. Lacking spices, the food of most of Eur- robe. Pearls and semi-precious stones and, In other words, throughout the age of dis- ope was unspeakably drab and insipid. Cen- of course, precious metals were the objects of covery, one of the chief driving forces was the turies were to elapse before fruits, tubers, many voyages; but spices were more coveted the mercantile spirit and a certain quality of and the other products which now seem com- than any other products of the distant East. hedonism. As one writer has phrased it, be- monplace were to be used or acclimatized— in There was a time when, for example, with hind the hero stood the trader, the royal fam- Europe. Potatoes, tomatoes, and corn all pepper you could buy land, pay dowries, or ily that wanted to stay that way, and at times New World crops were of course unknown. purchase your freedom. You might even the officer of the church—who was seeking There were no lemons—and even if there had pay your taxes with it. For bribes it could wealth in terms of souls an entrepreneur, be cinnamon and been, there was no sugar, so lemonade was hardly surpassed. Ginger, nonetheless. were merchants in se- The which out of the question completely. No coffee, camphor weighed by ignorance spawned early voy- questered shops with windows shut and drafts is in lofty Pto- and no tea, so there couldn't have been a ages appalling retrospect. eliminated so that none of the precious dust lemy taught that life could not exist at the British Empire quite yet. Even the groan- would be lost to a vagrant breeze. The early equator because neither plant nor animal ing boards of the wealthy suffered from a spice caravans had already introduced the could withstand the vertical rays of the sun. monotonous sameness. Gluttony without taste for these rare prizes shortly after Marco Circumnavigation was impossible since Af- spice is hardly worth the trouble. So it was Polo's magnificent travels. It was, however, rica connected somehow with Terra Australis that the jaded palates of Europe welcomed a a deadly journey by caravan and the perils and sandy wastes extended to the South Pole. dash of pepper, a pinch of nutmeg, a little of the route cost many a life, while cargo Finally some intrepid souls got around to or a smattering of cinnamon. More ginger, after cargo was lost long before it got a good challenging these ideas which had held sway and more became the variety of life. spices start on the way to Europe. Obviously what for so long a time. This was a period in The desire for spices soon became what was needed was a short route; one which which the populace of Europe was, not unlike one anthropologist has called an "acquired would obviate the necessity for paying fees the world today, on the verge of a space age. drive." If a little was good, then more was to countless middlemen. In the (To be continued)

NEW MEMBERS old Balikov, Mrs. Ernest H. Ballard, Mrs. gid, Earle A. Mann, T. E. Marston, Mrs. Charles Bender, William Bessey, Frank L. Louise C. M. Martin, John M. Maxwell, (November 17 to December 16) Bixby, Archie R. Boe, Ben F. Bohac, Dr. Frederick Mayer, W. A. Mayfield, Robert Life Member P. R. Brachman, Martin H. Braun, Jona- W. Maynard, Franklin McDermott, H. T. Joseph C. Belden, Jr. than Q. Caldwell, B. E. Callahan, Charles A. McDermott, Martin J. McGuire, William Non-Resident Life Members Capek, Mrs. Arthur L. Conrad, Philip R. V. McKinzie, Hugh S. McLetchie, Harley Crippen, Jr., Miss V. Everett C. Samuel Herbert J. Watt, Mrs. Charles Deere Dorothy Daggett, Ray- McNamara, McNear, Wiman mond A. Danders, George Edson Danforth, E. McTier, Wesley C. Miller, Dr. E. M. Joseph P. Demme, Mrs. N. Alfred Diggs, Moore, McGarry P. Murray, W. L. Myers, Associate Members Mrs. David Dimsdale, Mrs. H. F. Duncan, Mrs. Herbert Nash, Ernest L. Newton, Lorn E. Arnold, Robert M. Arnold, Dr. Al- Mrs. Angela Ebzery, David C. Eisendrath, P. K. O'Connor, Clarence Olsen, 0. W. fredo Bellizzi, Mrs. G. L. Bergen, Dr. Henry Mrs. Edwin P. Elliott, Mrs. Clarence W. O'Neal, Richard Orlikoff, Mrs. Max D. Orr, E. Bielinski, Dr. John F. Bimmerle, Dr. Elmer, Miss Frances C. English, L. E. Eng- Franklin R. Overmeyer, William J. Payes, Carroll L. Birch, Dr. Chester J. Black, H. strom, J. O. Epeneter, Mrs. Joseph E. Esch- Jr., Dr. Albert G. Peters, O. Ewald Peter- Brown, Adolph Buechler, Dave Templeton bach, Peter Fagan, Louis Feinberg, Robert S. son, Stanley R. Piatek, M. Hudson Rath- Chapman, Clyde F. DeWitt, Tom Dolan, Fiffer, George E. Filipetti, Maurice Fisher, burn, T. Hamil Reidy, John S. Reiner, Sr., Arthur E. Gibbs, Leslie S. Gordon, Jerry Mrs. Charles C. Fitzmorris, Sr., John Free- R. Joseph Rich, Harry Rosset, Theodore Herdina, Howard G. Hokenson, Roy C. In- man, Harry L. Gadau, H. H. Gawthorp, Rossman, Mrs. Eugene Smith Runions, Har- gersoll, Dr. George N. Jessen, Hulburd John- Michael Grant, A. W. Hachmeister, Joseph old S. Russell, Jack L. Sachs, Mark J. Satter, ston, J. D. Kelsey, Lorenz F. Koerber, Jr., G. Hagstrom, David N. Hagues, Mrs. David Dr. A. L. Schiller, A. Scheele, Aaron Schein- Fenton D. Lapham, Miss Lilian Marchant, N. Hagues, Robert S. Halperin, Miss Alice feld, Norman J. Schlossman, Nathan H. Francis X. Mettenet, Paul K. Newberg, Hamilton, Miss Mildred L. Hannaford, Wat- Schwartz, Dr. Steven O. Schwartz, John R. Harry H. Patrick, Dr. D. J. Pellettiere, Mrs. son D. Harbaugh, Robert E. Hattis, Miss Seib, Lee C. Shaw, Curtis Smith, David I. Gordon L. Pirie, Chester L. Posey, Clair M. Nellie V. Haynie, James D. Head, H. Harry Spark, Mrs. Humphrey Orr Spencer, Willson Roddewig, J. F. Rosenthal, John I. Shaw, Henderson, Dr. Paul G. Hesse, J. Homer Spielmann, David B. Sweeney, William Tray- Mrs. Roy E. Sturtevant, Selwyn H. Torff, Hilf, Charles H. Hocking, Mrs. Charles R. nor, Sol Uretz, Dr. Victoria B. Vacha, Dr. Harry N. Wyatt, T. L. Yates Hodgman, Jr., Jesse J. Holland, Joseph Hol- Derrick T. Vail, Raymond J. Vonesh, Dr. Non-Resident Associate Members lerbach, Clarence L. Holmberg, Thomas M. Rose Mary Wajoy, Dr. James M. Wall, Dr. Sydney J. Johnson, Mrs. Sydney J. Howell, Jr., James A. Jensen, Edward F. Wayne Wallis, Norman E. Watson, Dr. A. C. Johnson, James H. McBain Johnson, Howard J. Johnson, R. S. Kal- Webb, Dr. William Weisdorf, Dr. Edward wajtys, Mrs. Marion O. Kane, Miss Jessie Weiss, C. A. Wells, Alfred C. Wenzel, Dr. Sustaining Members Katz, E. L. Kearney, Mrs. J. E. Keller, Lucjan L. Witkowski, Herbert Zimmerman Alfred Akerhaugen, Dr. Stanley Martin Thomas R. King, William P. Klein, Robert Annual Members J. Koretz, Thomas D. Kurtz, Albert H. Daily Guide-Lectures R. J. Adelman, William H. Alder, Mrs. Levy, Mrs. Raymond G. Lonnon, John T. A. G. Aim, John P. Ash, W. Russell Bagott, Love, Dr. Albert A. Loverde, Mrs. D. J. Free guide-lecture tours are offered daily A. C. Bailey, Mrs. Andrew Baird, Dr. Har- Luick, Merrill W. MacNamee, Cecil E. Ma- except Sundays at 2 p.m., (Saturdays 2:30).

PRINTED BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS CHICAGOQ„MLs;L

HISTORY vh/.M JV0.2 MUSEUM &efaulty I960 1960 Page 2 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN February,

work. One later he became assistant -THIS MONTH'S COVER- Chicago Natural History Museum year Marshall 1893 city editor of the New York Daily Mirror. Founded by Field, Few creatures are more graceful Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 He left the Mirror to join the Miami Tribune Roosevelt in the air than the fork-tailed com- Telephone: WAbash 2-9410 and later to do publicity work in Hollywood, mon tern whose beautiful-to-watch, Fla. In 1926 be became a copyreader for deep wing beats send it gliding over THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES the "Ohio State Journal." Ishah ocean swells in search of fish. This Lester Armour Henry P. In 1927 the seasoned writer and publicity Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler month's cover is a photograph Wm. McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain agent came to Chicago Natural History Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller titled "Common Tern at Nest," William H. Mitchell Museum as public relations counsel, a posi- Chesser M. Campbell entered in the 15th Chicago Inter- Walter J. Cummings John T. Phue, Jr. tion he held until his death. He served also Joseph N. Field Clarence B. Randall national Exhibition of Nature Pho- Marshall Field, Jr. John G. Searle as a copyreader at the Chicago Sun, from Field Solomon A. Smith in the Museum Stanley the Sun-Times tography (held Samuel Jr. Louis Ware 1945 until shortly before Insull, from February 6 to 26) by Leslie A. merger in 1948. Son of Walter B. Harte, a OFFICERS Campbell of Belchertown, Massa- newspaperman, and Grace H. Harte, a vet- Stanley Field President chusetts. It captures the upward Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President eran Chicago lawyer who died in 1957, Walther Buchen Second Vice-President "brake action" of the tern's wings Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President Mr. Harte leaves a widow, Margaret Wagner Treasurer as it alights on the sea shore to Solomon A. Smith Harte, and one son, Robert. Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary tend to its brood. Because the John R. Millar Assistant Secretary All who knew Mr. Harte recognized as his tern nests right on the sand, the outstanding virtues his never-failing patience presence of cats and dogs, or and deep humility. He was reputed never THE BULLETIN "man's follower," the Nor- to have said an unkind word to anyone. camp EDITOR way rat, is nearly always disastrous One of his great loves was for the city of Gregg Director of the Museum to a tern colony. Clifford C. Paris, France, which claimed his heart when CONTRIBUTING EDITORS he was a reporter there early in his career. Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology He had planned to visit that city with Mrs. Theodor Just Chief Curator of Botany Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology Harte during April and May of this year. Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology AUDUBON SCREEN-TOUR MANAGING EDITOR OF APPALACHIANS H. B. HARTEf Public Relations Counsel The Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains ASSOCIATE EDITOR STAFF NOTES of the Appalachian Range provide a back- Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations ground for "Roanoke Northwest," color film f deceased Allen S. Liss, Department of Anthropol- and lecture to be presented in the James ogy's Custodian of Collections, recently at- Simpson Theatre of the Museum on Sunday, Members are to inform the Museum requested of Illinois tended the annual meeting the 21, at 2:30 p.m. under the promptly of changes of address. February auspices at which he was re- Archaeological Survey, of the Illinois Audubon Society. Lecturer the board directors. elected a member of of for this screen-tour, fifth in the Audubon

. . . Dr. Rainer Curator of Fossil Zangerl, series of six, is G. Harrison Orians, naturalist HORACE B. HARTE in a seminar lecture Reptiles, participated and university professor. marine at 1896-1960 discussing marginal ecology Mar- Orians' color film follows the wild life of on 15. Dr. Eu- quette University January the region the four seasons, and over . Mr. H. B. Harte, able public relations through gene S. Richardson, Jr., Curator of Fossil a counsel for the Museum for 32 years died geographic span from the Virginia shores to Invertebrates, accompanied Dr. Zangerl. . . . suddenly at his home on January 8. the high hills of the Ohio River. By explor- S. Associate Curator of In- Henry Dybas, ing far from all beaten paths, he has obtained Mr. Harte was born Nov. 5, 1896, in New sects, spoke on "Natural History and Ecol- intimate York His death glimpses of the lives of small mam- City. at a ogy of the Periodical Cicada" meeting mals, insects and wild flowers. climaxed a newspaper birds, the . . . of Chicago Ornithological Society. Admission is free. Members of the Mu- and public relations Loren P. Woods, Curator of Fishes, ad- seum are invited to to career that started in cordially attend, and dressed the of the Chicago Academy Science, bring 1918 when he joined guests. Conservation Council, and the La Grange the staff of the Chi- Chemists' Group on the topic, "Great Lakes Guide-Lectures cago Daily News as a Daily Fishes and Fisheries." . . . Miriam Wood, Before that Free guide-lecture tours are offered daily reporter. head of the Raymond Foundation, attended time he had attended except Sundays under the title "Highlights the council meeting of the American Asso- Northwestern Univer- of the Exhibits." These tours are designed ciation of Museums in her capacity as presi- and had served in to give a general idea of the entire Museum sity dent of the Midwest Museums Conference. the United States and its scope of activities. They begin at . . . Mr. W. Peyton Fawcett, cataloguer Coast Guard during 2 P.M. on Monday through Friday and at and classifier in the library, has returned to World War I. In 1920 H. B. 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Fjarte his position at the Museum after two years he left the Daily News in the United States Army. for the editorial staff of "National Safety Curator of News," publication of the National Safety The following staff promotions, effective Reptiles. are Council. January 1, 1960, announced by the Miss Janet Wright of the Division of Rep- Mr. Harte became a Chicago Tribune staff Director: tiles has been promoted to Assistant. member in 1922, serving on the Tribune's Mr. Phillip H. Lewis, Assistant Curator of Miss M. Dianne Maurer of the Division of Paris edition, and at that time wrote a series Primitive Art, has been promoted to Asso- Birds has been promoted to Assistant. of syndicated articfes on post-World War I ciate Cufator of Primitive Art. Europe called "An American Observer Miss Marilyn K. Jindrich, Assistant in the Abroad." He remained in that position until Mr. Hymen Marx, Assistant in the Division Division of Public Relations, has been pro- 1924 when he took up free-lance publicity of Reptiles, has been promoted to Assistant moted to Associate. 3 February, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page SOUTH SEA ISLES: DISCOVERY NOT ALL ACCOLADES AND FAME By ROLAND W. FORCE — stepped into the fracas and by papal bull , and Brazil plus a few islands in the OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY CURATOR OCEANIC was Por- on May 4, 1493 drew a line of demarcation. Indies thrown in. Though Magellan Part II All undiscovered land westward of this line tuguese and had served the Portuguese flag in of discov- for PORTUGUESE voyages (a hundred leagues west of the Cape Verde the Indies and in many years, THEery owe much to a man who did not live Islands—320 miles west of Cape Vert in he sailed under the Spanish flag when he to see them. Prince Henry the Navigator extreme West Africa) was to belong to rounded the tip of South America and sailed he is was practically a landlubber; rumored Spain—territory to the east was to be Portu- through the strait that bears his name. As set on a but once. He made the to have foot ship gal. A year or so later on, under the Treaty will be recalled, Magellan accomplished no map and published no treatise which has of Tordesillas, the line was shifted (at Portu- remarkable feat of sailing all the way across he did his wealth behind far as the Marianas without survived; but put gal's insistence) to 270 leagues west which the Pacific as "research." He provided as near an ap- meant ultimately that would re- sighting inhabited islands. proach to the Ford Foundation as existed ceive the still undiscovered Brazil. Magellan was rebuffed by the Portuguese furthered in- in 15th century Europe. He King Emanuel I, so he took his idea that EVER WIDENING HORIZONS quiry into navigation. This brave soul the Indies might be reached by going around might just as well have been dubbed Henry There followed in the next few years a the southern tip of South America (as da the Doubter, because that is what he did. tremendous time of vast discovery. Cabot, Gama had gone around the tip of Africa) He was not the first, but perhaps he was an Italian in the English service, reached to Spain. There his idea met with favor. the most ardent—or perhaps he just lived Newfoundland in 1498. In 1500 Pinzon He swore new allegiance and set out shortly at the right time and was in the right place. (Spanish) and Cabral (Portuguese independ- in five refurbished ships. It is interesting There were reasons to doubt that Africa sup- ently discovered Brazil. In the same year to note that he carried, among his supplies, plied a rigid link with the land thought to Cortereal (Portuguese) reached Labrador trade goods to be used in barter. Items exist at the south. Herodotus recorded the and other Portuguese reached Madagascar. such as these were included: mirrors, bells, rumor that a Phoenician fleet during the Shortly thereafter, Vespucci went down the (20,000 of the latter), 4,800 common knives time of the Pharaohs had sailed south down South American coast as far as the Rio de (stamped Made in ), 600 pairs of the Red Sea and then two years later had la Plata. The Portuguese reached Malacca scissors, colored kerchiefs, red caps, brass miraculously returned quite unexpectedly on the Malay Peninsula in 1509. Four years bracelets, paste jewels, tinted glassware, and through the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits later Ponce de Leon discovered Florida and bright lengths of wool and satin. All in all, of ). Moorish slave traders had Balboa caught sight of the Pacific. a mass of junk worth little in Europe, but told of a land of wealth beyond the Sahara In case the impression is given that the of fabulous importance to primitive peoples. which they called "bilat ghana." Later the lot of these early voyages was all accolades ADVENTURE IN DISASTER area was termed the Guinea Coast and lately and fame, history records that Balboa was the old name has come into the news again. ultimately beheaded, Cortez fell into dis- The story of the voyage of Magellan and A map showing this area of Africa had grace, Columbus was brought back to Seville his men as recorded by his chronicler, Piga- appeared as early as 1150. There were in chains, and Pizarro was murdered. Later fetta, is a real adventure in disaster. In reasons for believing, then, that there were on Magellan was to end his life in the the first place, Magellan implied in his peti- lands that could be reached by sea outside Philippines, Mendatia his in the Solomons, tion for support that he knew of the passage the Mediterranean. Prince Henry died in and Cook his in ignominious fashion in he sought, where as actually he only sus- 1460 before any of his dreams came to frui- Hawaii. There were safer occupations. Nor pected its existence. The other four ships tion. But he had planted the seeds, and in did the less well-known and unsung heroes in the expedition were in the command of the years 1511-14 the Portuguese had of the age, the seamen, fare much better. Spanish officers who resented the authority reached the Spice Islands of Malaysia (the Of the estimated 268 men who sailed with demanded by the Portuguese sailor. Ma- Moluccas). Magellan from Spain on his voyage across gellan is characterized as a stern and taci- Vasco da Gama is given credit for the the Pacific, only 18 returned. Out of 1,955 turn leader who confided nothing to his com- first voyage to the Indies (1498), but the men on seven vessels who sailed with Anson {Continued on page 7, column 2) Cape of Good Hope was rounded earlier in 1740, 1,051 died of scurvy. The Spanish by Dias in 1486. Portugal's security in fleet sent to intercept Anson met with even having found THE route to the riches of the greater disaster—only 100 out of 3,000 men east was shaken by Columbus' Spanish- survived. backed venture westward. Feelings ran high. In spite of the early strides by the Portu- A war loomed over the horizon, and it would guese, the 16th century in the Pacific be- no doubt have materialized had it not been longed to the Spanish—the Portuguese had for the paternal offices of the Pope. He to content themselves with all of Africa,

By Staff Illustrator Mation Pahl 1960 Pagz k CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN February,

EXHIBIT OPENS ON FEBRUARY 6 THIRD CONCERT FEATURES NATURE PHOTO CONDUCTOR-PIANIST Rare moments of Walter Hendl, associate conductor of the beauty and mystery in Chicago Symphony and an accomplished pia- nature that have been nist, is scheduled as featured guest artist for the caught by split- the Free Concerts Foundation's third cham- second action of a cam- ber music concert on February 10, 8:30 p.m. era will be on display in the Museum's James Simpson Theatre. in Hall 2 of the Muse- Hendl will appear with the Festival String um from February 6 Quartet composed of Sidney Harth, concert- to 26 in the 15th Chi- master of the Chicago Symphony orchestra, cago International Ex- and his wife Teresa—violinists; Rolf Per- hibition of Nature singer, violist; and Harry Sturm, cellist. Photography. Both Persinger and Sturm share first chair Co-sponsored by the positions in their sections in the Chicago Museum and the Na- Symphony orchestra. The musical program ture Camera Club of for the evening includes three selected works Chicago, the contest by Vivaldi, Paganini's" String Quartet," and for many years has "Piano Quartet, A Major, Opus 26" by been the largest in the Brahms. A special composition, "Trio for world devoted to na- Violin, Violoncello and Piano" by Glasow ture photography, with will also be included in the program, a work number of entries sub- that has its world premiere performance at mitted totalling in the T. S. Lai of S. named his Quilon, India, photo entry "Frightened Group." the February 10 concert. thousands. The en- The second free concert on January 6, tries include color and black-and-white prints, tive in printing so that the flow of lines was which featured Phyllis Curtin, soprano, and and color slides, of scenic and unusual natural more pleasing to him. But in the process he Ray Still, oboist, drew a packed house and phenomena, plant life, and animal life photo- had endowed the land snails shown with a glowing reviews by Chicago's music critics. graphed by amateur and professional pho- highly unorthodox left-hand spiral. Headlines appearing above the reviews ranged tographers. Several hundred of the best of The panel of judges for this year's contest from "Free Concert Group Program Re- the prints will be selected for display in the was composed of Mrs. George W. Blaha, warding," to "Chamber Concert Packs Sur- exhibition, and on February 7 and 14 (Sun- APSA, photographer and naturalist; Arthur prisss," to"Second Program Was First Rate." Hunter, teacher and naturalist; Ray Souers, Free Concerts Foundation, Inc. is headed photographer; and two members of the Mu- by Mrs. J. Dennis Freund, who is also founder seum staff—Dr. Alan Solem, Curator of of the organization. Subsequent concerts Lower Invertebrates, and Dr. John W. will be presented on March 9 and April 13. Thieret, Curator of Economic Botany. Sil- Tickets are required for the concerts and are ver medals and honorable mentions will be obtainable by writing Free Concerts Foun- awarded in the various print and slide classi- dation, Chicago Natural History Museum fications. Objective of the contest is "to (Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, make the photographer a better naturalist Chicago 5) and enclosing a stamped, self- and the naturalist a better photographer." addressed envelope.

GIFTS TO THE MUSEUM Department of Zoology Following is a list of the principal gifts From: Mrs. Dorothy E. Beetle, Laramie, —non-marine land Mrs. Rose received during the past month: Wyo. shells; Burch, Los Angeles—a cowry shell, Cooks of Department Anthropology Island; Dr. Francisco Campos R., Ecuador From: Miss Edna H. Bahr, Ridgefield, 5 bats; Mrs. Maude A. Farber, Beverly Hills, — Dr. — Conn. archaeological materials, China;— Calif. a duck-billed platypus, New South David C. Graham, Englewood, Colo. eth- Wales; Harry Hoogstraal, Cairo, — nological objects, China; Mrs. Robert A. 156 bird skins, 23 mammals, a sea ; Harris, Oak Park, 111.—photographic slides, Ernest J. Roseoe, Chicago— land snails, Philippines; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence E. western United States; Dr. Jeanne S. Schwen- "White Sands Yucca," an entry in the Nature Photo III. — — Norem, Hubbard Woods, ethnological gel, Scarsdale, N.Y. marine shells, Hawaii ; Show, M. S. Barrett of Adams, Massachusetts. by materials, India, China and Japan; Dr. Al- Dr. Charles H. Seevers, Chicago—581 bee- 111. — — bert L. Raymond, Northfield, replica tles, Africa; Dr. Alan Solem, Chicago 2,500 days) at 2:30 p.m. slides will be exhibited by of petroglyph, Oregon sea mollusks, world-wide; Mrs. Margaret projection on the screen of the James Simp- Wis.—2 land snails, Ten- Department of Botany Teskey, Marinette, son Theatre. nessee; Robert E. Woodruff, Gainesville, Fla. From: H. R. Bennett, Chicago—713 phan- of the contest covers two exhaust- —21 Scarabaeid beetles; Loren Woods, Judging erogams, Middle West and Oregon; Dr. C. — alertness Homewood, 111. a raccoon, and non-marine ing days and involves great and Earle Smith, Jr., Oak Park, 111.-1,101 phan- snails, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; Dr. Frank acute observation, as well as photographic erogams, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela; N. Young, Bloomington, Ind. — 24 water and artistic sense, on the part of the judges. F. A. Swink, Willow Springs, 111. — 236 beetles; W. D. Thomas, Balboa, Canal In some phanerogams, Saskatchewan and Middle past years photographs given pass- Zone—250 non-marine snails; U. S. Fish and West; Dr. L. O. Williams, Beltsville, Md — ing scores by the judges, on later and closer Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.— 5 fish 25 publications examination proved to be pictures of mounted, specimens; U. S. National Museum, Wash- of dry, dead insects with missing parts, or for- Department Geology ington, D.C.— 56 reprints on mammals; Dr. East Africa — a mal arrangements of flowers. In one year's From: Dr. E. P. Henderson, Washington, John Williams, Nairobi, — 546 Florida bird skin contest a photographer even reversed a nega- D.C. slice of meteorite, grams, February, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 5 BURIAL YIELDS CLEWS TO RED OCHER CULTURE MUSEUM ATTENDANCE INCREASED IN 1959 By GEORGE I. QUIMBY 4% inches long. Around the neck of the CURATOR OF NORTH AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY "Probably the year of greatest impact upon AND ETHNOLOGY skeleton were 45 globular, thick copper beads the people of Chicago" is the description graduated in size and ranging from }4 inch PEOPLE of the Red Ocher Culture given to 1959's activities and events at Chi- to /i% inch in diameter. THEwere Indians who first lived in the Upper cago Natural History Museum by Dr. Clif- On of the skeleton there were three Great Lakes region and adjacent areas a top ford C. Gregg, Director. or in from thousand years or more before the birth of copper celts, axes, ranging length Attendance increased to 1,075,426 from to and a tremendous leaf- Christ. When these Indians buried their 4}4 5% inches, 1,049,401 in 1958. This was the 3rd con- blade of whitish flint with the dead, they sprinkled powdered red ocher, shaped point secutive year in which the number of visitors usually in profuse quantities, over the body broken off. This blade was 153^ inches has exceeded a million. in the some as found in the but when re- and offerings grave. Thus, long grave, "Chicagoans were made more aware of thousands of afterwards when archae- stored in accordance with other whole blades years what the Museum is, what it does, and what discovered the ologists it has to offer the public than ever before," cultural remains of said Dr. Gregg. "There were more special these people, they events, more special exhibits, more innova- this named assemblage tions than in previous years, and Chicago or- of tools, weapons, responded to these attractions. One way in and burial naments, which the Museum's role in the city's life the customs "Red has been emphasized has been by the silhou- Ocher Culture." ette-illumination of the exterior of the white The name is not a marble building every night since June 16 very good one because when, along with other public buildings in of the of it has since been found A large leaf-shaped ceremonial knife of chipped flint, typical Red Ocher the park system, it completed installation in and now in the Museum's collections. out that other groups Culture, excavated at Dyer, Indiana, 1915, the new lighting system. During the sum- of Indians living in the mer the Museum remained open to visitors it is at least 19 inches region at the same time, as well as some earlier of this class, long. beyond the normal hours on a number of groups and some later groups, also used pow- Beneath the skeleton there were two side- evenings, and late in the year evening cham- dered red ocher in their graves. But to re- notched, leaf-shaped blades of the type called ber music concerts once a month were in- member this fact is less confusing than to try "-tail," so named because the basilar augurated in the James Simpson Theatre. to change the established name of this cul- part of the blade, in silhouette, resembles During the period of the Pan American ture to something more suitable. the posterior of a plucked turkey. These Games and Festival of the Americas the In the Upper Great Lakes region the Red "turkey tail" blades were made of a dark, Museum staged, for the first time anywhere Ocher Culture has a time span of about 1,000 blue-gray flint and were 5 to 5}^ inches long. in the United States, a special exhibit assem- them there was a stemmed blade made years. It had its beginnings in the Algoma With bling American Indian art of the entire west- of the kind of flint and otherwise Stage of post-glacial lake levels at 1100 or same ern hemisphere, ranging from Alaska to similar. 1200 B.C., when the water plane in the basins Patagonia. In November and December of Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior Other objects found in the grave were a the centennial of the publication of Dar- stood at 595 feet above modern sea level, faceted lump of galena, or lead ore, and a win's Origin of Species was celebrated with or about 1 5 feet higher than at present. This small, broken point of brown and dark gray a special exhibit of Darwiniana. Many new culture had ended by the time of the migra- flint that looks as if it might have had permanent exhibits were also— added in the tion of Hopewell Indians into the region multiple side notches. Museum's four departments Anthropology, around 100 or 200 B.C. Powdered red ocher was scattered through- Botany, Geology, and Zoology." out the grave. It covered the skeleton and As always, Dr. Gregg noted, a full program ARTIFACTS IN MUSEUM all of the stone and copper artifacts, and of scientific research and field work by expe- Early Red Ocher Culture or Red Ocher I permeated the sand at the borders of the ditions in various parts of the world was con- lasted from about 1100 B.C. to perhaps 500 grave pit. tinued. There were zoogical expeditions B.C. in the Upper Great Lakes region, and working in the Belgian Congo, Peru, Pan- OTHER CULTURE TRAITS it is a typical culture of the Late Archaic ama, Nepal, the Philippines, Dutch Guiana, period. It can best be illustrated by this Although the site at Dyer is typical of Mexico, , and at sea collecting Museum's collection of characteristic tools, Red Ocher I it did not have all of the types fishes in West Indian waters. weapons, and ornaments from a site in Dyer, of artifacts known for that culture. Prob- Indiana that was excavated in 1915 by ably there is no site that contains all of the Philip C. Schupp of Chicago. characteristic tools, weapons, and ornaments. though Red Ocher I shares many of its with The Dyer site consisted of a burial in a Various other Red Ocher I sites have pro- traits other Late Archaic cultures, par- one called Glacial it does sandy ridge that was once a shoreline fea- duced additional traits such as bird-stones, ticularly Kame, not share the tail" blades of ture of glacial Lake Chicago. At the time shell beads, leaf-shaped knives of copper, "turkey chip- stone and the of of its use by Red Ocher Indians this ridge slate gorgets, grooved and ungrooved axes ped particular type large was a marked elevation at the edge of a of stone, caches of trianguloid blades, and leaf-shaped knives. with barbs swamp or shallow lake and near the mouth copper harpoons multiple on Red Ocher II, which lasted in the Upper of a creek that emptied into the lake or one. side. Great Lakes region from about 500 B.C. to swamp. However, the diagnostic traits of the Red 100 B.C., can be recognized by the addition The burial in a once deep pit was that of Ocher culture are the "turkey tail" blades of burial mounds and/or Early Woodland an adult male in a flexed position. At the of blue-gray flint and the large leaf-shaped pottery. In adjacent regions Red Ocher II side of the right arm there was a bar amulet knives, usually of white flint. If either or seems to merge with Early Adena culture, 6% inches long made of ground and polished both of these traits are present in caches and like Early Adena is one of the im- slate. Near the left arm there was a double or burials, with or without red ocher, the mediate ancestors of the famous Hopewell pointed copper awl, square in section and culture is identifiable as Red Ocher. Al- culture. Page 6 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN February, 1960 aTHE VOICE OF YOUTH"-LETTERS APPRAISE THE MUSEUM

HAS BEEN occasionally commented, to see a lot more of in critics' reviews— with the class. The most interesting thing ITconcerning the structure of the American glowing and completely honest. "Genile- of all was the movies about Carl's Bad family, that in this country we have not a men: You had what other Museums Didn't Cavern. . . ." patriarchy, or a matriarchy, but a filiarchy have. You had everything from A to Z Even in little children there seems to be — a million for a child-centered society. In a number of I just want to say thanks letting an inherent feeling for equality and a revul- instances where the child is the center of in- me have a wonderful time in fact that was sion for the double standard. This feeling in or terest a family, for justice is brought out quite clearly in literally seems to dom- this next letter. "Dear Miss Svoboda, inate his home, the Thank you for telling us about the different preceding statement things at the museum. The things I liked very definitely seems best were the mummies. The thing I didn't to be borne out. All like was when you said that boys went to are " too familiar the school and the girls stayed home. (He words cooed by a dot- is referring to the ancient Egyptian educa- ing parent, "All right tional system.) "I'd rather have it the other Herbie, now show the way around" (written by a boy, of course). nice people how you In this next letter, the youngster even can sing like Jimmy goes so far as to question the art of the Durante," etc., etc., ancient Egyptian embalmers. "Dear Miss their keeping guests Smith, I enjoyed the tour very much. I "entertained" for hours liked the x-ray pictures of the mummies in this manner, with best. I wonder who would make a mummy supplementary stories that was only part there." (He is referring about what Herbie has to the x-ray of one of the Museum's mum- said or done in the mies that exposes the deceptive practice by past. an Egyptian undertaker of substituting a Kegardless Of hOW stick of wood for the torso of the Thjs js one o{ a number Q £ color cart00 ns painted on the walls of the Museum's mummy.) this " tiring pro- ; Pahl. The lunchroom is used parental p cll ic room" by Staff Illustrator Marion by This next one, although not exactly exhibit be, it Can- school groups visiting the Museum. clivity may oriented, does give a thorough rundown of not be denied that at the writer's day at the Museum. "Dear Miss times "kids do say the darndest things" (to the first museum I ever been to. And I bet Fleming, I liked my trip to the Museum, use an coined by Art Linkletter all the money I have I had more fun then expression not mentioning the bus. I liked Bushmen, and used as the title of a book he wrote). In any body else. The thing I like best is the mummies . . . the best. Everything fact, without conscious effort, children where I could go real high and see that big any was terrific. When it was time to eat, 1 very often are top humorists in their own white room of yours." (Stanley Field Hall, had coke, cherries, and a couple of cookes material for countless news- to most people who visit the Museum.) right, supplying and when I got back on the bus I said whose and columns, and humor The letter no doubt would have paper magazine following sandwiches are these. Then I shut my books. made a Museum curator had he blanch, mouth because they were mine. And at at have re- read it, and cause him to hope that the Here the Museum we, too, the museum, we all bought (to) little steel It is a observations had not been too served a space for juvenile humor. youngster's Triceritops and Tyrannosauris." bulletin board located at our south entrance. accurate. "Dear Miss Smith, I enjoyed The following letter illustrates maturity Posted on the board from time to time are the tour very much with you. Even thow and unselfishness that even some adtilts letters and drawings received from the many we did not stay together. Sue saw a spider don't possess. "Dear Mrs. Cox, We thank children who visit the Museum daily on spe- on one of the mummies she thought. I you for showing us the dinosaurs and the school tours. (The Ray- thank you for taking time off to show the cially organized cavemen. You were a good guide to us. mond Foundation has been conducting tours dinosaurs and fossils." You told us to stand back so other people school children since last this next little cares little for 1922; year Obviously, girl could see." 121,898 children participated in the program.) for the "rugged" he-man look. "Dear Sir, In this next letter you can see that the It is to the Raymond Foundation members I went to the muzeim, I saw men, I the little girl who wrote it has a keen insight that most of the correspondence is written. thought they needed a shave. But my into the functions of the Museum and a deep Following are a few of the letters, sent with sister said that they didn't have any rasers understanding of the role of the Museum in serious purpose to the Museum by visiting blades. I thought they looked very funny. " relation to her. I learned lots of work from students, that have elicited chuckles, and But they looked very small compeard to you. Thank you for showing us around." sometimes roars, from Museum staff mem- the men now." But perhaps one of the most heartwarming bers. Here's another youngster with a little con- of the letters sent to the Founda- This first letter is from the kind of school structive criticism for the Museum. "Dear Raymond tion is this next with which we shall group about which every Museum guard Miss Smith and Miss Svoboda, I had a good one, this the scien- dreams. "Dear Sirs: Class 29 have planned time. The whale was big. I like things close digression from strictly side of the to take a trip to the Museum. We will that are very big. I wish you could have a tific and academic Museum. come on April 18, 1959. We will keep the big whale in the museum even if you have "Dear Miss Smith, I couldn't come to the place clean. We will not touch any thing. chop down the walls." (Maybe, "destruc- Museum of Natural History because I was We will walk in a double line and look tive" is a better word for his suggestion.) a bad boy in the room and the teacher around. We will bring our own lunches This next letter illustrates the difficul- rfused to take me would you please send and eat there." ties that can arise from the problem of me a booklet on the forest Indians. Henry By the same token, this next letter is the interpretation and reinterpretation. "Dear Jones." kind of commentary the theatre would like Miss Cox, I enjoyed the tour of the museum —M.J. February, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 7

SOME SPECIMEN LABELS there were bigger ones around the bend of CHILDREN'S MOVIES TELL ODD STORIES the river. I was interested in some tiny BEGIN MARCH 5 snails only found in stream riffles and did By ALAN SOLEM The will its not desire the Neritina found in the Raymond Foundation open CURATOR OF LOWER INVERTEBRATES large spring series of free for children on calmer stretches. She kept insisting I see programs March with color mo- THE RESEARCH COLLECTIONS the bigger snails and waved her machete Saturday morning, 5, third fourth floors tion pictures on "China, Land of the INhoused on the and wildly. At last I went and collected a few. Dragon." of are thousands thous- On the same program there will be a cartoon. the Museum upon Perhaps it would be slightly misleading, Other for ands of specimens, neatly arranged in trays but these snails were "Collected at knife programs scheduled March are: must in dust-proof cabinets. Each specimen point." March 12—Falconry—the Sport of Kings have a label, telling certain vital bits of Calvin Goodrich relates the acme of un- (To be presented in person by Lou Gaeta information about it. written labels. A famous entomologist, and his live falcon, Such a label is a very terse, straight- E. B. Williamson, went on a Sunday after- Jezebel) forward bit of writing—number, name, geo- noon excursion. from the Slipping away March 19—My Home State— Illinois graphic locality, date collected, and name he into old for collect- crowd, changed pants Scout the collector. This is an item of (Cub day) of hardly ing and started after dragonflies. Spotting romance or adventure, there is often yet a species known previously from only two March 26—Conservation Is Our Business a fascinating story behind the label which the afternoon specimens, passed quickly. (Camp Fire Girl breaks the barrier. Day) sometimes through paper Finally he just barely caught the train a could the Only zoologist appreciate home—still wearing his old pants. The Except for the March 12 program, all thrill of a shell and "Red unpacking reading others were left by the stream. The speci- these shows are motion pictures. More films 1769." Here is a Sea, Forskal, specimen mens really could have been labeled "This will be presented on each Saturday morning collected a student of the famous Linneaus by is the spot where I lost my pants!" through April, and the rest of the titles will while for in who died searching specimens be announced in the March Bulletin. All the Middle East. The same can be story ISLES- programs begin at 10:30 a.m. in the James found from labels of all well-known collec- SOUTH SEA Simpson Theatre. tors. Unpacking Pupina brazieri from Erro- (Continued from page 3) manga in the New Hebrides brings to mind panions. He was autocratic, uncompromis- Brazier's that collected on statement he ing, ploddingly stubborn—a characteristic while made of the first Erromanga under attack by natives. which allowed him to persevere and to ac- Pigafetta drawings con- with islanders A notable case of devotion to science. complish deeds which would have defeated tact by Europeans, but he Yet a to us real idea of what occasionally, universally interesting less sturdy wills, but which also brought neglected give any label is found. Recently Chicago Natural him to an untimely end at the very apogee the people looked like. He did say, however, History Museum received some western of his success. that "They go naked, and some are bearded shells have black hair that North American land on exchange After months of exploration of the nooks and reaches to the waist from Munroe L. Walton. With specimens and crannies of the east coast of South .... Their amusement ... is to plough the of Oreohelix amariradix rare seas with those small boats of (a Montana America and a bleak winter season spent theirs," and land snail) was the cryptic message "All in a cove or two near Patagonia, success the "thieves stole whatever they could lay taken dead which may be excusable with was met and the strait that now bears his their hands on, so that we could not protect the rancher beside you with a shot gun name was found. Not, however, without ourselves .... They even very deftly stole making sure you did not set the place on mutiny and the defection of one of the from us the small boat which was fastened to fire." the of the flagship." In a fracas larger ships in the convoy (it turned around poop Several have atten- out of a shore malacologists called and went back across the Atlantic to Spain), arising party's attempt to tion to a note with the type specimens of and the loss of another vessel before Tierra recapture the boat, the native population Melania brerispina J. G. Anthony which del was reached. was attacked and displayed their absolute " Fuego reads New species determined when I was Magellan overcame the mutiny, buried ignorance of the bow and crossbow by stand- touch alone." while the arrows their blind, by his scurvy-ridden dead, and finally, much ing dumbly pierced bodies. The record states that a wounded A former curator at the University of depleted in supplies, set out across the un- native would look at his Michigan, Calvin Goodrich, even wrote a known Pacific with three remaining ships. surprisedly impaled brief paper on the unusual labels he'd seen. These weathered and worn craft left behind arm and try to pluck the missile from his flesh with an lack of A Mr. S. C. Shoup sent specimens with the the desolate slopes of bleak Patagonia and amazing understanding unscientific data "This is at the site of sailed northwestward in calm seas where wa- as to how it got there. The retreat was The islands were renamed the 'Maggie's Mill' where the song, 'When You ter tanks became putrid, flour crawled with general. I Islands of Thieves because and were Young Maggie,' was written." vermin, rats were bartered for at high prices, (the Ladrones) of the obvious of the natives. A former Illinois resident, W. W. Calkins, and finally even the leather hides in the propensity added "Battle Field of Chickamauga, near rigging were cooked and chewed along with Newly provisioned, and with crews in a which on the second day of the battle I was sawdust to sustain life. healthier state of mind, the vessels sailed wounded." A trail of withered corpses dropped be- on to the Philippines, which were at first From the labels seen, it is an easy step hind as the course proceeded westward. taken by Magellan to be the famed Spice to contemplate those not yet written. Last Finally land was sighted and unspeakable Islands for which he was headed. Even winter Henry S. Dybas, Associate Curator disappointment followed when it was found when it became apparent that this was not of Insects, and I were collecting insects to be several treeless atolls in what must the case, Magellan lingered, exploring more and snails from the Rio Tribique in the have been the northern Marshalls in Mi- and more of the small islands which form hinterlands of Panama. The village women cronesia. These they called St. Paul's and the central and south-central Phillippines. were doing the weekly laundry in the same Shark Islands, or the Desadventuradas. He came ultimately to Cebu and with much stream and were quite curious about the Weeks later the Marianas were sighted and pomp and ceremony "Christianized" the activities of the "Locos gringos." On find- contact with the natives made. These Ma- chief's family and as many of his subjects ing that I was after "caracolitos" (snails) gellan called the Islands of the Lateen sails. as appeared. Success was within his grasp— one woman excitedly kept insisting that It was March, 1521. he could have left and sailed on to the Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN February, 1960

Moluccas which were not too far distant. warriors of Mactan. Magellan's body was LECTURES ON SATURDAYS He knew he was close, because his trusty never recovered. TO START MARCH 5 slave Enrique (a Sumatran who had come Prior to this time one of the three remain- The spring series of color films and lec- into his possession in Malacca on the Malay ing ships had been abandoned and burned tures for adults—the 113th such series to be Peninsula many years before) found to his because it was impossible to stop its severe presented by the Edward E. Ayer Lecture surprise that he could understand what the leaking. Now there were two—and they Foundation—will open on Saturday, March 5 natives in the Philippines were saying. proceeded to the Moluccas under command with "The Pitcairn Story." Commander However, Magellan's stubbornness intruded of a young Basque nobleman by the name Irving Johnson will be the lecturer. itself once more, and in an attempt to of del Cano who, ironically, had been one On the three other Saturdays in March the show the invincibility of the warriors of of the mutineers prior to the rounding of lectures will be: the new sovereign to whom the chief from the tip of South America. It was he who Cebu had just sworn his allegiance, Ma- was to bring the one remaining ship back March 12—Pathways Through took 60 men on a war mission to to Spain with a crew of but 18 and four gellan J. Michael Hagopian the neighboring island of Mactan. He de- native survivors. What is worse, after Ma- clined any assistance from local "troops" gellan had secured the Moluccas for Spain March 19—Sub- Antarctic Isle ordered warriors to stand off- at the cost of his own and numerous other and 1,000 Cebu Alfred M. Bailey shore in canoes and observe "how it was lives, and after enduring indescribable hard- done." ship in the process, the King of Spain ulti- March 26—Rural England mately sold the islands to Portugal for a Alfred Wolff MAGELLAN SLAIN paltry sum. All the lectures begin at 2:30 P.M., and ad- At this point Magellan's success story be- Moreover, nobody ever used Magellan's mission is free. Five more programs will be comes a tragedy. The boats in which his strait. Those who tried often went aground given in April. Details on the entire series forces attempted to make a landing were and were lost, and finally, much later, ac- will be published in the March Bulletin. stranded offshore out of firing range by an counts were plublished in Europe which encircling reef. A contingent with Magellan denied the existence of the channel—saying in the lead therefore jumped into the waist- that it had been closed by landslides. Still Research Grant to Museum Scientist deep water and began wading ashore to later it was Drake who used the seaway in The National Science Foundation has close quarters. Fifteen hundred Mactanians sneaking up on Spanish shipping in the awarded a grant of $17,200 to the Museum awaited in the chaos that followed Pacific. Since 1913 we have the Panama them, and — had for the use of Philip Hershkovitz, Curator of eight men were slain of these, one was Canal to use, but even in the interim between Mammals, in continuation of a three-year Magellan, who refused to retreat in what Magellan's voyage in 1520 and that date, research project for the purpose of preparing ended as a complete rout. Face was lost the passage was largely shunned for other for publication a Check List of Recent Mam- in immense proportions. Later on, even routes. Nevertheless, the voyage was a mals of South America. Mr. Hershkovitz has negotiations failed, and a truce party of landmark, and it marked a first in Pacific had extensive field experience in South some 30 men was also slain by the avid exploration. (To be continued) America, and spent more than four years be- tween 1948 and 1952 as leader of the Muse- um's Colombia Zoological Expedition, the NEW MEMBERS Bixby, Jr., A. C. Boitel, Paul F. Boyyn, longest expedition continuously in the field O. S. Caesar, Charles J. Callanan, Francis P. in the Museum's 17 to history. (December January 15) Canary, Larry W. Cantrell, Mrs. Oscar D. Contributors Carlstrom, Joseph T. Carp, James P. Cody, Herbert Baker, Mrs. Herbert Baker, John J. Cogan, A. B. Costello, Walter W. Scientist from Here I. Dr. Alan Solem Dr. Charles George Quimby, Cruttenden, Sr., U. Culmer, Prof. Oskar Theodor of the Medical School James H. Cunningham, Donald Defrees, Life Member of Hebrew University, Jerusalem, recently Alfred F. Finkel, John Jay Fox, Jr., Robert Mrs. Charles C. Haffner, Jr. spent two weeks in the Museum's Division Frankenbush, A. J. Frystak, Harold Geil- Associate Members of Insects, bat and con- man, Charles F. Glore, Jr., William Grage, studying parasites Dr. Joseph Ackerman, James R. Adding- Carl I. Gustafson, Mrs. Edward K. Hardy, ferring with the staff. The Museum's col- ton, B. H. Bunn, W. F. Crawford, Dr. Wil- Warren S. Hassell, Dr. David B. Hatcher' lection of external parasites of bats, es- liam L. Samuel E. Robert DeLarye, Entsminger, W. Havey, Paul H. Heineke, Kai pecially bloodsucking flies, is one of the Miss Grance S. Don R. Frank Flagg, Grimes, Henriksen, Mrs. Cyrus G. Hill, Dr. Walter most comprehensive in existence. Prof. Brookes Hubachek, George L. Irvine, Her- C. Hoag, John F. Hutson, Eric Isaac, Mil- Theodor has won great distinction as a bert M. Johnson, Gordon Lang, C. E. ton J. Isaacs, W. R. Isom, Mrs. Oscar W. medical entomologist and parasitologist. His McKittrick, Bryan S. Reid, Jr., Lester W. Issaacson, Frank Kaplan, John J. Kapov, visit here is of a study to the Reinecke, Miss Marie Katherine Remien, Christ Karafotias, G. E. Keister, John O. part trip United States and Brazil under a from Robert S. Russell, H. R. Sampson, Harold Kindahl, Mrs. Roy Kroeschell, C. W. Kuh- grant W. Schloss, Noel M. Seeburg, Jr., M. M. nen, Mrs. Philip R. Latta, Mrs. Louis Leavitt, the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Shoemaker, Joseph J. Stefan, Harold C. Raymond E. Lee, Clarence J. Lehecka, Rob- Maryland. Steiner, John C. Sturgis, Wayne Swonk, ert Leighton, Miss Elaine Linnert, Mrs. John Melvin Thillens, Richard Uslander, Andrew L. Manta, Henry A. Markus, Mrs. Aquil J. Watt, Lafeton Whitney, Milton Zadek Mastri, Dr. William J. Mauer, Ralph R. win S. Sinaiko, Dr. W. Walter Sittler, Leon Non-Resident Associate Member Minkler, Walter A. Monney, Myron T. N. Skan, Ralph Skoner, Mrs. Hope Taylor, Martin W. Hanson Monsen, Westley F. Mont-Pas, James C. William L. Taylor, Jr., Bruce T. Teller, Moreland, Dr. Harry A. Oberhelman, Dr. Nels E. Tessem, Mrs. Reuben Thorson, Sustaining Member Abraham M. Oberman, Andrew Pettinger, Fred A. Tipple, Dr. David D. Turow, Del- Mr. Carroll G. Bowen Mrs. S. C. Pirie, Jr., George B. Pletsch, bert N. Urick, Dr. Pedro A. Valdes, Dr. Annual Members J. Rockefeller Prentice, James N. Rawleigh, Cornelius A. Vander Laan, Steve Vargo, Mrs. Thomas Amberg, Osborn Andreas, H. Edward Reeves, William Renouf, Scott Mrs. Leslie H. Vogel, Hamilton Vose, Jr., Mrs. Lucius A. Andrew, Jr., Dr. Cornelius Robertson, Walter D. Rudolph, Mrs. F. H. Dr. Carl F. Waters, Sheidon A. Weaver, M. Annan, Mrs. H. D. Arneson, Joseph P. Sasser, Miss Edith E. Sayers, Mrs. Agnes K. Dr. Marvin A. Weiss, Mrs. David Wenner, Antonow, Mrs. W. C. Bachelder, William U. Schmitt, F. Girard Schoettler, Dr. Paul W. Jr., Dr. Howard L. Werner, Dr. Robert E. Bardwell, Mrs. George A. Becker, Emery E. Schroeder, Dr. Jerome L. Schulman, Don- Westfall, Dr. Philip C. Williams, Dr. Ed- Bergfors, Dr. Haskell E. Bernstein, George ald K. Searles, Bruce L. Simpson, Dr. Ed- ward J. Wiss

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Page 2 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN March, I960 THIS MONTH'S COVER- Chicago Natural History Museum FILMS FOR CHILDREN Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 BEGIN MARCH 5 The woman with the Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 porter Telephone: WAbash 2-9410 An unusual and interesting program on whimsical smile pictured on our ' ' Falconry, the Sport of Kings," will be offered cover is a native of Nepal, a small THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES in the Museum on March 12 as part of the independent state located between Lester Armour Henry P. Ishaji Raymond Foundation's spring, 1960, series India and Tibet. Of special inter- Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler W». McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain of entertainment for children. The program est in the picture is the unusual J. Roscoe Miller Walther Buchen will Lou in and his brooche of and turquoise worn Chbsser M. Campbell William H. Mitchell present Gaeta, person, gold Walter J. Cummings John T. Ptrib, Jr. live falcon, Jezebel, in an interesting session around the woman's neck. Typ- Joseph N. Field Clarence B. Randall ical love of Marshall Field, Jr. John G. Searle demonstrating an art that has almost com- of the Nepalese jewelry, Stanley Field Solomon A. Smith pletely died in the world. it is often used to carry snuff. In Samuel Insull, Jr. Louis Ware many cases such an ornament rep- OFFICERS The spring series of entertainment is the resents all of a wealth. of the James Nelson and Anna Louise person's Stanley Field President offering Vice-President a country of about 56,000 Hughston M. McBain Fir* Raymond Foundation. Programs are pre- Nepal, Walther Buchen Second Vice-President miles and 5,600,000 popu- Joseph N. Field Tkird Vice-President sented on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. in the square A. Smith Treasurer for Solomon James Theatre. five of lation, is distinguished having Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary Simpson Although of the world's moun- E. Leland Webber Assistant Secretary the shows have been designated as special many highest tains. It also has some rather days for various children's organizations, all customs, as described in children, regardless of whether they are affili- unique THE BULLETIN Dr. R. L. article on ated with these organizations or not, are wel- Fleming's 3 of this issue. The of EDITOR come at all programs. The programs are free. page photo Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum the Nepalese woman porter was Following is the complete schedule: taken John Mover, of the Mu- CONTRIBUTING EDITORS by March 5—China—Land of the Dragon seum's staff, and is included in Paul S. Martin Ckitf Curator of Anthropology John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany a special Museum exhibit, "Peo- Curator March 12— — of Sharat K. Roy Chief of Geology Falconry The Sport and Places in India," on dis- Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology ple Theodor Just Curator Emeritus of Botany Kings play in Hall 18. ASSOCIATE EDITOR March 19—My Home State—Illinois M arh-yn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations (Cub Scout Day)

March 26—Conservation Is Our Busi- Members are requested to inform the Museum MILLAR HEADS BOTANY ness Fire Girl Day) promptly of changes of address. (Camp — After having served more than the required April 2 International Friendship minimum of ten years as Chief Curator, Dr. (Girl Scout Day) Theodor Just has been appointed Curator Emeritus of the Department of Botany. Re- STAFF NOTES 9—The of the April Voyage Beagle lieved of his administrative burdens, he will Traveler (Museum Day) be free to devote his entire time to research, Dr. C. Earle Smith, Jr., Associate Cura- April 16—NO PROGRAM—Easter writing, and editorial work. tor of Vascular Plants, spoke on the topic, Weekend John R. Millar, by unanimous vote of the Latin America, to the fifth grade class at Board of Trustees at its last meeting, was Oliver Holmes School, Oak Park, on Jan- April 23—The Red Balloon elected Chief Curator of Botany to replace 27. He illustrated his lecture with ko- uary Just. Mr. Millar the staff of the April 30—All Cartoon Program Dr. joined dachromes and samples of economic plant Museum on February 1, 1918, and was asso- materials. . . . Dr. Alan Solem, Curator of Children may come alone, in groups, or ciated with the Stanley Field Plant Repro- Lower Invertebrates, left for Florida Febru- with parents or other adults. duction Laboratory continuously from that ary 16 to act as a judge for the St. Petersburg time until 1937 when he was appointed Cura- Shell Club Show. . . . Mrs. Ruth Andris, tor of the N. W. Harris Public School Exten- zoology departmental secretary and a fre- STANLEY FIELD RE-ELECTED sion of the Museum. In 1946, Mr. Millar illustrator in the BULLETIN, had a quent At the January meeting of the Board of became Deputy Director of the Museum and piece of sculpture accepted for the Brother- Trustees, Mr. Stanley Field was elected served in that capacity until called to his hood Week Art Exhibit displayed at Mar- President of the Museum for the 52nd con- present assignment. shall Field and Art Galleries from Company His secutive year. accomplishments during Mr. Millar's wide experience in botany in- February 22 through March 5. . . . Bertram his term of office have been commented on cludes to South Florida, 1918- Associate Curator of collecting trips Woodland, Petrology, in the 1957 at some length and 1958 Annual 1919; the Stanley Field Expedition to British will appear on the WGN-TV program, Reports of the Director of the Museum. His Guiana in 1922; the Captain Marshall Field "Science In Our World Today," on March 7, continuing leadership is a source of inspira- Brazilian in 1926; and the Sewell 8:15 to 8:30 A.M. Expedition tion both to the Board of Trustees and to the Avery Expedition to Nova Scotia in 1938. staff of the Museum. Girl Scouts Give Aid to Botany Others re-elected to office include: Hours Eleven Senior Girl Scouts of the South Hughston M. McBain, 1st Vice President Spring Visiting Cook County Council are participating in a Walther Buchen, 2nd Vice President Begin at Museum N. 3rd Vice museum aid project in plant mounting by Joseph Field, President Beginning March 1, spring visiting hours contributing 36 hours of service on six alter- Solomon A. Smith, Treasurer will go into effect at the Museum. The build- nate Saturdays. Directing the project, which Clifford C. Gregg, Director and Secretary ing will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 P.M. every- will end March 19, are Mr. Robert Reich, Mr. E. Leland Webber was elected Assist- day. These hours will prevail until May 1 Custodian of the Herbarium, and Mrs. Dor- ant Director and Assistant Secretary of the when summer hours of 9 a.m. to 6 P.M. will othy Gibson, Botany Departmental Secretary. Museum. be observed. March, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN PageS SOMETHING NEW IN CALENDARS-NEPAL'S UNUSUAL YEAR

India to their nesting grounds beyond the gladioli and probes their bases with a long, Himalayas. Wild pears forth their small, curved bill. Two weeks later immature males Dr. R. L. Fleming, Field Associate put white flowers in scrub jungle, while sprays of and females overtake him — but he is off, of the Department of Zoology, was sta- peach and apricot trees decorate city gar- leaving his family in Kathmandu for a num- tioned in Mussoorie, India, as high dens. No more fog hangs over the at ber of weeks. myrtle hedges burst school supervisor from 19^7 through valley Crepe dawn, but a dust haze, fanned winds from into bloom; some are trees forty feet high. 1953. While at Mussoorie, he made by the Indian plain, already fills the air. The Indian Embassy gounds are especially trips into Nepal—from the lowlands up beautiful. By the middle of the month peo- to far above timberline in the Himalayas SEEK LEGENDARY "SNOW MAN" ple begin to offer special prayers for rain, and —on which he collected many bird speci- koel cuckoo in a few days the first downpours occur. mens for the Museum. Since 1 953 he The announces the month of his harsh both Over night the great parade ground in the has been superintendent of the Medical April by screaming song day dust haze center of Kathmandu turns from straw to a Mission to Nepal of the Board of World and night. The has thickened and obscures the hills. deep green. Missions of the Methodist Church. nearby Expeditions led re- by foreigners are on their way to the top of His active interest in bird study EVERY YEAR 'LEAP YEAR' or to the of the abominable sulted in an extensive report on "Birds Dhaulagiri home Summer months of and are from Nepal," which he co-authored with snow man. On overhanging crags one finds July August farmers' time of feverish As soon Chief Curator Austin L. Rand. The the beautiful white and yellow bride-of-heaven activity. orchids in clusters of three to as the is moist, men work long hours, article which follows was inspired by the which grow ground soil with a short-han- nature calendar published in the Janu- seven flowers. Back in the valley, farmers turning up king-size, are or are dled "hoe." of women ary issue of the Bulletin. busy with winter wheat harvest Squads rhythmically preparing the earth for future rice planting. break clods of earth with large wooden mal- The shallow rivers dry up and people travel lets. The sprouting rice is taken from seed- to and from Kathmandu over the sand of the ling beds and planted by hand in flooded By ROBERT L. FLEMING fields. rows of women bend to their DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY FIELD ASSOCIATE stream beds. Long work. In May days are warm with the tempera- task and sing love ballads as they out an in- NEPALESE have worked on the banks of fields a ture in the 90's, but the ten to fifteen degree Boys may sing reply, of time to THEdependent measure compared and should a win the contest which fol- fall at night makes it very comfortable. The girl Americans. They are well along in their This ver- last of the migrating birds pass through the lows, she may propose marriage. slated for 2016th year with New Year's Day of comes and draws valley, while on the neighbouring hills the sion leap-year annually the middle of April. Twelve lunar months dawn chorus of resident and summer nesting a large number of smiling spectators. linked in six pairs make up their "seasons," birds is at its height. By the end of the By now monsoon rains are strong. Snakes but to the casual western observer in Kath- month, mountaineers reach their upper lim- escape from their watery holes and seek shel- mandu there seem to be only three — the its and "snow men" have again successfully ter in houses. Rat snakes and keelbacks are warm, the wet, and the cold seasons. At a eluded their pursuers. the more common. People dread a dark- latitude of mid-Florida and an altitude well The tiny purple sunbird ushers in June colored snake, for should such a one glide under a mile, the days come and go in pleas- with a wild, clear warble as he alights on (Continued on page 7, column 1) ant succession. To take a closer look at the seasonal pat- tern in Kathmandu, let us begin with the first day of spring in early February. Fields glow with yellow mustard when the usual chill of evening is suddenly broken by the first faint puff of warm air. Spring comes but oh so gently. Next day the wedding sea- son breaks with gala sounds of fife and drum. Processions carry large colored umbrellas un- der which ride brides and grooms. This happy time is reflected in a burst of melody from the magpie robin, perched on a housetop. In the neighbouring hills tree rhododendrons with clusters of scarlet blooms brighten the ridges and draw many birds, even the giant weasel-like, pine martens, to feast on the flowers. March brings the festival of Holi, a season of wild abandonment, when sins, in the form of garbage, are thrown into the streets and when the younger generation slop dirty colored water on passers-by or pour crimson powder " down people's necks. It is hallow'een" time and wood is stolen to burn in the Holi fire at street intersections at night. It is well to have no errands down town for a week, and if one does, he wears his oldest clothing. The strengthening rays of the sun now stimulate TIBETANS HOPE TO MAKE A SALE the bird Winter with population. migrants In winter months Tibetans travel to Kathmandu with goods to sell. Above are two Tibetans with yaks layers of stored-up fat, are on their way from (large wild, or domesticated, oxen of Tibet). Pagei CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN March, 1960

Discovery of Pacific isies . . . IT ALL STARTED WITH SPICE AND ENDED WITH SCIENCE By ROLAND W. FORCE CURATOR OF OCEANIC ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY

Part III

SALE of the Moluccas by Spain to THEPortugal in 1528 demonstrated what seems to have been a rather foolhardy ap- proach to things. But what must be remem- bered is that Spain had other involvements. She retained the Philippines and spent 250 years sailing back and forth between the west coast ports of Mexico and the Philip- pines^—trying, for the most part, to miss the scattered intervening islands which were con- sidered of little value from the standpoint of exploitation. Not all Spanish exploration had an economic impetus. There was an enormous amount of zeal to spread the gos- pel—and where better spread it than in Terra Australis Nondum Detecta. At various times voyagers alternately thought that New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, the New Hebrides, and even parts of the Solomons belonged to this hypothetical mass of land to the south. Bf Staff TOestrafOf Marion Pahl In 1567 Alvaro de Mendana (a nephew of the Viceroy of Peru) was commissioned to set A was founded in the New dies and in the short of four had sail with two ships in search of the supposed colony Hebrides, span years and it was called Australia del Santo set the famed United East Indies Com- austral continent. He was to establish a set- — Espiritu up tlement there and convert the natives to or New Jerusalem another testimonial to pany. Mostly the Dutch were interested in the fervor with which was imbued. and there was more to be had with the Christianity. The track sailed was westward Quiros trade, native and — the in Southeast into Polynesia, between the Tuamotus and Disease, unrest, mutiny relatively sophisticated peoples three horsemen of the Pacific—caused the Asia than in the more nether reaches of the the Marquesas, sighting neither. After a abandonment of the returned Pacific Ocean. typical voyage of the period in which starva- colony. Quiros to Peru, and one of his under Torres tion and death played their usual roles, and ships Several names stand out in terms of Pa- sailed west the which were during which the Ellice Islands were sighted, through straits, cific exploration for the Dutch. LeMaire to bear his between New Guinea and the expedition found itself in the Solomons. name, and Schouten left Holland in 1615 to dis- Australia. continued to for Beyond a certain amount of plunder and Quiros petition cover a means of beating the monopoly on new expeditions until his death in 1614. trade held the India pillage, the voyagers succeeded in mapping by United East Com- Pa- the islands in such an exclusive manner that With him died Spain's conquest of the pany. They sailed around the tip of South cific. She held onto what she had for some they could not be found for another 200 years. America and into Polynesia, touching the but new discoveries were not After an unfruitful attempt at colonization, time, sought. Tuamotus, Hoorn (Home) Island in the Fiji- Mendana turned homeward to the north During the Portuguese and Spanish period area; skirted New Ireland and New some discoveries were made and toward the Gilberts and Marshalls, but not by English Guinea, and discovered the coastal groups French such as Drake and Caven- touching them, discovered Wake, and ulti- pirates known now as the Admiralties and the Schou- but amounted to little com- mately returned, bedraggled, to Peru. dish, they very ten Islands. The thing that made it difficult with what was to occur later on. Undaunted, Mendana spent a quarter of a pared for independent Dutch merchants was that for a return the monopolistic United East India Com- century stirring up support visit DUTCH HARD CASH PERIOD had exclusive to the two to the Solomons, and finally, in 1595, went pany rights only— to sea once more. This time he made it to The Dutch were a breed apart. They were known passages leading to the Indies the hard businessmen. the Marquesas, where he managed to kill headed, super-practical Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Magel- several hundred "infidels," and from there They were the men in gray flannel of their lan. LeMaire and Schouten sailed around of finally reached Santa Cruz in the Solomons. day, without the ingredient conformity the island at the tip of South America (Staten The "colony" did not work out any better that has come to be associated with this cate- Island) and through another strait which now this time, and Mendana, as well as many gory of man. bears LeMaire's name. Upon reaching Ba- others in his party, met his end in the Isles The Dutch took astute advantage of the tavia, however, the LeMaire voyage came to of Solomon. The remnants of the voyage decline of Spanish and Portuguese power on an abrupt halt with the confiscation of the ended up in Manila. the high seas and in the world of nations. ship and its property. Later, after much liti- A later voyage of conversion was under- Many Dutchmen had sailed under Spanish gation, it was proved that the route taken in fact one and the had taken by Pedro Fernandes de Quiros, one of and Portugue&j command and when the op- was a new voyage not been in violation of Mendana's subordinates. He found royal portunity presented itself (with the defeat actually existing reg- favor and sailed in 1605 from Peru with three of the Spanish armada in 1588 and the gen- ulations. This may have given LeMaire and ships. He ended up in the New Hebrides eral weakening of Portuguese influence), the his father (the merchant) some satisfaction, after what (theoretically) was the cleanest Dutch stepped into the breach, and by 1602 but little else. voyage in history—no gambling, swearing, held the East Indies in their grasp. In 1598 We credit Van Dieman (a Dutch admin- or mistreating of natives was condoned. alone they sent five expeditions into the In- istrator) with having inspired most of the March, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 5 real Dutch exploration in the western Pa- SECRET SOCIETY MASK cific. He was appointed governor-general FROM AFRICA and appeared on the scene in Batavia in BY PHILLIP H. LEWIS 1636. He commissioned certain explorations Associate curator of primitive art to answer questions about land to the south. In 1642 Tasman discovered Tasmania, which Widespread among the peoples of the Sierra Leone Protectorate and Liberia is a women's he called Van Dieman's land, though it now bears his name. He went on to discover New secret society called Sande, or sometimes Bundu. The mask shown in the Zealand and probably Tonga and Fiji. Later, accompany- of that on another voyage, Tasman explored the ing illustration was used by members northern coast of Australia. Tasman's ven- secret society, and was collected from the tures were considered failures by all except Mende people, who number about 600,000 and are found in Sierra Leone. Van Dieman who, after all, got an island named after him; and when he died, the The Sande society is a women's organiza- sport came to an end. Not a single exploit- tion which parallels the better known Poro able area had been discovered. The books society of the same area. The main func- had to balance and tomfoolery such as ex- tion of the Sande society is to initiate and ploration would not allow this. The only educate young women to the proper fulfill- other Dutchman who amounts to much in ment of women's work. our books is who in 1722 history Roggeveen, — The mask shown here is used as part of the happened onto lonely Easter Island so- impersonation or representation of the Sande called since his arrival was on Easter day. SECRET SOCIETY MASK spirit. A woman of high rank in the secret also eastern Samoa and Roggeveen sighted Used by women of the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone society is given the honor of being allowed to for his trouble his West Africa. Seventeen inches was repaid by having ships Protectorate, high, represent the spirit by wealing the mask. the mask is carved in wood, and decorated with a confiscated for having trespassed in areas The forms of the mask are derived from the East fringe of dyed raffia. controlled by the all-powerful India forms of a human head and face; but these Company. have been altered by making the face very small, the forehead and head large, and by SCIENCE AND STABILIZATION PERIOD and a channel between Admiralties, finding emphasizing the hairdress. The of British and French New Britain and New Ireland. period explora- Ideals of beauty current among the Mende tion began with freebooters who devoted Bougainville, a French captain, took scien- are expressed in the following translation of a themselves to Be- tists along on his voyage and thereby estab- looting Spanish galleons. mourning song sung by a member of the tween 1695 and 1726 it is estimated that lished a precedent. He visited Tahiti, Sande society for a deceased woman: there were more than a hundred British and Samoa, the New Hebrides, and the Solomons. "Let me not hear this! My child, big fore- French voyages into the Pacific. The Eng- Finally he ran up against the great barrier head, woman with plenty of hair, what lishman Dampier visited , the Philip- reef of Australia and had to turn around. for later the brought this you?" pines, Australia, New Ireland, and New He mapped Louisiade Archipelago This that the Britain, and is immortalized by having his and ultimately had one of the Solomons suggests impersonated spirit is of as a human-like creature. How- name attached to the passage between New named after him. thought it is and so that Guinea and New Britain. In many ways This brings us to the famed Captain James ever, exaggerated stylized see the more notable than his deeds were the writ- Cook. In three voyages (1768-79) he left the Mende know, when they masked that are at a ings of this buccaneer. He inspired many to little else to be done by explorers in the Pa- figure, they looking supernatural and not an Art follow in his footsteps with his graphic de- cific. He picked up the loose pieces and fit- creature, ordinary person. is thus used to make visible and a scriptions of island life. Here, in truth, dwelt ted them together, finally paying for the tangible of the world. the noble savage, needless to say, walking in privilege by being killed by irate Hawaiians part supernatural beauty. Another seafaring subject of the who wanted to keep a ship's boat they had British Crown was Anson, who is also noted stolen for the nails it contained. The penal- for plunder and the vivid descriptions of his ties for contact with South Sea Islanders perhaps, Cook overcame scurvy (a malady voyages to the Marianas. have always been high — but inestimably stemming from insufficient vitamin C) by Byron, an Englishman, was one of the higher from the islanders' point of view. rationing fresh lemon juice daily and by put- first to benefit from competing government Cook, once and for all, settled the issue as ting in for fresh supplies as often as possible. sponsorship of exploration by Britain and to the existence of Australis. He sailed on He also ran a clean ship and insisted on clean France. This was a situation not unlike to- two different occasions so far south that he quarters and dry clothing for his men. Of day's in which the United States and Soviet was stopped by ice fields. What is more, he importance to anthropology also is the fact are vying to see who can get a man used newly developed instruments (the chro- that Cook collected ethnographic specimens into space first; and it, too, had a scientific nometer and the sextant) to chart the Pacific which are now lodged in various museums emphasis. During his voyages to the Mari- so expertly that little revision has been neces- the world over. anas, the Tuamotus, and the Gilberts, Byron sary. Astronomical observations were made, All and all, this man and his companions did a good deal of mapping, and numerous plants were collected, natives were sketched solved most of the major mysteries of the errors were cleared up. Descriptions of the and described, notes were taken on natural Pacific. It has never been the same since. flora and fauna were published, as well as resources, harbors were listed, currents were The door was to future in opened generations accounts of the native populations. noted ; and general, exhaustive information of traders, missionaries, whalers, and other Wallis and Carteret, also sailing from Eng- of all descriptions was collected. On his vari- of civilization. land, visited the Tuamotus, the Society Is- ous voyages, Cook and his men touched the latter-day representatives Gone forever was the isolation of the islander. lands (Tahiti), and Tinian and Saipan in Societies, Antarctica, the Hervey Islands, Micronesia. These latter islands were much New Zealand, Hawaii, eastern Australia, the The last stronghold of aboriginality had been visited by voyagers in need of supplies. Car- Tuamotus, the Marquesas, Niue, New Cale- pierced. It all—started with spice and it ended teret is credited with rediscovering the Solo- donia, Norfolk, Mangaia, Tubuai, and many with science the age of discovery was over. mons, exploring the Bismarcks, mapping the other smaller islands. Most significantly (To be continued) Page 6 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN March, 1960 FILMS OFFER 'WORLD TOUR' WITH WELL-KNOWN LECTURERS

AROUND THE WORLD via motion of the main islands of New Zealand, Camp- April 16— Xi picture camera! For the 113th time bell Island is one of the most isolated weather Kenneth Richter the Museum offers the public a popular free stations in the world. However, its remote- The theme of Kenneth Richter's "Switzer- motion picture-lecture series, featuring well- ness does not rule out the existence of a land" is the strikingly successful union of known lecturers and the color films they wealth of interesting wildlife—the Royal three greatly different peoples—German, have taken while traveling in remote and Albatrosses (largest flying birds in the French, and Italian—in a confederation famous places in the world. The programs, world), droll penguins, and great herds of which has served them well for centuries and sponsored by the Edward E. Ayer Lecture gigantic elephant seals—that is included in today stands as an example to the whole Foundation, are presented on Saturdays at Bailey's film, along with an interesting world. Richter's audience will travel with 2:30 P.M. in the James Simpson Theatre. camera study of the unusual activities of a him high into the Alps by chair lift, and then Members of the Museum may claim reserved meteorological station. journey on foot in the mountains. The film seats by presenting their membership cards takes you into the home of a Swiss family before 2:25 P.M. on the lecture day. March 26—Rural England and shows the Swiss people at work in watch- is the schedule: Following complete spring Alfred Wolff making, dairy farming, and heavy industry. The impressive "trooping of the colors" Stops on the tour are Geneva and Zurich, March 5—The Pitcairn Story ceremony on the Queen's birthday, changing financial centers of the world. Irring M.Johnson, U£.N.R. of the Guard at Windsor Castle, Stratford- Castle of 23—The For Captain Irving M. Johnson and his upon-Avon, Tintagel King Arthur, April Mighty Mississippi Cotswold old- wife, "home" has come to mean a schooner Canterbury, quaint villages, James W. Metcalf a vessel fashioned Cornwall seaports—all spell Eng- and brigantine called the "Yankee," The mighty Mississippi winds its way land and will be a part of Alfred Wolff's that seven times in the last 25 years has south from its source in a small northern that concentrates on the rural carried the Johnsons to colorful Pitcairn presentation Minnesota lake called Itasca to the Gulf of the his- life of the island nation. The motion picture, Island. The "Yankee," resembling Mexico, weaving a pattern of beauty, indus- toric mutineers of which in 1790 not limiting itself to traditional and cere- "Bounty," try, and commerce in the land through which Pitcairn Island island monial England, will present also a little of occupied (the present it passes. James Metcalf has recorded the is descended from those modern England with a look at the world's population directly complete story of the Mississippi's 2,552-mile has a in first atomic energy plant, and intimate early mutineers), captured place journey to the sea, giving special attention of the island—that the "Yan- glimpses of the people at home and at work. the history is, to the lovely landscapes along its banks and kee" and her camera-toting skipper, Captain to some of its important industrial cities. color motion April 2—Holland Johnson. Johnson's picture These cities ship much of their produce on includes scenes life on Pitcairn illustrating Gerald Hooper the Mississippi, upstream or down, on an 25 as well as life as it is now, with years ago, Holland, a country that has been waging endless water conveyor belt that transports some camera accounts of under- exciting a ceaseless battle with the sea for many more than 40 per cent of the nation's bulk water diving operations to recover parts of years, provided interesting subject matter freight. the famous "Bounty." for Gerald Hooper's camera when he roamed the lowland country from Amsterdam's April 30—The Shandon Hills March 12—Pathways Through Pakistan canals and odd architecture, to the Hague, JohnE.Taft J. Michael Hagopian and and an Rotterdam, on, on, creating A love for wildlife and the wild lands in is the world's Moslem informative motion picture as he traveled. Pakistan largest which it lives brought about the develop- has made a camera of country—and its most important Moslem Hooper special study ment of John E. Taft into an enthusiastic the world's venture—the country, according to J. Michael Hagopian, greatest drainage naturalist and ardent conservationist. The in- the claimed who will bring to the Simpson Theatre dikes, pumping, newly ground, Shandon Hills of his native California pre- life with a fertile farms—and will his audience a teresting glimpses of Pakistani give sent a rare combination of harsh, lonely ter- on the taste of the colorful Holland Festival, which personal commentary country's past, rain and lovely meadows which attract a its and its future. His color film features performances of the world's leading present, wide variety of wild creatures, both resident life in La- artists and musical groups. highlights city Karachi, Sukkur, and migrant. In his color motion picture hore, Dacca, and Chittagong; the historical Mr. Taft takes his audience along the trail 9— Yankee in Texas heritage of the Mogul Emperors; peasant April Spy of the four seasons, portraying animal life in riverfronts of the life along the Indus, Robert Daris its ceaseless struggle for existence against Ganges, and the Brahmaputra; and tribal enemies and hostile as well as in Robert Davis, as a "yankee spy in dis- weather, dances of the Bengal jungle. In addition, the of the California springtime. A guise," invaded Texas to make a compre- beauty Dr. Hagopian will speak on the Communist little-known area in scenes hensive film of our great western state noted Californiapresents threat to Pakistan, the Pak-India contro- of and interest. for its oil, cattle, and vast expanses of graz- surprising beauty versy over Kashmir, and Pakistan's relations ing land. In his film, however, Davis pays with the United States. special attention to the fantastic develop- Five Antioch Students ment that has taken place in agriculture, March 19— Su ban tare tic New Zealand Museum Stall industry, and fishing, with side excursions Join M. Alfred Bailey to such places as the famous King Ranch Five students from Antioch College (Yellow A destroyer escort doing picket duty on and an arabian horse ranch. He also points Springs, Ohio) are employed in the Museum's the fringe of the Antarctic, as part of the out the necessity of border patrols and air- scientific departments as part of Antioch's of the program of the International Geo- planes, the role the armed forces play in specialized eductional program of in-the- physical Year, is the vehicle for Alfred M. Texas, and its splendid educational institu- field study. The students will remain with Bailey's screen tour to rugged subantarctic tions. As a background for his film Davis the Museum three months, during which Campbell Island. Located in the "howling includes bits of historical information on time they are adding to their education while fifties," four hundred and fifty miles south the development of the "Lone Star" state. rendering valuable assistance to the Museum. March, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 7

DR. KENNETH STARR LEAVES NATURE PHOTO CONTEST FOR FAR EASTERN STUDY BREAKS ALL RECORDS Dr. Kenneth Starr, Curator of Asiatic Ar- The 15th Chicago International Exhibition chaeology and Ethnology, departed Febru- of Nature Photography held this February ary 17 for Taiwan (Formosa) to pursue a broke all previous records in numbers of for the special study-research assignment prints and slides submitted, and in the num- Museum. His trip will take him around the ber of persons who entered the contest. to return via world, as he plans Asia, Europe, Approximately 600 prints and 3,400 slides and across the Atlantic, making stops at spe- were entered in the contest by over 1,000 cial points of scientific interest. photographers. Entries poured in from the of Dr. Starr's which Main objectives trip, four corners of the world, including , will cover a period of six months or more, are: Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Germany, , in the anthro- (1) to pursue further his studies , England, India, Japan, Ma- cultural of China and pology and history (2) laya, and . This year, for the to the of Chinese ink- examine large holdings first time in the contest's history, a packet rubbings in public and private collections. of 52 prints was entered by Russia's Union Rubbings are ink-on-paper copies of low- of Soviet Societies of Friendship and Cul- relief or incised inscriptions and designs on tural Exchange with Foreign Countries. stone, metal, fired clay, and other hard ma- After a weekend of judging, 6 entries were terials. They often have been very illumi- selected to receive silver medals and 117 nating in studying the history and art of were chosen for honorable mentions. Win- *I'm Innocent*' by M. J. Schmidt, of Chicago, won China and other Asiatic countries. an honorable mention in nature photo show. ners of silver medals are: Prints—"White tour will Some of the special stops on the Sands Yucca," M. S. Barrett, Adams, Mas- the Bernice in be Bishop Museum Hawaii, sachusetts; "Waiting," William Van Allen, Dr. Starr will confer with Dr. Ken- where Bend, Oregon;"Storm Clouds," Caryl Firth, neth Emory on an unusual collection of rub- Trappe, Maryland; Slides—"Lake of Lava," bings of petroglyphs made by Dr. Emory; Bob Haugen, Hawaii National Park, Ha- Japan, where Dr. Starr will spend some time waii; "Winter's Embellishments," Leslie A. studying Japanese collections of rubbings; Campbell, Belchertown, Massachusetts; Taiwan's National Central Library and the "Blue Quartet," Raymond Schortmann, Institute of History and Philology of Aca- Easthampton, Massachusetts. the ancient ruins of demia Sinica; and Angker The contest is the largest in the world de- Wat in . The trip is being spon- voted to nature photography. sored by the Museum, the American Coun- cil of Learned Societies, and Science Re- search Council. 'WILDLIFE DOWN UNDER,'

** Animal With Scales" by Madam Van der Bussche, LAST AUDUBON PROGRAM of awarded honorable mention in photo Belgium, The Illinois Audubon Society goes to Aus- NEPALESE YEAR- show, one of many photos from foreign countries. tralia for its final screen-tour in the 1959-60 (Continued from page 3) lecture series with Alfred M. Bailey's presen- tation of "Wildlife across the road it is a sure sign of the ap- ily and friends, feast and make merry. Regi- Down Under," on Sun- proaching death of a member of the family. ments sacrifice young buffaloes and goats; day, March 20, in the James Simpson Theatre. Dr. director of the On wet hillsides, earthworms occasionally the commander-in-chief of the army bathes Bailey, Denver Museum, his color form living chains yards long. Leeches his hands in the blood and marks their flags made motion picture during the abound in certain areas. Not content to inch with his handprint. Gardens are full of mari- springtime, the most brilliant season in the in Australia. The film of his their way along the ground, they cluster at golds. Crickets and other insects still chorus year story most recent to ends of grasses along a trail or drop from at night. Tree and house sparrows gather at expedition Outback country in- trees with extreme accuracy. dawn and dusk in a noisy community chit- cludes such natural curiosities as magnetic Blue-green fields of August give way to chat. The rainy season ends and billows of ants, vast hordes of waterfowl, emus, moni- tor koalas—as well as yellow-green fields of September as rice and cumulus clouds fill the sky. lizards, kangaroos, the corn ripen. Boys now fly kites to inform the The Festival of Lights in early November, aborigines. rain god that no more moisture is needed on concludes the fall holiday season. Dealers The program will be presented at 2:30 p.m. harvest fields. Many dogs roam the city whitewash their shops and brighten them at Admission is free. streets and about half the females come into night with oil lamps or electricity in honor heat at this time. Now is the season for of the goddess of wealth. It is the end of the em Nepalese come to Kathmandu with their naspatis, an apple-pear which makes good fiscal year. It is also the marriage season long-haired goats, sheep, and yak-tails for sale. sauce, and for guavas, brought in eared string again; people don their best clothing and A dry, cold wind blows from the north, and sacks carried on the backs of villagers. Birds feast with family members. In the market, streets are quickly deserted after the short begin to appear in the "down migration" the first oranges appear, along with huge work day from eleven to four. Colder days from Siberia, led by the wagtails. Over a heads of cauliflower and radishes two feet bring birds like grosbeaks from higher eleva- hundred species of ferns cover trees and the long. Rice fields are clear of grain, and when tions down to Kathmundu Valley. Even ground while a dozen or more species of or- the first shower comes, soil is prepared for then roses and sweet peas fill gardens, while chids cling to oaks and rhododendrons. The potatoes, beans and cabbages. Poinsettias the nearby hills are fragrant with the scent rice harvest begins and continues for six weeks. leaf out and are twenty or more inches across. of daphne. October is "Christmas" for the Nepalese. Skies are clear and ranges of glittering snow After a period of waiting, there comes that Schools and government offices close. Peo- peaks stretch away toward Tibet. first faint puff of warm evening air. Astrol- ple come home from India for this Dusai During the winter months of November, ogers declare the marriage season open and season. They put on new clothing, visit fam- December, and January, Tibetans and north- spring has come again. Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN March, 1960

Shell Collection Grows . . . provide reference sets on which to base new NEW CHILDRENS' JOURNEY RECEIVES GIFT studies. LEADS TO CHINA MUSEUM Life-long residents of West America, the Children OF LIFE-LONG HOBBY Buttons had naturally concentrated on shells may journey to the fascinating land of China without ever By ALAN SOLEM from their own region, but also made an leaving Chicago in CURATOR OP LOWER INVERTEBRATES effort to obtain duplicates for trading with by participating the Raymond Founda- tion's new — of foreign students. Probably this is the most spring journey, "China Land UNPACKING of more than 13,000 collection of West Ameri- the Dragon," beginning in March and con- sets of shells from the collection of the complete private THE into can species in existence. But Mr. Button tinuing through May. The journey the late Fred Button of Oakland, California has did not limit his to American shells. Republic of China (covering a period from been Started by his father collecting just completed. directs to ex- Several thousand glass vials contain minute 1911-1940) young "journeyers" in this collection the life- 1865, represents of shells from all continents and all hibits Chinese puppets and Chinese thea- of two men, from imaginable long hobby busy dating and to a exhibit habitats. Unlike collectors, the But- tre, special that demonstrates Civil War and continuing until Mr. many days the curricula of a tons were to minute shells, and typical grade school stu- Button's death in 1926. Since then, it has very partial more material of this kind than was con- dent in China during the early 1900's. been stored in the attic of his daughter's tained in the Museum's entire collection has home until acquired by Chicago Natural come from this addition. History Museum in 1959. World events are no respectors of natural IMPORTANCE OF AMATEURS history collections. Wars, natural disasters, Of greater interest to most shell collectors carelessness in museums, and minor acci- are the cowry shells. Approximately 168 dents all serve to lose valuable specimens species are recognized, and a few amateur documenting early work of natural scientists. collectors who in nothing but cow- The exchange of specimens with students in specialize have to accumulate to 156 other lands often leads to rediscovery of ma- ries, managed up species. The Button collection contained terial long assumed lost. Any old collection 143 and wooden cabinets from the may have a few important items, but never species, collection have been to add an- have we seen so as in the Button col- exchanged many The be taken or other seven species, giving Chicago Natural journey may by any boy lection. and travel instructions are available at History Museum the largest representation girl, SHELLS FROM HISTORY the north After of the family iD any American museum. and south doors. completion of four different journeys, the Sea shells from the Red Sea collected by In connection with another project, I re- "journeyer" becomes a certified Museum Traveler; after a student of Linnaeus in 1769, sets of species cently estimated that fully 90 per cent of our is of the activi- eight, a Museum Adventurer; and after 12, of which the original material was destroyed mollusk collection the result a Museum With the in the San Francisco earthquake (now being ties of amateur conchologists, either through Explorer. completion or from collections of 16 different a child becomes eli- eagerly studied by scientists at the California gifts to the Museum pur- journeys col- for a and then member- Academy of Sciences), a few shells from the chased from estates. Mostly, amateurs gible special journey but the rare in the Museum's Discoverers' completely destroyed Hungarian and Ham- lect big pretty shells, exceptions, ship Club. the do exist. burg museums, literally hundreds of sets of such as Button family, From the of research, this is shells from South African, Australian, and standpoint FREE CONCERT our FEATURES Hawaiian authorities, and many others all one of the finest collections received by LEONARD ROSE form valuable records of past research and Museum to date. Leonard Rose, noted cellist, will appear as artist with the Festival NEW MEMBERS J. Donahoe, S. M. Dover, H. Folger Fellowes, guest String Quartet Aaron G. Gaines, Mrs. William Goodman, at the Free Concert Foundation's fourth to (January 18 February 5) Sidney S. Gorham, Jr., Walter Haines, Her- chamber music concert in James Simpson Associate Members man F. Hajen, John W. Heddens, Alan Theatre on March 9, at 8:30 p.m. Rose is Miss Miriam L. Dr. Nathan Allen, Arthur I. Appleton, Wil- Hindmarch, Hockman, presently touring America, making a number Melvin R. Homer, S. J. Ives, Arnold B. liam A. Brandt, Robert M. Buddington, of guest appearances. He has recently re- Arthur D. Kalnitz, Mrs. Anthony Kamenjarin, Fred Chesser M. Campbell, Chilgren, turned from an extensive European tour. Miss Bonnie Colvin, Eugene Cotton, John K. R. Kaufmann, Jr., Joseph J. Keene, Law- L. The evening's musical program will be Dorsey, Mrs. R. Taylor Drake, R. W. Fer- rence A. Kerns, Gerald C. Kimes, George Walter R. Kole- "Italian Serenade" by Wolf, "Duo for Violin guson, Patrick H. Hume, Paul Jorgensen, Knoll, John M. Knowlton, C. and Cello, 7" and Schu- Carl A. Kroch, Mrs. Herbert I. Markham, siak, Dr. Leonard F. Kowakski, Walter Opus by Kodaly, James P. McGuffin, John Alden Morgan, Kurz, Miss Jane A. Laird, Donald B. Lourie, bert's "Quintet for Two Violins, Viola, and V. McCallis- Bernard M. Peskin, Walter S. Snodell, Jr., Dr. Anthony Madonia, Frank Two Cellos." Milton T. H. C. Henry F. Tenney, Wilfred Tracy, Miss Fran- ter, Miller, Murphy, Ralph Free Concerts Foundation Inc. was organ- G. Walter J. Harold L. ces Tyrrell, S. E. Ullmann, Dr. Ernest H. Newman, Nickel, ized by Mrs. J. Dennis Freund so that Chi- J. L. Norby, James D. Norman, John S. Osborne, Wakefield, Young. cagoans might have an opportunity to hear, Mrs. George E. Pabich, Dan Pagenta, Paul Non-Resident Associate Member without charge, chamber music gifted art- J. Panuce, Alfred L. Parme, Elliott H. Pen- by ists. The final concert in the Dr. Sidney Soanes nebaker, Dr. Charles B. Puestow, Robert 1959-60 series W. Record, D. B. Regan, Dr. Joelle Rentfro, will be presented on April 13, when Eugene Sustaining Member Miss Irma L. Frank W. Istomin will be the featured soloist. J. E. Warner Richards, Riederer, Dr. John A. Sanfiiippo, Mrs. Edward A. Although admission to the concerts is free, Annual Members H. Dr. Slindee, Edgar Smith, Harold M. tickets are required. They may be obtained Miss L. Allfree, Mrs. A. Robert Alt- R. L. William I. Mary Spinka, Smith, Jr., Temple- by writing Free Concerts Foundation, Chi- schul, Mrs. Walter P. Alvis, Mrs. John D. man, F. W. Terry, Dr. Anthony B. Vacante, cago Natural History Museum (Roosevelt Ames, Dr. E. A. Archer, Mrs. Charles B. Dr. D. M. Vachout, Mrs. Alexia Wasleff, and Lake Shore a Armour, Samuel B. Bass, Mrs. Maurice H. French Waterman, Dr. Gurli Wernstrom, Drive), enclosing stamped, self-addressed is Bent, Ralph C. Blaha, William G. Budinger, Dr. Ralph P. White, Mrs. Frank E. Wil- envelope. Free parking Mrs. Frank J. Calvin, Sherman H. Canty, helm, Albert M. Wolf, Miss Genevieve A. available in the Museum's north and west Dr. C. L. Crean, Joseph DeCesare, Edward Zaczek. parking areas.

PRINTED BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS •*"~jr p-

CHICAGO URAU r 0*^1 TORY w^ SEUM 1 Page 2 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN April, 1960

Chicago Natural History Museum UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG — THIS MONTH'S COVER Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 HONORS DR. HAAS Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 There's no mistaking the mas- Telephone: WAbash 2-9410 Dr. Fritz Haas, Curator Emeritus of Lower sive hulk of an African rhinoceros. Invertebrates, was honored February 22, The one on our cover, who appears THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1960, by a diploma from his alma mater, the to have just stepped out of a "lux- Lester Armour Henry P. Isham University of Heidelberg, congratulating him urious" mud bath, can be seen in Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Wm. McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain on his distinguished career of outstanding the Pare National de la Garamba, Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller service in research on an animal reserve in the north- Chesser M. Campbell William H. Mitchell Walter J. Cummings John T. Pirie, Jr. land and fresh water eastern part of the Belgian Congo. Joseph N. Field Clarence B. Randall Marshall Field, Jr. John G. Searle mollusks. Written The picture was taken by Dr. H. S. Solomon A. Smith Stanley Field congratulations were De of the Institut des Pares Samuel Insull, Jr. Louis Ware Saeger, also extended by the Nationaux du Congo Beige, and OFFICERS Senckenbergische Na- is one example of the African wild- Stanley Field President Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President turforschenderGesell- life that Museum Members will Second Vice-President Walther Buchen shaft, the natural his- see on Members' 29, Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President Night, April Solomon A. Smith Treasurer tory museum at Frank- in the special illustrated lecture by Gregg Director and Secretary Clifford C. fort-on-Main. F. E. Leland Webber Assistant Secretary Dr. Robert Inger, covering his Dr. Haas received recent trip to the Belgian Congo. THE BULLETIN the degree of Doctor of Natural Philosophy FRITZ HAAS EDITOR from the University of EUGENE ISTOMIN TO PLAY Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum Heidelberg in 1910. During his 50 year career in science Dr. Haas AT APRIL 13 CONCERT CONTRIBUTING EDITORS has had 265 scientific papers published, 21 Pianist Istomin will with Paul S. Martin Curator of Anthropology Eugene appear Chief Natural Museum. Of John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany by Chicago History the Festival String Quartet in James Simp- Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology these publications, 201 are in German. Much Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology son Theatre on April 13 in a chamber music Just Curator Emeritus of Botany of the data in some of the was Theodor publications program that concludes a season of free on to of ASSOCIATE EDITOR gathered expeditions distant parts concerts presented at the Museum by the the world. The geographical range of Dr. MARrLYN Jindrich Associate in Public Relations Free Concerts Foundation. Haas' past expeditions includes Africa, Bra- The program for the evening will feature zil, Spain, Palestine, Germany, , Beethoven's "Piano Quartet, E Flat Major," Members are to inform the Museum requested , , Florida, and the Great A and of changes of address. "String Quartet, Minor," by Walton, promptly Smokies. Brahms' "Piano Quintet, F Minor, Opus 34." Dr. Haas came to Chicago Natural His- Chicago's interest in and support of the tory Museum in 1938 as Curator of Lower free concert series was demonstrated by the STAFF NOTES Invertebrates, and in January, 1959, he was large attendance at each performance, in- named curator emeritus. In 1954 the Senck- cluding the February 10 concert that drew enberg museum presented Dr. Haas the close to 600 persons in spite of a traffic- Dr. Roland W. Curator of Asiatic Force, Cretzschmar medal for scientific achieve- paralyzing snowstorm that raged all day and attended the Archaeology Ethnology, ment. and into the evening. And at the March 9 Viking Fund Medals and Awards presenta- concert when the weather was better but tion dinner in New York on March 4 City not good, Guest Cellist Leonard Rose was at which the Wenner-Gren Foundation for last month for a to the parted study trip greeted by a packed house of more than 1,100 Research awards American Museum of Natural in Anthropological presented History persons.

in the field . . for outstanding achievement of New York. . Loren P. Woods, Curator Free Concerts Foundation was founded

. . . Allen Custodian of of in March lectured to a anthropology. Liss, Fishes, group by Mrs. J. Dennis Freund, who organized was of students from the Anthropology Collections, guest speaker visiting biology Uni- the Festival String Quartet especially for March 14 on WTTW's television sociology versity of Wisconsin. . . . Rupert L. Wenzel, the free concerts series. Members of the

course in human relations. . . . Dr. Curator of Insects (145) and Henry S. Dybas, quartet are: Violinist Sidney Harth, concert- Curator of Fossil Ranier Zangerl, Reptiles, Associate Curator of Insects, attended the master of the Chicago Symphony orchestra; Dr. S. and Eugene Richardson, Jr., meetings of the North Central States Branch Teresa Testa Harth, violinist; Rolf Persinger, Curator of Fossil Invertebrates, spoke on of the Entomological Society of America in and Sturm, violoncellist. Mrs. " violist; Harry the Mecca Project" before the University Milwaukee, March 23 and 24th. . . . "Science Harth is a member of the Lyric Opera or- of of on Chicago's department geology In Our World Today," an educational pro- chestra; Peisinger and Sturm both play for March 9. . . . D. Dwight Davis, Curator gram on WGN-TV (Channel 9) on May 10 the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. of Vertebrate Anamony, recently spoke be- will have as guest speaker Dr. John W. Tickets for the final concert may be ob- fore an orthodontists' seminar at the Edge- Thieret, Curator of Economic Botany, who tained by writing Free Concerts Foundation, water Beach Hotel. . . . The Chicago Ento- Natural will talk on the topic, "Man Uses Plants." Chicago History Museum, enclosing mological Society, meeting at the Museum a self-addressed The program is televised from 8:15 to 8:30 stamped, envelope. last month, heard Henry S. Dybas, Asso- a.m. . . . Mrs. Meta P. Howell, Librarian, ciate Curator of Insects, speak on the topic, recently attended sessions of the American MUSEUM MEMBERS' NIGHT "The Population Ecology of the Periodical Library Association and Mrs. M. Eileen Friday, April 29 Cicada". . . . Dr. Robert F. Inger, Curator Associate as Chairman of Reptiles and , delivered a lec- Rocourt, Librarian, To those Museum Members who have the Division of Libraries ture during March on the evolution of rep- of Museum Special contributed to the Museum's growth and tiles before a comparative anatomy class Association, attended the association's ad- progress, and to their friends, the Museum at the University of Chicago. . . . Melvin A. visory meetings. Both association meetings extends a cordial invitation. This special Traylor, Associate Curator of Birds, de- were held in Chicago. evening is planned in their honor. April, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN PageS

Discovery of the Pacific isles THE MISSIONARIES CREATE A PSALM BOOK CIVILIZATION By ROLAND W. FORCE Some of the of the of lations between natives and missionaries CURATOR OF OCEANIC ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY descriptions quality sin in the island world are so graphically caused one wag to compose this wry bit of Part IV explicated in early missionary reports that doggerel: the first Europeans to venture the effect on some readers approximated There was a young Reverend from Gait, on the scene in Pacific island cultures AMONG envy rather than pity. With whom Fiji chiefs found one fault; after their discovery were men and women One of the most famous junkets into Poly- He was tender and sweet, bent on the of God to the bringing Word nesia was that of the missionary ship Duff As any you'd meet, heathen pagans, who not only engaged in which arrived in Tahiti in 1797. The mis- But he tasted quite bad without salt. sinful but activities, obviously enjoyed them. sionary party was composed of a motley ASSESSING THE MISSIONS group of individuals among whom only four By Start Illustrator Marion Pahl were ordained ministers. The Duff, under The British missionaries in the Pacific command of Captain James Wilson, included were preceded by the Spanish, who concen- among its mission members some tradesmen; trated mostly on the Philippines, the Mari- craftsmen such as tailors, carpenters, weav- anas, and the Carolines. American Protest- ers, and bricklayers; a surgeon, and even a ant missionaries came on the scene much gentleman's gentleman. They were trans- later. The Boston Mission came to Hawaii ported to various islands. Eighteen were in 1820 and spread out to Micronesia, where left on Tahiti while the Duff sailed on to it still holds strong sway in the Gilberts, the Tonga (1,200 miles westward) to leave off Marshalls, and the Eastern Carolines on half that number. Thence to the Marquesas islands like Kusai. where one man was left. It took six months Though the missionaries generally took to distribute the members of the party. the natives' part in disputes with traders and did more than It was not very long until three members whalers, they probably any to contribute to the downfall of island of the Tonga contingent were martyred and group cultures. It has said that "too the rest fled hurriedly. In Tahiti three of been they the women died within three months while often taught uncritically that anything na- another member of the group went native. tive was bad." They introduced clothing and made the Mother Hubbard a hall- In five years only seven of the original 18 garb were still alive. mark of missionized islanders. They intro- duced only certain elements of a culture com- MISSIONARIES TO MARTYRS plex which we may call "the wearing of were elements It is easy to see why the story of the first clothing." Neglected having venture of missionaries into the Pacific has to do with the cleansing of soiled garments the for been described as an "epic of glorious failure and necessity changing wet clothing. and brave endurance." One bricklayer On the positive side, in many cases mis- proved to be among the hardiest members sionaries did reduce the native language to of the Tahiti mission and even taught one writing. The missionaries also provided a of the high chiefs to write. Finally even new experience for the islanders. Here for one of the native priests dragged all the the first time were white men who did not idols from the sacred marae (platform) and come to pillage and plunder; who did not in a fit of what seems to present-day museum carry off their food or their women. The men sheer madness and wanton destruction, men and women who came to bring the made a bonfire of them on the beach. It message of salvation to the islands were took Henry Nott, the bricklayer, until 1837 hardy types who literally gave up their to completely translate the Bible into Tahi- lives for their fellowmen. Financial sup- tian and get copies printed up for native use. port was meager and though a few, such as The London Missionary Society later sent Chalmers, were hailed as heroes, most re- a few very able and devoted men into the mained the unsung variety. Pacific to take up the work of the hardy first "CIVILIZING" THE NATIVES adventurers. One of these was the Reverend John Williams who worked in Polynesia for The reactions of the early missionaries over 20 years and became a hero in England to the natives they came to save are interest- to the point where he was referred to as the ing to read. The famous Rev. Gill is some- "Ulysses of the Pacific." He stretched his times quoted as having written of one island luck eventually and went farther west to the group that: they roved about "in a state of New Hebrides where natives clubbed him to perfect nudity, they delighted to paint their death as he attempted to land on Erromanga. bodies; as you approached the miserable- "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the looking beings you could not suppress the church." Three or four missionaries later, emotions of loathing and disgust which in- the Erromangese were finally missionized— voluntarily arose in your mind." Nudity at least nominally and to the extent that was one of the things that particularly both- they no longer ate the zealots who came to ered missionaries and led to a great evangel- their shores. ical movement in the islands which is re- The rather general emphasis which came ferred to by one author as "shirtism." One to be placed on the personal quality of re- particularly diligent missionary emphasized Page i CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN April, 1960 shirts for natives He benefited. a BE especially.— apparently And, finally, psychologically, AWARDS TO PRESENTED had very little imagination which has been new element of shame and secrecy was into- TO 67 "JOURNEYERS" said by some to have been an enormous duced into the previously open and balanced "The of the a motion asset in mission work—but this is probably physical approach of the sexes. Voyage Beagle," that traces Charles Darwin's historic unkind. A oneness of purpose is perhaps The sandalwood traders did their best to picture around the world on the the best way to characterize the early men do away with the missionaries since they trip "Beagle" (the on which he formulated of his of the Church. Such a man was the shirt- saw that the clerics usually took the natives' voyage many first ideas will emphasizing missionary called Geddie. He side in disputes. On more than one occasion concerning evolution), begin Natural Museum's is described as having been a real old-style, traders told natives that epidemics which Chicago History special children's awards on hardbitten Presbyterian; a fine, clean, in- plagued their islands were brought about program Saturday, 9. tolerant, and tough 100 per cent all-talking, by the missionaries. What followed was April hymning, and danceless sort of man; one usually another martyrdom. The effects of who wouldn't even go down to the beach disease in the islands were these: (1) the to get his once-a-year delivery of mail if it natives were either driven into desperate happened to arrive on Sunday. missionism, (2) they slaughtered mission- aries with gusto, or (3) they came to hate "whatever ye shall sew" all white men with a vengeance. Some- The shirt became the essential symbol of times the natives made all three responses Christianity in the islands—a native could in various orders. not be a Christian in his own clothes or Practically nothing of the old culture without clothing at all. Trousers and shirt was tolerated by the missionary. In every- became the entrance requirements for church thing he saw something heathen and "sex- attendance. The effects of shirtism were ual." Much of what happened in the Pa- far-reaching. On the economic side the na- cific would have happened anyway, in time, tives were first yoked to the trader and but the missionary sped the process up. The awards program honors children who later to the dealer so that could is the with all copra they This missionary spirit. But have completed specified numbers of mu- earn enough money to purchase clothing. this, one must agree with Robert Louis seum journeys to achieve various merit were able to were that even with all their The clothes they purchase Stevenson "gross ranks, the highest of which is membership usually of the poorest quality and soon blots, with all their deficiency of candour, in the Museum's Discoverers' Club. To rotted in the humid tropics. Hygienically, humour, and common sense," the mission- become a Museum Traveler a youngster could not be clean within the aries still were the most clothes kept best and useful must have completed four different journeys; native standard of Hence skin dis- whites in in the Pacific. living. early days eight must be completed for Museum Ad- tuberculosis and be ease, pneumonia, parasites (To continued) venturer status; 12, for Museum Explorer. With the completion of 16 different journeys DR. ALAN SOLEM DEPARTS FEATURE WESTERN WORLD a child becomes eligible for the special "Voy- FOR FIELD WORK IN WEST IN APRIL SCREEN-TOURS age of the Beagle" journey, and then mem- bership in the Discoverers' Club. The path followed by two scientist^adven- Five color and motion pictures lectures This spring 67 boys and girls will receive turers in Arizona 50 years ago will be re- on world travel are offered by the Museum awards—35 will become Travelers; 15, Ad- traced by Alan Solem, Curator of Lower the during April with geographic emphasis venturers; 5, Explorers; three will start the Invertebrates, on the first leg of a field trip — shifting to the West to western Europe special advanced journey; and nine will be to the West, for which he departed last and the United States. This spring's pro- named new members of the Museum's Dis- March 9. He intends to visit collecting gram of free travel-tours by well-known lec- coverers' Club. The program begins at sites first examined in the beginning of the turers marks the 113th time the Museum 10:30 a.m. in the James Simpson Theatre. 1900's to see what has to the snails happened has the travel-film series. presented special Other childrens' offered a of a a programs during over period half century, using as The are made the programs possible by the month of follow: the detailed records the two April guide kept by Edward E. Ayer Lecture Foundation and earlier of finds and exact areas expeditioners presented at 2:30 p.m. in the museum's April 2—International Friendship explored. Dr. Solem's early predecessors James Simpson Theatre. Members of the (Girl Scout Day) were Henry A. Pilsbry, world-renown scien- Museum may claim reserved seats by pre- tiest formerly with the Academy of Natural April 9—The Voyage of the Beagle senting their membership cards before Science in Philadelphia, and James Ferriss, Traveler 2:25 P.M. on the lecture day. (Museum Day) one-time newspaper publisher in Joliet. From Arizona Dr. Solem will travel to Following are the programs for April: April 16—NO PROGRAM—Easter California, Washington, , and Wyom- Weekend. 2— ing. During his trip he is scheduled to make April Holland April 23—The Red Balloon a number of speaking appearances, including Gerald Hooper an engagement with the Greater St. Louis April 30—AH Cartoon Program Shell a seminar at State April 9—Yankee Spy in Texas , Club, Emporia Children come to these free Teachers College, and a seminar at the Uni- Robert Davis may programs alone, in or with or other versity of Arizona. groups, parents adults. The are made In 1959 Dr. Solem visited Panama where April 16—Switzerland programs possible the James Nelson and Anna Louise he made preliminary studies on the mixing Kenneth Richter by Ray- Foundation. All are on of the South American and North American mond offered Satur- — at 10:30 am.. snail fauna in the geologically recent Isthmus April 23 The Mighty Mississippi days of Panama. The collecting in arid areas of James W. Metcalf Panama showed that more data was needed MUSEUM MEMBERS' NIGHT on the effects of 30—The Shandon Hills drier climates on snails, April Friday, April 29 which led to this field trip to the West. JohnE.Taft April, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 5

MUSEUM PLANS EVENING HONORING ITS MEMBERS APRIL 29

BEHIND THE SCENES. Staff Artist E. John Pfiffner in picture on the left seen operating the department of geology's X-ray diffraction unit. Museum is working in his studio on the third floor on an oil painting for and exhibit. In Members will have a chance to meet the scientific staff on the evening of April 29, the picture on the right Albert Forslev, Associate Curator of Mineralogy, is when the Museum opens its doors to its Members.

SPRING and once again Chicago him outstanding color slides of African wild- comprehensive meteorite collection, has been IT'SNatural History Museum will open its life and landscapes, as well as tape recordings augmented by a number of new screens doors to its more than 7,000 members for —and just as many stories to tell. Museum during last year. On the same floor, the behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Museum's members will have an opportunity to hear impressive hall of fossil mammals, Hall 38, staff at work. The date set for 1960 Mem- some of his interesting stories and scientific last year was subjected to an extensive res- bers' Night is Friday, April 29. findings at 8 p.m. on Members' Night. toration program. Four fossil giants—the That evening an exciting new experience Also planned for the Museum's members is mastodon, northern mammoth, great ground in museum educational entertainment, called a premiere showing of a collection of photo- sloth, and Irish giant deer—were re-mounted "Sound Trek," will be offered free to mem- graphs depicting human racial types from on new steel frames and in new positions. bers. What is "Sound Trek?" Briefly, it is all parts of the world. They were taken by In zoology the "Birds of the World" exhibit a new dimension in museum exhibition tech- New York Photographer Nicholas Muray on in Hall 21 was expanded to include a new nique—a "radio guide" system that enables a grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation screen featuring swifts, night jars, humming the visitor not only to see the exciting world for Anthropological Research. The Wenner- birds, and horn bills. Finally, in Hall 18 can of natural history but to hear, as well, in- Gren Foundation has generously lent the be seen the special Darwin Centennial ex- formative commentaries about the exhibits collection to the Museum for use in this hibit that graphically explains Darwin's the- by members of the Museum's scientific staff. special exhibition. The photographs will be ory of evolution. All you do is pick up a "radio guide"—small, on display in Hall 2 on the first floor, adja- No matter how attractive the "show case" light, and compact—at the door, and let it cent to the Hall of Man, which features the may be, people somehow never outgrow a do the rest as you wander wherever you sculptures of Malvina Hoffman. sort of childhood "Alice in Wonderland" will through the Museum. Twenty halls As indicated elsewhere in this Bulletin, a curiosity to see what goes on behind the are now wired for "Sound Trek," and you number of additions to exhibits and exhibit scenes, whether it be in a factory, in a tele- have a choice of two channels in each. One halls have been made in the last year. These vision studio, or in a newspaper plant. At carries a scientific and detailed commentary include the addition to Hall 8 of considerable Chicago Natural History Museum a look on the exhibits, and the other a shorter, less ancient Aztec material and the unusually behind the scenes is particularly interesting technical commentary by a member of the fine Aztec Great Market diorama by Alfred because it is in the areas closed to the public Raymond Foundation staff. Although there Lee Rowell, as well as new exhibits in Hall 7 that most of the Museum's activity takes are in the world a few museum's with similar showing the silver craftsmanship of the In- place. From 7 to 10:00 P.M. on Members' systems, Chicago Natural History Museum dians of the Southwest. Also in anthropol- Night the Museum's scientists, artists, pre- has the only system which carries two simul- ogy, exhibits from Ancient Rome and Etruria parators, technicians and other staff spe- taneous commentaries in a single hall. were recently moved from Hall 2 to a new cialists will meet with the Members in the A second highlight of the evening is a home in Hall L on the ground floor. A offices and laboratories on the third, fourth, special illustrated lecture on Africa. Last doorway has been constructed to connect it and ground floors to explain each staff mem- year Dr. Robert F. Inger, Curator of Rep- with the adjacent Hall of Egypt. ber's particular function in the museum's tiles and Amphibians, assisted by a grant In the botanical halls on the second floor, operation and to demonstrate the intricate from the Institut des Pares Nationaux the North American Tree Hall (Hall 26), processes involved in the creation of Mu- du Congo Beige, spent three and one-half started last year, has been completed. Simi- seum exhibits. The vast study collections months in the Pare National de la Garamba, larly, the Hall of Meteorites, Moon, and which far outnumber the specimens in exhi- in the Belgian Congo. He brought back with Minerals (Hall 35), housing the world's most bition halls will also be open to members. Page6 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN April, 1960 SUPPOSED APE=MAN OR "M/SS/NG LINK" OF SOUTH AMERICA By PHILIP HERSHKOVITZ The story is vague in details. CURATOR OF MAMMALS important Nothing is divulged of De Loys' antecedents his SINCE DARWIN expounded or the precise nature of his mission in South of has in EVERtheory evolution, man engaged America. De Loys never specified the day, a search for links between himself and the the month, or even the year in which he apes. Discoveries of fossil man-like apes or made what he pretended was a most re- have created a ape-like men always stir, markable discovery. The action of the ani- but today the excitement is rarely felt out- mals in breaking branches and throwing the other ru- side scientific circles. On hand, them, a frequently observed trait of spider mors or equivocal reports of a live ape-man monkeys, seems to have made a deep im- or link" in the wilds "missing tracked down pression on De Loys. Nevertheless, he does of Asia or South America arouses the Africa, not say the animals were actually moving interest of the entire world. about Curiosity through the trees, and he gives no reason man's relatives, usually wholesome but some- to believe they were running on the ground. times varied with prejudice, has made the Indeed the connections made by De Loys for public an easy target charlatans, pseudo- between the time and place sequences of his scientists, deluded travelers and explorers, actions and those of the animals are ex- even with links" their and forgers "missing tremely misty. The subject of the photo- stock in trade. graph, however, cannot be denied—but it notorious hoax on The most perpetrated is posed from the wrong side for proving the public, and not a few anthropologists, it has no tail. The number and kind of was the Piltdown Man. This supposed an- its teeth cannot be determined from the the acclaimed Dawn cestral species, widely picture and, except for a wooden box of was discovered before World War I in Man, problematical dimensions, there is no famil- De Loys' photograph of the "Ape Man" he alleged- a gravel bed in Piltdown Common, Sussex, iar such as a a or a ly discovered and killed in the virgin forests of the object gun, hat, person by The animal was England. represented by Colombian-Venezuelan boundary region. The ani- which to gauge the real size of the animal. some human skull fragments and an ape-like mal is a female of the common spider monkey of lower jaw with two molar teeth. A number northwestern South America. "science" brought in of authorities questioned the association of Several unspecified years after his return skull bones and lower jaw, but not until 1953 with embellishments and background effects to Europe, De Loys showed the photograph was it conclusively demonstrated that these never thought of by the original promoters and told his story to a French anthropol- bones and teeth were cunningly altered and of the fraud. This pseudoscientific book in- ogist, Dr. Georges Montandon. Why De cleverly planted where they would be con- spired a second round of sensational news- Loys kept the matter secret all this time is veniently "discovered." The skull fragments paper and magazine stories built around not explained. In any case, Dr. Montandon proved to be of modern man, the lower jaw copies of the original photograph of what, had developed a unique theory of several and teeth those of a young orangutan. Some paradoxically, is so obviously a spider mon- independent origins of man and anthropoid prompt results of the expose were the re- key that the wonder is how it can be foisted apes in different parts of the globe and was writing of pertinent parts of text books and off as anything else. prone to find comfort and support in De encyclopedias and quiet re-designings of ex- The originator of the South American Loys' account of the existence of a man-like hibits on man's evolution in a number of ape man story was Frangois De Loys, a ape in South America. Like De Loys before natural history museums. French, or perhaps Swiss, geologist, who him, the anthropologist withheld knowledge Among purported living ape men, the best prospected along the border of Colombia of the find for a few years. known currently is the abominable snowman. and Venezuela between the years 1917 and At last, in March 1929, at least 10 years This mysterious creature of the Himalayan 1920. While encamped on the banks of the after the events happened, Professor Mont- snowfields has so far eluded capture. The Tarra, a tributary of the Catatumbo River, andon presented a paper before the members orang-pendek, or ape man of Sumatra, is De Loys heard a strange noise in the bord- of the French Academy of Sciences detailing another example. The footprints, bits of ering forest. He hurried with several of his the discovery of the first New World anthro- hide, hair and other concrete evidence attrib- assistants toward the source of the sound poid known to science, an animal, he de- uted to it turn out to have belonged to some and noted that it originated at some dis- clared, more human in appearance than any common animal, most often the sun bear, tance below the tops of the trees. Once ape of the Old World. The anthropologist orangutan or gibbon. in the forest the men were surprised by was careful to base his conclusions on the two raging animals charging toward them. "APE MAN" BUILD UP invisible characters—the great size, the tail- Thinking they were being assaulted by bears, essness, and the human dental formula. The The New World can also lay claim to a De Loys and his companions leapt for their beast was then dutifully given the technical few bogus ape men of which the best known guns and made ready to receive the attackers. name Ameranthropoides loysi in honor of the is based on a photograph of a dead spider The infuriated beasts rushed forward shout- explorer, and its official description was pub- monkey and the uncorroborated and succes- ing, gesticulating and breaking and throwing lished in the prestigious Comptes Rendus sively garnished statements of an adven- branches at the men. The individual in of the Academy. In justice to Montandon turer. The hoax was exposed 30 years ago front, a female, was shot on the spot, while it must be recorded that the description is and references to the animal have long been the other, said to be a male, retreated and hedged with the avowed reservation that expunged from the family tree of man ex- disappeared. The dead animal was taken to the anthropoid might, after all, prove to be hibited in the dignified Musee de 1'Homme, the border of the Tarra River, propped up only a large species of spider monkey. or Museum of Man, in Paris. A recently on a crate in a life-like pose, and photo- months Dr. Montandon published popular book on animal mythology graphed. According to De Loys, the animal Two later, pub- lished account in the more entitled "On the Track of Unknown Ani- had no tail, stood 4 feet 5 inches (135 centi- another popular mals" by Bernard Heuvelmans, revived the meters) high, and the number of teeth in its Illustrated Scientific Review of Paris. This story of the South American "ape man" mouth was given as 32—the same as in man. time, the standing height of the beast was April, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 7

raised to 157 centimeters, or nearly 9 inches a spider monkey or some closely related of the animal photographed by De Loys more than when first described. Emboldened species of the same family. is impossible to judge with accuracy. Stand- by public interest in the fanciful aspects of The famous primatologist, Ernest Hooten ing height measurements such as those given the South American primate, Montandon also identified the animal in the photograph by De Loys and Montandon for Ameran- published still another version. Now the as a spider monkey. In addition he had thropoides loysi are not reliable. It may animals which supposedly attacked De Loys word from an acquaintance in South Amer- be possible, however, to make a rough esti- and his company are not moving in trees ica that men who accompanied De Loys mate of the size of the animal by using for and breaking branches. They advance in- had testified that the animal shot and photo- a scale the box in the photograph. Accord- stead in erect posture, supporting them- graphed was indeed a spider monkey. ing to De Loys this was a petrol crate. selves by seizing the shrubbery along their If it was of the common sort used in northern PROOF IN THE BAG path. South America it packed two 5 gallon cans the course of field work and its is not over 15 inches. The A thin light was also shed on how De Loys During my early height may have counted the monkey's teeth. The in northern Colombia I made a point of cans themselves are 13 inches high. The the same Tarra river visited of the from to skull was supposedly removed from the body exploring region height monkey seat crown The area is one of the wildest is 1.8 times the of the or 27 and entrusted to the expeditionary cook for by De Loys. height box in South America. It is inhabited a inches. This is the combined of safe keeping. This dignitary, according to by length head, tribe of the Motilones but and buttocks. Account must the story imprudently converted his pre- savage Indians, body be taken not man-like of the fact that the head and feet of the cious charge into a salt cellar. It is difficult any apes. Spider monkeys, were abundant and I secured a animal are nearer the camera than the crate to understand how or why such a fragile, however, series for These mon- perishable, if not putrid, and unwiedly ob- large laboratory study. and, therefore, appear disproportionately in from the thumb- in the than are in ject as a monkey skull would be used for a keys agreed everything larger photograph they less hands to the blaze on the life. The dimensions for combined salt dispenser. In any case the salt, accord- triangular adjusted with the of Ameran- head and alone would ing to the narrator, caused the skull to dis- forehead, photograph body length probably a of which I carried be under 25 inches. It be safe to con- integrate, and the fragments of bone were thropoides loysi, copy may forever lost to science. with me. The animals proved to belong clude, therefore, that far from being a giant to a race of the common species of spider ape, Ameranthropoides loysi is not only a The fantastic history of the supposed an- monkeys known technically as Ateles belzebut common spider monkey but is hardly an thropoid ape was too exciting to be over- hybridus. The largest specimen I secured, extremely large one. looked by foreign newspapers and magazines. a female, measured 21 inches from crown to From time to time our attention is called Francois De Loys himself made capital of base of tail. The largest spider monkey to expeditions being formed, or only planned, the find bearing his name by writing an on record, also a female of the same species, for the purpose of finding a real specimen of article for the June 15, 1929, issue of the measured 26 inches in combined head and the man of northern South America. Illustrated London News. ape body length. It is hoped that the information in this EXPERTS EXPOSE CLAIMS How these dimensions compare with those article may be of some help.

In his account, captioned as the discovery NEW MEMBERS Charles Carey, Mrs. William T. Carlisle, of on the American of the ancestory man Arthur T. Chameroy, Norman M. Chase, continent, De Loys accepted Montandon's (February 8 to March 4) Joseph M. Cody, John I. Cole, George M. exaggerated dimensions of the animal and, Associate Members Craig, James A. Dooley, Mrs. Heber T. Dr. Clifford L. M. C. not to be outdone, ventured that the Wayne M. Allen, Louis Ancel, Mrs. Otis Dotson, Dougherty, Mrs. James F. William weight "guessed, it is true, without scales, G. Andrews, C. M. Blumenschein, George Duensing, Gallagher, B. Gardner, Howard Goodman, Leonard was probably well over eight stone, or 112 T. Bogert, Richard P. Brown, Jr., Nicholas Miss Addie Clark Mrs. J. Dr. G. L. Gordon, Harding, pounds." Continuing in the same vein De Bua, Louis Buffardi, Christopher, Robert Henner, A. E. Hibbs, Dr. Victor Izui, Aaron H. Cohn, William F. Coale, Jr., Harry Loys confided that his animal had "ground G. Thomas G. A. Coldiron, Mrs. David P. Cordray, Charles McStay Jackson, Johnston, habits," but neglected to describe them. Nat M. Jacob J. Peter J. Cretors, Miss Natalie Crohn, John H. Kahn, Kalnin, Kass, That the arms, hooked Mrs. Harold A. Alan D. long fingers, grasping Darby, William E. Dunlap, Carl H. Ebert, Katz, Katz, Joseph toes, and, the C. Kay, Victor P. Kayser, William P. Kear- particularly, large opposable E. E. Ellies, James Fitzmorris, Thomas Richard B. W. great toe of the animal shown in the photo- Fullerton, Paul W. Guenzel, Mrs. Marion ney, Kemp, Henry Kenoe, Carl W. Koehn, Mrs. David H. Kraft, graph are telltale characters of a creature Hilker, Dormand S. Hill, William H. Hillier, Melvin A. Kramer, Mrs. Winnifred Levin- with decidedly arboreal habits seems to have Robert Hirtenstein, Miss Alice Howe, Miss son, Reuben J. Liffshin, Paul B. N. Lind, the notice of the Amy L. Howe, Mrs. Florence H. Hunter, escaped geologist. A. Harrison C. Dr. George M. Kramer, William Bross Lloyd, LeRoy Lindberg, Lingle, The claims made by Montandon and De Dr. Roland P. Mackay, Leo S. Maranz, Jr., Eugene W. Maters, Carl A. Metz, Byron were almost scotched Dr. Richard E. Marcus, Dr. Bernard S. Loys immediately by S. Miller, DeWitt O'Kieffe, Wendel Fentress F. McDonnell, Miss Dor- experts. The renowned British anthropolo- Ott, Dean Rottenberry, Harry R. Sanow, Margolis, Morgan othy McMahon, Mrs. Howard C. Meadors, gist, Sir Arthur Keith, who had been be- T. R. Sorensen, John B. Ughetti, Herman J. F. Mele, Seymour H. Merens, James F. guiled by the Piltdown hoax, made no mis- Wendorf, Lloyd Woodall Milburn, Charles F. Naser, Dale O'Brien, take here. De Loys' animal, he declared, Non-Resident Associate Member Dr. Franklin T. O'Connell, Jr., Miss Alice to the in brief it is "belongs Ateles; Gordon K. Palais Olhausen, Mrs. William H. Page, II, Alfred a spider-monkey, whether of a known species B. Perlman, Roger Pettit, Milton T. Raynor, Sustaining Member we cannot say owing to a lack of evidence." Dr. Arthur G. Rink, Mrs. Margaret H. David A. Hill Dr. Angel Cabrera, the world's leading au- Robb, George G. Rossit, Robert M. Scott, Annual Members L. thority on the mammals of South America, Miss Susan Shepard, Charles Stewart, Jr., Paul J. Dr. Nathaniel S. Robert C. Francis scathingly rebuked both Montandon and Aicher, Apter, Taylor, Edgar Thacker, Carl A. Arend, Mrs. Robert M. Atwater, Mrs. Joseph L. Valentine, S. M. Vance, De Loys for their zoological pretensions. William H. Avery, Jr., Mrs. Joseph W. Baer, John L. Vollbrecht, Dr. Hans H. Wagner, At the same time he pointed out that even Mrs. Herbert Baker, Mrs. C. R. Barker, Dr. Arthur M. Weiss, Richard H. Weldon, if the was as alleged anthropoid ape large Dr. George 0. Baumrudker, David Becker, Marvin J. Welfeld, Dr. Donald C. Wharton, as claimed, lacked a tail, and possessed 32 Oscar J. Becker, Dr. John G. Bellows, Dr. Dr. Jasper F. Williams, Dr. Alvin M. teeth, instead of the 36 normally present M. D. Bennin, Mrs. George V. Bobrinskoy, Winograd, Norman M. Yeretsky, Ores E. in American monkeys, it would still be either John C. Bulger, Ara A. Cambere, Mrs. Zehr, Maurice M. Zusser. MEMBERS' NIGHT ATTRACTIONS Friday, April 29 (7.00 to 10:30 P.M.)

BEHIND THE SCENES— The Museum's scientific staff will be on hand in their offices, laboratories, and work rooms from 7 to 10 p.m. to explain various phases of a museum's operation. In addition, the doors will be open to the working quarters of the Museum's editors, librarians, staff artists, photographers, taxidermists, preparators, and plant re- production artists and craftsmen. FEATURING— "Congo Safari" by Robert F. Inger. An illustrated lecture by Dr. Inger on his three and one-half-month field trip to the Pare National de la Garamba in the Belgian Congo. "Peoples of the World." A premiere showing of a splendid photographic collec- tion of people from all over the world taken by the well-known New York pho- tographer, Nicholas Muray, and loaned by the Wenner-Gren Foundation.

SOUND TREK f RADIO GUIDES—a new dimension in museum exhibition HAVE YOU SEEN THESE EXHIBITS? Archaeology of Etruria and Rome— newly installed; Ancient and Modern In- dians of Southwestern United States, Mex- ico, and Central America; Hall of North American Trees; Hall of Plant Life— nowhere in the world is to be found a com- parable collection of plant models; Clarence Buckingham Hall —exhibiting a model of the visible face of the moon, as well as meteorite and mineral collections; Restored and Remounted Fossil Giants; Birds of the World; Darwin's Origin of Species Centennial Exhibit. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE— Free Motor Bus Service from the Loop will be available for Museum Members and guests. Buses marked for Museum shuttle-service will leave from Jackson Boulevard and State Street every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. The last bus will leave the Museum at 10:45 p.m. Stops will be made both ways at Seventh and Michigan, and at Jackson and Michi- gan. Ample Free Parking space is available in the Museum's north parking lot. For Dining, the Museum's Cafeteria will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served in Stanley Field Hall and in the General Library. NATURAL HISTORY yum MUSEUM ^% /

Photo by Muray Page 2 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN May, 1960

Chicago Natural History Museum THIS MONTH'S COVER Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 STAFF NOTES Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Matabele women of South Af- Telephone: WAbash 2-9410 rica are introduced at Dr. Roland Force, Curator of Oceanic an early to one of the vanities of life — Archaeology and Ethnology, presented a pa- age THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES the of The two per, "The Concept of Process and the Start wearing jewelry. Lester Armour Henry P. Ishah little Matabele girls on our cover, Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler of Cultural Change," at the annual meeting Wm. McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain of the Central State who live in Mapoch Village near Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller Anthropological Society Chesser M. Campbell William H. Mitchell Pretoria, South Africa, are already held in Bloomington, Indiana, April 23. . . . Walter J. Cummings John T. Pirie, Jr. in beads. As the Joseph N. Field Clarence B. Randall Dr. Paul Martin, Chief Curator of Anthro- they grow older, Jr. John G. Searle circlets off Marshall Field, on "Excavations in must be cut and re- Stanley Field Solomon A. Smith pology, spoke recently with ones. Nickolas Samuel Inslll, Jr. Louis Ware the Southwest" before the Highland Park placed larger Muray snapped the OFFICERS Archaeology Club. . . . "The Applications of youngsters' picture while touring the world Stanley Field President Clay Mineralogy to Civil Engineering" was McBain First Vice-President on a commissioned the Hughston M. the topic of a lecture Albert W. trip by Walther Buchen Second Vice-President given by Wenner-Gren Foundation for the Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President Forslev, Associate Curator of Mineralogy, Solomon A. Smith Treasurer purpose of obtaining pictures of Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary before the Illinois Institute of Technology E. Webber Assistant in other lands. Other Leland Secretary chapter of the American Society of Civil people pic- tures he took on his photography Engineers on March 22, 1960. . . . Miss are featured in the Maidi Wiebe, Geology Artist, won the assignment THE BULLETIN new of the Frederick War Memorial prize for her oil exhibit, "Peoples on in Hall 2. The EDITOR painting, "Evolution," exhibited at the World," display exhibit of than 200 Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum Austin, Oak Park, and River Forest Art more photo- graphs was loaned to the Museum CONTRIBUTING EDITORS League's annual spring exhibition. . . . Dr. the Wenner-Gren Foundation. R. M. Strong, Research Associate, attended by Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany the Seventh International Congress of An- Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology atomists, the first to be held in this country, Theodor Just Curator Emeritus of Botany and the Seventy-third Annual Meeting of The half-hour show is on Channel 9 at noon ASSOCIATE EDITOR the American Association of Anatomists in Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Mrs. Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations New York City. . . . Henry S. Dybas, Andre is also helping direct the programs. . . . Associate Curator of Insects, discussed the Miss Lillian Ross, Editor of Scientific Pub- "Population Ecology of the Periodical Ci- Members are requested to inform the Museum lications, on April 25 attended the Confer- of of address. cada" in a lecture delivered at Purdue Uni- promptly changes ence of Biological Editors held in Cleveland. versity. . . . Loren P. Woods, Curator of . . . The Adult Education Seminar of the Fishes, was interviewed by Phil Lind on University of Chicago, headed by Dean Cyril station WAIT April 22 on the subject of NAMED TOP HONOR BOOK Houle, last month visited the Museum and "The Great Lakes." During April he also talk Indian Art of the Americas, a Museum visited various fish and wildlife stations in heard a on Chicago Natural History Dr. Donald Collier, Curator Museum by Director Clifford C. publication by Michigan to study their operations. . . . Gregg. of South American Archaeology and Eth- Maryl Andre of the Raymond Foundation . . . John R. Millar and Col. Clifford C. nology, was selected by the Chicago Book has written a series of programs based on Gregg acted as spokesmen for the Museum Clinic as a for Top Honor Book display natural history subjects which will be pre- recently on a WCLM half-hour interview in its Eleventh Annual Exhibition of Chicago sented, starting May 4, on the WGN-TV program, "This Is Chicago," sponsored by " and Midwestern Bookmaking. The book children's show, Lunchtime Little Theatre." the Office of the Mayor. was judged by a set of standards for good bookmaking in design, planning, binding, 1960 CHICAGO AREA SCIENCE FAIR WILL OPEN printing, publishing intention, and reader IN STANLEY FIELD MAY 14 appeal. Certificates of Award were pre- HALL, SATURDAY, sented by the Chicago Book Clinic to Greer May 14 is "fair" day at the Museum. Chicago Public Schools Student Science Fair Allen of the University of Chicago Printing But on that Saturday don't expect to see held in April, which was limited to public Department, the designer of the book, and cotton candy venders, barkers, or "try your schools within the city limits. to Chicago Natural History Museum, the skill" booths. Instead, the "side shows" The students design and assemble their publisher. Dr. Collier, as author, accepted will feature elaborate demonstrations and own projects and are prepared to give accu- the publisher's award on behalf of the Mu- intricate models covering such diverse sub- rate expository lectures on their exhibits for seum at a private showing of Top Honor jects as atom smashing, mathematical prob- the benefit of interested visitors. That some Books at the May meeting of the Chicago ability, mutations in mice, or the embryonic of the students often select unique subjects Book Clinic at the Tower Club. The award- states of a chick, put on by youngsters from to exhibit was demonstrated by a number of winning books will be on exhibition during 6th grade through high school—seemingly last year's entries—"Mummification," "Con- May at the Chicago Public Library and unusual entertainment for a fair, but not tact Lenses," and "Variation of Ulcer Pro- at many midwestern libraries throughout for this one. For this is the annual Chicago duction in the Shay Mouse." Prizes and the year. Area Science Fair sponsored by the Chicago awards are given on the dual basis of what Indian Art of the Americas (64 pages, 65 Area Teachers Science Association in co- knowledge the entrant has of his project and illustrations, paperbound) is a catalogue of operation with Chicago Natural History its background, and on the exhibit itself. the special exhibit held at the Museum in Museum. Awards will be made according to subject- late summer and fall on the occasion of the The children participating in the fair rep- area in grades 10 through 12, and according Festival of the Americas and the Third Pan resent public, private, and parochial schools, to grade level in grades 6 through 9. American games. The book is on sale at as well as youth organizations, located in The exhibits will be displayed in Stanley the Museum. Chicago or within a 35-mile radius of the Field Hall from 9. a.m. to 5 P.M. This year —HMacM— city. In this respect it differs from the more than 150 entries are expected. C* May, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 3 TWO NEW EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY DURING MONTH OF MAY "PEOPLES OF THE WORLD" In 1956 Nickolas Muray, well-known New York photographer, was commissioned by the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthro- pological Research to create on film an ethnological study of certain areas of the Pacific, Asia, and Africa. Muray spent six months on this mission, during which time he made more than 1,000 pictures. Chicago Natural History Museum, through the efforts of Dr. Roland Force, Curator of Oceanc Archaeology and Ethnol- ogy, is fortunate in being the first museum given the opportunity to exhibit any of the collection—a collection that in future years will travel to museums all over the country. From the complete collection Dr. Force se- lected the approximately 200 prints that appear in the new exhibit, "Peoples of the World," on display in Edward E. and Emma B. Ayer Hall (Hall 2). The photographs chosen feature peoples from islands in the South Pacific, from Ja- pan, Hong Kong, , Burma, Ceylon, India, Pakistan, and Africa. However, it was in Africa that the shutter of Muray's camera had its greatest work-out. His con- centration on that continent is reflected in Two of the more than 200 photographs by Nickolas Muray that appear in special "Peoples of the World" the "Peoples of the World" exhibit, which exhibit. On the left are two little Japanese girls in holiday garb. On the right, a young mother of Bulawayo. displays more photographs from Africa than from any other area Muray visited. The University, and lectured at other institu- Contributing to the art show are students countries of Africa featured in the exhibit tions. In 1955 Muray photographed some of all ages, from first graders to adults, include , , Southern Rhodesia, 270 examples of craftsmanship and skill of their work providing an interesting study Nyasaland, Swaziland, The Union of South aboriginal America from ths Robert Bliss in the development of artistic skills. Teach- Africa, and the Belgian Congo. collection in Washington, D.C. The plates, ers whose own art work will be specially Nicholas Muray has long been acclaimed both black and white and in color, were pub- exhibited are Leah Balsham (ceramics), in his field. As far back as 1925 he won a lished in the volume, Robert Woods Bliss Vera Berdich (etching), Kathleen Black- first prize in the British Westminister Pic- Collection: Pre-Columbian Art. shear (history of art), William Frederick torial Photographic Exhibition. Since that "Peoples of the World," which had its (metal design), Whitney Halstead (history time he has presented numerous one-man premiere showing on Museum Members' of art), Ethel Spears (enameling), Raymond shows, taught photography at New York Night on April 29, will remain on display Yoshida (enameling). in the museum until the end of June. Marion Pahl, Museum Staff Illustrator, and Walter Boyer, Ceramic Restorer, were ART INSTITUTE SCHOOL EXHIBIT responsible for the selection and display of Visitors touring Chicago Natural History art work appearing in the exhibit in Edward Museum find it a rather common occurrence E. and Emma B. Ayer Hall (Hall 2). to come upon an intent artist, seated on a The School of the Art Institute of Chicago chair or sitting cross-legged on the floor, is headed by Dean Norman B. Boothby. busily at work with a sketch tablet or drawing board. For a number of years the Museum's exhibits have provided young art- ists from the School of the Art Institute with colorful and interesting subject matter for their artistic skills, as well as supplying a wealth of information on the development and history of art. During the month of May the Museum is highlighting the lively and imaginative art work created by students of the School of Art Institute in an exhibition that will also include some special work by teachers in the school. Diversity marks this year's exhibit, and ceramics, etchings, metal and enamel work, and design will be part of the Sigrid Ruckser, 15, of the Junior School of the Art A nine-year-old, Beverly Voss, interprets Alaska in to Institute painted this picture that appears in student display, addition paintings and draw- brown bear habitat group. Drawing on display in art exhibit on display during May. ings in many media. current student art exhibit in Hall 2 of the Museum. Page b CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN May, 1960

Discovery of the Pacific Isles aBLACKBIRDING" AND THE DECLINE OF ISLAND CULTURES By ROLAND W. FORCE land natives who had measles on a island from CURATOR OF OCEANIC ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY (a particularly strange away family, virulent disease to islanders who had had friends, and familiar scenes, the captains Part V no opportunity to develop selective immun- of the economic navy took them by force. FORTUITOUS OCCURRENCE ity) and landed them on another island. Fiji planters in particular could not re- of a mere bit of flora disturbed a number THE The result—one third of the population cruit enough labor at home so they com- of Pacific island communities in the early promptly died. Islanders who refused to missioned various ship's captains to secure 19th in an- century. China, particular, was sell sandalwood were either fired upon, or a it from other islands. Between 1864 and xious to secure sandalwood (Sanlalum al- hostage was taken until they did. The wood 1868, 1,649 natives were imported from bum), which was discovered first in Fiji in became the ransom for the chief taken host- the New Hebrides and from the Gilberts. 1804. Caledonia the Hebrides New and New age. Sandalwood supplies were pretty nearly Missionaries began to notice the decimation to proved be wonderful sources for this tree. gone by 1860 and fortunes could no longer of their flocks and became alarmed. Over Sandalwood had been much in demand by be made in this venture. an 18-month span as many ships arrived the Chinese from about 500 B.C. The oil on one New Hebrides island and made off SLAVES BECOME TRADE "ITEMS" was used for perfume. The wood was carved with 250 natives. Several other small islands into fans and and was used Bud- boxes, by As the sandalwood supplies became ex- were literally stripped of all their males. dhists in funeral rites. Brahmins wanted it hausted by over-exploitation, the ships and The story was the same in many parts of for caste marks. It also was used as a men employed in that trade sought new the Pacific. for various and aches. Prior remedy pains methods of money-making. They turned to In the late 1850's, for example, the ex- to its in the India had discovery Pacific, traffic in humans. Labor was urgently ploitation of the guano deposits on islands been the source and were only prices high needed to work newly established plantations off the Peruvian coast was seen as a profit- indeed. and mines. At first labor recruitment was able business, but workers were needed and In whalers discovered sandalwood 1828, accomplished by bribe (largely iron and the recruiting of labor became a flourishing in the New Hebrides and after that grew trinkets) and promises of more goods later business. As early as 1859 or 1860 a few these islands were never the same. Here is on. Later when reluctant natives declined Easter Islanders were "kidnapped" from a account of one of the missionary's early invitations to leave their homes for slavery their island and sold as slaves, but in 1862 excursions for sandalwood. "Three ships

stole 250 pigs from Efate. Crew shot 26 By Stag Illustrator Marion Pahl natives; women and children were trapped in a cave, wood was piled in the mouth and the whole made into a savory roast so that totally 130 natives were killed." On one island in the New Hebrides the native popu- lation responded in kind and in one two- year span 12 foreigners were eaten and 30 more killed without the occurrence of canni- balism. The Encyclopedia Britannica tells us that "The loss of life in this [sandalwood] trade was at one time even greater than in that of whaling. ..." Anyone with an old ship, a stout heart, and plenty of gunpowder could go into the business. An average profit has been estimated to have been in the nature of $3,000 per voyage. The price of sandalwood varied from £12 to £100 per ton and the supply was rapidly exhausted. The natives placed no value on the wood. In 1830 they were trading a whole dinghy full of sandalwood for one piece of hoop iron. Some buyers used to- bacco exclusively. Goats brought a ton apiece, while cats were in demand once the hardy ship's rats had been introduced to island shores. There was very little of what we might call "team spirit" among the sandalwood traders. Each one was out to beat his com- petition. One of the best ways to make it unhealthy for those who might follow you was to shoot a few natives after you had made your haul. Then, too, introducing diseases was popu- lar. The brig Edward from California in- advertently brought smallpox to one of the islands of Melanesia in 1853. But in 1861, another ship deliberately took from one is- May, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 5 a real war expedition was planned against of course, so the traffic in humans continued. dentured laborers to their island homes. the island. During December of that year Atrocities became even more common. One Most often returns were delayed or pre- eight ships set sail for Easter Island for the account tells of a group of Melanesian na- vented by bright lights, flesh pots of the purpose of "recruiting" workers. A force tives who were cut off from the shore by a cities of the day, or death. But those who of 80 men went ashore and failing to per- blackbirding boat and were dragged aboard did return brought with them new ideas and suade the natives to accompany them, took —the chief by means of a boat-hook through different customs. As late as 1913 the them by force instead. A group of 500 were his cheek. They were jammed into a musty British anthropologist W. H. Rivers had assembled and in the process several were and airless hold where before long they began this to say about the situation: shot while resisting the aliens. The others to suffocate. They clamored and tried to At the present moment there exists took to their heels, and after the smoke escape their prison, whereupon the crew in Melanesia an influence far more likely of battle had 200 Easter Islanders fired at them some small holes in cleared, through to produce disintegration of native in- lay securely trussed up. The natives who the bulkhead. Three were killed and ulti- stitutions than the work of missionaries. escaped dove into the sea or ran for eleva- mately thrown overboard. The old chief I refer to the repatriation of laborers tions or caves. Another means used on other was not quite dead so he was dispatched from Queensland which has been the result of the occasions on Easter Island was to throw with an ax. Later on when this atrocity movement for a white Australia. Large numbers have re- trinkets on the ground and while the natives was discovered, the culprits were brought cently returned to nearly every island. were on their knees scrambling for them, to trial in Australia, but native evidence Some have been many years in Queens- they were bound up and rendered helpless. was disallowed on the grounds that there land, and have quite forgotten all they The raids disheartened the natives were no oaths over such quickly binding people. knew of their native institutions, some and to escape from future slave raids they Finally, one Christianized native was allowed even have that contempt for these in- took refuge in the caves of the island where to testify. Most perpetrators, however, es- stitutions that often accompanies a they lived in great discomfort and constant caped punishment. This was partly so be- smattering of "civilization." anxiety and neglected the care of their crops. cause non-British ships and British ships The end result of the sandalwood and slaves never but died under other national were not account- The guano returned, flags slaves period in the Pacific was tremendous on the islands. able to law. barren, foreign British depopulation and Europeanized heathenism

was also used to lure labor re- WITH SLAVE TRADE—CRUELTY Trickery —another unhappy chapter in Pacific island cruits. One had a another captain glass eye, contact history. Finally, in 1868 a Polynesian Laborers Act a wooden leg, and another wore a Ku Klux was put through Parliament in England and Klan type of garment with a large bag wages were fixed at not less than the underneath; then he drank quantities of sea SCHWEITZER DISCUSSION stupendous sum of £6 a year (about $17 water to show his magic. Young men could HERE SATURDAY, MAY 14 today). The Act could not be enforced, be bought sometimes from chiefs if gifts Four Nobel Peace Prize Winners will be amounted to enough. Typical were gifts of featured at an 85th Anniversary Tribute guns with the going rate, one firearm for to Albert Schweitzer to be held at the Mu- one man. An especially liberal gift was con- IN MEMORIAM seum May 14 at 8:30 P.M. sidered ten fathoms of calico, a pipe, and The Nobel Prize winners are the Rt. Hon. some tobacco. Philip Noel-Baker, R. F. Georges Dominique Mr. an assistant in One of the chief effects of blackbirding was Joshua Daston, 66, Pire, Sir Norman Angell, and Lord John the of since died depopulation. In 1886 for example there department botany 1934, Boyd Orr. They will participate in a panel 19. Mr. Daston was born were over a thousand Melanesian labor re- suddenly April discussion on the topic, "Albert Schweitzer's in Coosa but edu- cruits in Queensland, Australia. High death Station, Alabama, was Blueprint For Peace." The discussion is a cated in He received his bachelor of rates existed among recruits. If they lasted . part of a symposium to be held that week science after out the voyage to their destination in old degree attending Colleggio on the subject, "The Wisdom of Albert ships which were leaky and overcrowded as Mario Pagani, Bologna's University, and Schweitzer." In his well as dirty, they still didn't fare too well. Firenza's University. botanical ca- The May 14 program will be held in the reer he in a number of Poor diet, lack of medical attention, and participated collecting James Simpson Theatre and is sponsored overwork were the most potent factors in expeditions including expeditions for the by the Albert Schweitzer Education Foun- Botanical maintaining a high death rate. Plantation Italian Royal Gardens, the La dation. Tickets for the evening are available Mortonal Gardens in and the F. A. work hours were from 10 to 14 hours per Italy, upon request by writing the foundation at of day with an hour off for a meal. Contracts Haege Germany. 55 E. Washington St., or calling RA 6-3140. a Two Museum guards also died last month. were usually for three-year period. ex- They are Samuel Colovos, with the Museum The native could only lose. Punitive whose Life Member Wins Prize since 1955, and Clarence Chambers, a guard peditions were sent by governments since 1958. subjects had been arrested while trying to in Game Competition steal laborers, and little by little the old A trophy of big horn sheep shot by Mr. Museum Hours cultures decayed. Longer William D. Cox, a life member of the Mu- One of the most potent stimuli for change in seum, won third in the 1958-1959 Begin May in the islands was the return of the in- prize North American big game competition spon- Beginning May 1 the Museum's doors will sored by the Boone and Crockett Club. remain open to the public from 9a.m. to Studies North Borneo Fishes Mr. Cox bagged his sheep last summer at 6 p.m. seven days a week. These longer the head of the Ghost River in Alberta, hours will remain in effect throughout the Chin Phui Kong, fisheries officer with the . The trophy was measured by coming summer months and through Labor department of agriculture of North Borneo Chicago Natural History Museum prior to Day. On Memorial Day, May 30, and on in Jesselton, is visiting the Museum on a its submission to the Boone and Crockett July 4 the Museum will observe its regular National Science Foundation grant. He will Club Big Game Competition. hours of 9 to 6 p.m. Admission to the be working for approximately six months Museum is free on Thursdays, Saturdays, with Dr. R. F. Inger, Curator of Reptiles and Sundays. Children, students, and teach- and Amphibians, on fresh water fishes of The Art Institute conducts classes in this ers are always admitted free. North Borneo. Museum, deriving motifs from exhibits. Page 6 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN May, 1960 A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE BOOKS Reviewed By Our Staff TO AMERICAN MAMMALS THE MAMMALS OF NORTH AMER- ICA. By E. Raymond Hall and Keith R. Kelson. Ronald Press Company, 1959. In two volumes, vol. 1, pp. xxx+ 1-546+ 1-79; vol. 2, pp. viii+547+1-79. 500 maps, 724 text figures. $35.

The Mammals of North America, by E. Ray- mond Hall and Keith R. Kelson, is the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to the classification, distribution, and literature of North American mammals ever published. All scientific names applied to the mammals of this continent are listed in evolutionary sequence. Every order, family, genus and species is described. The identification of each species is aided by practical keys to all A Romantic History of the Pacific groupings, by 186 black-and-white illustra- tions of the more common mammals, and by VIKINGS OF THE PACIFIC. By Peter H. count of how Buck thought the early navi- 538 line drawings of skulls. One of the most Buck. Phoenix Books, Chicago, 1959. gators from Southeast Asia conquered the valuable contributions of this work is the 339 pages; three maps; 53 illustrations in- vast Pacific. These early voyagers he im- 500 original and lucid maps showing the geo- cluding reproductions of early engravings, bued with enviable heroic stature. Buck was graphic distribution of each species and sub- line drawings, and photographs. $1.95. ethnocentric to a fault, but somehow he is species. The brief notes on habits are generally easily excused, for his zeal and inspiration An old friend has appeared wearing a new of the kind which point up differences between are contagious. The reader thrills with Buck dress. First published in 1938 under hard the species and higher groups of mammals. at the pageantry of enormous high-prowed cover as Vikings of the Sunrise, this new The exhaustiveness of the work is reflected double canoes, skimming over the sheen of a paper-back edition will please readers anew. in the index with its 79 four-columned calm lagoon with half a hundred oars flash- pages The centuries-old drama of the settlement of of technical and vernacular names for ani- ing wet in the sunset's glow. He also shares the exotic South Seas by stalwart and fear- mals and the 30 two-columned of liter- with the author the awesome glimpse of the pages less bands of men and women is nowhere so ature cited. The latter duplicates only a storm-lashed and leaking hull of a once proud vividly portrayed as on these pages. small fraction of the more than 10,000 pub- and elegant craft, separated from its armada, Sir Peter Buck, or as he preferred to be lications cited directly in the text in connec- lost on a gray and tempestuous ocean of flail- called—Te Rangi Hiroa—was a man of rare tion with the technical names quoted. A ing winds and pelting tropical squalls. There inspiration. He wanted to learn about his gratifying feature of this two-volume opus is romance, too, in the mastery of puny man- own people. His mother was a Maori chief- is the inclusion of an index to the entire work kind over the cruel elements. The sea is an tainess and taught him to read and write in at the end of each volume. enemy to be fought and vanquished. The the Maori language. He also received much The first chapter of text is a dissertation cost of victory—the lives of countless valiant guidance and training from his maternal by the senior author on the origin and dis- explorers, extracted over a span of centuries. grandmother. Sir Peter's father was an tribution of North American mammals. Prof. There is an opportunity in Buck's book for Irishman. Of his mixed racial he Hall out that the Zone of heritage the reader to share with the stalwarts of old points Tropical was proud and is quoted as having said that North America has nearly three times as (the Vikings of the Pacific) in the sense of any success he achieved was largely due to many species as the North Temperate and achievement in having bested superior forces his good fortune in having been a mongrel. Arctic Zones combined. This is attributed to and having at last found a new homeland Portions of his life were devoted to work as the fact that the Tropical Zone provides more green with palms, with soaring volcanic spires a medical doctor, statesman, and soldier. kinds of places in which to live. Hall adds offering testimony of the rich, untilled soil But he will be remembered most for his that North America has received much from awaiting on the pristine dot of land. work in ethnology. In order to discover more the fauna of Eurasia but has contributed The great strength of this book is its color- about Maori culture he devoted himself to little. On the other hand, North America ful rendering of a great exodus from the studies of related Polynesian societies. He has contributed more to South America than known to conquer the unknown—the settle- was a peculiar combination of meticulous, it has received. These generalizations are ment of the last great block of the earth's scientific and of ro- true but if the sum total of mammalian painstaking inquirer surface by mankind. only mantic poet. A chauvinist at heart where ROLAND W. FORCE history is considered. the Maori were concerned, his feelings ex- Curator of Oceanic Archaeology and Ethnology There were times, however, when faunal panded to include other Polynesians, ances- flows were stronger in opposite directions. tral to the Maori, as well. For example, the movement of mammals THE TALE OF A MEADOW. Written At one moment he was able to concentrate today is greater from the Tropical Zone into and illustrated by Henry B. Kane. Alfred on a complicated weaving technique and at the Temperate Zone than in the reverse A. Knopf, Inc., New York, 1959. 115 another he became engrossed in the transla- direction, although Prof. Hall would deny pages, photographs and drawings. $3.00. tion of a chant, paddling song, or lament this. We cannot point to any species of which he rendered with great artistic skill. A well illustrated little book telling what Temperate Zone of recent origin His skills ran the gamut from straightfor- goes on in a meadow as seen through the advancing into the Tropical Zone. On the ward analysis of material culture to the ex- eyes of "the boy". The actors range from other hand, witness the spectacular north- amination of ephemeral oral traditions — insects to mammals, against a background ward movement of the Tropical Zone opos- often with great personal artistic creativity. of plants. The volume is pleasantly written. sum and the even more striking northward The book under review is a romantic ac- A. L. RAND, Chief Curator of Zoology march of the Tropical Zone nine-banded ar- May, 1960 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN Page 7 madillo. The coati-mundi, too, is an immi- 'THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS" EXPLORES HISTORICAL grant from the Tropical Zone. A number of BASES OF OUR CONCEPTS OF MATTER IN UNIVERSE species of our common mice, including cotton rats, rice rats, pygmy mice and certain kinds THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS. By Helen was even able to predict the existence of of spiny mice most likely originated and Miles Davis; revision by Glenn T. Sea- then unknown elements. Tables are also spread from the Tropical Zone of southern bord, Nobelist in Chemistry. Published quoted showing the average elemental com- Mexico or Central America into the Tem- jointly by Science Service, Washington, position of the earth's crust and the esti- white-footed perate Zone. The ubiquitous and Ballatine Books, New York, 1959 (re- mated relative abundance of the elements mice, or deer mice, of the Temperate Zone, vised). 204 pages. $.50. in the universe. also have in the may originated Tropical The that follow take the ele- This book on the chemical ele- chapters up Zone. There is reason to believe that paper-back many ments group by group and also include ments, the distinctive varieties of matter top- ics such as radioactivity, atomic power, and making up the universe, gives a very in- the man-made elements. The chapters usu- tersting account of their discovery. It is ally begin with an introduction outlining unusual in that the author uses extensively some of the properties of the group or dealing quotations and translations from the original with some interesting aspect of one or more classical writings of such famous scientists of the elements. A number of the chapters, as Lavoisier, Sir Humphrey Davy, and the are made up of quotations that refer to the Curies, which announced the discoveries to original discovery and properties of the ele- the world. This approach results in con- ments. One minor criticism is that the for- siderable variation in the treatment accorded mat of the text often does not clearly in- the various elements, but it serves to em- dicate the endings of excerpted passages. phasize the historical aspect—the way in The book closes with a list of the which our knowledge of the fundamental elements, their atomic and brief notes constitution of matter has been slowly built weights, isotopes on their a of the up—and the problems which have been met uses, chronological listing dates of discovery of the elements, a and overcome in recognizing, isolating, and glossary of old chemical terms, and an an index. determining the properties of new elements. Chemical Elements is a The introductory chapter briefly describes very useful, up-to- the structure of the atom, and shows that date synopsis of the elements which brings the atoms of the 102 known elements are together information on their discovery and The Helen Miles composed of sub-atomic particles, protons, properties. author, Davis, in 1957 while this neutrons, and electrons. The number and died second edition of the book was in Dr. T. arrangement of these particles produce the preparation. Glenn differences between the elements—the chem- Seaborg, assisted by Dr. B. G. Harvey, both From "The Mammals of North America" of the of ical properties, for instance, being deter- University California, Berkeley, re- mined the outermost electrons. It is vised the text and incorporated the new more kinds of mammals originated and ad- by shown how our of atomic struc- discoveries of the chemical elements that vanced in the same way, but having disap- knowledge occurred since the first edition. ture the explanation of the periodic have Dr. peared from the Tropical Zone are now provides recurrence of similar chemical Seaborg received the Nobel prize for his counted as belonging to the Temperate Zone properties of trans-uranium the elements, although Mendeleef discovery elements. only. amongst based his Periodic Table of the elements on BERTRAM G. WOODLAND Although new species of North American their and chemical properties and Associate Curator of Petrology mammals are still being discovered, the total physical number of those recognized by science is ac- tually decreasing. According to Hall and Kelson, the List of North American Mammals mal, the authors list them in chronological compilations made possible by the hundreds by Gen-it S. Miller, Jr., published in 1924, order under the oldest name which is the one of check lists which preceded them. No less enumerated 1,399 kinds of mammals as full recognized as correct. This complete syno- than eight check lists of North American species. The revised List by Miller, Jr. and nymy makes it possible to compare what is mammals were published in this century Remington Kellogg, published in 1955, shows said about any animal in the present work alone including several by Daniel Giraud 1,065 named forms as species. In the pres- with what has been written about the same Elliot published by Chicago Natural History ent work, only 1,003 kinds of mammals are animal under other names in other works. Museum. treated as species. Reduction in the number Application of the principle of seniority, The Mammals of North America, by Hall of species recognized as valid is the result of or priority, in selecting the correct scientific and Kelson, is a reference work; it is neither comparisons of the original specimens with name for an animal insures a large measure light nor entertaining reading. Nevertheless, additional material in the light of a more of stability and universality in scientific no- if I were to recommend three publications on precise knowledge of the processes of specia- menclature. Too strict an application of this North American mammals to anyone, be he tion. Hall and Kelson suspect that ulti- principle, however, sometimes yields unfor- professional mammalogist, arm-chair natur- mately no more than about 800 truly distinct tunate results. For example, Hall and Kel- alist, artist-naturalist, editor, or librarian, I species of North American mammals will be son felt compelled to transfer the generic would select: first, The Mammals of North recognized. One wonders why these authors name Dama, inadvertently used over 150 America, by Hall and Kelson; second, its did not bring the millenium nearer by treat- years for the European fallow deer, to the natural complement, Lives of Game Animals, ing as a single species the 77 named forms of North American white-tailed deer univer- by Ernest Thompson Seton (Doubleday, brown bears they list, albeit against their sally known as Odocoileus. It seems to me Page and Co., 1925); and third, the visual better judgment, as distinct "species." that in this very exceptional case, the inter- and practical Field Guide to the Mammals, Virtually all technical names ever used for ests of zoology would have been better served by W. H. Burt and R. P. Grossenheider North American mammals have been brought had the authors left each deer with its famil- (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1952). together in this work. Where more than one iar name. PHILIP HERSHKOVITZ name had been used for a given kind of mam- Works such as the one under review are Curator of Mammals Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN May, 1960

New York Not All Concrete And Steel NEW MEMBERS 7 to NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK Please," and author of several books on nat- (March April 4, 1960) Associate Members CITY. By John Kieran. Houghton ural history subjects, gives an encyclopedic Mifflin Company, 1959. 428 pages. Illus- store of information about the plants and Mrs. John W. Allyn, E. Henry Blume, E. Robert S. trated by Henry Bugbee Kane. $5.75. animals, selecting those he has seen, or those Joseph Brunswick, Burrows, Carl Cervenka, Mrs. David L. Coghlan, Dr. likely to be seen. The treatment is a loose New York is more than the canyons of Lome Costello, Ralph Cowan, Glenn R. arrangement by groups from the life in a cup steel and concrete one sees from a downtown Curtis, Theodore C. Diller, Walter Erman, of water dipped up from sea or pond, to birds hotel. In the five boroughs (Manhattan, Allyn J. Franke, Frank Gall, Harold S. and mammals, flowering plants, and trees. Richmond or Staten Island, Brooklyn, Guetzkow, Mrs. Burton W. Hales, Myron A. From this volume the nature lover can Hecht, John S. Hutchins, Howard J. Jeffers, Queens, and the Bronx) there are 28,000 get a view of the great and wealth of life R. J. Kennedy, Leslie S. Larson, Robert E. acres of parks, also truck gardens, farms, variety that flourishes in and about a — Levin, Sidney D. Levin, Mrs. William Lipp- and even a grove—a remnant of the original great city man, Hervey L. MacCowan, E. S. Marsh, covered Manhattan Island. some because of man, some in spite of him. forest that once Dr. W. Harrison Mehn, Paul H. Mesenbrink, A background of the geology and history There are the ocean beaches, the harbor, and Mrs. Wilbur C. Munnecke, George Nielsen, of the a on of the mighty Hudson River. This means a island, and chapter the cycle John B. O'Connor, Benjamin Franklin Olson, the one host of plants and animals, from bedbugs, seasons introduces to the factors Roy J. Pierson, O. Trumbull Scalbom, which determined the flora and fauna Robert W. Bruce M. Dr. pigeons, rats and mice in the thickly built-up upon Smick, Smith, which has a hand. The Simon L. Sprtel, Mrs. C. Conover Talbot, areas, to deer that wander into its landward man placed heavy H. B. are a Munroe A. Winter, Edward H. Yonkers, areas, and even a sperm whale stranded in pencil drawings by Kane very Mrs. Alma M. Zivin. decorative feature of the volume. Brooklyn. Poachers still trap muskrats with- Members in the city limits. Austin L.Rand Sustaining R. Kieran, veteran of radio's "Information, Chief Curator of Zoology Jerome Sebastian, F. C. Shafer — Annual Members GIFTS TO THE MUSEUM 408 bird skins; Mr. Ralph Jack- Dr. John H. Abelson, Robert A. Abraham- son, Cambridge, Maryland — land snails, son, Elliott N. Adams, F. Denby Allen, Following is a list of the principal gifts Ibarra, Ecuador; Miss Bess Graf- James Alter, W. A. Anderson, Mrs. Roy E. recently received: Kennedy, ton, West Virginia —a pair of miniature ivory Andrews, Dimitri T. Argoe, Willard Ayres, Department of Anthropology dogs; Dr. N. L. H. Krauss, Honolulu, Hawaii E. Bachrach, William S. Baltz, Dr. C. J. Calif. From: Dr. William Bascom, Berkeley, —15 reptiles and amphibians, Mexico and Barasch, Arthur K. Baxter, Robert W. Beart, — West Mrs. ethnological specimens, — Africa; Central America; Mr. Borys Malkin, Seattle, Dr. Allison Burdick, Jr., Walter W. Caddell, Maude A. Farber, Chicago ethnological Washington—inland mollusks, Europe; Dr. Milton Cohen, Arthur F. Connelly, Hayden Mr. & Mrs. — specimens, Australia, Melanesia;— J. I. Menzies, Sierra Leone 17 frogs, 3 liz- F. Conway, Dr. Maxwell M. Corbett, Harry Clarence L. Frederick, Chicago 62 ethno- ards; Mr. John C. Poynton, Pietermaritz- I. Coy, Jr., J. H. Donovan, Mrs. A. D. Davis, Mrs. logical specimens, Africa; Capt. and burg, Natal— a frog; Mr. Kim T. Rawlinson, Dr. John J. Eichstaedt, Morton C. Eden, F. —carved A. W. F. Fuller, London, England Greencastle, Indiana—8 fishes; John G. Shedd Fahey, Daniel Gallagher, Dr. Benjamin J. Maori New Mrs. John A. — Tiki, —Zealand; Aquarium, Chicago 3 fishes, Iowa; Walter Gans, Joseph Getlin, Edward Gudeman, Holabird, Chicago Navajo textiles, South- Suter and John Wagner, Evanston, 111. — Robert A. Hardt, William T. Hocking, west Mr. & Mrs. Fred Mueller & Mrs. USA; — 10,919 feather-wing beetles, Eastern United William C. Howell, Harold Jackson, Sidney Pauline Tuck, Chicago ethnological speci- States; Mr. Robert W. Tansill, Evanston, R. Johnson, Robert E. Johnson, James W. P. mens, Polynesia, Samoa; Mr. Robert 111.—sea shells, Yap Id., Carolines; U. S. Fish Karstens, Edwin M. Katz, M. G. Kaufman, —model Thacker, Chicago house, Kusai, —and Wildlife Service, Rogers City, Michigan Daniel Wilson Keatinge, John F. Keefe, Micronesia 2 fishes; Dr. Conrad E. Yunker, Ottawa, Ralph Keller, J. Edgar Kelly, John J. Kelly, Ontario, Canada—4 Thomas F. Michael M. Department of Botany lizards, Egypt Jr., Kelly, Kenyon, Ben H. Paul T. G. From: Mr. H. R. Bennett, Chicago—536 Kessler, Kessler, Jr., M. Marshall Palmer G. phanerogams, Oregon; Dr. E. E. Sherff, Has- Rarest Waterfowl Lipinski, Long, Lykken, John L. Marley, Jr., John L. Means, Robert tings, Michigan— 13 phanerogams, Hawaii The nene or Hawaiian goose, a peculiar C. Meissner, Miss Ruth Miller, R. R. Minor, Department of Geology species that evolved from a colonization of Robert W. Mundstock, C. Frank Newburg, From: Mr. James E. Canright, Blooming- A. J. Mrs. Peter A. the islands by Canada geese in the long ago, Newhagen, Pershing, — fossil Nova Uni- ton, Ind. a , Scotia; Walter J. Peterson, William Pinsof, J. Louis — is probably the rarest species of waterfowl versity of Chicago fossil reptiles, Texas; Plocek, Dr. George J. Porter, Robert Quayle, —slab of fos- in the world. In 1950 there were only 17 in Mr. August Pivorunas, Chicago Mrs. Irvin F. Richman, Harold Richter, Mrs. Robert H. Whit- and another 17 in the wild. Since sil pelecypods; Dr. & captivity Frank Rutherford, W. Norman Schultz, 111.—fossil the field, Evanston, plant specimens, then, wild birds have increased to per- Henry L. Seaman, Dr. Sid John Shafer, Wyoming and Tennessee haps 50 birds, and in addition 36 young Mrs. Robert R. Sheehan, Roy J. Succa, Irvin Dr. Department of Zoology have been raised in captivity in Hawaii and Swartzberg, George Swope, Henry From: Dr. James Brennan, Hamilton, 53 in England. The nene's breeding grounds A. Szujewski, Vernon Travers, Irwin R. Dr. Willard Van R. Montana—slides of chigger mites, North and were discovered only in 1957, and a study Tucker, Hazel, Eugene Dr. C. M. Hono- Ward, Henry L. Warshell, Dr. Harold H. South America; Burgess, made of the possibilities of management of Hawaii—snail Dominion Was, Mrs. Harriet P. Webber, Gene Wede- lulu, specimens; the species to ensure its further increase — reit, Dr. Leon H. Weiss, Harold A. William- Museum, Wellington, New Zealand 3 bird and safety son, J. Wilson, C. skins; Mr. Stanley Dvorak, Chicago—3 ma- Joseph Harry Youngquist, Dr. Fred R. Zeiss. rine snails, Philippines and Sonora, Mexico; Dr. Robert L. Fleming, Katmandu, Nepal— 110 bird skins, 3 lizards, 7 snakes; 1 hair- worm; The Florida State Museum, Gaines- CHINA- B. W. Ja- ville, Florida—a bat skull, I., OF THE maica; University of Florida, Gainesville, LAND DRAGON Florida—7 bats, Bahama Isl., Panama, An- tigua; Mr. Harry Hoogstraal, Cairo, Egypt JOURNEY — 14 liz- 32 mammals, 213 bird skins, 7 frogs, Continues Through May arcs, 8 snakes, a lot of turtle eggs, uterus of a mammal, Sudan, Egypt; Mr. Gunnar Hoy, PRINTED BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS

Chicago Natural History Museum MUSEUM NEWS Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410

Members' Night seum was playing host to the largest THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Members' Night crowd in its history. Lester Armour Henry P. Isham On the evening of April 29, a gala Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Wm. McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain Museum welcomed 1,767 assembly thronged up the Museum's personnel Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller Chesser M. Campbell William H. Mitchell —147 more than last year's rec- floodlighted steps and into Stanley Field guests Walter J. Cummings John T. Pirie, Jr. Joseph N. Field Clarence B. Randall their number. Hundreds of these Hall. Expectantly they scanned ord-topping Marshall Field, Jr. John G. Searle Stanley Field Solomon A. Smith their evening's tour with printed guides, and then surged toward guests began Samuel Insull, Jr. Louis Ware Nickolas the variety of programs and exhibits Muray's visually exciting pho- OFFICERS of the President that were featured on floor tographic display, "Peoples Stanley Field being every Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President the Vice-President of the Museum. It was Members' World," on loan from Wenner- Walther Buchen Second Night Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President and Natural Mu- Gren Foundation for Anthropological Solomon A. Smith Treasurer 1960, Chicago History Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary Research. Dr. Robert F. Inger, Cura- E. Leland Webber Assistant Secretary —THTS MONTH'S COVER— tor, Amphibians and Reptiles, twice led a standing-room-only crowd on a "Con- THE BULLETIN go Safari," by means of colored slides EDITOR and the recorded sounds of insects, frogs, Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum and jungle drums. Some visitors took CONTRIBUTING EDITORS S. Martin Curator of their last to Paul Chief of Anthropology advantage opportunity John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany see the exhibit that had been Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology prepared Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology in honor of Darwin's centennial celebra- Theodor Just Curator Emeritus of Botany MANAGING EDITOR tion, while many others investigated Paula R. Nelson Public Relations Counsel "Soundtrek," the Museum's pioneering ASSOCIATE EDITOR radio guide system. Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations

Featured on the ground, first, and second floors were the re-installation of Members are requested to inform the Museum promptly of changes of address. Halls 7 and 8, Indians of the Southwest, Mexico, and Central America; the series of exhibits on the archaeology of Etruria quantity of the Museum's scientific pub- and Rome, which are now completely lications produced during the past year. re-installed on the ground floor; and the Before the evening was over, almost new additions to the Birds of the World everybody traipsed up to the fourth exhibit in Hall 21 . On the second floor floor to see taxidermy work in progress the newly completed hall of North and to marvel at the magnificent array American trees, and the re-installations of animal skins. of several huge fossil mammals drew As last reminiscences were exchanged particular attention. Areas "behind the around the refreshment tables, snatches exhibits" also attracted capacity crowds, of conversation drifting through Stanley who saw a diversified array of objects on Field Hall indicated that everyone had Our cover does not show a coiled- display ranging from mysterious Tibet- experienced a memorable evening. cephalopod fossil nor a portion of a an books through unique rock forma- nautilus shell, which a first glance tions, rare deep-water fish, poisonous Conference might suggest. We see the ventral plants, and octopus teeth. Over and Participation plates or scales of a coiled rattle- over again, the scientific staff explained Dr. Paul S. Martin, Chief Curator of was carved an exhibits had snake, which by the special they prepared Anthropology, Dr. Donald Collier, Cura- Aztec sculptor in the fourteenth illustrating their research to new groups tor of South American Archaeology and of the find it to century A.D. Views top of people who seemed to hard Ethnology, and Dr. George I. Quimby, and the complete underside of this tear themselves away from exquisite Curator of North American Archaeol- serpent, with its thirteen rattles, plant models, giant beetles, fossil sharks ogy and Ethnology, last month attended are shown above. The coiled mass in process of being uncovered, and prim- the Annual Meeting of the Society for of the snake, which is of red ba- itive musical instruments. Many visitors American Archaeology at Yale Univer- is 24 inches in diameter and attracted the of intri- of a salt, were by variety sity. Dr. Martin was chairman weighs about 300 pounds. Addi- guing titles displayed in the Library, study section entitled "Southwestern of tional examples Aztec sculpture and lingered to discuss them over a cup and Iowan Archaeology" and Dr. on 4 and 5. are shown pages of coffee with the hospitable library staff. Quimby presented a paper on "The Others were impressed by the scope and {Continued on page 7)

Page 2 By ALAN SOLEM, Curator of Lower Invertebrates

Rocks, Snails, and Cactus Spines

During the last two weeks of March, grass-covered or desert tablelands. The boundary survey of 1890, sent back the Munroe L. Walton of Glendale, Cali- sides of the mountains— are sculptured by first few species to interested scientists. fornia, and I searched the foothills and tortuous canyons some wide, some Intrigued by these remarkable shells, a mountains of Southern Arizona for land narrow. Huge piles of rocks and boul- Joliet, Illinois, newspaper publisher, snails. ders provide evidence of landslides, wind James Ferriss, collected for the first time The desert seemed an unlikely place and frost erosion, and occasional torren- in the Chiricahua Mountains in 1902. for the soft-bodied, moisture-loving snails, tial rains, which produce the turbulent Again in 1904, Ferriss made another and living specimens were few and far flash floods. between. After moving an estimated On the fringes of these rock piles a few twenty tons of desert rocks, I decided scraggly plants survive, shedding leaves I'd be happier counting snails obtained that sift down to the bottom of the slides. than rocks moved, although the rocks Each year, the brief showers wash in soil moisten the at- greatly outnumbered the snails ! among the leaves and Under the sun's the Of course, the snails didn't move into mosphere. glare, surface water soon but the desert; the desert came to the snails. evaporates, deep in the dark slides it lasts Thousands of years ago, many areas of just long enough Southern Arizona were humid river val- for a few hardy snails to move about, and Most of the leys which had an entirely different flora eat, multiply. year are sealed to the rock. and fauna from what we see today. As they inactive, are discovered and the climate gradually changed the mois- Occasionally they eaten some small but with ture-loving creatures died out, retreated by rodent, better luck live fifteen or to the still humid mountain tops, or they may before an found some hidden niche that stayed twenty years extraordinarily kills them. In the re- wet for at least a few days each year. long dry spell cesses of the rock is slow and These whose from slender Today, the mountain masses of Ari- piles, decay arsenals, weapons range the "bones" of dead snails may accumu- prickles to large daggers, guard the nearby rock piles. zona are separated by miles of flat, late for who knows how many hundreds collecting trip with Henry A. Pilsbry, of years before being disturbed by a col- the greatest malacologist of this century lector's searching hands. and Curator at the Academy of Natural Isolated, as they have been, for cen- Sciences of Philadelphia. From then tury after century by impassable desert until 1919, mountain range after moun- waste lands between mountain masses, tain range were explored for shells by and restricted in the drier areas to a Ferriss; Pilsbry; A. A. Hinkley, an Al- single canyon or even rock slide, a be- gonquin, Illinois collector, and an In- wildering number of species and varie- diana resident, L. E. Daniels. ties have evolved. Arizona has perhaps and Ferriss, in eleven 200 named kinds of land snails, more Pilsbry papers 504 on than any other mainland state except totaling printed pages, reported the results of these field and de- California. This great proliferation of trips scribed most of the known spe- species is directly traceable to the dry- presently cies. The deaths of and Daniels, ing climate and long isolation of rela- Hinkley the ill health of Ferriss, and Pilsbry's tively small populations of snails. other duties ended the survey before it EARLY COLLECTORS could be completed. When Pilsbry died of in Phila- An adult and young "Sonorella dalli," known only Little was known this vast fauna in 1957, his collection remained from Tanner Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, until the late 1880's and early 1890's. delphia. Hinkley willed his to the Uni- are clinging to the rock. The white rings show where the snails have cemented themselves to the rock A Congregational missionary preacher, versity of Illinois, Daniel's went even- during dry spells. These rings may last 200 in years E. H. Ashmun, and E. A. Mearns, an tually to the University of Michigan, the dry climate, and usually 200 or 300 rings will be seen before even the first dead snail is found. Army surgeon attached to the Mexican (Continued on page 8) Page 3 1. Head of a pulque god 2. The calendrical glyph "Four Rabbit" 3. Ehecatl, the wind god AZTEC SCULPTUH

The stone carvings shown on these pages and the cover are ret jM objects may be seen in two recently installed exhibits in Hall 8.

Aztec sculptors were concerned mainly with the depiction of shown immediately to the left (No. 15) represents Chicomecoatl trayed deities was Quetzalcoatl ("Quetzcal Snake"), god of cres having both human and plumed-serpent forms. Variations in t 8-11). No. 8 shows his face in the jaws of a serpent; on the side of from his ear lobe with a bone skewer. No. 3 portrays Quetzalcoatl wearing a bi in No. 2 was carved on a stone box used by priests to store sacrificed human he:

Another strain in Aztec art, typified by the dog in No. 5, was naturalistic ra

than symbolic. Probably the realistically portrayed sculptures of human beij animals, and insects were created primarily for pure pleasure, although som these animals also had religious significance. 14. Goddess of water

13. Plumed warrior from a wall relief 12. Seated man 11. Quetzalcoatl 4. Head of a serpent (note large poison fang)

DONALD COLLIER rj •J Curator of South American Archaeology and Ethnology sentative of the Classic Aztec style dating from A.D. 1400-1520. These

dties and the dramatic portrayal of religious symbolism. The figure Seven Serpent"), goddess of maize. One of the most frequently por- >n, learning, winds, and the planet Venus, who was conceived of as depiction of this god are shown in the accompanying pictures (Nos. is stone is carved a man sacrificing to Qiietzalcoatl by drawing blood •beak mask in the guise of the wind god. The glyph s. jr s,

)f 7. King of Coatlinchan

9. Plumed serpent from a stone column 8. Front and side of carved boulder U N S d TREK

Visitors to Natural the American Museum of Natural His- Chicago History By MARILTN JINDR1CH Museum are cautioned not to be dis- Associate Editor tory in New York, which today has six if exhibit halls for turbed they observe some rather un- Illustrations by Marion Pahl wired one-channel re- usual behavior taking place in the ex- ception. Similar operations were also frogs and reptiles, and even the rarely hibition halls these days. Throughout installed in Washington's National Art heard whisperings of the ocean and the building, people with little black Gallery and the Detroit Institute of Art. underwater life—as well as authentic boxes around their necks pass by with a All of these early guide systems have Indian ritual drums and ceremonial faraway in their eyes. two things in common : they operate on expression They music. appear, in fact, to be guided by some a single channel or radio frequency, and The idea of radio guides for museums mysterious force as they walk, turn, and they can be used in only a limited num- originated in Europe in Amsterdam, stop in almost synchronized precision ber of exhibition halls, since none can where in the Rijksmuseum a one-chan- before exhibit after exhibit. ever be adjacent to one another. It is nel installation was developed which Unusual? Yes. But there is no need here that Soundtrek has imparted a new lacked additional radio frequencies. to be alarmed, for at the bottom of this approach to museum closed-circuit This meant that adjacent halls could phenomenon is an exciting innovation radio guide systems. By expanding the not be wired for sound because two designed to make a trip to the Museum number of radio frequencies used for commentaries, each operating in near- more memorable, enjoyable, and edu- the taped commentaries, Soundtrek has by halls on the same radio frequency, cationally rewarding. It's Soundtrek, accomplished something new—the wir- would be picked up simultaneously on a new closed circuit radio guide system. ing of adjacent halls. the receiver as a mere jumble of sound. First introduced to our members on The result is that 18 exhibition halls In spite of this limitation on the number April 29, Members' Night, it is the only at Chicago Natural History Museum of halls that could be wired, the Am- operational radio guide system in Chi- now offer Soundtrek commentaries— sterdam experiment was a success. In cago, and one of the very few in the a record-breaking number. In addi- a short time the idea spread across the world. tion, in many of these halls visitors may ocean, and a few similar, one-channel choose between two distinct narrations, THE SOUNDTREK SYSTEM radio guide operations were installed in each offered on a separate channel. museums in the United States. Soundtrek consists, first, of a receiver, One is shorter and less detailed, while One of the first to use the system was which is a light, portable plastic box to the other is longer and more scientific- which an ear piece is connected. The 7 ally explicit. receiver is with a dial that en- PyMER/CAN' equipped PUBLIC RESPONSE ables the Museum visitor to tune in the proper channel for each hall. Com- What has been the public reaction to mentaries on the exhibits are recorded Soundtrek during its infancy and first by the Museum staff on tapes which growing pains in the Museum over the are played continuously in each Sound- past few weeks? trek equipped hall. The purpose of the Almost without exception, visitors commentaries is to give Museum visi- have been fascinated, delighted, and tors a more exciting and purposeful in- very much enlightened through the ra- troduction to the exhibits by providing dio guide system. In talks with many the next best thing to a personally es- of them, it has been discovered that corted tour by a Museum scientist. For there are a number of subsidiary bene- a touch of additional realism, some of fits of the system that had not been real- the tapes include actual sounds of na- ized when it was in the planning stage. ture—the calls of wild animals, birds, For example, a mother of eight lively Page 6 and inquisitive young boys found in who quickly return to the booth lament- ized," Mrs. Nelson believes that "the Soundtrek the means of keeping her ing they can't hear a thing, only to dis- arts of communication and interpreta- brood in tow, so that for the first time cover they haven't turned on their radio tion perform a necessary service. The she was able to really enjoy a trip to the set. increase in leisure time available to Museum. And there is the little adults new girl SOUNDTREK'S FUTURE today provides opportuni- who, upon returning her radio guide, ties for our educational and research announced that she had listened to the What of the future of Soundtrek? En- institutions. A balanced public rela- commentary on the Museum's prehis- visioned is an ambitious plan to wire the tions program, in touch with a variety toric man restorations no less than twelve halls for additional channels that will of media and community resources, can times ! She was writing a school paper carry commentaries on the exhibits in communicate a multi-dimensional im- on that subject and did not want to miss other languages, for the benefit of Chi- age of the Museum to the diversity of a single detail. cago's linguists as well as foreign visitors publics it wishes to reach and serve. We On the humorous side, impartial ob- to the Museum. In addition, it is hoped shall work to build such a program." servers have been heard to comment: that every hall in the Museum might "Soundtrek users look as though they eventually be included in the system. Scientific Meetings Here are tuned in on outer space." Or there But no matter how long it takes for these is the sympathetic reaction of the woman long-range plans to materialize, there is Scientists from 53 leading universi- who somehow missed seeing the Sound- no question that Chicagoans now have ties, museums, and research laboratories trek booth at the main entrance to the the opportunity, for the nominal fee of in the continental United States, Alaska, Museum, but did see a young boy with 50 cents (25 cents for children), to avail Canada, and Pakistan, will converge at a radio receiver: "Did you see that poor themselves of the most advanced radio Chicago Natural History Museum dur- for little boy? Imagine having to use such system in the world . . . and it's right ing June the annual meetings of the a powerful hearing aid at his age!" here, at Chicago Natural History Mu- American Society of Ichthyologists and Then, of course, there are always some Herpetologists. The Museum's wel- come to these distinguished guests will be given by E. Leland Webber, Assist- MUSEUM NEWS- tion at the University of Chicago. In ant Director. (Continued 2) the Radio and Television Office of the from page During the three-day meetings, scien- University, she edited the Round Table Old Copper Culture and the Copper tific papers will be read reporting a wide pamphlet, developed educational radio . . of Eskimos and Hypothesis" . Mr. John variety research on fishes, reptiles, programs, and assisted with the public- R. Millar, Chief Curator of Botany, at- and amphibians. Among the subjects of the committee of educa- tended the Conference of Directors of ity program to be presented are: "Piranhas—Fact tional institutions (of which Chicago Scientific Collections held May 9—11. and Fiction," "A Technique for Fish Natural History Museum was a mem- Photography," "Anesthetizing and Op- Citation ber) that was instrumental in securing erating on Large Sharks," "Case Report Channel 1 1 for educational broadcast- Research Associate Harry Hoogstraal of a Bite by a Red Diamond Rattle- ing in Chicago. Later, Mrs. Nelson was has received the Department of Defense snake," "Opportunities for Ichthyolog- editor for the University's Orthogenic Distinguished Civilian Service Award, ical Research in National Parks," "Vo- School—its publications comprising sci- the highest honor conferred on D.O.D. cal Variation in Two Species of Chorus entific books and monographs as well as civilian employees, for his research on Frogs," "Effect of Temperature on De- articles for wider distribution ticks and tick-borne diseases of man prepared velopment in Snakes," "Pattern of Re- in and animals. The citation reads: "His popular magazines. placement in Frog Teeth," "Fishery At the of Down- in — unique work is not only of major signifi- University Chicago's Survey Arctic Canada" as well as town as Assistant Director of the cance to military medicine but to the Center, many other titles of a more technical Informal Mrs. Nelson worked welfare of all the peoples of regions Program, nature. where tick-borne diseases are a serious with community groups and university faculty to develop adult discussion health problem." Field Research courses. Under a grant from the Fund New Staff Member for Adult Education, she was in charge Dr. Paul S. Martin, Chief Curator of of a of the Downtown Dr. Mrs. Paula R. Nelson joined the Mu- sociological study Anthropology, accompanied by Center's student of more than 5,000 B. Assistant Curator of seum staff on May 1 as Public Rela- body John Rinaldo, persons; handled all publicity for the on 1 4 for a tions Counsel. To this position, Mrs. Archaeology, departed May Center's Informal and directed four-months' to Arizona. Nelson brings a background of nearly Program; expedition two courses for women, "Know Assisted seven school and col- ten years' experience in editorial work, unique by high Your Chicago," and "The Board Mem- the two Museum curators public relations, and adult education. lege students, ber Institute." will direct of a number of Mrs. Nelson attended the University Training exploration sites for ancient Pueblo ruins. of Chicago and Roosevelt University, "In a society that has grown increas- and did graduate work in adult educa- ingly organized and compartmental- Dr. Fritz Haas, Curator Emeritus of Page 7 Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN June, 1960

Lower Invertebrates, will leave in early ROCKS, SNAILS, CACTUS- 80 per cent of the named species and for the Southwestern Research were at June {Continued from page 3) subspecies. We introduced the Station in Portal, Arizona, where he American Malacological Union Meet- will conduct the 1960 Arizona Zoolog- ing in Redlands last summer, and he ical Field Trip. soon agreed to accompany me on an Arizona trip this spring. Children's Journey We met in Tucson during the latter "Thar she blows," signals the start on part of March and in a busy two weeks' summer collected than of June 1 of the Museum's Jour-— period more one-third ney for children. Entitled "Whales the known species. What had to be Monsters of the Sea," the Journey fo- done was to quarry three to five feet into cuses on the strange things that have old rock slides. Constantly, the slides happened to these largest animals ever would cave in on us just as we sighted a to live on the earth, who long ago shell, and more than once the only liv- left the land to go back to the sea. The ing individual seen would get crushed "whale hunt" is available to all children by rocks. At times we found 100 dead during regular Museum visiting hours shells for each live one. Localities were during the months of June, July, and often miles apart, and of neighboring August. Travel instructions and spe- slides, one might be good collecting cial by while the next was barren. We found Journey questionnaires prepared We excavated a six-foot-deep hole in this rock slide the Raymond Foundation are available to find 204 dead shells, but not one living specimen. that some areas were snowed in, while at the north and south entrances to the many others could not be visited in the Museum. while Ferriss's wound up at a Joliet pub- time available. The work of the two lic school. In 1955, Dr. Fritz Haas weeks was possible only through Mr. New Exhibit arranged for its transfer to Chicago Walton's sharing of his hard won knowl- Natural Museum. first and in the field. I Prize-winning entries in the Tenth History My edge patient help Annual Amateur Handcrafted Gem and job on joining the Museum staff was to might add that not the least of his aid

work on this collection. was in cactus extraction ! Jewelry Competitive Exhibition spon- help spine the One of continue the sored by Chicago Lapidary Club, could, course, COLLECTION COMPLETED; from 6 to 6. where these collectors are on display June July survey pioneer RESEARCH CONTINUES The exhibition features an array of had stopped, adding to the information work of and nearly 60 handcrafted gems and jewelry already compiled. But perhaps more The cleaning processing than taken is by talented amateurs. Included are interesting to an evolutionary biologist the more 5,000 specimens cabochoned and faceted gems; gem col- was the question of what had happened now under way. It was possible to in the since lections; individual pieces ofjewelry and to these snail colonies after half a cen- identify most specimens field, still one kind is found in one jewelry sets; polished stones and slab tury. Did they exist? Could they only generally will to collections; and enameled stone work. be located? If found, would the snails place, but this material now have be with the collection These fine examples of lapidary art were be the same as those collected fifty years compared original that selected by a panel of professional jewel- earlier? Some colonies sampled in 1 904 in the Museum. We already know ers from hundreds of gem and stone ex- seemed to be in the middle of rapid evo- we have rediscovered a "lost" species of hibits. lutionary change. How far had these land slug. Originally collected in 1913, were lost before Many gems and jewelry appearing in changes progressed in the nearly sixty the specimens they the Museum exhibition represent the years since then? could be adequately studied. We also culmination of years of work by the am- obtained a number of new locality rec- MAPS GUIDE NEW FINDS and even a few that Mun- ateur lapidaries. Oftentimes they begin ords, species with a hunt for slabs in upper Michigan Pilsbry and Ferriss had often pub- roe Walton had been unable to locate or Wisconsin, or a search of the south- lished crude maps in an effort to pin- in his earlier searches. The knowledge this will western part of the country, which yields point localities where they had collected. of techniques gained from trip an abundance of lovely stones. Other Thus, with luck and perseverance, there greatly aid future work, while prelimi- stones may be purchased from the Chi- was a chance that I might locate the nary results indicate that this research will worth while. cago park district or from private firms. very rock slides they had visited. be well Agates, jades, sapphires, quartz, and In this task, I had been anticipated. Moving rocks is unquestionably hard African tiger-eyes are included in the A Los Angeles shell collector, Mun- work, but there is a fascination to these of exhibits, and even a collection pol- roe L. Walton, had been making trips desert snails which is hard to resist, de- ished dinosaur bones has been known to after Arizona land snails for thirteen spite bruised fingers from rock slide appear in the show. years, and had managed to collect about cave-ins, sore muscles, and cactus spines !

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CHICAGO NATURALRuuetin HISTORY ^ M MUSEUM $u, 4960 Chicago Natural History Museum MUSEUM NEWS Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410

THEODOR K. JUST He will be missed at the Museum not THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES only because of his outstanding scholar- Lester Armour Henry P. Isham 1904-1960 Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Wm. ship but because of his consistently cheer- McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain News of the death of Dr. Theodor K. Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller ful personality. Chesser M. Campbell William H. Mitchell Walter J. Cummings T. Jr. for Chief Curator of John Pirie, Just, many years Joseph N. Field Clarence B. Randall of was received Marshall Field, Jr. John G. Searle the Department Botany, Stanley Field Solomon A. Smith Honors Samuel Insull, Jr. Louis Ware at the Museum with deep regret. Dr. OFFICERS Just was taken ill Melvin A. Associate Cura- Traylor, Jr., Stanley Field and President early in January tor of Birds, has been awarded a $12,000 Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President Walther Buchen Second Vice-President time had since that grant by the National Science Founda- Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President Solomon A. Smith Treasurer been continuously ill tion for support of basic research in orni- Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary E. Leland Webber Assistant Secretary at Billings Hospital thology. The grant will be applied over his home in and at a two-year period to the compilation of Park. Death THE BULLETIN Oak a check-list of the birds of Angola, a re- EDITOR occurred at his home search project of significance for special Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum shortly after noon its contribution to an of understanding CONTRIBUTING EDITORS on 14. the of evolution of June stages many African Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany Dr. Just was born birds. Part of the government grant Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology Austin L. Rand Curator Theodor K. will Chief of Zoology in Austria On OctO- Just be used by Mr. Traylor for a five- Theodor Jusrf Curator Emeritus of Botany ber 27, 1904, and months' study trip to the Portuguese t deceased was educated in that country, receiving colony on the west coast of Africa. He MANAGING EDITOR Paula R. Nelson Public Relations Counsel the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at will also make a critical study of some ASSOCIATE EDITOR the University of Vienna in 1928. After 5,200 specimens of Angola birds now in Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations a year with the Museum of Natural His- Chicago Natural History Museum. tory in Vienna, he came to the United Members are requested to inform the Museum States and joined the faculty of the Uni- promptly of changes of address. In June, 1959, a Maori carving of a versity of Notre Dame, beginning as an tattooed face from the Museum's famous instructor and finally becoming head of Fuller collection appeared on the cover THIS the Department of Biology of that insti- MONTH'S COVER- of the WFMT Fine Arts Calendar. In tution. He the staff of the Mu- joined Three men from Mars? the addition to the cover picture, a number No, seum in of 1 Chief August 946, becoming two are Mu- of other photographs of art objects from right-hand actually Curator of the Department of Botany in the Museum's Pacific collections seum staff members while the fig- of 1947. ap- January ure on the left of not a peared throughout the issue. Last month is, course, In addition to his research and writ- man at but a cere- the June, 1959, issue of the WFMT guide all, primitive ing in the fields of botany and paleo- monial mask. What has drawn was honored by the Society of Typo- served as contributor botany, Dr. Just the is graphic Arts by being selected for exhibit strange gathering together or editor of a number of scientific jour- of in its 33rd Annual Exhibition held in the poisoning one of the storage the American Midland nals, including the Art Institute. rooms in the department of an- founded Dr. Naturalist; Lloydia, by Just thropology's Pacific Research Lab- and the and published by Lloyd Library oratory. The room is filled with Museum of Cincinnati; Plant and Animal New Museum Service a highly poisonous gas, a mixture the Univer- Communities, published by A new service awaits Museum visitors of carbon tetrachloride and ethy- of Notre and Chronica Bo- sity Dame; at the north end of Stanley Field Hall, lene dichloride, used to preserve tanica. which will streamline the visitor's trip valuable Museum collections. The He was a consultant to the Office of to the Museum. It is the Museum's In- masks worn by the two men in the Strategic Services in World War II. He formation Booth staffed by Mrs. Angela picture are a self-contained canis- of com- also served as chairman various Womble, formerly of the Charleston, ter type, one of two kinds in use at mittees of the National Research Coun- North Carolina, Museum and a grad- the Museum. cil National Science Foundation. and the uate of Winthrop College. At the booth Dr. Just was a Research Associate in visitors may rent Soundtrek radio guides, the Department of Biological Sciences purchase Museum guide books, and ob- Journey instructions and questionnaires at Northwestern University and had tain information about the exhibits that formerly kept only at the north and conducted seminars at Northwestern is not readily apparent by a quick scan- south doors are also available at the University and St. Louis University. ning of a Museum floor plan. Museum desk. {Continued on page 5)

Page 2 The feather ornamentation on this katchina makes it a likely victim for insect destruction, therefore it is stored in a Museum "poison room."

INVADERS, BEWARE/

BY MARILYN JINDRICH

containing specimens— vulnerable to in- the liquid to empty from the inverted sect damage fine textiles, feathers and bottle into the poison container, from animal skins are favorite prey—are pro- which it eventually evaporates to per- tected with a poisonous gas composed of meate the case interior, rendering the carbon tetrachloride and ethylene di- contents of the case safe from insects. chloride. For the past few weeks (and The special construction of the cases, for a number of weeks to come) Allen which are nearly air-tight, insures that Liss has been engaged in "poisoning" almost none of the gas can escape. How- the anthropology department's eight ever, even if it did, it would be diluted would ever guess that with- storage rooms and approximately 300 with air in the larger exhibit hall, and WHOin seemingly placid Chicago exhibit cases. Poisoning the exhibit lose its potency. It is only when it is Natural History Museum there rages cases is a relatively simple operation, confined to a small area and in a con- a serious and unabating war—a war with each case generally requiring only centrated form that it may cause as- whose persistence over many years has a pint of the liquid carbon tetrachloride phyxiation. led to the development of ingenious and ethylene dichloride. The mixture Museum visitors often view the poi- means of retaliation and defence, in- is poured into a container at the top of soning of cases with questioning stares, cluding poison gas! the case by means of a quart bottle with since it appears rather as though the

. tube. is in- cases are transfused with a The battlefields? . . approximately a copper pouring The tube being special 500 Museum exhibit cases and a large serted in a small hole that may be op- kind of plasma. But visitors never see number of rooms storing research col- ened and closed at the top of the case, the even greater drama and interest lections. and reaches down into the poison con- that accompany the poisoning of the for The aggressors? . . . moths and insects tainer. It takes only a few minutes {Continued on page 8) called dermestidae, both insect enemies possessing the secret weapon of being able to rapidly reproduce offspring who have voracious appetites.

The defending forces? . . . Allen Liss, custodian of anthropology collections, Walter Reese, anthropology preparator, and the Museum's entire maintenance department. The precipitating factor in the Mu- seum's unusual war probably was the discovery by a few "insect-adventurers" that Chicago Natural History Mu- seum housed some succulent morsels for insect consumption. For a mu- seum whose collections are in most instances both priceless and irreplace- able, the danger posed by such a de- velopment demanded stringent meas- ures. Experimentation was begun to find effective means to exterminate the Bushman, one of the world's all-time animal favor- Especially popular with the children is the giant ites, was brought to the Museum after he died. His panda, Su-Lin, who, like Bushman, is protected insect pests. The answer was poison gas. exhibit case is filled with poison gas for protection from insect damage by the carbon tetrachloride and Now, exhibit cases and storage rooms against damage by insects. ethylene dichloride gas mixture. Page 3 DEAD ON ROAD

catching prey in all kinds of country. an extensive range (as does the automo- by ROBERT F. INGER Some are better to mountains its diet from one area to CURATOR, AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES adapted bile), may vary than to plains; others do better in forest another. For example, the automobile ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN PFIFFNER than in grassland. In this respect, the cannot possibly kill a yellow-bellied mar- sS A BOY I remember whiling away automobile is like any other predator. mot in Illinois, Iowa, or Nebraska, but A the miles on long auto trips by It racks up more animal kills in flat, it can and does kill this woodchuck-like counting white horses. Today, white sparsely inhabited country on paved, creature in central Colorado, its eastern horses are scarcer along the roads than relatively straight roads, where its speed limit. For the same reason, the auto- they were in the early thirties. But my finds few restrictions. mobile can get the porcupine in Colo- interests still focus on animals (I grew Wyoming was a good example. We rado but not in Iowa or Illinois. Or into a zoologist) and on auto trips now, spotted 166 DOR's in 425 miles of Wy- take the case of the opossum, which oc- I look for DOR's—animals Dead On oming highway, or one for every two curs from Nebraska eastwards. We saw Road. and one-half miles of travel, while in one DOR in Nebraska and one in Iowa, One summer my wife and I drove Illinois only eight DOR's were seen in but none in Colorado or Wyoming. from our home, in a suburb of Chicago, 370 miles of highway. The difference Generally, the diet of a non-special- to the Colorado Rockies and eastern is undoubtedly accounted for by the ized carnivore, that is, one that feeds on Wyoming. We kept a record of all the greater distance between towns in Wy- a variety of animals, will reflect the rela- mammals we saw dead on the road. oming, which provides the predator with tive abundance of the various kinds of Because we couldn't stop to inspect each the opportunity for the kind of speed prey found in the environment. If rab- DOR on a busy highway, we slowed build-up that exacts a greater toll from bits are the most numerous of the po- down when we saw one ahead and made the natural population. tential prey in a given area, then more an identification at reduced speed. If Again, for the mountains of Colorado, rabbits will be eaten by coyotes, say, the DOR was just a bloody mass with our records show an average of only one than any other food animal. The kill fur, we recorded our entry as "unidenti- DOR every 19 miles; while in the rela- of the automobile follows the same prin- fied." On the I think our iden- flat east of Denver on The most abundant mammals on whole, tively country ciple. — tifications were reasonably accurate. US 34, and north of Rifle on state route the plains are the rabbits -jack rabbits We didn't bother with anything smaller 13, we noticed one DOR at least every and cottontails. Of the 64 DOR's whose than a rabbit. But whenever we spot- six and one-half miles. remains we were able to identify in Wy- ted an especially interesting DOR, or An important factor in the life of any oming, 58 were rabbits. And of the whenever there was little danger to our- predator is the distribution of prey ani- 102 DOR's recorded as "unidentified," selves from the kind of predator we rode mals. Obviously, a predator can feed we estimated that 75 per cent were in, we stopped for a good look. only on those animals living within its probably rabbits. Few predators are equally adept at geographic range. If the predator has The statement that rabbits are the

Page .4 most abundant mammals in the plains run down, they are large enough to tleman who acted as caretaker of Ayer's needs qualification. We were concerned damage seriously any passenger car that Natural Bridge State Park east of Casper. only with those animals that could ac- tangles with them. Consequently, driv- We had been astonished at the number tually be considered as potential prey. ers make strenuous efforts to avoid this of rabbits dead on the road in Wyoming The species that a given predator will kind of prey. We saw no dead steers on and mentioned this mortality to the care- attack fall within certain size limits. A the road. taker. "Well," he said, "some of the lion, for example, does not bother with A fundamental principle of biology is sheep ranchers around here lost a lamb mice, which are too small to warrant that a system of checks operates to con- or two to coyotes. So they got after the the effort; nor will a lion attack an adult trol the population size of any animal. government and the game men poisoned elephant. Similarly, when we arbitrar- If a species becomes too numerous, it and trapped out the coyotes. Then we ily decided not to try to identify mam- may be reduced by a lack of food or had a plague of rabbits. Finally the mals smaller than rabbits, we were breeding sites. Also, as its numbers in- state put in the hard top and the cars placing a lower limit on the size of the crease, the species is attacked more often started getting the rabbits. You know, automobile's prey. As for the upper by predators. This principle was ex- Nature has a way of taking care of these limits, although cattle are occasionally pressed very neatly by the elderly gen- things." MUSEUM NEWS (Continued from Page 2)

Field Research has served as Chairman of the Museum New Exhibit Division of the Association during the Mr. Harry Changnon, Curator of Ex- The historic panorama of "Eleven past year, and in this capacity presided hibits, conducted a field trip on May 21st Centuries of Icelandic Culture" is por- at the Division's annual business meet- for the Chicago Academy of Sciences to trayed in a new photographic exhibit in ing, which included a round-table dis- Thornton, Illinois, for the purpose of Hall 2 opening July 1 in the Museum cussion on "Rare Books and other studying the limestone bedrock of the and continuing through August. The Special Materials in Museum Libaries." Chicago region. . . . Dr. Fritz Haas, photographs, assembled by Cyrus T. Curator Emeritus of Lower Inverte- Brady, Jr., depict "The Land and the brates, left on June 6 for a three weeks' From the Bookstore People," "Iceland's Cultural Develop- field trip to Arizona to study the snails ment," its "Architecture and Industry," The Story of the Platypus of the Chiricahua Mountains. and its "Contemporary Art and Life." By Alfred G. Milotte. A Borzoi Na- The exhibit comprises 50 large photo- ture Study Book published by Alfred graphic prints of unusual interest, many A. New York. 114 Resignation Knopf Inc., pages, drawn from rare sources. 23 illustrations Helen Damrosch Effective with the close of business, (by Mr. Robert Reich as Tee-Van). Clothbound $2.75. June 17, resigned Museum Hours Custodian of the Herbarium, in order Longer to further his education. During the months of July and Au- gust, and through September 4, the Museum will remain open from 9 a.m. Meetings Attended to 8 p.m. on Wed., Fri., Sat., and Sun., Mr. John R. Millar attended meetings and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mon., of the newly formed Association of Sci- Tues., and Thurs. The 9 to 8 p.m. hours ence Museum Directors (as representa- occur on the evenings of the free Grant tive of Dr. C. C. Gregg) and attended Park concerts, thus providing Chicago- the annual meeting of the American ans with a cultural twin-bill for the sum- Association of Museums, both in Bos- mer. The Museum's cafeteria will be

ton, Massachusetts, May 24-27. . . . open from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for those Mr. Philip Hershkovitz, Curator of Mam- who would like to dine conveniently. mals, Dr. Karl Koopman, Assistant Cura- tor of Mammals, and Miss Sophie Andris, Press Covers Museum Osteologist, attended the 40th annual meeting of the Society of Mammalogy Members of the press photographed at Tacoma, Washington, June 20-22. "prospectors" swarming through the last . . . Mrs. M. Eileen Rocourt, Associate Museum's department of geology Librarian, attended the Convention of June 21, armed not with picks and shov- Special Libraries Association in Cleve- els, but with a berylometer. They were on land, Ohio, June 5-8. Mrs. Rocourt From "The Story of the Platypus" (Continued page 8) Page 5 THE MUSEUM'S NEWEST EXHIBIT

By MELVIN A. TRATLOR, JR., Associate Curator oj Birds

The newest bird screen in Hall 21 adds the families from Sandgrouse to Owls to the systematic series of the Birds of the World.

THE PURPOSE of the most reach the top of the trees on which it twice each day. Since water holes are SINCErecent exhibit to appear in the bird feeds it must climb up using its beak and scarce in the desert, each will draw birds halls is to entertain and stimulate as well claws; from there it can glide down to from hundreds of square miles around. as to instruct, pride of place has been the foot of the next tree, but then must At dawn and dusk there are spectacular given to the colorful family of parrots. start climbing all over again. flights of birds coming to water. The The parrots, which include the various The other families on the screen are sandgrouse share with pigeons the un- groups known as macaws, cockatoos, also of interest, though less spectacular bird-like habit of immersing their bills parrakeets, lovebirds and lories, show a in appearance. The sandgrouse inhabit and sucking up water like a horse or a great diversity of size and color, and the arid regions of the Old World, which man, rather than dipping up a few drops there are few that can be considered dull. seems a strange choice since they must and then tilting back their heads to let As pets they have always excited inter- have water at least once and usually the water run down their throats. est and amusement because of their to talk "human" qualities: they learn The young cuckoo on the nest has ejected its rightful occupants. Meanwhile, the smaller foster parent works hard to satisfy the usurper's voracious appetite. well, they use their feet to feed them- selves (not a truly human characteristic, but the effect is like that of using their hands), and, having a longevity beyond that of most birds, they make almost life- time pets. The finest talkers are the African Gray and the Amazons; at times they seem almost capable of carrying on a conversation. We must be docile in the face of facts, however, and admit that this is not a sign of real intelligence but of their ability and delight in mim- icry. On the other hand, it is hard to deny them intelligence when you dis- cover, as I did on my first trip to Mex- ico, that they easily learn to speak excel- lent Spanish! Two of the least typical but most in- teresting parrots are the Kea and the Kakapo, or Owl-parrot, of New Zea- land. The Kea was originally a vege- tarian, as are most parrots, but after the arrival of the English settlers it devel- oped the habit of eating meat, and will now occasionally attack and kill sheep. In areas where the habit has become general the bird is a serious pest and must be killed off, but fortunately the majority of Keas live in relatively inaccessible country above the timber- line and there is little present danger of adds the families from their being exterminated. The Owl- Painting by Staff Artist John Pfiffner for the newest bird screen in Hall 21. which Sandgrouse to Owls to the systematic series, "Birds of the World." The birds were mounted by Taxidermist of its parrot is the only member family Carl Cotton and Assistant Taxidermist Peter Anderson. The exhibit was designed by the Museum's Division of Birds. that has lost the power of flight. To

Page 6 Pigeons and doves (or doves and pig- Most members of the family have a bril- barn owl is just as capable of catching eons, for there is no difference between liant red patch on the wing. It is caused mice by sound as it is by sight. a almost as nu- a with a called them) comprise family by pigment copper base, The big horned and eagle owls are merous and diverse as the found nowhere else in the bird parrots. They turacin, the real "hoot" owls of song and story been in our world. For a time it was have deliberately scrimped long thought and are the source of the many super- al- that turacin was soluble in water and treatment here, however, since we stitions about owls as birds of ill omen. wall cases the that birds soaked a rain would ready have two showing by heavy The source of the "wise old owl" prob- lose their color. This is not how- variation in wild and domestic pigeons. true, ably traces back to the sacred owl of extinct Dodo was a close relative of and washed-out birds are never The ever, Athena; in fact, the epithet Glaukopis, resemblance seen. the pigeons, although the meaning "keen-eyed" in Homer, may is difficult to see now. the Dodo When The last two families on the screen have originally meant "owl-faced." The its of it also lost its in- lost power flight are the Barn Owls and the typical Owls. snowy owl is a form of the high Arctic centive to its streamlined keep slim, Superficially they are much alike and that we get to see only occasionally so that the time it was discov- shape, by are usually lumped together in people's around Chicago. Irregularly, when their 1500's it the size and ered in the was minds although there are well-marked food supply fails in the north, there will shape of a turkey. anatomical differences to separate them. be an eruption of snowy owls that brings The cuckoos are as widespread as The barn owl is one of our most familiar them to these latitudes in considerable either the pigeons or parrots, but as a owls because of its habit of nesting near numbers. The last year that happened rule much more soberly clad. Cuckoos human dwellings. Despite its eerie calls I spent my spare time combing the are mostly remembered for their para- it is a good neighbor, for it feeds exclu- beaches and fields trying to find one. sitic breeding habits; the female lays her sively on mice and is a boon to the When I had just about given up hope, egg in the nest of some other bird and farmer. Recent experiments have shown I arrived at work one morning to find for its as elusive then goes off, leaving the foster parents one reason success a hunter: my bird sitting on the roof of the to hatch and feed the young. This habit when placed in a pitch black room a Museum ! is found mostly in typical cuckoos of the Old World and is not confined to this family, for we find it, among others, have seen the new bird exhibit described in the Cowbirds of North America. It After you by is among the cuckoos, however, particu- Associate Curator Traylor, why larly the European Cuckoo, that we find not revisit these? the greatest disparity in size between host and parasite. As you can see in the A unique exhibit in this Museum is that *Long before the United Nations was or- the foster seems almost figure, parent illustrating the cultures of the people of ganized, representatives of the peoples of m danger of disappearing down the Madagascar, who are of mixed Asiatic and the world were gathered together in this young cuckoo's throat as it tries to satisfy African origin. The collection is the only Museum's Chauncey Keep Memorial Hall one of importance from this island in the (Hall 3—Races of Mankind). the youngster's clamorous appetite. United States, and is one of the most com- in this a warbler Although country plete in existence. Now the Museum's may often be seen feeding her own young largely irreplaceable, Melanesian collection in Hall A, most of along with the parasitic cowbird, that The largest, and one of the most spectacu- which was obtained by an expedition in seldom with the cuckoo. When happens lar habitat groups in the Museum, is the 1909-13, is considered the finest and most in- just hatched, the young cuckoo's first African waterhole in Carl E. Akeley Mem- complete in the world. stinct is to eject any other object from orial Hall (Hall 22). Representing a scene the nest. This it does be- in southern Ethiopia, it includes twenty- by crawling *Salmon fishing as practiced by Indians of six its and three animals of different species. neath it, then humping back the Northwest from about A.D. 1000 to working its way up the side of the nest 1800 is illustrated in an exhibit in James Distension of often with Nelson and Anna Louise Raymond Hall till the other object, the egg or young of ear-lobes, large round objects as much as three inches in (Hall 4). its host, falls over the edge. As a further diameter, is a fairly common form of personal method of the success of their insuring ornamentation in northeast Africa. In Hall Primitive jewelry, both ancient and young, individual cuckoos seem to spe- E are shown examples of wooden ear-plugs modern, as well as productions of the modern and fine metal chains of the tribe. is shown in H. N. cialize on one host species and will lay Akikuyu jeweler's craft, Higin- botham Hall (Hall 31). eggs that match in color those of the host. of the Roman re- Touracos are a small family of brightly Antiquities Empire, covered from ancient Pompeii and Bos- The anatomy and some amazing struc- colored birds confined to Africa. They coreale where they were buried by an erup- tures of bats are illustrated by models ex- were called but formerly plantain-eaters, tion of Vesuvius in a.d. 79, are exhibited in hibited in Hall 15 (Mammals in Systematic recent studies have shown that they feed Hall L. Arrangement). on almost fruit and berries any except Soundtrek tours available plantains, so the name is being discarded. Page 7 Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN July, 1960 INVADERS, BEWARE!-

(Continued from page 3) storage rooms that house some of the research collections. As our cover pic- ture shows, to observe that operation is almost like watching a scene from a sci- ence fiction movie. Gas-masked and rubber-gloved, the poisoner enters the storage room, imme- diately shutting the specially constructed, tightly sealed door behind him. The poison is contained in a 55-gallon drum from which it is poured through a hose into a number of large pans distributed throughout the room. There are no openings in the room other than the door and an exhaust vent. The exhaust vent is turned on to ventilate the room when a research project requires that a member of the Museum's scientific staff remain there for a prolonged period. When this occurs, the staff member does Press photographers and young "tourist" friends both enjoyed the Soundtrek publicity opening. not enter the room for eight to ten hours after the exhaust fans are started. How- ever, in most instances, rather than ex- MUSEUM NEWS- space vehicles, missiles, atomic reactors, haust the rooms entirely, gas masks are automatic computers, and X-ray tubes. (Continued from page 5) used. Beryllium is a metal that has not yet the collections The mask shown on our cover is a surveying department's been found in great quantities in this for beryllium, an essential metal used in The a detection self-contained canister-type, which gives country. berylometer, instrument built around a nu- protection for about 30 minutes. An- unique other kind of mask used covers more of clear characteristic of beryllium, is As a measure it is a rule owned International Minerals and the face and is hooked up by an air hose precautionary by in the use of either of the masks that the Chemical Corporation, which has also person working in the room report at examined collections at Northwestern regular intervals to a colleague who re- University and the University of Chi- mains outside, within call. cago for possible new sources of the The department of anthropology has metal. eight storage rooms for research collec- tions—one houses mummies; another, Soundtrek, the Museum's radio guide the Museum's Far East collections; two to the exhibits, was officially intro- more, collections based on North Amer- duced to Chicago on Friday, June 10, ican Indian cultures; and another, speci- when members of the press, radio and mens collected from Central and South television, and the educational world America. The remaining poison rooms gathered at the Museum to try out the are in the Museum's Pacific Research revolutionary sound-tour system. Stan- Laboratory on the ground floor, which ley Field, president, and Dr. Clifford C. contains the Museum's unusually fine Gregg, director, were present to greet oceanic collections. the guests. Soundtrek originators Eu- And so, through the use of poison gas, gene Miller, John Orr, and Rudolph the Museum has been able to gain the Gans answered many questions from in their The Museum's valuable mummy collections are upper hand the battle to preserve the press and public concerning stored in rooms," entrance to which special "poison both its outstanding collections of speci- electronic achievement, while an NBC requires use of a gas mask. mens from the animal world and some mobile television unit video-taped a de- to an air compressor, allowing longer of the rarest and finest artifacts of man's lighted group of children and adults periods of exposure in the poison rooms. diverse cultures. enjoying their Soundtrek tour.

PRINTED BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS IISTORY vht.3* jfo.8 IUSEUM *dupuU 4960

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NUMBER 12 Chicago Natural History Museum MUSEUM NEWS Founded by Marshall Field. 1893 Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410

Membership Growth time available to adults today. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES In the last Lester Armour trends are illustrated two years alone, more than Henry P. Isham Two nation-wide Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Wm. McCormick released 2,000 persons have been added to the Blair Hughston M. McBain by new membership figures just Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller Museum's rolls. Mrs. Pa- CHESSER M. WILLIAM H. the Museum—the membership CAMPBELLt MITCHELL by public's increasing Walter J. Cummings John r. Pirie, Jr. that the Joseph N. Field of the of basic gano reports greatest percentage Clarence B. Randall awareness importance Marshall Field, Jr. John G. Searle Stanley the de- increase has occurred in the associate Field Solomon A. Smith scientific research, and growing Samuel Insull, Jr. Louis Ware category (those who contribute SI 00 to mand for opportunities to continue edu- OFFICERS the Museum). Not do a Stanley cation into the adult years. only large Field President Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President number of first-time members this Walther Buchen In keeping with these national trends, give Second Vice-President but annual members Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President Museum membership now stands at amount, many Solomon A. Smith Treasurer Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary transfer to associate at the E. Leland Webber 7,302 persons, the highest in the institu- membership Assistant Secretary end of the year. The majority of Mu- t deceased tion's history. "In the majority of cases," seum members live in the states Mrs. Gloria Pagano, head of the Chicago area, but also come from cities THE BULLETIN Membership Division, "the outstanding applications all over the United States and a number EDITOR reason why people become members is of countries abroad. Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum their keen awareness of the essential The Musem's of CONTRIBUTING EDITORS value of the research done the categories member- being by Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology ship are: Benefactors: those who con- John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany Museum's scientists, both in the United Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology tribute or Contributors: Austin L. Rand States and in many other areas of the $100,000 more; Chief Curator of Zoology those who $1,000 to $100,000 in MANAGING EDITOR world. People feel a sense of responsi- give Paula R. Nelson Public Relations Counsel money or materials; Life Members: rep- bility toward the continuation of basic contributions of Asso- ASSOCIATE EDITOR and know that their contribu- resenting $500; research, Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations ciate Members: $100 contributions; Sus- tion to the Museum is helping to support Members: who $25 for six it." There is also evidence that the taining give Members are requested to inform the Museum and then become promptly of changes of address. growth in Museum membership reflects years, associates; and Annual Members: who $10 an- increased public interest in adult educa- give The Museum also activities—an interest out of nually. recognizes tion arising scientific publications issued dur- vital need for education honorary, corresponding, non-resident, the continuing ing the period of membership. and as well as in a complex world and maintained corporate members, pa- trons. through the greater amount of leisure All Museum members are kept in- CHESSER M. CAMPBELL — — formed of the institution's activities and 1897-1960 THIS MONTH'S COVER research through the Chicago Natural His- The Museum noted with regret the Museum Bulletin. In addition to re- cover two tory Our portrays impor- death on July 10, 1960, of Chesser M. tant elements in anyone's enjoy- ceiving the Bulletin, members are en- Campbell, a member of its Board ment of a balmy summer titled to: — evening of Trustees. Mr. in Chicago a visit to Chicago Nat- Free 1) admission to the Museum had been ural History Museum capped by Campbell at all times. a free concert under the stars at (families, too!) elected to the Board Free use of the Mu- the Grant Park Bandshell. This 2) Soundtrek, of Trustees on Janu- double treat is made possible by seum's new radio sound- guided ary 19, 1959, and the Museum's summer evening tour system. his hours of 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. during relatively 3) Reserved seats at all Museum lec- brief term of on the days of the concerts — service tures and film Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and showings. had shown an out- Sunday. We suggest that you get 4) Discount privileges at the Muse- standing interest in the some family together evening um's Book Shop, which carries the work of this in- soon, come downtown to the Mu- popular books on the natural sci- stitution. seum for dinner between 5:30 and ences for adults and as 7:30 P.M., enjoy a Soundtrek tour children, Mr. Campbell Chesser M. Campbell well as unusual items all or two until eight, and then go on gift from was born at Sault to the concert. But —sum- over the world. hurry Ste. Marie, Michigan, December 12, mer hours end September 4. The Use of the Museum's —one 5) library 1897, and entered the newspaper pro- cover photograph featuring two of the largest scientific libraries in fession in that after of Chicago's cultural landmarks city immediately the was designed by Staff Photogra- country. graduating from high school. Subse- pher Homer Holdren. 6) Museum publications, such as quently, he attended the University of - the Annual Report and certain Michigan where he made an outstand- Page 2 ing record, being elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He served as an En- sign in the United States Navy during World War I. He was associated with the Chicago Tribune since 1921, becoming President

of the corporation on April 5, 1955. At that time, he also became publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Campbell was widely known in Chicago business and civic circles. It would be redundant to list his many achievements in this publication. His loss will be deeply felt by his fellow members of the Board of Trustees.

Lions in the Museum

"It's wonderful!" said Professor Isaac Budnik, president of a Mexican cosmetics laboratory, and a delegate to the Lions FEW PEOPLE KNOW, eulachon, mummichog, chinook, tautog, International Convention in Chicago. PROBABLYeven in a general way, the identity Cui-ui (pronounced kwee-wee) men- "I have never seen anything like it." He of such names as hogchoker, lumpsuck- haden and cisco. Some well known was talking about Soundtrek, the Mu- er, fat sleeper, popeye catalufa, glassy names have been introduced by fisher- seum's new radio guide to the exhibits. sweeper, stargazer, rainbow runner, and men of various other nationalities: bar- Professor Budnik and a large group of toothless blindcat. Most would go far racuda, grouper, pompano (Spanish), Lions conventioneers and their families astray in trying to identify, out of con- bocaccio (Italian), capelin, and incon- from Monterrey, Mexico, spent three text, a California smoothtongue, Flor- nu (French). and one-half hours at the Museum last ida smoothhound, brown Irish lord, sen- Other names stick in one's mind be- a Soundtrek tour in Amazon month, taking orita, molly miller, molly, warty cause they are descriptive— of form, of Spanish. Special sound-tours in Spanish poacher, Atlantic torpedo, or bar jack. habitat, or of habits sail fish, halfbeak, in of the and French were part red- All these, along with the more famil- needle fish, cave fish, seahorse, croaker, carpet treatment extended the city's iar cod, trout, darter, pike, shark, min- opaleye, and tripletail. from Latin guests America and Europe now, and shiner, help make up the list But sooner or later the same name ap- the Museum. The from the by response of 1,892 common names of the fishes of pears in different places for quite differ- Lions was so overwhelming that all the the United States and Canada just pub- ent fishes. The trout of Eastern Canada radio receivers in Museum guide were lished by the American Fisheries Soci- is not the trout of and the name continual while lines of con- use, long ety, of which our Curator of Fishes, perch is used in at least nine different ventioneers waited for fellow Lions to Loren P. Woods, is one of the authors. families of fishes. Sometimes the same return their sets. When people begin to talk about the fish may be known by two different matter of a we have one which become entrenched Honors subject science, names, firmly criterion as to its progress. The science in common usage : red fish and ocean Clifford C. Gregg, Director of the has entered the public domain and be- perch for Sebastes marinus and cisco and Museum, has just been honored by an come a part of everyday conversation lake herring for Coregonus artedii. Here invitation extended by Mr. Glen A. and interest. For this to happen, there the layman as well as the scientist needs Lloyd, Chairman of the Board of Trus- must be some appropriate words to use. scientific names. tees of the University of Chicago, to join An ichthologist discusses Stizostedion vit- The present list of 1,892 freshwater that University's Citizens Board. In his reum, Menticirrhus saxatilis and Lepomis fish and ocean fish living in shallow letter welcoming Dr. Gregg to member- gibbosus, but a fisherman tells of catch- water down to 100 fathoms, all in the ship in this distinguished group, Chan- ing walleyes, kingfish, and pumpkin- United States and Canada, supersedes cellor Lawrence A. Kimpton of the Uni- seeds. the earlier list of 570 names compiled in versity writes that the function of the The best common names grow out of 1948.

Citizens Board is to broaden the ac- the language. Colorful, romantic, fan- A List of Common and Scientific Names of quaintance of its members with the ciful, and otherwise distinctive and orig- Fishesfrom the United Slates and Canada by scholars and scientists on the Midway. inal names add richness and interest to Reeve M. Bailey el al., 1960, pp. 1-102 This is accomplished through a series of the nomenclature—names like Dolly may be obtained from E. A. Seamen, programs and luncheon meetings featur- Varden, madtom, flier, angelfish, and American Fisheries Society, Box 483, ing the scientific and scholarly work chilipepper. Indian names have also McLean, Virginia; $1.00 paper cover; being done at the University. been incorporated, such as muskellunge, $2.00 cloth cover. A. L. RAND Page S AMAPA fabebu/a balmen

B1RNAM WOOO COMES TO OUNSINANE

C.EoJik Smitk Ja. associate curator of botany ty ,

Traditionally, the botanist working on the nomenclature of plants studies C. N. H. M. Bull. vol. 30, K the outer appearance of the individual plant. For practical reasons, many plants herbarium. Because thet cannot be collected in their entirety. In herbaria throughout the United States, additional parts of the c pressed and dried plants are mounted on sheets of paper 11 V2 by 161-2 inches. collected so that size anc

It immediately becomes apparent that some leaves will be larger than this, and foliage of the fleshy plate i only a few of the plants of the world can be folded so that an entire plant can be herbarium sheets. mounted. Illustrated on this p| On many kinds of plants, the foliage is so nearly alike that other features, "bureau of standards'* f< such as the flowers and fruit, must be studied to distinguish one kind from another. tory Museum. The herli To illustrate the necessary features as completely as possible, several herbarium in more than 750 steel cl specimens from different parts of the plant are prepared. Amapa, a tree from the plants from Central and dry hills of Mexico, can be effectively classified from the flowers alone. Hoja de botanists have special! pantano, a giant herb from the moist forests of the Andes in South America (see small blrns. PLATANILLO helicon/a

CEDRO cedrela angustifo/ia

1 4), must be divided into five separate specimens for the dividual parts of plants frequently are widely variable,

•o, a common timber tree from Mexico to Brazil, are tape comparisons can be made. The flower head and :lo from the wet forests of Panama are shown by three

\i are some of the vouchers which comprise the large riant names in the herbarium of Chicago Natural His- ium has grown to more than 1,500,000 sheets housed is, and is undoubtedly the finest collection known of restern South America—areas in which the Museum's Truly, Blrnam Wood is come to Dunsinane—but in

HOJA DE PANTANO gunnera magnifies scientists take Museum seriously

their to the responsibility Jay public

When Encyclopedias Ask the Experts

By Paula R. Nelson

YOU CONSULT Encyclo- offices begin to solicit contributors. have to go outside the English-speaking WHENpaedia Britannica, or any other "The adviser also nominates the per- countries. For example, for a recent standard reference work, on subjects re- sons whom he would like to see write article revision, I recommended three lated to anthropology, botany, geology, the articles needed for each subject-area. top scientists: the officer in charge of or zoology, chances are good that you He selects these writers both on the basis entomological activities for the Army are reading a definitive article by one of of their knowledge, which must be fore- Medical Service Corps, a member of the research scientists at Chicago Nat- most in their field, and on the basis of the British Museum, and a member of ural History Museum. their ability to put their knowledge into the Berlin Zoological Museum. If the We called on John V. Dodge, Execu- good writing. Britannica contributors entomologist from the Berlin Museum tive Editor of Encyclopaedia Britannica, are not writing for a learned publica- does the article, the contact will be han- to get the story behind the Britannica tion, but for the intelligent layman who dled through Britannica's London office, certificate. "We have always enjoyed wishes information outside his own field and they will provide a translation." excellent relations with the Museum," of interest or specialty. The legal arti- Dodge and Wenzel both emphasize cles should be to the Mr. Dodge told us. "One of my first comprehensible that the ability to write for the lay pub- projects as an editor was the planning of physician, and the medical articles help- lic is an important consideration in se- the insect page, which we photographed ful to the attorney, engineer, astrono- lecting a contributor. On the other right in the Museum some years ago. mer, or business man." hand, scholars are most at home in writ- Just recently, Loren Woods, your Cura- Rupert Wenzel, the Museum's Cura- ing for scientific and learned journals. tor of Fishes, worked very closely with tor of Insects, is the adviser to Encyclo- Dr. Austin L. Rand, Chief Curator of in of our artist, Tom Dolan, to assure that the paedia Britannica the field ento- Zoology, excels in both kinds of writing. paintings of fishes in Britannica Junior mology. His job is to keep track of the His file of contributions to encyclope- are scientifically accurate in every de- more than 200 articles covering approx- dias goes back to 1952, and includes a tail. We are quite proud of these color imately thirty world orders of insects. number of articles on birds and mam- plates, and grateful to Mr. Woods for He recommends when articles should be mals for the American Peoples Encyclo- his help." revised, brought up-to-date, or com- pedia, as well as the colorful revision of Dodge continued, "The Britannica pletely re-written. He suggests that World Book's bird section. relies on Museum scientists in many illustrations be changed or introduced. "If you really understand your sub- is to ways. In addition to the fact that your When a manuscript sent him, he ject," Rand says, "there is no reason staff contributes a large number of arti- reviews it critically, advising, where nec- why you can't put it out so other people cles on of or each year, two of your scientists are essary, problems organization can understand it, too. I learned how advisers to our editorial board. Our emphasis to be given to the various top- to simplify my popular writing a great group of advisers is composed of a num- ics. His task requires an overall— knowl- many years ago when somebody asked ber of scholars from the United States, edge of the field of entomology both of me how to stuff birds. I told him at Canada, and other parts of the world. its history and of the research currently great length the technique of removing Each adviser is for a the world. of the skin with — responsible subject- being published throughout the body parts, filling matter area we call them classifications Because Wenzel feels that the Britan- excelsior, and the proper way to place —such as zoology or botany. From time nica should be an appropriate reference the delicate wires that hold the excelsior to time, the adviser plans the reorgani- not only for the intelligent layman but in place. 'Ah !' this fellow summed up, zation of the classification for which he is for the more advanced student as well, 'you rip out the guts and stuff 'em with responsible, so that we have a blueprint he takes seriously his responsibility to straw!' So for my encyclopedia article for the necessary revision of each section recommend the best specialists in his on birds, I started out the section on before our Chicago or London editorial field. "This means that sometimes we flight by saying: 'Birds fly by flapping Page 6 their wings.' Which is precisely what One of the devices a writer can use to encyclopedia articles and textbooks." they do. help communicate scientific information Donald Collier, Curator of South "The advice I often give to people is illustration. Maidi Wiebe, Geology American Archaeology and Ethnology, writing for the general public is to imag- Artist, drew the maps that illustrate also makes this point. "Although I have ine that someone is sitting across the Zangerl's text on the system, written for the encyclopedias, within the table from you, listening to you talk. thus making an important contribution last year I have had to turn down re- to of the to You don't want that person to be stifling the layman's understanding quests do articles because I didn't yawns, or looking at his watch. So you material. have the time. I cannot simply sit down the Museum's and dash off. try to use sentences that mean some- Philip Hershkovitz, something It takes just as out thing and hold his interest." Curator of Mammals, points that much effort to do an encyclopedia arti- in for the Rainer Zangerl, Curator of Fossil the effort involved writing cle as to write for a professional journal, is as as in for a and I would rather Reptiles, compares writing for the gen- layman great writing frankly, spend my scientific audience. "Whether the arti- time on a technical article which I eral public with the preparation of an hope cle is or 1000 almost the will make a exhibit. "The same problem is involved 50, 500, words, contribution to my field. same amount of effort is involved in in attracting people and holding their "On the other hand, from time to interest long enough so that they will time some really basic scientific work take at least one reasonably profound has appeared in encyclopedias. In the look." Zangerl enjoys writing for dif- 1929 edition of the Britannica, for ex- ferent audiences, and points out that ample, Edward Sapir, then the leading "the level of writing is not the same even anthropologist-linguist in the United for all encyclopedias. When you write States, wrote an article on American In- for the Britannica, you write for the gen- dian languages and their classification eral lay public. The new McGraw-Hill which remains a classic. He put to- The Board of Editors of the Encyclopedia of Science and Technol- gether language families that had never been related and ogy is intended primarily for people in ENCYCLOPEDIA before, though he couldn't in an the technical professions, while the Rein- BRITANNICA give encyclopedia article hold Encyclopedia of Biological Sciences all the evidence and insights which made is for his synthesis possible, it is considered a professional biologists." Zangerl is greatly honored to welcome you has contributed to all three reference brilliant piece of work. Usually, how- to the of its works, as well as to the two-volume company distinguished ever, the results of original research or Treatise on Marine Ecology and Paleoecol- the really great syntheses appear in the contributors throughout the world scientific the ogy published by the Geological Society journals. On other hand, of America, a compilation of scientific encyclopedias are valuable, and there is information, used as a reference by sci- both a demand and a need for them. entists themselves. Of his Since the need exists, they ought to be three-page Publisher ond Oioirmon of 'he Board of Director! lead article "Cretaceous System" for the good." Britannica, Zangerl says, "I had in mind What makes an encyclopedia article a reader who may never have heard of good? Rand began his answer to this

Ooirmon ol rhe the cretaceous system, so I held techni- Board of Editor* question by talking about what makes cal terms to a minimum and presented such an article bad. "So many writers, as a of the as instead of down all the material general picture topic pos- 'Cu~r*J~f boiling sible. On the other when an on their and the concen- ut—- f*L- 7 ~i il. a. hand, engi- Chairman ol iho Board ol Editon subject using neer looks up a subject in the McGraw- trate, skim off the froth that comes to Hill Encyclopedia, I assume that he has the surface and use this instead. This more scientific background than the gen- tends to happen to writers who do not eral public and that the level of the writing it. I gather together all the really know their subject. They will writing can be more specific and tech- data and arrange them in a certain se- use the highlights, the embroidery, and nical. In an article for Reinhold, I go quence. The larger articles permit me lose sight of the animal himself. Any still beyond this to use the technical bio- to use most of the material the intelli- encyclopedia article, particularly in the logical terms and concepts that profes- gent reader wants, but the shorter arti- 400 to 800 word category, is a challenge sional biologists understand. However," cles force me to make difficult and pain- to see if you can present the animal and Zangerl emphasizes, "even when writ- ful decisions between what goes in and its life so that the article is intelligible ing for the general public I don't think what gets left out. Sometimes the en- and reasonably complete. The thing that the article should be scaled down cyclopedia editors ask me to write an you have to watch out for is to avoid the to the point where it is no longer com- article that presents a challenge I can't exceptions as much as possible. It's municating anything important about resist. But I much prefer to spend the the main characteristics of the group the subject. There must be scientific same time doing the basic research which that you have to get across, so you say

validity at every level." results in the source materials for both that birds fly, and only mention at the Page 7 Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN August, 1960 end the ones that don't fly. Of course, is the sort of information that the spe- properly almost anybody can under- so just because there are many excep- cialist here at Chicago Natural History stand it and find it interesting." tions, you must be careful not to make Museum is charged with collecting and All the scientists at Chicago Natural your general statements all-embracing." adding to through his own research, History Museum who write for, or ad- Zangerl agrees. "The important observations, and field expeditions." vise, various encyclopedias do so on their thing in popular writing is not to over- Hershkovitz adds, "My meaning of the own time, after the Museum working emphasize relatively unimportant as- term 'information' includes specimens day is over. These activities cut into cretaceous pects of a topic. The system of animals with complete field docu- their leisure hours. For most of them, is not a particularly glamorous topic, mentation. In this sense, the informa- too, writing for the general public re- for example. I could have tried to make tion available to us at the Museum quires as arduous an effort as writing a it more exciting by emphasizing the vol- through our collections is vast, compre- scientific article. Why, then, do they canic action that occurred and the dino- hesive, and world-wide in scope. undertake the task? Many of the staff saurs. But these are only two of many "Our library, which is one of the fin- —Quimby, Davis, Turnbull, Blake, out — aspects which should be brought est of its kind in the world, is also charged Richardson, Denison express similar so about this period which lasted long with collecting information. It ex- views to those of Hershkovitz who says, and during which so many events took changes scientific literature written by "I regard writing for encyclopedias as a I that it is not in a staff I it place. feel justified our Museum and published by our contribution. do because an ency- Britannica article to single out the more own press, for similar literature pub- clopedia is consulted as an authoritative popular aspects and forget the rest, just lished by scientific institutions all over source of information, and I feel an obli- because you know the general public the world. As individual scientists we gation and a responsibility to see to it will take to it. Of course, you are al- also receive published reports of the lat- that the public gets the most accurate ways limited by space. But within that est discoveries from our colleagues every- information possible." Hershkovitz framework, an encyclopedia article where. This scientific literature is not adds, "Part of this is in self-defense, you should present as balanced a picture of ordinarily seen by the layman and is know. The better informed the public, the subject as possible. That usually too technical for him to bother with. In the better the climate we work in, and means that any single sub-topic can be writing an encyclopedia article we must the less time we waste arguing misleading treated in only a relatively short para- translate this literature into a prose and and false information out of students!" graph. In that paragraph you have to style that the average reader under- The scientist's sense of responsibility say all the essentials." stands. Writers who lack training or to the public and the community was Rand suggests that the problems aris- experience in evaluating and translating deeply felt by the late Karl P. Schmidt, ing from lack of space impose a disci- scientific literature can easily give a mis- for many years the Museum's Chief Cu- pline that provides good writing practice. leading and distorted concept of the rator of Zoology. Dodge names him as "There is no space to ramble. You have subject." "one of Britannica's most distinguished to pick out the gist of the matter, ex- "Or they tend to emphasize the wrong advisers." In Schmidt's early days at the press it coherently and concisely, choose points altogether," Zangerl continues. Museum, he found himself an amused words with care, and make one word "Writers for children, for example, often victim of the very authoritativeness that do the work of two." seem to think that nothing is very excit- Museum staff members consider essen- What are the sources of the infor- ing about animals except their size and tial in their articles for standard refer- mation that goes into an encyclopedia voraciousness. But other aspects are at ence works. Clifford C. Gregg, Director article? Hershkovitz states that a "com- least equally interesting and more im- of the Museum, tells the story. petent scientist does not get his basic portant scientifically. For instance, the "Karl had a fine association with Dr. data from such secondary sources as mode in which animals live today, or Wilfred Hudson Osgood, who preceded textbooks. He gets his facts from the have lived in prehistoric times. Or the him as Chief Curator. But as one must animals themselves or from the original way in which the flipper of an ichthyo- expect, there are points of disagreement publications about them. This is the saur is the equivalent of a shark's pec- even between scientists. Sometimes the principle difference between the meth- toral fin. A writer or teacher can point exact meaning of a word came into ods of a scientist, or a specialist in a out to a child of almost any age that the question. Again and again when they particular group of animals, and a gen- ichthyosaur was a that at one couldn't agree on a definition, Dr. Os- eral writer of encyclopedia articles. The time walked on land and then for some good would say, 'Look it up in the specialist routinely keeps abreast of the reason gradually became a sea dweller. dictionary, Karl, and see for yourself.' knowledge in his field. A mammalo- In the course of this transition, its body And it seems that Dr. Osgood was al- gist, for example, is particularly con- became modified into the shape of a fish. ways right. cerned with the number and kinds of Its limbs, which had been walking limbs, "And," Karl added, "that went on mammals in the world, their origin, dis- were modified into flippers that looked for ten years before I learned that Dr. tribution, interrelationship, habits, eco- and acted at least superficially like fish Osgood had written the zoological defi- nomic importance, and so forth. This fins. If this kind of material is presented tions for that dictionary!"

PRINTED BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS ouuetin

MUSE SPe/ilemte>i 496C Chicago Natural History Museum MUSEUM NEWS Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410

Archaeological Discovery deities, and use them in the religious ed- THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES — ucation of their children. But while the Lester Armour Henry P. Isham A unique sacred image the first of its Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Wm. McCormick — figures are more than playthings, they Blair Hughston M. McBain kind ever to be unearthed which was Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller are not, in themselves, sacred. How- Walter J. Cummings William H. Mitchell of key importance in the religious cere- Joseph N. Field John T. Pirie, Jr. ever, masks and other paraphernalia Marshall Field, Jr. Clarence B. Randall monies of Pueblo Indians living in Ari- Stanley Field John G. Searle used by men who impersonate the katch- Samuel Insull, Jr. Solomon A. Smith zona between 1250 and 1350 A.D., has Louis Ware ina deities are extremely sacred and are just been discovered by Chicago Natural OFFICERS stored in kivas when not in use. The History Museum's Southwest Archaeo- Stanley Field President Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President fact that the stone was hidden in under the direction image Walther Buchen Second Vice-President logical Expedition Joseph N. Field a secret vault within an un- Third Vice-President of Paul S. Martin, Chief Curator of An- masonry Solomon A. Smith Treasurer Clifford C. Gregg Director and kiva that this im- Secretary thropology. usually large suggests E. Leland Webber Assistant Secretary age possessed god-like sacredness and in its own power right. THE BULLETIN The three-dimensional sacred image, EDITOR nine inches high, is carved in sandstone — Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum and painted with gay colors black, CONTRIBUTING EDITORS orange, green, blue. The right arm is Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany broken off and was not found in the S ii ah at K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology crypt—perhaps indicating that it was MANAGING EDITOR broken in order to curtail intentionally Paula R. Nelson Public Relations Counsel the of the katchina when the In- powers ASSOCIATE EDITOR dians using the kiva moved away from Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations the pueblo. With the image in the foot- square stone vault was a tiny jar painted Members are requested to inform the Museum promptly of changes of address. in red and black crosses, and containing

a few beads of stone, shell, jet, and tur- quoise. "These two objects," continues THIS MONTH'S COVER- Dr. Martin, "the stone figure and the — little jar, were probably of indescribable September and it's summer's end. But while the livin's still sanctity." easy, these youngsters are making The crypt in which the religious ob- the most of it. They linger at will were found to on jects appears duplicate before their favorite exhibits, a small scale the architecture of the great knowing that in a few weeks their This is a copy, made on the site, of the sacred stone kiva itself. It has been that teachers will be bringing them image found in a secret crypt of a rectangular kiva suggested excavated Dr. Paul Martin in back to the Museum to absorb being by Arizona. the crypt may have symbolized the en- The kiva was used by Pueblo Indians living about — more formal learning from the 1250-1350 A.D. The arm of the which trance to the underworld in the reli- right image, well-organized school 7 was programs found broken off, has been restored in the model. belief of the it was gious Hopi Indians, planned by the Museum's educa- through such a passage that their an- tional division, the Dr. Martin reports that the stone Raymond cestors emerged into the world from their Foundation. Altogether, more image, very probably a katchina, was of in the underworld. Thus than 400,000 children visited Chi- found in a secret within one of the place origin crypt cago Natural History Museum last the stone figure may be related to un- largest rectangular kivas, or religious year. Of these, 206,583 came in derworld ceremonies that are still a ceremonial chambers, ever excavated in part organized school groups. About of the of the the Southwest. religion Hopi people today. 78,000 students, or more than Other 2,000 groups, were given programs "This may well be one of the impor- preliminary interpretations place the stone katchina as and tours by the Raymond Foun- tant discoveries of 20th unique figure an the Century in dation. Many other students ancestral cult deity. "We expect," re- Southwestern archaeology," Dr. Martin found that Soundtrek, the Mu- Dr. "that further research writes from the site of the excavations ports Martin, seum's radio guide system, pro- will reveal more of the full and vided them—and their teachers— near Vernon, Arizona. "To my knowl- import of this sacred which with an excellent educational tour edge no one has ever before found a significance object, of the Museum's major exhibits. katchina of either wood or stone in a has remained mute and buried in its kiva. As far as I can determine, the secret crypt for the past six or seven cen- image is unique." turies." Present-day Hopi Indians carve wood- This is the fifth season in which Dr. work at the site near Vernon, Arizona. en katchina figures to represent various Martin has conducted archaeological (Museum News continued on page 6)

Page 2 A "Case" of Mistaken Identity

By ERNEST J. ROSCOE, Division of Lower Invertebrates

1830 ISAAC LEA, Philadelphia Some use only rocks, and so have been from Europe and as like to think well as INpublisher and naturalist, described a called "mineralogists" (I America. of them as the first rock other these observations notwithstand- new species of snail which he called Val- hounds) ; Yet, snails use and thus are called in Lechmere de- vata arenifera. In his paper presented only shells, ing, 1864, R.J. Guppy scribed caddis case before the American Philosophical So- "conchologists." Curiously enough, another fly from there is a to the shell Trinidad as a new of Valvata. ciety, and subsequently published in the actually parallel species mollusks the caddis "This fresh commented Society's transactions for 1830-31, Lea collecting among description," the of Natural wrote, "This snail has the singular prop- flies. One group (not the pseudo-snail Philadelphia Academy shell-builders been Science's in erty of strengthening its whorls by the we have discussing) conchologist, George Tryon, builds or less cases out "is naturalists seem re- agglutination of particles of sand, etc. more cylindrical 1865, amusing; of fresh-water bivalve and solved to consider them Mollusca!" by which it is entirely covered. . . ." He small, gastro- shells— mol- further pointed out the resemblance it pod so we have not only bore in this respect to certain marine lusk, but insect conchologists! snails (the Xenophoridae, or carrier Lea also described his "snails" as hav- shells) which attach small rocks or other ing a "striated, horny operculum." Now shells to their own exoskeleton. an operculum is a structure characteris- Unfortunately, Lea's "discovery" was tic of the gill-breathing snails (the Proso- all a mistake. What he had thought branchiata), to which the true Valvata was a snail shell was in reality the larval belongs. This operculum is attached to case of a group of insects known to ento- the posterior part of the body of the mologists as Trichoptera. You prob- snail and serves to close the aperture of ably know them under their common the shell when the snail retracts inside. caddis flies. Or if are a fisher- Here Lea have mistaken the name, you may oper- These true mollusks attach either small stones or man you may call them case flies. On culum for the mouth parts of the larval other mollusk shells to their own shells. We might call them the first rock hounds and conchologists. several different occasions, despite what caddis fly, or he may have misinter- might seem obvious differences between preted the membrane with which the After the mid-1 860's, however, there insects and mollusks, these larval cases larva seals off the opening of its case appear to have been no further mis- have been described as new species of just prior to pupation. In any event, he classifications of these larval cases. snails by both American and European knew that his "snail" should have an The reader may be interested in a naturalists. operculum, and he managed somehow short account of the caddis flies them- Lea may perhaps have been misled in to observe one. selves. The adult is a rather small his identification by the apparent anal- I have been unable to determine who (seldom exceeding an inch in length) ogy between his specimen and the car- first discovered the true nature of these dull-colored, -like insect not often rier shells. In fairness to him it should larval cases. Certainly by the early observed on the wing unless disturbed. be noted that, so far as I can determine, 1840's some American (DeKay for ex- They are most commonly found in the he had never observed a living specimen ample) and European naturalists were vicinity of the ponds and streams in of his "Valvata." However, when one aware of their true identity. In the which the early stages of their life cycle of these cases is crushed, there is no evi- summer of 1862 the American conchol- are passed. The eggs are laid in masses, dence whatever of any shelly material. ogist, Thomas Bland, kept specimens of covered by a gelatinous coating, in or The sand grains covering the surface of Lea's "Valvata arenifera" alive in an near water. The larvae are aquatic, held the in cases made of some the case are together entirely by aquarium. During ensuing autumn generally living — the salivary secretions of the larval in- and winter he observed the habits of the foreign material leaves,— twigs, gravel, sect. This is in distinct contrast to the larvae, and in the spring of 1863 he col- sand, or mollusk shells held together carrier shells, in which the extraneous lected the adults as they emerged from by salivary secretions. The larva is at- matter is attached to a definite calcare- their cases. Bland then published his tached to the case by hooks on the last ous shell. One other interesting fact correct observations in 1865. At about body segment. Most of the cases are with regard to the carrier shells. Cer- the same time the entomologist, Hagen, tubular, generally tapering toward the tain individual snails seem to exhibit a also noted that these cases had been posterior end. Only the members of a preference for particular types of mate- mistaken for mollusks and that similar single genus, Helicopsyche, construct the rial with which to adorn their shells. mis-identification had been reported (Continued on page 8) PageS ". . . in the middle of one of the finest

forests in the world . . . a large arched cavern, several hundredfeet broad and over two hundred feet high; huge sta- lactites were pending from the ceiling and a fringe of vegetation drooped from its outer edge [while] many col- oured rays of light [cast] a dim . . . light over the scene ..."

THE GREAT CAVE OF NIAH

By Paula R. Nelson

fossil fragments—bits of reptil- Kuching, Sarawak, and a few miles in- know significantly more about the en- TINYian limb bones; the pharyngeal teeth land from the sea, is the oldest home of vironment in which paleolithic man of an as-yet-unknown fish—found in the man known from South Asia. From lived and struggled to survive. Great Cave of Niah on the island of this stone age site, fossils of the reptiles, It was Alfred Russell Wallace who Borneo, are now being studied and iden- amphibians, and fish that undoubtedly first suggested that the caves of Borneo tified at Chicago Natural History Mu- were used as food by these prehistoric might be important places to search for seum by Dr. Robert F. Inger, Curator cavemen have been collected and sent evolutionary evidence. In 1855, while of Amphibians and Reptiles. The Niah to the Museum. When these fossil frag- living at Santubong on the Sarawak cave, located 300 miles up the coast from ments have been identified, we shall River delta, he wrote "The Law which

Page U has the Introduction of an enormous his at the the Great Regulated— Spe- cave. Everett reports most promising site, cies" the first in a series of papers that own reactions to the sight in the fol- Cave itself. In succeeding years, human culminated in his classic exposition of lowing words: bones were found in association with natural selection and evolution theory. cultural artifacts and fossil animal re- "We found ourselves standing at the Wallace's T. H. mains. Carbon 14 tests have now estab- Taking up suggestion, mouth of a large arched cavern, several Huxley recommended in 1864 that an hundred feet broad, and over two hundred lished that the earliest human remains expedition be sent to Borneo, but noth- feet high; huge stalactites were pending in the Great Cave date from the Middle from the and a of vegetation ing was done in this area of the world ceiling fringe Paleolithic, or 40,000 to 50,000 years b.c. drooped from its outer edge; across a beau- until A. Hart Everett, animal collector Among the objectives of the present tifully wooded valley rose a small limestone and naturalist in the service of the Sara- undertaken at Niah is a hill. . . . Through rifts in the mountain side program being the Niah of wak government, explored stole many coloured rays of light, throw- faunistic study reptiles, amphibians, caves in the 1870's. In a colorful report ing a dim religious light over the scene. and fishes found in or near the Great this dimness, the black published in the Sarawak Gazette for July, Through ghostly Cave. This study is being carried out mouth of branch caverns could be seen." 1873 1 Everett described the in with Natural , rugged jun- conjunction Chicago gle trek that led to his first glimpse of Inside the cave were human remains; History Museum. Not only fossil ma- the awesome cavern that came to be Everett found a skull "in good preserva- terial, but specimens of the present fauna to known as the Great Cave of Niah: tion . . . [and] after a great deal of per- of the cave region are being sent Dr. suasion, I prevailed on [the native guide] Inger for identification and comparative "After my [former] experience ofjungle to allow me to it off. He which will make a re- walking, I was prepared to meet with diffi- carry was, studies, possible of the culties [Everett writes] and I was not dis- however, quite aghast at my temerity, construction of the environment In all the walks I had appointed. yet as he felt convinced that I should bring prehistoric cave people. made there was nothing to compare with down vengeance dire on my head by We asked Dr. Inger how he became this. We started through swampy jungle, the evil ... I had to involved in the Sarawak cave studies. black mud holes had to be crossed on small offending spirits. the head all fol- "I think Harrisson asked me to work on sticks, the ends of which only were visible; carry myself, [as] my

there was not time to speculate as to lowers [were] afraid to touch it . . ." the faunistic material," Inger replied, whether it was a or not, but with a I in Borneo trap This fear on the part of the native "because he knew had been blind faith in the existence of the other on the people of Niah prompted them to con- and am writing a monograph part of the stick which you do not see . . . fine their with future ex- reptiles and amphibians of the region. make a dash; a false and find cooperation you step you 2 to those caves When the Museum sent Davis yourself up to your middle in mud and plorations containing only Dwight water, much to the amusement of your a minimum of removable relics. These, and me to North Borneo in 1950 to make native who have no ob- followers, sympathy unfortunately, were of more recent date. general zoological collections and with the unfortunate traveller; you are on the of the Thus, in spite of continuing sporadic ex- servations ecology forest, out of this and started across tan- dragged us a deal with plorations by European scientists and Harrisson helped great gled roots of trees, and as you are covered it was believed for labor and in the field. with mud, it is not long before you slip off prospectors, nearly transportation in with a jerk which sends you up to your seven decades that the Bornean caves I didn't work Sarawak on that trip, knees in soft black whilst feet I to Borneo for mud, your were barren of remains of high antiquity. but in 1956 went again are in a of roots caught trap interlacing and this time I did to Tom Harrisson, Government Ethnol- the Museum, get below. After a great deal of exertion and and Curator of the Sarawak Mu- work for about a month in Sarawak it- strong language, you get out of this with- ogist self. At that time we were to ex- out your boots, which are produced after seum made the first discoveries that trying tend the collections and information a prolonged search. Away you go again eventually proved the Great Cave of with extra steam to catch your guide, in on what we up Niah to be a habitat of prehistoric man. gathered 1950, building who does not condescend to wait; and now His at Niah in 1947 turned had learned during the earlier trip and of have to cross ravines explorations by way variety you additional areas. This human bones and "ancient looking" visiting summer, on batangs (felled trees) lying at an angle up the floor of a small Mr. Chin Phui Kong, Fisheries Officer of 30 degrees. . . . After about two hours of pottery on grotto of of North this work ... I came up to my guide drip- close to the Great Cave. Although these the Agriculture Department with but was is here at the Museum ping perspiration, disgusted did not appear extremely old, he per- Borneo, working to find he had not turned a hair." sisted in his conviction that the Niah on the fishes and fish fossils with me. caves held for future "Harrisson is interested in the history And there, "right smack dab in the promise archaeolog- of the cave I am interested in middle of one of the finest forests in the ical work. In 1954, two small trial pits people. were under Harrisson's direction as the history of the fauna. In the Borneo world," as Dr. Inger describes it, was dug fauna of there are elements that leader of a Sarawak Museum field expe- today dition to reconnoitre the caves and de- look as though they are remnants of an

1 pp. 59-60. Quoted by Tom Harrisson, termine the value of full-scale excavation. ancient fauna now found only on the "The Caves of Niah : A History of Prehistory," the he with of the oriental tropics. The best in The Sarawak Museum journal, Vol. VIII, Within month, was rewarded fringes No. 12 Sarawak: De- on (New Series); Kuching, appreciable evidence of human occupa- (Continued page 7) cember, 1958. We are indebted to this article for the historical and descriptive material given tion during Neolithic and Mesolithic here regarding the Niah cave discoveries; and times. By 1957 sufficient support was 2 D. Vertebrate to Mr. Harrisson for making available to us the Dwight Davis, Curator, obtained to wide-scale excavations photographs illustrating this article. begin Anatomy. Page 5 MUSEUM NEWS

(Continued from page 2)

Fall Hours Chamber Music Concerts Conference Participation

Beginning September 6, the Museum Pianist-composer Lucas Foss and his Donald Collier, Curator of South will be from 9 to 5 open A.M. P.M., Chamber Ensemble improvisation group American Archaeology and Ethnology, seven days a week. will be presented in the Museum's James participated in three important scien- Simpson Theater on October 24, in the tific meetings in Vienna and Paris this Free Film Series for Children first of a series of eight concerts to be summer. In Vienna, the Wenner-Gren given during the 1960-61 season by the Foundation for Anthropological Re- The fall schedule of free motion pic- Free Concerts Foundation, Inc. The search sponsored a tures for children begins on Saturday, symposium organ- ensemble of five will players be heard in ized by Professors Robert J. Braidwood, October 1, at 10:30 A.M., and will con- their specialty, which is improvisation of the of and tinue each Saturday through November. University Chicago, within a framework described by Foss Gordon Willey, of Harvard The first program presents some favor- University, — as "a system of controlled chance." With on the subject: "From 1500 B.C. to the ites of past series four motion pictures Foss at the the includes Threshhold of Urban Civilization: based on well-known folk tales. "The piano, group A Robert Drasnin, flute, Richard Dufallo, World-Wide Consideration of Cultural Steadfast Tin Soldier," is a film made in Howard and Charles Alternatives." Denmark from the Hans Christian An- clarinet, Coif, cello, Twenty anthropologists DeLancey, percussion. Free tickets for from several countries were invited to dersen story of a one-legged toy soldier the first concert in this series are avail- submit who has many adventures while under papers reporting on different able on written request to Free Concerts world areas under this general the spell of a goblin jack-in-the-box. heading, Foundation, Chicago Natural History and these were circulated "The Town Musicians" tells the story monographs Museum, East Roosevelt Road and Lake to all conferees in advance of the meet- of a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster who Shore Drive. A self-addressed The themselves set out for Bremen to become town musi- stamped, ings. meetings were held envelope should be enclosed. Mailing in the Foundation's Confer- cians. A third film portrays the familiar European of tickets will the latter ence Center—an Austrian castle in tale of the race between "The Tortoise begin during which part of September. the conferees lived and worked for and the Hare." And the final movie, eight —and consisted of discussions of "The Loon's Necklace," is based on a days each scholar's contribution. Collier's charming Indian legend of how the loon Distinguished Visitors was entitled: "To received its "necklace" paper the Thresh- pattern. Two important visitors from China, hold of Civilization in the Central The second children's program, to be Fu director of the National Chiang Tsun, Andes." on October is presented Saturday, 8, Central Library, Taipei, Taiwan, and "The Great a beautiful na- Also in Vienna, Curator Collier at- Adventure," Professor Mao Tzu-Shui, of the Univer- ture film about two Swedish farm chil- tended the 34th annual International sity of Formosa, a member of the Aca- dren's adventures with animals. Made Congress of Americanists and presented demia Sinica, were greeted by Dr. Hoshien Arne Sucksdorff in this film a of the results of his by Sweden, Tchen of the Museum's Department of preliminary report classic has won awards from 1956 Museum expedition to the Valley outstanding Anthropology on Monday, July 18. The Parents and the Cannes Inter- of Casma in Peru. During this Magazine two noted scholars came to Chicago from expedi- national Film Festival. tion, investigations were made of over Seattle, where they had just participated and a col- in a conference on Sino-American intel- sixty prehistoric sites, large lection of ceramics, textile fragments, Fall Lecture Series for Adults lectual cooperation. organic materials from refuse deposits, The free lecture series for adults also An interesting example of such coop- and wood samples for radiocarbon dat- eration is the research begins on October 1, at 2:30 P.M., with project on Chi- ing, were shipped back to the Museum a showing of the color motion picture, nese rubbings now being carried out by for detailed study. Painstaking research "New England in All Four Seasons," Kenneth Starr, the Museum's Curator of has now made it possible to begin to narrated by Don Shaw. On October 8, Asiatic Archaeology and Ethnology, at reconstruct the lives of the ancient "Island Treasure," a film portraying the National Central Library in Taiwan. farmers and town dwellers of the Casma wildlife on a dot of land in the Missis- In addition to seeing Chicago Natural Valley. sippi's northern waters, will be presented History Museum's extensive Chinese In at the International Con- by Walter J. Breckenridge, director of the and Tibetan collections, our visitors were August, of and Minnesota Museum of Natural History. impressed with the Museum's American gress Anthropological Ethnolog- The complete schedule of free fall Indian collections, with The Stanley ical Sciences in Paris, Collier gave an programs for children and adults will Field Collection of Plant Models exhib- illustrated lecture on "Recent Archaeo- be printed in the October issue of the ited in Hall 29, and with the presence in logical Exhibits in Chicago Natural His- Bulletin. the Museum of many interested children. tory Museum," featuring the American Page 6 olj \r^ a r^r\

Indian exhibits in Halls 4 and 8. His observed rock formations near Bergen. ciate in the Department of Biological lecture illustrated the aesthetic aids Dr. Roy was also especially interested in Sciences of Northwestern University. which make these exhibits colorful and the research on meteorites that was pre- attractive, and the various didactic de- sented at the meetings. The Interna- Staff Changes vices used to explain cultural processes tional Geological Congress takes place Albert W. Forslev, Associate Curator of or the ways in which archaeologists work every four years and has not been held Mineralogy, resigned from the Museum —such as the display of artifacts, vig- in the United States since the 1930's. in August to take up a position as Asso- nettes, photographs, full scale and mini- ciate Professor of Geology at the College ature models, labels, dioramas, comic of William and in Vir- C. Earle Smith, Jr., Associate Curator Mary Norfolk, strips, and the like. * of Vascular at a ginia. As part of his new duties, he will While he was abroad, Collier visited Plants, presided sym- to set a for on regional and local floras at help up geology department museums in Munich, Vienna, Basel, posium the Mr. the annual meeting of the American In- college. Forslev had been with Paris, London, and Cambridge, under stitute of Sciences in Still- the Museum since 1956. Readers of the a travel grant from the National Science Biological Dr. Bulletin will remember his interesting Foundation, and studied the famous water, Oklahoma, during August. articles on tektites and diamonds for Smith also presented a paper on Cedrela prehistoric art of the Cave in this (Spanish cedar) before the joint meet- publication. the Dordogne River valley in France. ings of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists and the Systematic Section Sharat K. Roy, Chief Curator of Geol- The new Associate Curator of Miner- of the Botanical Society of America. ogy, and Bertram G. Woodland, Associate alogy for the Museum is Edward J. Olsen, Curator of Petrology, represented Chi- who comes to this institution from a po- cago Natural History Museum at the Honors sition as Assistant Professor of Geology International Geological Congress held at Case Institute of Technology and Roland W. Force, Curator of Oceanic during August in Copenhagen. As Western Reserve University. Dr. Olsen Archaeology and Ethnology has been an of the scientific con- was born in and did both his integral part elected 2nd Vice President of the Central Chicago ference, which was attended by geolo- undergraduate and graduate work at the States Anthropological Society for the gists from all over the world, a program University of Chicago, where he received year 1960-1961. of field trips throughout northern Eu- his Ph.D. in 1959. In 1953 he was field rope was planned. Dr. Roy studied assistant for the Geological Survey of metamorphic rocks in the vicinity of Henry S. Dybas, Associate Curator of Canada, and in the following year, field Oslo, Norway, while Mr. Woodland Insects, was appointed Research Asso- {Continued on page 8)

THE GREAT CAVE OF NIAH

{Continuedfrom page 5) will in example among the Bornean reptiles is the fossil remains, we be a posi- a single species of glass snake which, of fauna that I am interested in the mate- tion to make some evaluations as to what course, is really a lizard. This species is rial from Niah. the environment was like at Niah in widely separated from all the rest of its "One of the things that has turned up paleolithic times." living relatives in the temperate zone. already among the living species Har- The Great Cave at Niah is indeed pro- Perhaps among the Niah fossils we will risson sent us," Inger continued, "is a viding a fruitful opportunity for museum find species that no longer live on Bor- new species of lizard from the Great scientists to enrich man's knowledge of neo. It is to get at questions regarding Cave itself. When we have compared human and animal history in prehis- the historical changes in the Bornean this and other contemporary fauna with toric, stone age times.

Tom Harrisson views excavating equipment at main entrance to Niah Great Cave.

Ancient human burial found in Great Cave.

Photograph by K. F. Wong

Page 7 Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN September, 1960 A "CASE" OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY (Continuedfrom page 2)

Fig. 1 : An adult caddis fly. Like the may flies, its adult life is brief. Fig. 2: Some caddis flies construct these more or less cylindrical cases out of small fresh water mollusk shells. Fig. 3: The larval case of the caddis fly "Helicopsyche." Similar "shells" have repeatedly been described as a new species of mollusk. but are actually the larval cases of an aquatic insect. Fig. 4: "Valvata," the mollusk with which the larval case of the caddis fly "Helicopsyche" has often been confused. pseudo-snail cases that deceived even ends. A pair of well developed mandi- About 3,500 species of caddis flies are trained observers. Caddis fly larvae bles enable the pupae to cut their way known, of which about 800 are found in have well developed mouth parts and out of the case. The pupal skin is cast North America. Herbert H. Ross, of feed on plants and small aquatic ani- at the surface of the water or nearby. the Illinois Natural History Survey, mals. In turn, they are an important Little if any food is taken in the adult states that four species of the snail-case element in the diet of fish. During the state which, like that of the may flies, makers (Helicopsyche) are known from pupal stage, the cases are sealed at both lasts for a relatively short period of time. the United States. MUSEUM NEWS (Continued from page 7) geologist for the U. S. Geological Sur- New Book records left by the Indians themselves in Before the staff of Western the form of of tools, vey. joining The University of Chicago Press has fragments weapons, was the and ornaments. on his own Reserve, he employed by Ca- announced publication in the fall of Drawing research in addition to that nadian Johns-Manville Co., Ltd. He is Indian Life in the Upper Great Lakes: original of other author tells a member of Sigma Xi, the Geochem- 11,000 B.C. to A.D. 1800, by George I. specialists, Quimby the of the Indian of the ical Society, and the Mineralogical So- Quimby, Curator of North American Ar- story Upper Great Lakes—from the earliest comers ciety of America. chaeology and Ethnology. Museum who followed the retreating glaciers into Dr. Olsen is interested in research on members have already had a preview of some of the material the woodlands and shores of the Great the physical chemistry of magnesium sil- fascinating pre- sented in this since several Lakes and hunted mastodons with stone- icates—serpentine, olivine, and pyrox- book, chap- the Indians of ters were first published in the Bulletin. pointed spears; through ene. "I am delighted," he states, "with These form a of Curator the Old Copper culture, the first in the the Museum facilities available for the chapters part to to Quimby's authoritative treatment of the hemisphere fabricate metal; up study of these minerals, and expect to and those tribes originating about A.D. 800 make use of the diffraction archaeology, ethnology, geography good X-ray whose names are so familiar and evoca- of the Great Lakes —a in the Chalmers Upper region equipment Mineralog- tive: of miles. Huron, Fox, Ottawa, Chippewa, ical region 200,000 square Laboratory." Sauk, Menomini, and Winnebago. The documented history of this area, It is particularly fitting that Mr. beginning with the appearance of white Quimby's new book should be published Miss Dolla Cox has resigned from the explorers, fur-traders, and missionaries by the University of Chicago Press, Foundation to move to San in the seventeenth is Raymond century, compara- since he is also Lecturer in that uni- Francisco, California. She has been as- tively well known. But much less is versity's Department of Anthropology. sociated with the Museum since 1952 known of the prehistory of the region, and with the Raymond Foundation since which goes back some 13,000 years. Soundtrek

1 this has recon- 953. Many school programs and tours Now prehistory been We were pleased to learn that Sound- in the field of geology and related sub- structed from data written in the land trek, the Museum's pioneering radio- jects were ably planned and executed by forms, glacial deposits, and plant and guide to the exhibits, is now being in- Miss Cox during this period. animal fossils, and in the unintentional stalled in Milwaukee's Public Museum.

PRINTED BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEU puuetln

VOLUME 31 NUMBER 10 octoU/i 1 960 Chicago Natural History Museum MUSEUM NEWS Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410

New Staff Member Expedition THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Museum announces the Natural Museum has Lester Armour Henry P. Isham The appoint- Chicago History Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Wm. ment of Louis 0. Williams as Associate Sir Edmund McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain officially joined Hillary's Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller Walter J. Curator of Central American in search of the Cummings William H. Mitchell Botany. Himalayan expedition Joseph N. Field John T. Pirie, Jr. Marshall Jr. Prior to the staff Dr. "abominable snowman." A from Field, Clarence B. Randall joining here, grant Stanley Field John G. Searle Plant Introduc- the World Book Samuel Insull, Jr. Solomon A. Smith Williams was botanist, Encyclopedia, sponsors Louis Ware tion New Research of the has made it Section, Crops expedition, possible OFFICERS Branch, Agricultural Research Service, for Dr. Robert L. Fleming, field associate Stanley Field President Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President U. S. Department of Agriculture, Belts- in the Museum's department of zoology, Walther Buchen Second Vice-President Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President ville, Maryland; and before that, bota- to accompany Hillary and his expedi- Solomon A. Smith Treasurer Clifford C. Gregg Director and nist at the Escuela their ascent into Secretary and sub-director Agri- tionary party on the E. Leland Webber Assistant Secretary cola Panamericana near Tegucigalpa, Himalayas this fall. Honduras. In that he was en- Dr. a medical position Fleming, missionary THE BULLETIN gaged, over a period of more than eleven who has lived in Nepal for the past seven EDITOR years, in developing reference botanical years, brings to the expedition an exten- Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum collections for south Mexico, Central sive knowledge of the animal life—and CONTRIBUTING EDITORS America, and Panama. At the same particularly the birds—of the region. In Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology time he built up a reference library cov- the past, Fleming has made several trips John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology ering all phases of natural history, ex- from the lowlands of Nepal to far above Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology ploration, and travel for that part of the timberline in the Himalayas in search of MANAGING EDITOR world. His extensive field experience in specimens for the Museum's collections. Paula R. Nelson Public Relations Counsel the tropics of both North and South Readers of the Bulletin will remember ASSOCIATE EDITOR America especially prepare him for the his report (December, 1954) of the expe- Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations duties he will undertake in his present ditions he has directed for the Museum position, particularly in the completion in the Himalayas and in other parts of Members are requested to inform the Museum promptly of changes of address. of the Flora of Guatemala. India, as a result of which many fasci- Dr. Williams was born in Wyoming, nating and unusual birds were sent back received his bachelor's and master's de- to the Museum. Now it is expected that This Month's Cover- grees at the University of Wyoming and the Museum's study collections, as well his doctor's degree at Washington Uni- as its exhibits of Asian birds and other On a remote string of islands in the south- For he was a Research will be enriched versity. ten years animals, again by the west Philippines live the Mohammedan Sulus. Assistant at the Ames Orchid Herbarium addition of rare specimens from the Strategically located on one of the world's ma- trade the Sulus centuries of Harvard University. He has engaged higher reaches of the Himalayas. jor routes, for plied the seas as traders. When the Spaniards con- in extensive expeditionary work in Mex- The Hillary party began its nine- quered the Philippines, the proud and inde- ico and Brazil, and has made repeated month high-altitude expedition at Kat- pendent Sulus refused to accept either Spanish to all Central American re- of a small inde- study trips mandu, capital Nepal, Christianity or Spanish domination of their publics. Most recently he spent four pendent state between India and Tibet. seas. turned to In their months collecting for the U. S. Depart- Focus of the expedition is Mt. Makalu in Instead, they piracy. swift and silent "vintas" and "prahus," the ment of Agriculture in west central and Nepal, fourth highest mountain in the Sultan of Sulu's motley fleet terrorized the southern Africa. When he was with Es- world. The mountain is located 170 shores of the Spanish-held isles, burning, kill- cuela Panamericana he founded miles from Katmandu. Agricola ing, and seizing food and slaves. Then, with the publication, Ceiba, and was its editor Objectives of the expedition, which is the coming of the Americans, piracy declined. the Mohammedan Sulus are a until 1957. For three years prior to the officially known as the "1960 World Today, peace- whose boats still second World War, he was editor of the Book Encyclopedia Scientific Expedition ful, sea-going people, sport the striped sails that once inspired terror. American Orchid Society Bulletin and was to the Himalayas Led By Sir Edmund Lucie Palmer, artist and geographer, lived instrumental in the are: to out extensive strengthening posi- Hillary" (1) carry among these Sulusfor six months. In approxi- tion it of that journal and converting physiological research into the acclima- matelyfifty oil sketches on public exhibit at the Museum she from a quarterly to a monthly Bulletin. tization of the human body to extreme during October, vividly portrays the dazzling hues of sky and sea, the The list of his published papers and altitudes, (2) to pursue exploration, gaily colored sails set against a backdrop of palm books is a lengthy one including such mountaineering, mapping, and glaciol- trees and mountains, white-costumed partici- titles as A the Genus Mer- in the to the east and west of Monograph of ogy ranges pants in Moorish ceremonies, and the lonely, tensia, The Orchidaceae of Mexico, and Enu- Mt. Everest, and (3) to sustain an im- spindly-legged "Badjow," or Sea Gypsy, houses shown on our cover. meration of the Orchidaceae of Central partial search for evidence to prove or America. {Museum News continued on page 8) Page 2 Snow-topped mountains reflect their beauty in the clear water of a Nor- wegian inland lake. From Hjordis Kittel Parker's "Norway, Changing and Changeless" to be presented No- vember 5.

these spell New Orleans. In this exciting film, not only are the city's French- Adult Travel Spanish flavor and gay holidays por- Programs but the viewer thrills to the trayed, mysterious beauty of outlying swamps Natural Museum's Thoreau—and see Chicago History son, Hawthorne, as afield with the and bayous, he goes , 11 4th series of free, illustrated travel lec- them come alive in scenes recreating camera for crawfish, tarpon, and alli- tures begins Saturday, October 1, in the the landing of the Mayflower, life in gators. Museum's James Simpson Theatre. an authentic pioneer village, and the Pika Peaks Last summer more than 500,000 tracing of the story of the Revolution, October 22— American tourists traveled to Europe in from the first shot heard 'round the Emerson Scott the tourist invasion of that con- world to the new-born shrines greatest country's No, it's not a typographical error! tinent in history. Similarly, resort cen- in Boston. "Pika Peaks" focuses the color camera, ters in the United States report unprece- not alone on Pike's Peak in Colorado, dented numbers of visitors the October 8—Island during Treasure but on the entire Western Rockies, home summer. For who were past Chicagoans Walter J. Breckenridge of the elusive "pika," or "rock rabbit." not able to go traveling this year, as While the the viewer Just a dot of land, almost lost in following "pika," well as for those who would like to relive adventures with an the broad expanse of the great Mis- experienced guide the of excitement their vacation excur- the trails of the San Moun- sissippi. But explored through the dis- along Juan the Museum's fall series focuses on sions, tains of Colorado, sometimes called the cerning camera of Dr. Walter J. Breck- those two continents. All lectures are Switzerland of Gla- enridge, director of the Minnesota Mu- America; through in narrated person by well-known lec- cier National a for countless seum of Natural History, that dot dis- Park, refuge turer-photographers. closes a treasure-house in microcosm. wilderness creatures; and on to Jackson's The programs will be presented each This world-famous naturalist has studied Hole, Wyoming. Saturday in October and November at his island as man has rarely done. He October 29—Voici 2:30 p.m. under the auspices of the L'Amgrique knows the age of every soft-shelled tur- is Edward E. Ayer Lecture Foundation. (Here America) he has watched the beaver cut a tle; and Frederick Members of the Museum may claim re- Arthur F. Wilson J. Keiffer Cottonwood twenty inches in diameter; served seats by presenting their mem- Two French children enjoy the red he has captured in color film the dra- bership cards before 2:25 p.m. on the carpet treatment in a delightfully fresh matic arrival of the great blue heron, lecture day. and "different" journey across the who comes each spring to fish the la- Following is the complete schedule: United States. The children are the goon- guests of Arthur F. Wilson, who is re- October 1 —New in \//< England the kindness shown him by their All Four Seasons October 15—Romantic Old turning yi family when he was stationed in France Donald New Orleans Shaw as an American G.I. The film renews All the Phil Walker beauty and tradition, the his- the thrill of your own first trip west as it toric and scenic panorama, of the cradle Spanish moss veiling trees and tele- records the unsophisticated joy of these of American civilization— New England phone wires; wrought iron balconies; young travelers at their first sight of our —are revealed in this color film by plantation homes still sturdy with their majestic scenery from the plains states Donald Shaw. Visit locations— hallowed original framework and neoclassic col- to the coast and then back again to by history and legend Plymouth, Con- umns of swamp-bred cypress; gourmet, New York. cord bridge, the homes of Revere, Emer- Creole cookery; and—Mardi Gras! All {Continued on page 8)

Page 3 The large and colorful parrot family, which ncludes the cockatoos, macaws, parakeets, ories and lovebirds, numbers 316 species. These re distributed throughout the tropics and oc- in With their asionally temperate regions. BY M.A.TRAYLOR,ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF BIRDS irge heads, powerful, hooked beaks and short sgs, parrots are easily recognizable; and their AND E.JOHN PFIFFNER, STAFF ARTIST , J^~ ttractiveness as pets has made them one of the riost familiar families of birds. Parrots vary in size from the tiny, three-inch pygmy parrots of New Guinea to the giant, three-foot Scarlet Macaw of South America. However, all parrots share a com- mon structural peculiarity of the beak: the upper as well as the lower mandible is hinged at the base, pro- ducing a much wider gape and more powerful crushing action than in most other birds. The beak also serves as a third "foot," being used to grasp perches unattainable by the short legs. In feeding, the feet are frequently used as "hands," and individual parrots are as definitely right- or left-"handed" as baseball '/ pitchers

Parrots were mentioned by Greek writers as arly as 400 B.C., but the first live birds (prob- bly the Indian Parakeet) were brought into ireece by Alexander the Great's soldiers about 28 B.C. became as They quickly popular pets. HINGED mandYbi-ES

Parrots may be divided into two groups, those feeding on seeds, nuts and buds and those feeding on fruits and nectar. The former have strong, blunt tongues and powerful bills; this group is best exemplified by the ma- caws, which are capable of crushing a Brazil nut. The latter types, including the lories, have brushy tips to the tongue, which they use to lap up soft fruits and nectar. Some parrots have developed quite peculiar tastes: the Kea of New Zealand has become partly carnivorous through feeding on the discarded offal of sheep, and will now sometimes attack and kill live sheep; the Macquarie Island Parakeet lives on an island where there are enormous penguin colonies, and has been seen wandering around the rookeries eat- ing, not the contents, but the empty egg shells. Numb in rep *-

Norti The only parrot that ever reached the northeastern United States was the yellow-headed Carolina Parakeet. It is now extinct, the last unques- tionable record of a wild bird being 1904, while the last 1 zoo bird died at Cincinnati in 1914. The main cause of extirpation was al- most certainly per- secution by man, but the early set- cfl tlers should not be v judged too harshly since enormous flocks would virtu- ally destroy grain The most aberrant and interesting of the parrots is the fields and orchards. Owl Parrot of New Zealand. Before the the flightless coming Now only of the white man and his carnivorous pets there were no United States par- serious predators on New Zealand, and the Owl Parrot was rot is the Thick- now it is confined to the forests of North Island. billed widespread ; Parrot, Here it keeps to dark forest glades, clearing trails along \\ which occasionally which it forages, and feeding on rootlets, tender twigs and is found in south- fruits. It climbs trees, using its rudimentary ern Arizona and occasionally to assist it in hopping from limb to limb. New Mexico. wings

The vast majority of par- rots nest in hollow limbs or holes in trees, and less fre- quently in crevices in rocks. Odd variants occur, however. The Pygmy Parrot of New Guinea, rather than have his tunnel run down from the nest hole, has it run up, so that the nesting chamber is above the entrance. Even more peculiar are the large communal stick nests of the Monk Parrot of South Amer-

ica : not only do several pairs of these parrots nest togeth- er, but they have been re- ported to tolerate ducks and opossums as guests. The Rosy-faced Lovebird, which nests in rock crevices, has the strange habit of carrying strips of nesting material tucked under its rump feath-

; while th

I f parrots found areas,

ralia 57 Iitative ALAN SOLEM Curator of Lower Invertebrates By ,

HIDDEN RELICS of the OCEAN

has climbed the highest moun- diving suit. Only encased in a steel scientific personnel to scientific discov- MANtains, peered through telescopes sphere can man briefly explore the sea's ery. On December 22, 1938, a fisher- into the farthest corners of the universe, dark depths. man brought up his trawl from 234 feet hurled his rockets past the moon, sent Our knowledge of deep ocean life is of water off the mouth of the Chalumna sound waves racing to record the con- based upon tantalizing flash pictures; River near East London, South Africa. tour of the ocean floor. Now he is even the catch of the scientist's blind grop- A strange blue fish caught his attention, trying to communicate with life on other ings with dredge and sampler, and of and he took it to the local museum. worlds. Yet much of the life of man's the fisherman's trawl; the refuse of storms There, the decaying soft parts were re- own planet is shrouded from him in on ocean shores. Despite this pitifully moved and the skin was stuffed. Unable mystery and unseen by human eyes. inadequate sampling, the two major zoo- to identify the specimen, a staff member Naturalists have scoured the forests logical discoveries of this century have at the museum called in a zoologist from and fields, the lakes and tide pools, for come from the ocean. a local college for help. J. L. B. Smith new animals and plants. Geologists have A five-foot blue fish, Latimeria, is now immediately recognized the fish as a chipped rocks and painstakingly recon- familiar to the general reader. It is living , a group thought to structed fossil fragments, to reveal a sur- a coelacanth, a group not far removed be extinct since the Cretaceous Period. prisingly detailed picture of life in past from man's own ancestry, which was Meeting a dinosaur would not have been eras. Over 1,500,000 living animals and believed to have been extinct for 75,- more startling. plants have been named and classified, 000,000 years. A much more recent Circulars describing the new fish were and untold thousands of fossil organisms discovery is a rather ordinary looking widely distributed among fishermen in similarly recorded. one-and-one-half-inch mollusk, Neopi- Madagascar and South Africa in hopes Much of the scientist's work in the lina. This animal belongs to a group of obtaining a whole specimen. Many museum is to collate new facts about a supposed to have been extinct for over fishermen claimed to know the fish, but few of these organisms, to name and 350,000,000 years! Moreover, while not until December 21, 1952, was a sec- classify some of the perhaps 1,000,000 Latimeria provided striking confirmation ond coelacanth captured. The very iso- still undescribed species, and to prepare of prior conclusions by palaeontologists lated Anjuan Island, in the Comorros new summaries about certain small in regard to the evolution of vertebrate group northwest of Madagascar, radi- groups. life, Neopilina is forcing a complete re- oed news of the capture, which was In field and forest an unusual crea- vision of our ideas of molluscan evolu- flashed around the world. Such was ture is occasionally found, but the great tion, and has upset our definition of a the interest in this living fossil that the frontier of research is the ocean. Though whole phylum of animals. premier of South Africa dispatched an the ocean covers 70 per cent of the earth's The chance discovery of Latimeria is Air Force plane with Latimeria's de- surface, man's penetration of it has been quite well known, but a brief resume of scribe^ Dr. Smith, aboard to save the limited to a few feet unaided, 300 feet the story can point out the important specimen for study. with an aqualung, and 500 feet with a contribution sometimes made by non- Since then several more Page 6 have been captured, and a magnificently preservative. Then, routine examina- understand. What possible similarity illustrated monograph of its anatomy is tion at once revealed their unusual char- does the soft-bodied, slimy mollusk with being published. acters. In early 1957, the British weekly, its shell of calcium carbonate bear to What is the scientific significance of Nature, carried the first description of the segmented worms and insects with this rather unprepossessing fish? Sev- the most unusual mollusk ever found by their chitinous exoskeleton? eral generations of geologists had been scientists. Neopilina provides the answer. Its soft studying the bones of extinct animals About twenty to thirty major types of parts show definite signs of segmenta- which they had carefully chipped out of structural arrangement among animals tion, proving that mollusks were origi- various rock strata. From the fragmen- had long been recognized. These pat- nally derived from a segmented ancestor. tary evidence available, a gradual out- terned groupings, called phyla, represent The structures are much modified from line of the path of vertebrate evolution basic stages in evolution and differing the simple pattern of an earthworm, but had been charted, and the probable tree plans of physical organization. For ex- the presence of five pairs of gills, six sets of man's ancestry traced. It was known ample, all animals with a dorsal nerve of nephridia (nephridia are kidney or- that amphibians, and eventually all cord and internal body support, or skel- gans), several very complex paired mus- higher , arose from a branch eton (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, cles, and many other details, shows that of the lobe-finned, or crossopterygian, mammals, and a few primitive marine Neopilina and its early fossil relatives fishes. The coelacanths (to which Lati- organisms), belong to the Phylum Chor- were partially segmented and that meria belongs) were crossopterygians, data. Similarly, all animals with a ven- mollusks were derived from a segmented and the public immediately labeled Lati- tral nerve cord, an external skeleton, ancestor. meria a "missing link between fish and and jointed legs (insects, spiders, scor- Subsequent to the news of Neopilina man." Actually the coelacanths were pions, crustaceans, mites, and the like) in 1957, the research vessel, "Vema," a side branch of the crossopterygians, belong to the Phylum Arthropoda. dredged another species of Neopilina from while the higher vertebrates were de- Other groups, such as the echinoderms, 3,183 to 3,201 fathoms off the coast of rived from the main crossopterygian line, mollusks, segmented worms, flat worms, Peru. This shows that Neopilina is fairly the Rhipidistia. round worms, sponges, coelenterates, widely distributed, and of course raises a Prior to the discovery of Latimer ia, in- protozoans, lamp shells, and number the question of what other "missing formation about the evolutionary ances- of less familiar groups, each represent a links" are likely to be found in the sea. of try of man had been based on studies of different basic pattern structure and Few people realize what a rare acci- skeletal parts alone. The opportunity form a separate phylum. dent it is for an animal to be preserved to study other systems is thus a marve- In other words, the difference be- as a fossil. Certain unusual conditions lous one for students of vertebrate evo- tween a fish and an , or a must take place, and even then only a lution, and the anatomy of Latimeria will reptile and a monkey, is much less than tiny percentage of the organisms present yield much data. While it is not a the difference between an insect and an will be preserved. Of organisms living

"missing link" at all, Latimeria does rank earthworm, or a flat worm and a mollusk. in water, only those living in or washed as one of the important zoological finds The marvelous thing about Neopilina into shallow waters can be fossiled. We of the century. is that it provides a "missing link" be- have no records of deep sea organisms In contrast, the discovery of Neopilina, tween phyla. It shows conclusively that as fossils. though of even greater scientific signifi- the mollusks were derived from a worm- Thus, whenever a group of organ- cance, received no immediate fanfare of like ancestor, since it still preserves cer- isms, under the spur of competition for attention. The Danish Deep-Sea Expe- tain primitive, worm-like features within food and shelter, leave shallow waters dition undertaken around the world on its own anatomy. Not only that, but for the ocean deeps, they disappear from the "Galathea" in 1950-52, was the the fossil records of Neopilina-like mol- the fossil record. The ancestors of Neopi- fourth world marine biological voyage. lusks are all older than 350,000,000 years. lina made the change 350,000,000 years Among its achievements was the col- The annelid, or segmented, worms ago; the ancestors of Latimeria "only" lection of living organisms from 10,100 and the have long been 75,000,000 years ago. No one knows meters below the ocean's surface, the known to be related. Their bodies have what other groups may still be found. deepest catch ever recorded. But our hard external coverings and are divided Each deep trawler's net may contain a interest lies in a less spectacular haul. into a series of more or less modified seg- startling fish or other large animal; each On May 6, 1952, the "Galathea" ments. Primitive insects can readily be scientist's dredge may pull up another dredged off the west coast of Costa Rica compared with certain worms, and one missing link in the pattern of evolution. at a depth of 3,570 meters. A rich haul small group of organisms is almost inter- Man will continue groping blindly of many species was sorted, washed, and mediate between the annelids and ar- on the ocean bottom, taking tempera- preserved in alcohol and formalin. thropods. Because of similarities in the tures, sampling mud, collecting speci- Thirteen specimens of a brownish, con- structure of their larval forms, the mol- mens, and divising better chambers in

ical, thin, one-and-one-half-inch shell, lusks have usually been considered as which to invade this realm. Life forms ten collected alive with the soft parts, distantly related to the annelids and ar- from other planets will hardly be more did not attract immediate notice. Until thropods. Yet this has always been dif- exciting to scientists than the organisms 1956 they lay, unstudied, in bottles of ficult for beginning zoology students to still to come from the sea. Page 7 Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN October, 1960

ADULT making, the finished motion picture but also shows us the practical problems emerges as a unique study of undersea of a modern city afloat—the market, the LECTURES- life. Highlights are a rare encounter omnipresent coffee machine, the arts of with massed barracuda, the exploration lace and mosaic making. Finally, the (Continued from page 3) of modern and ancient wrecks, and a camera throws the city's essence into descent into one of the mysterious Ba- bold relief through the magic of con- hamian "blue holes." Occasionally the trast, as the viewer is transported from camera "surfaces" for a dazzling glimpse the lowlands to the Alps and the Italian of Nassau, Bimini, Cat Cay, the Berry Lake Country. Islands, and Abaco Cays. November 19—Portrait of London Curtis Nagel MUSEUM NEWS- Sprawling, "grand old dowager" city of the world, London has entranced visi- (Continuedfrom page 2) tors for hundreds of years with its char- disprove the existence of the Yeti, or acteristic charm. Now, the motion pic- "abominable snowman." ture camera distinguishes all the com- Dr. Fleming is Superintendent of the ponents of that charm—beginning with Medical Mission to Nepal of the Board a sunrise over the Tower Bridge, and of World Missions of the Methodist from there following each corner and — Church. In a delightful Bulletin ar- turning of the city's physiography ticle for March, 1960, Dr. Fleming fol- Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, No. lowed the calendar through the colorful 10 Downing Street, Hyde Park, Ken- Nepalese year. We are looking forward sington Gardens, Petticoat Lane open- to publishing his personal report of the air market, Windsor Castle—recording "snowman" expedition. for our pleasure the colorful, stirring sremonies for which England is famous. Winter Wonderland: Fresh snow against a bril- Audubon Lectures Start liant winter sun in New England. Scene from —Venice the 'November 26 and The Illinois Audubon in All Sea- Society opens Donald Shaw's "New England Four J Italian Lakes its 1960-61 lecture season at the Mu- sons," program for October 1. Soule Thayer seum on Sunday, October 9, with a To are as im- screen tour of our November 5—Norway, Thayer Soule, people panoramic youngest as and the as Hawaii. In color Fran Changing and Changeless portant buildings, present state, film, vital as the past—even when portraying William Hall of Northfield, Minnesota, Hjordis Kittel Parker a city as beautiful and ancient as Venice. pictures the natural history, the people, The dramatic landscape of Norway His motion picture, therefore, not only the lavish beauty of the island state. to the from rocky peak sea, spine- 2 p.m. in traces the city's beginnings as an island The program begins at :30 the tingling scenes of mountain scaling by refuge from barbaric invaders to its James Simpson Theatre. The general the country's most famous mountain heights as a Renaissance world power, public is cordially invited. climber, expert skiers skimming across virgin snows, a day spent on a mountain- side farm inhabited by three generations E. of a 1000-year-old family, and an ab- Pete Winter, 16, [right] of 2310 Burr Oak Road, Northfield, sorbing study of the primitive, nomadic knew just what to do when he came Laplanders—all these document a fas- across this giant puffball while walking of Nor- cinating, comprehensive picture on the bridle path in the Nixon Forest wegian life. Preserve. He picked it up and brought it down to the Museum. Measuring November 12—Water World 16\£ inches long, 11% inches wide, l and 12 /w inches high, the puffball, Stanton Waterman though not a record size, turned out to Going beyond the standard subjects be the largest that members of the Mu- of color photography, this photographer- seum's Department of Botany had ever seen. Pete and his brother lecturer has chosen to master an en- Bill, 13, [left] enjoyed comparing hisfind, which vironmental medium that presents a he has donated to the Museum's study whole new of to his range challenges collections, with the model on exhibit in skill with a camera. Four years in the the "Hall of Plant Life" in Hall 29. VOLUME 31 NUMBER 11 ftmmkit 1 960

CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEU ffuuetin

SACRED IMAGE OF THE PUEBLO INDIANS

1250- 1350 A.D.

for

picture

story see

pages 4-5 Chicago Natural History Museum MUSEUM NEWS Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410

Adult Lecture Series Children's Programs THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lester narrated in 5 Nature's Half Acre Armour Henry P. Isham Color motion pictures November Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahler Wm. McCorhick Blair Hughston M. McBain Traveler person. {Museum Day) Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller Walter J. Cummings William H. Mitchell Joseph N. Field John T. Jr. November 5 and November 12 Fantastic Pirie, Norway, Changing Alaska Marshall Field, Jr. Clarence B. Randall Stanley Field John G. Searle Changeless (Simeon Oliver, "Nutchuk," Samuel Insull, Jr. Solomon A. Smith Hjordis Kittel Parker Louis Ware in person) November 12 Water World OFFICERS November 19 for Stanton Waterman Getting Ready Stanley Field President Hughston M. McBain First Vice-President Winter Walther Buchen Second Vice-President November 19 Portrait of London Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President a Solomon A. Smith Treasurer Curtis (Also cartoon) Nagel Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary E. Leland Webber Assistant 26 of Secretary November 26 Venice and the Italian November Toys Many Lands and Children Lakes THE BULLETIN Thayer Soule (Plus a cartoon) EDITOR Theatre. James Simpson Saturday James Simpson Theatre. Saturday Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum afternoons at 2 :30. Free. mornings at 10:30. Free. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology John R. Millar Chief Curator of Botany Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology MANAGING EDITOR Paula R. Nelson Public Relations Counsel ASSOCIATE EDITOR Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations

Members are requested to inform the Museum promptly of changes of address.

soprano of the Royal Opera, Stockholm, on Dec. 7 in the Free Concert Founda- tion's second chamber music concert of the 1960-61 season. It will be Miss Meyer's first Chicago appearance. The program will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the James Simpson Theatre. Tickets may be obtained by writing Free Concerts Foundation, Chicago Natural History Museum, Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive; and enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope.

New Staff Member Mrs. Bertha Gibbs has been TOYS OF MANY LANDS AND MANY CHILDREN will be the last of the Fall Series of motion picture appointed children on November 10:30 a.m. This will lead into the Winter on programs for Saturday, 26, Journey to the position of Cataloger on the staff TOYS available to all boys and girls in December, January, and February. The above photograph shows a pre- of the Museum She was for- view of some of the toys theyoungsters will be directed to in the Winter Journey. Library. merly on the library staffs at Harvard Boston Honors Fritz Haas, Curator Emeritus of Lower University Library, University in of his out- Library, and more recently at Armour The American Invertebrates, recognition Malacological Union, Research Foundation of Illinois Institute standing contributions to malacological of more than 800 consisting professionals of where she a li- research, was elected an Honorary Life Technology, organized and has an exclusive amateurs, category Member. brary for the Fluid Dynamics and Sys- of membership, called Honorary Life tems Research Division. Mrs. Gibbs was Member, which is restricted to a maxi- Free Concert graduated from Fisk University and the mum of five individuals. At the recent The Festival String Quartet will be University of Illinois Library School. meetings of the Union in Montreal, Dr. joined by Kerstin Meyer, leading mezzo (Museum News continued on page 8)

Page 2 carniverous forms are more active than By ERNEST J. ROSCOE herbiverous ones. Assistant, Lower Invertebrates One of the most interesting questions centers on the influence of the snail's

shell on its rate of locomotion. In the A SNAILS PACE study that compared the speeds of six- teen species of North American land snails, with two exceptions all snails with shells were slower than the shell-

less slugs. Apparently slugs are not as "sluggish" as shelled snails. It would seem reasonable to conclude that the additional weight of a shell slows the snail down. But some biologists are in- clined to believe that just the reverse is true—that sluggish habits are a cause, not a result, of having a shell. The ar- gument, in brief, runs that sluggish gas- tropods cannot get rid of excess calcium the end of the day's work, you're That there are differences between indi- as well as active ones. The sluggish ani- anxious to home. The elevator At get viduals is demonstrated in my own work mals, therefore, tend to deposit calcium carries swiftly to the floor. you ground with Oreohelix strigosa depressa, one of the in the form of a shell or other skeletal On the street into car and you get your largest land snails of the intermountain structure. The interested reader will out into the line of traffic. Catch- pull region. I found considerable variation find a thought-provoking discussion of to the car ahead, move ing up you stop, between individuals of comparable size this "sessile" theory of the origin of cal- on a short and then brake distance, tested at the same time under uniform careous skeletons in Percy E. Ray- as the line of cars slowly inches again conditions. Another investigator has re- mond's Prehistoric Life (Harvard Uni- forward. After a few minutes of this ported that young snails move more rap- versity Press, 1947). The question is rate of are to progress you ready protest idly than adults of the same kind. He far from being resolved, but it does pro- that traffic is "at a vehemently moving also thought that snails having a secre- vide an excellent illustration of the fact snail's pace!" tive mode of life moved more quickly. that, in science, one cannot always jump is a snail's But how fast, exactly, pace? And several writers have stated that to the obvious conclusion. Several years ago, John Oughton, then on the staff of the Royal Ontario Mu- Shell Air Speed seum of ran a series of tests on Zoology, Kind Diameter Temperature Inches per Miles per a number of common North American (mm.) (°C.) Minute Hour SNAILS land snails and slugs. When we convert Stenotrema fraternum 6 (immature) 23.2 9.1 .00346 his were in centi- results, which reported Triodopsis tridentata 12.5 23. 5 12.7 . 00480 Euconulus chersinus 2.5 23 4.1 .00154 meters per minute, into more familiar Viirina limpida 4.2 21 6.9 .00259 measurements of speed, we find that the Vitrina limpida adult 23 7.9 .00298 Zonitoides arborea 29 6.1 .00230 slowest snail was clocked at about 4.0-5.3 % Zonitoides arborea 4.9 23.5 5.8 .00221 inch per minute (0.000192 miles per Zonitoides nitida 4.5-6.0 27 6. t .00260 Rotinella indentata 4 22.4 6.4 .00240 hour). The fastest gastropod was a slug, Discus cronkhitei anthonyi 5 21 2.0 .00077 or shell-less snail; it was able to make Discus catskillensis 3.8-5.0 .. 3.0 .00115 Anguispira alternata 14. 3 5.8 .00221 about 20 inches per minute (0.00758 Anguispira alternata 7.0 23.5 5.3 .00202 miles per hour). On the other hand, „,,.,., 2.0 .00077 Oreohelix strigosa depressa 16 00605 when the recorded speeds of sixteen Cochlicopa lubrica 6.51ong 21 3.0 .00115 kinds of North American land snails and Vallonia costata 2.3-2.6 .. 0.8 .00029 exile adult 0.5 .00019 slugs were compared, the average "snail's Carychium pace" was found to be 6.5 inches per Length of SLUGS animal (mm.) minute (0.00248 miles per hour). Deroceras gracile adult 21 19.1 .00720 factors at Many affect the speed which Deroceras gracile 18.5 26.6 20.2 .00758

dorsalis 1 1-24 .5 21 11.2 . 00422 these animals move. Some are physical Pallifera Pallifera dorsalis 15 23 11.7 .00442 — temperature, humidity, type of ter- direction of travel with to rain, respect AVERAGE 6.5 .00248 the pull of gravity, and the like. Other Sources: Basic data from J. Oughton, "University of Toronto Biological Series 57," factors are biological, and relate to the except on Oreohelix, which is from the writer's unpublished M.S. thesis. condition and habits of the animal itself.

Page 3 A A Dl

Our knowledge of between 1250 and 1351 — is the Great or ceremonial chamber the ancient 1 This Kiva, religious of Pueblo Indians, covery made by Chic excavated the Museum's Southwest under the direction Dr. by Archaeological Expedition of Expedition, under the Paul S. Martin. The structure's dimensions are fifty feet by forty-seven feet, making it very pology. On a new sit excavating for the pa: tributed significantly probably the largest rectangular kiva ever excavated. The block of dirt running diagonally Pueblo Indians. The across the kiva lower to is a road that was not removed in the from right upper left farm utility news and scientific n the center can be seen the ancient entrance down which cere- excavation process. At top ramp "Bulletin" readers th. monial processions probably marched into the chamber. Set at the ramp's base is an unusually s circle large stone slab that served to deflect drafts from the chamber' fire pit {the small half hidden by thefarm road). On benches surrounding thefour sides of the kiva sat the participants

in the sacred rituals. To the right is a stone-lined pit over which planks may have been laid to serve as foot drums, the space underneath acting as a resonator. Encircled is the masonry vault the cover a miniature votive within which lay the sacred stone effigy shown on our and far containing eleven beads. During the excavation process, some 800 tons of dirt and rock were removed in 750 man-hours.

— the smaller ceremonial cham- 2 The crypt containing the stone roofs of — image was surmounted by a ring slab bers. The Pueblo Indians— believed top. A worked stone slab covered the and still believe today that their an-

hole. The cover was carefully sealed cestors emerged into the world through into position with adobe, and remained fust such a passage from their place of

tight enough to exclude the mud and origin in the underworld. Thus every dirt that might otherwise have washed time the god was removed from the into the vault during the next six cen- crypt for a ceremonial occasion, it may turies. The ring slab entry to the crypt have been a symbolical reenactment of resembles, in miniature, the ring slabs the Indians' ancestral emergence from used to frame the entry hatchways on the underworld.

Page U This model of the stone im- age shows how it must have appeared to the ancient Indians lotable of the pueblo.

4—Here the ring slab has been re- moved to reveal not only the sacred ob-

jects but the construction of the crypt.

The vault is about twelve inches square

by twelve inches deep. Its sides and

floor are lined with sandstone slabs icovery matched and fitted together. carefully

The image itself, nine inches in height, is carved of sandstone and painted with

stripes of black, orange, green, and i t culture of the Pueblo Indians who lived in Arizona 30 D. was greatly enriched this summer by a unique dis- blue. It was found lying face down, ics Natural Museum's Southwest its History Archaeological with right arm broken off. Such a le ection of Dr. Paul S. Martin, Chief Curator of Ant hm

. ithin an area that the Southwest Expedition has been as ve years, a sacred image was unearthed that has con- v ;>ur understanding of the religious beliefs of the ancient e--y of this discovery, which has been reported in major ma in the United States and abroad, is highlighted for hrgh the pictures and captions on this page.

jPeering within the ring slab, we glimpse votive vessel in the k'.e effigy and position

in which they were found. The arrow points to magnetic north.

cult deity would have been placed on an altar within the Great Kiva during certain religious ceremonies, and then returned to its sacred vault, whose architecture mimics that of the smaller kivas. Possibly in the to the underworld the ceremonies which effigy figured pertained and were a ritualistic reenacting of tribal origins; perhaps they were also related to births and deaths in the tribe. The fact that the image was found face down may signify that no one dared to look

occasions it have been covered or at it, and that on ceremonial may used face down. There is little doubt that the image had great

sanctity and that only certain persons would have been allowed to

touch it. When the priest carefully placed the sacred carving in its

crypt for the last time after some powerful and moving religious ceremony, did he realize that he would never see the god again? Or the the to de- could the priest deliberately have broken arm of effigy to the six stroy its power when his people decided move from pueblo hundred years ago? Page 5 at least twelve other species of fish have been introduced into the Great Lakes, The ALEWIFE either directly or through the con- necting waters of the drainage system. LOREN P. by WOODS None of these has become so conspicu- curator of fishes ously widespread or abundant as the five fishes named above. However, to the growing list of foreign fishes that have successfully taken up res- idence in these lakes, we must now add the alewife. This is a fish of the herring family, which is closely related to the American shad. It is silvery in color, with a series of saw-like plates forming a sharp ventral surface. In the Great Lakes, the alewife reaches a size of only seven to ten inches. Alewives have been abundant in Lake A RECENT INVADER OF THE UPPER GREAT LAKES Ontario for at least 70 years. Just how IS A SERIOUS NUISANCE TO RECREATION AND into Lake Ontario—whether FISHERIES OPERATIONS AND IS COM- they got PETING WITH MORE VALU- they were left there at the close of the ABLE FISH FOR FOOD of AND LIVING SPACE last glacial depression this area; whether they strayed in through the St. time to time during the past goons of the fair grounds escaped into Lawrence River or were brought in acci- FROM75 years, fishes that were not native Lake Michigan. They have since been dentally by man—has not been deter- to the region have been found in the up- abundant in many bays and lagoons mined. The only ocean fish known to per Great Lakes. Some invaded these that connect with the lake as well as in migrate regularly through the St. Law- waters by extending their ranges; others the harbors formed by breakwaters along rence to Lake Ontario is the freshwater were introduced, either by accidentally the Illinois shores. Since then, goldfish eel. In the early 1870's, however, shad escaping from connecting lakes or from have been re-introduced many, many were introduced into Lake Ontario, and an angler's bait bucket, or through a de- times by anglers, who use them for bait. there is a possibility that alewives were liberate effort by man to plant some pre- Also following the world's fair, rain- included in the shipment. sumably desirable food or sport fish. bow trout that had been on display in For the past 50 years, at least, they The "colonization" of the Great Lakes exhibition tanks were released in the have been a conspicuous nuisance. by these immigrant fishes has generally lake, and for many years afterward were Nearly every summer large numbers die been documented, so that the approxi- reported at intervals from the water sup- and, drifting inshore, clutter the beaches mate time and place of their arrival, ply cribs. Rainbows were introduced, as —sometimes in such quantity that they their first spawnings, and their spread well, into many streams of Wisconsin form windrows. On occasion it has been over the lakes can be traced with a rea- and Michigan. In the waters of northern necessary to haul them away, or bury sonable degree of accuracy. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, rain- them on the beach. The floating dead During the late nineteenth century, bows now are fairly abundant locally fish soon are covered with a light tan three foreign fishes became established and good spawning runs occur in several fungus (Saprolcgnia) and are not only un- in the Great Lakes within a few years' streams. sightly and unpleasant to run into while time. The first, and the one that has be- The invasion of the upper lakes by the swimming, but also give the water a come most numerous in bays and shallow sea lamprey in the early 1920's, its sub- strong, fishy odor. I have cruised all waters, was the carp. In 1 877, they were sequent spread, and its devastating effect afternoon in July along the north shore introduced into Illinois; by 1880 they on the lake trout fisheries are well known. of Lake Ontario through dead and float- were widely distributed. Exactly when The introduction of the smelt into Crys- ing alewives. At any time, hundreds the first introduction occurred in Lake tal Lake, Michigan, its escape into Lake could be counted in a circle around our Michigan is not recorded, but reports on Michigan in 1923, and its occupation, boat. commercial fisheries of the Great Lakes by 1936, of all the upper lakes were the Since alewives are migratory, running for 1890 do not mention carp. During subject of a previous Bulletin article upstream to spawn, they eventually 1899, however, 25,000 pounds of carp (March, 1954). Because of their num- arrived in Lake Erie. They were first were taken by commercial fishermen, in bers and habits, both the sea lamprey recorded as having been found there spite of there being only a limited mar- and the smelt have had a profound effect in September, 1931. According to Dr. ket for this fish. on many species of native fishes and on R. R. Miller of the University of After the 1893 world's fair in Chicago, the long-established lake food chains. Michigan, this was only to have been goldfish that had been planted in the la- In addition to these major invasions, expected. Presumably their invasion Page 6 route was through the Welland Canal. Eighteen months later, in March, 1933, one was captured in northern Lake The "Cisco," United States Fish Huron, while another was found in and Wildlife Survey vessel, has 1935. were now April, Although they been cruising the Upper Great Lakes within a few miles of Mackinac Straits, for six years locating fish and the they did not pass through, for none were studying general productivity of the lakes. It is equipped with noticed in Lake Michigan until 14 years the latest in fishery research equip- later, in May, 1949. Perhaps they were ment, including an electronic fish- from themselves prevented establishing finder, modern hydrographic equip- by the lake trout and burbot that were ment, and research laboratory. abundant in Lake Michigan until about 1946. Once these fish populations were decimated by the sea lamprey, alewives could move in and survive. the harbor north of the Aquarium, in ing, either when eaten by the alewife or the and on the 12th Street beach. Four years after being first noticed in lagoon, merely through contact. Neither of Lake Michigan, they had spread to all Alewives spend the summer in shallow these theories has been demonstrated. in offshore waters 72— parts of the lake. The first evidence of water, wintering Certainly large numbers of alewives their spawning was observed in Green 1 50 feet deep. In the early spring, along survive each year, and in some years Bay during the summer of 1953. The with many other kinds of lake fish, they apparently none are killed at all. to toward shore. first large specimen from near Chicago begin migrate The Alewives from Atlantic coastal streams most reasonable to account for was brought to Chicago Natural History theory and along the shore are considered ex- In October the death of such numbers of ale- Museum in March, 1954. large cellent food, whether fresh, smoked or is are slow to of 1956, the Museum received young wives that they very adjust salted. When taken from the Great the summer. to differences in If that had hatched previous abrupt temperature. Lakes, these fish are not as large or fat as numbers of the inshore waters are too warm The following spring, large (60- ocean fish, and very little use has been in 68° the time of their inshore dead alewives were found floating F.) during made of them. They are nothing but a and in the harbor there is A Burnham Park lagoon migration, great mortality. pest to many gill-net fishermen, who or two of calm water and sun- north of Shedd Aquarium. One evening day bright find their herring and chub nets filled near dusk in of Mr. William shine be to lethal July 1957, may enough produce with valueless alewives. Although they Another is that Braker of the Shedd Aquarium and I conditions. possibility can be sold as cheap food for mink and hundreds of in schools of the "bloom" of some saw alewives, springtime particu- fox farms, or for fertilizer, the price is so lar cause death ten to twenty-five individuals, darting plankton may by poison- low that it is not profitable to take them

in gill nets or traps. In 1960, about half a million pounds of alewives were taken from Lake Michigan. This amount was worth only $5,426, so it is evident why the alewives are considered valueless by the Left: After dragging commercial fishermen. As for their edi- bottom for fish, the men last I met a with a haul in the "otter trawl" bility, June boy with their catch. In the bucket containing a dozen or so eight- foreground is a boom for inch alewives that he had caught with the net. lifting hook and line in Burnham Park Lagoon.

and chasing among the rocks north of the Planetarium promontory. We could not see well enough to determine whether Right: The catch, almost or not they were spawning. A few days entirely chubs netted at later dead alewives were observed many 40 fathoms, is poured floating near shore. These had fungus onto the deck to be ex- amined and sorted. infections but no apparent injuries. In the following year, no dead alewives were noticed, but in May of both 1959 and 1 960 hundreds of dead were seen in

Page 7 Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN November, 1960

for processing into fish meal or fertilizer appear to offer the best solution.

[After this article was set, we received the followingurgentdispatchfrom Curator Woods.] Grand Haven, Michigan

"Stop the presses ! Flash ! I have just eaten an alewife! And a good thing I did, too, because it turns out that my Asked what he intended to do with them, may be because the alewife and lake rather disparaging assumptions about his natural reply was, "Eat them." I herring compete for food and space at its edibility are misleading. suggested that he might find them some- some stage during their life cycle. Ale- "To go back a bit, I went out on Lake what bony and dry, but he only nodded wives feed chiefly on animal plankton Michigan this morning for some trawl- his head and said, "I'll save them 'til (crustaceans) and insects. With this diet ing. The wind was so strong and the Friday." Unfortunately I was unable preference, they compete with the young seas so high that we came back into port to obtain a report on how they tasted. of most other lake fishes and with not after one drag. Fortunately our catch It has been predicted that alewives only the young but also the large white- consisted of a tubful of alewives, so I will become increasingly abundant in fish, lake herring, and chubs. If large selected the biggest one (seven inches) the upper lakes. If this happens, ways numbers of alewives die, and so become and fried it. To my surprise, it was should be found to use them profitably. a nuisance to harbors and beaches, traps quite tasty." There is already some indication that, may have to be operated regularly in [If any of our Bulletin readers care to where alewives have increased (as in order to keep their numbers down. So participate in this phase of the research, we'd Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron), the num- far, the development of trawl fishing and be glad to have the results of their studies for bers of lake herring have decreased. This the use of alewives as an industrial fish purposes of comparison.] MUSEUM NEWS (Continuedfrom page 2)

Alfred Lewis Kroeber ing year he headed the Second Marshall Indians, and at the end of his life he 1876-1960 Field Archaeological Expedition to Peru. labored to help them press their claims During these two expeditions he sur- against the United States for broken The Museum has suffered a loss great veyed the whole of the Peruvian coast, treaties. His greatest love was for the in the death of Dr.Alfred L. Kroeber, carried out important excavations in the history of culture—both of the Americas Research Associate in American Archae- Lima, Caiiete, and Nazca Valleys, and and of the whole world. Here, he was He died in Paris on October 5 ology. made surface collections from a large interested not only in what happened, while from an returning anthropology number of archaeological sites. His ef- but in finding patterns or configurations in Austria. He had been meeting ap- forts nearly doubled the Museum's hold- of culture growth that might contribute Research Associate in the De- pointed ings in Peruvian archaeology and pro- to a universal culture history. Although of in 1926, and partment Anthropology vided documented material that has he dealt skillfully and enthusiastically held this until his death. position been of prime importance for scientific with the minutest particulars, he never one of the an- Dr. Kroeber was great study as well as display. As a result of lost sight of the general significance of thropologists of his time. His book, this field work, Dr. Kroeber published what he was doing. Anthropology, written in 1923, was the two survey articles on Peruvian archae- Dr. Kroeber's contributions to Chi- textbook in first general anthropology. ology in the American Anthropologist, and cago Natural History Museum were of California He taught at the University prepared four monographs, which were large and enduring. The Museum has 1901 to and for in Berkeley from 1946, published by the Museum, on the exca- lost a great colleague and a great friend. many of these years served both as Chair- vations and collections. A fifth mono- Donald Collier man of the Department of Anthropology graph, on the excavations in Nazca, was the of Anthro- and Director of Museum nearly complete at the time of his death. Archie F. Wilson, Associate, Wood his he con- pology. After retirement, The passing of Alfred Kroeber marks Anatomy, and former resident of Floss- his life to teach— tinued until the end of the end of an era in American anthro- moor, Illinois, died at his home in Sum- at Harvard, Yale, Brandeis, He was not a New on 22 1960. Columbia,— pology. only great figure mit, , August, and Chicago and to write, edit, and but the last of the "universal" anthro- Mr. Wilson's long and valuable assist- in and conferences. take part symposia pologists in this country, his greatest ance in developing the Museum's refer- Dr. Kroeber's association with the achievements being in ethnology, lin- ence collection of wood specimens was than Museum began in 1925, when he con- guistics, and folklore. He did more recognized in 1954 by his appointment ducted the First Marshall Field Archae- any man to record and analyze the cul- to the honorary position of Associate in of the California the of ological Expedition to Peru. The follow- tures and languages Department Botany.

PRINTED RY rHlTAHO NATIIRAI HISTORY MI !SFI)M DRF<;^ MUSEUM VOLUME 31 DECEMBER 1960 Chicago Natural History Museum MUSEUM NEWS Founded by Marshall Field, 1893 Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5 Telephone: WAbash 2-9410

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Leland Webber, As- Lester Armour Henry P. Isham t Sewell L. Avery William V. Kahi.er sistant Director, presents an Wm. McCormick Blair Hughston M. McBain Walther Buchen J. Roscoe Miller award certificate to one of 69 Walter J. Cummings William H. Mitchell Joseph N. Field John T. Pirie, Jr. youngsters honored by the Marshall Field, Jr. Clarence B. Randall Stanley Field John G. Searle on Museum November 5 for Samuel Insull, Jr. Solomon A. Smith Louis Ware achievement in the Museum's OFFICERS Journey program . This was Stanley Field President First Vice-President the largest number of awards Hughston M. McBain Walther Buchen Second Vice-President earned to date in the Ray- Joseph N. Field Third Vice-President Solomon A. Smith Treasurer mond Foundation's educational Clifford C. Gregg Director and Secretary E. Leland Webber Assistant Secretary in 1955, in program begun t deceased which more than 3000 chil-

dren now are active partici- THE BULLETIN pants. EDITOR Clifford C. Gregg Director of the Museum CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Paul S. Martin Chief Curator of Anthropology JOHN R. Mhxar Chief Curator of Botany Sharat K. Roy Chief Curator of Geology Austin L. Rand Chief Curator of Zoology MANAGING EDITOR Paula R. Nelson Public Relations Counsel ASSOCIATE EDITOR Marilyn Jindrich Associate in Public Relations

Television Chamber Music Concert Members are requested to inform the Museum Participation promptly of changes of address. The Raymond Foundation is cooper- Free Concerts Foundation, in its sec- with CBS-TV to educa- ond free concert of the season on Decem- ating provide Sewell L. tional for one of the oldest and ber will a diversified Avery segments 7, present program 1874-1960 most popular local television programs of chamber music, including works by for children, Lee Phillip's "Friendship Haydn, Brahms, Ravel, Bartok, and Chicago Natural History Museum sus- Show," presented on Channel 2, at 8:30 Verdi. Featured soloist is the Swedish tained a severe loss when Sewell L. Avery o'clock each Saturday morning. The mezzo-soprano, Kerstin Meyer, who is died at his home on October 31, 1960. Museum's contributions to this program making her Chicago debut on this occa- Mr. Avery had been a member of the will center on the scientific study of man sion. The concert also marks the first Board of Trustees since January, 1 932, and animals. The subject for Decem- appearance with the quartet of its new and had served on the Pension Commit- ber 3, presented by Harriet Smith, will be cellist, Robert La Marchina, first cellist tee continuously since January of 1933. "Toys of Many Lands and Many Chil- with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His Life Membership in the Museum dren." The program will open with the play- dated from 1923. ing of Haydn's Quartet in D Minor, His service to the Museum was note- known as "The Fifths." Miss worthy and included the of Honors popularly sponsorship Meyer will then join the quartet in "His- botanical expeditions to Guatemala and Austin L. Rand, Chief Curator of Zo- toires Naturelles," five songs by Maurice to Nova Scotia, as well as a geological ology, recently was named first vice- Ravel; two songs with viola obbligato field trip within the United States and a president of the American Ornitholo- by Johannes Brahms; and the "Eight zoological expedition to British Guiana. gists' Union at its annual meeting held Hungarian Folk Songs" by Bela Bartok. Mr. Avery was widely known as a recently at the University of Michigan. The program will close with Giuseppe champion of free enterprise, and as a Dr. Rand was one of two new officers Verdi's E Minor string quartet. courageous fighter for his beliefs. He and three new council members named The concert will begin at 8:30 p.m. in had been in ill health for more than a by the organization, a group of 2,500 James Simpson Theatre. Tickets may year, and was 86 years of age at the time scientists and laymen who share a com- be obtained by writing the Free Con- of his death. mon interest in birds. Dr. George H. certs Foundation, Chicago Natural His- Lowery, Jr., of Louisiana State Univer- tory Museum, Roosevelt Road and Lake Word was received recently of the sity was re-elected president of the or- Shore Drive, enclosing a stamped, self- death of Professor Gregorio Bondar, ganization. addressed envelope. {Museum News continued on page 8) Page 2 By KENNETH STARR Curator, Asiatic Archaeology and Ethnology

Chinese Art and Christmas

cover shows a detail from a The painting has been attributed to OURChinese Christian painting of the T'ang Ying, a famous painter active at Madonna and Child, which is repro- the end of the 1 5th century. This is un- duced in full on the right. This painting likely, however, since Christianity in its is in the study collections of the Depart- modern form did not reach China until ment of Anthropology. one hundred years later. An 18th century The Madonna in her flowing mantle dating would be consistent with the in- and elegantly draped veil of light buff formation given to the Museum in 1910 color stands against a dark brown back- when the painting was acquired, namely, ground, with nimbus and bodice in rich that it had been in the family of the red. The Christ Child is represented as Chinese owner for six generations. a little Chinese boy who wears the tradi- On the lower part of the page is a tional tuft of hair and carries a Chinese rubbing of a clay tile made in the fourth book. Despite this interesting represen- year of the T'ai-ho (Great Peace) reign tation of the subject in the Chinese man- period of the Wei Dynasty. Of immedi- ner, the painting is obviously European ate interest is its remarkable resemblance in origin. It has been suggested that it is a to the scene known in Christian tradition copy of a painting or engraving brought as the Flight into Egypt. A woman to China by the first great Jesuit mis- dressed in loose-flowing mantle and veil, sionary, Matteo Ricci (1552-1610 a.d.). or wimple, is riding what seems to be a

donkey or ass. A groom leads the beast, while one of the two persons walking beside it very carefully carries something in his arms that could well be a baby. The likelihood that this is a represen- tation of the Flight is lessened, however, by the fact that the tile is datable through its inscription to a period at least 150 years before the known introduction of

: • Nestorian to China. fl . \0 fa V-^wa ur^vs to Christianity .Nevertheless, the scene still titillates the imagination, still suggests some Chris- tian or Near Eastern influence, and still serves to remind us of the commingling of cultural elements—here represented by the clothing and mode of transporta- tion—within Central Asia which has

enabled it to serve since prehistoric times as a link between the Near East and Europe, on the one hand, and China and contiguous areas of Eastern Asia, on the other.

Page 3 San Antonio, founded in 1650, is one of the Jew villages of the colonial epoch. Honduras has been relatively free of the

elsewhere in Central America. The church in San Antonio i

the center of the villagers' Christmas celebration.

CHRISTM, IN HONDUR,

by

Louis O. William:

Associate Curator, Central Americ;

Photographs by the authot

Greenery is also used in other ways to decorate the homes, the country people gathering materials that are close at Christmas season in Honduras is Mary, St. Joseph, adoring shepherds and hand, while city-dwellers buy what is THEa joyful time for all people. Espe- Magi, oxen, asses, and sheep. These available in the markets. In the high- are sometimes cially in the smaller towns and villages figurines, which simply lands of Honduras, many bromeliads are of the interior, families still celebrate the made of clay, but are usually more elab- at the height of their splendor as the holiday in traditional ways. orate objects of carved wood, porcelain, short, year-end days draw near. Great or are treasured from to The religious theme is, of course, of plastic, year basket-loads of blossoms are gathered primary significance in the festivities. year for use in the creche. and brought into the markets, which are Preparing and decorating the nativity The stage setting for the manger scene like a flower garden during the Christ- scene, or creche, is an important activity. also includes much plant material. mas season, full of mosses, orchids, bro- The creche is usually begun early in Mosses from the woods, especially those meliads, ferns, and palms. Each year I into sheet-like December. Much thought and care go that grow great, mats, are visited the principal markets in Tegucigal- into its assembling, whether it is simple used to represent grass. Animals carved pa to see what showy bromeliads the enough to be set up on a table in the or molded in El Salvador, in Guatemala, plant gatherers had found which I had corner of the living room or so elaborate in Spain, in Czechoslovakia, or in Japan not yet discovered in the country. Per- that it nearly fills that room. A small "graze" contentedly on fields of moss haps the most brilliant Tillandsia of Hon- creche may contain perhaps a dozen gathered from the forests of Honduras. duras is one that I knew for several figures. Larger re-creations of the stable Together, they form a tableau repre- years only from two plants "collected" at Bethlehem may be filled with a hun- senting an event that took place almost in the market. dred or more figures, representing the two millenia ago not far from the east- One small prostrate orchid with rather Infant Jesus surrounded by the Virgin ern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. attractive flowers, Epidendrum polybulbon,

Page k j America that must still be very like those of kes that have most colonial I destroyed villages ' possibly not more than 150years old. It is

is also in flower at this season and is sought for use in decorating creches. Many mule loads of this little orchid come into the Tegucigalpa market each Christmas season. In more recent years the use of Christ- mas trees has become more common in many homes, especially in the highlands where pines are abundant. The use of pine needles to cover the floor in dwell- ings where festivities are to be held is a very old custom in Central America, coming down from pre-Columbian, and therefore pre-Christian, times. The ex- tension of this custom to the use of pine trees in the Christmas celebration is an importation and, as such, has often been 3 any resisted by the clergy. On Christmas Eve, late in the evening or at midnight, everyone goes to church. After returning home, families exchange

their gifts around the creche or Christmas tree. Then comes one of the great, tradi- tional feasts of the Christmas season, at dead tree in which tamales or nacatamales must be A pine the mountains of Honduras bears a burden of bromeliads, orchids, and These occur on the main course. Nacatamales are made ferns. epiphytes mostly the side of the pine facing the direction from which the night mists andfogs come during the dry season, which is also the direction of the pre- from corn meal ground very fine, turkey, vailing trade winds that blow from about the Christmas season until May.

Indian women in the market area of Tegucigalpa sell palm leaves, bromeliads, orchids, and ferns which they have gathered in the mountains.

vegetables, spices, and seasoning. This stuffing is wrapped in banana leaves, tied, and then boiled or steamed for sev- eral hours. Nacatamales are a typical Central American dish, which I have seen nowhere else in Latin America. Each nacatamale weighs about a pound and well-prepared ones are very good. The festive meal is seldom over until two or three o'clock in the morning. In Honduras, as elsewhere in Central America, the setting off of fireworks to celebrate the birthday of Christ is tradi- tional. Even when a son is born, the father announces the event to the world

by shooting off the biggest firecrackers that he can find or afford. On Christ-

mas Eve, especially, the fireworks con- tinue throughout the night.

Page 5 Collecting frankincense. Woodcut from Pare's "De Distlllatlonibus" published In 1582.

Jffrattkmttfnstf nttb iUxjrrlj by John W. Thieret Curator, Economic Botany

esteem in which frankincense and shrubs of the bursera family that grow Julius Caesar, the Sabaeans sold their THEmyrrh were held in ancient times is on the parched, rocky hills of frankincense to Arabs who, in turn, indicated by the Wise Men's choice of and south-western Arabia, the region of passed it to many peoples. When the these substances to rank with gold as the fabled land of Punt. army of Alexander the Great captured that offerings to the young child Jesus. Frank- A detailed account of frankincense is Gaza (333 B.C.), antique city once as of trade incense and myrrh—which were used by given by Theophrastus who relates, in so important a junction of peoples of antiquity for embalming and his On the History of Plants, that this com- routes, 500 talents frankincense were in cosmetics, perfumes, medicines, and modity was produced in Saba, one of the taken as plunder and sent to Macedonia. — the ruined incense are resins derived from plants. most active trading nations of antiquity, An inscription on sanctuary They flow from wounds or natural fis- located in southwestern Arabia. Accord- of Apollo at Miletus in Asia Minor re- sures in the bark of certain trees and ing to Diodorus, who lived in the time of cords oblations of frankincense presented Page 6 by the monarchs of Syria and Cicilia. sive. Frankincense consists of translu- myrrh on her legs to impart fragrance. Frankincense may have been known as cent, pale yellow tears or darker yellow, During the feast of Isis, the ancient Egyp- far away from its origin as China by the reddish or brownish lumps that may be tians made a burnt offering of an ox tenth century a.d., and surely by the mixed with pieces of bark. The resin, whose carcass was stuffed with myrrh twelfth. which usually is covered with a whitish and frankincense so that the aromatic The main use of frankincense by an- dust, is brittle and has a pleasantly aro- fumes of these resins would mask the cient peoples was for incense. Balls of matic odor and a bitter taste. smell of burning flesh. Myrrh was the incense found in the tomb of King Tut- Myrrh is obtained from several species incense used on the altars of the sun god ankhamen were identified as frankin- of the genus Commiphora and is collected at Heliopolis, the city of sun worship. cense. The resin was prominent in mainly in Somaliland. The identity of Persian monarchs wore the resin in their Graeco-Roman materia medica. Ac- all the species involved is uncertain, but crowns. The author of the Periplus of the cording to Celsus, it was an ingredient in Commiphora molmol appears to be the Erythrean Sea, a 90 a.d. geography, men- many prescriptions, including those for principal source of the resin. Myrrh- tions that myrrh was an export of Ava- pains in the side and chest, hemorrhoids, yielding plants may be scraggly, spiny lites, Malao, Mundus, and Mosyllon, hemorrhages from the mouth and bushes or small trees ten to thirty feet ancient ports on the African coast below throat, broken heads, paralyzed limbs, tall. They have a disproportionately the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, the south- bruises, ulcers, and abcesses. thick trunk and pale orange-brown to ern outlet of the Red Sea. Frankincense is obtained from trees whitish-grey bark. Their foliage is in One of the best-known ancient uses of belonging to the genus Boswellia. The small tufts at the ends of stubby twigs. myrrh was in embalming. According to main source of the resin is Boswellia car- The leaves have three leaflets, with the Pliny, the embalming of Nero's wife, teri, although at least one other species two side-leaflets sometimes very small. Poppaea, was said to have taken a contributes to the supply. Boswellia car- The flowers are white and are borne "whole year's production" of myrrh. In teri is a small, shrubby tree, from seven singly or in tiny clusters among the leaves. Egypt, the resin had a role in the process to fifteen feet tall, with a stout trunk and Myrrh exudes freely out of wounds or of mummification: Herodotus tells us smooth, pale brownish-yellow bark. Its natural fissures in the bark. After collec- that myrrh was one of the substances leaves have several pairs of leaflets ar- tion it is placed in goat skins and sent to with which the eviscerated and cleansed ranged along a central stalk; its flowers the coast for sale and export. Myrrh con- body was filled. Some ancient medical are white and are grouped in slender sists of rounded, irregular, brownish- uses of myrrh can be learned by again clusters. The blossoms are so fragrant yellow or red-brown tears or masses of consulting Celsus, where we are informed that the air is redolent of them a con- fused tears that may be as large as a that this resin was prescribed by Graeco- siderable distance away. hen's egg. The resin usually has a dull, Roman physicians in the treatment of Most frankincense comes from Soma- dusty surface. It is aromatic and has a quartan fever, dropsy, earache, eye dis- liland but some is gathered in Arabia. bitter, acrid taste. eases, bladder stones, abscesses, and No attempt is made to cultivate the in- An old legend gives an interesting broken heads. cense tree. In tapping the trees, deep account of the origin of Adonis, that Of the use of myrrh in mediaeval incisions are made in the bark, and the youth of remarkable beauty, from a Europe there are only a few records but resin exudes from these as a whitish, vis- myrrh tree. Myrrha, daughter of they show that the resin was highly re- cous liquid that soon hardens into yellow- Theias, king of Syria, was inspired by garded. Myrrh was recommended in ish tears. A tree may be tapped in one Venus with an unnatural love for her superstitious medical practice of the or several places, depending on its size. father. By deceiving Theias as to her eleventh century and was used by the After about a fortnight, the dried resin is identity, Myrrha conceived by him. Welsh "Physicians of Myddfai" in the removed and the wound is freshened. When the king learned of the deception, thirteenth. In accounts of Edward I of Further collections are made every few he exiled his daughter to the barren England is an entry dated January 6, weeks until the work is halted by the ad- deserts of Arabia, where the gods trans- 1299, for gold, frankincense, and myrrh, vent of the rainy season. At each visit, formed her into a myrrh tree. After a which were offered by the king in his usually only the resin found on the time the tree burst asunder and from it chapel on that day, the Feast of Epi- wound itself is gathered. Resin that runs came forth Adonis. phany. Myrrh and frankincense were down the stem is regarded as an inferior Turning from myth to history, we purchased for the funeral of the infant grade and is collected only after it has learn that about 1,500 B.C., Queen Hat- King John I, posthumous son of Louis X accumulated for several months. shepsut of Egypt, who acquired ever- of France, in 1316. Myrrh was among Most frankincense eventually is lasting fame through her magnificent the presents that the king of Cathay sent brought to Aden whence it is shipped to terrace-temple at Dehr el Bahri, sent a to Pope Benedict XII at Avignon about 1342. This European or American ports or to Bom- treasure hunting expedition to Punt. the year shipment never bay, the center of Asiatic trade in gums Paintings in the temple illustrate some of reached its destination but was plun- and resins. In transit to Aden, the tears the booty gained, including not only an dered enroute. of frankincense may fuse together be- abundance of myrrh but also live myrrh In the modern world, frankincense and cause of the hot weather, making the trees growing in tubs. Inscriptions in the myrrh are still articles of trade although sorting of the resin difficult and expen- temple state that Hatshepsut rubbed they are not so highly valued as in former Page 7 Page 8 CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM BULLETIN December, 1960

has and acts as a Frankincense from the Museum's study collections. It is in two forms: fused antiseptic properties masses of tears and select tears. local stimulant. It is used in certain mouth washes and in tincture of myrrh, which is vividly, albeit somewhat grue- somely, described by the United States Dispensatory as "a local application to stimulate spongy gums, aphthous sore mouth, and ulcerations of the throat." Some myrrh goes into incense. Essential oils of myrrh and of frankincense, ob- tained from the resins by distillation, are valued ingredients in perfumes of the oriental type. To find data on the amounts of frankincense and myrrh im- ported into the United States is no easy task. In recent years our imports of myrrh have varied from 19,040 to 43,607 pounds annually. Data on frankincense could not be obtained. Today, the collection of these resins in Somaliland and Arabia goes on much as it did centuries ago when these aromatic plant-products were valued on a par with gold. Their contemporary role is a minor and prosaic one. But not so their past. Resins derived from plants are times. Frankincense is an important in- fumigating. In most countries its use in many, but few can boast so colorful a cense material and is said to be good for medicine has become obsolete. Myrrh history as frankincense and myrrh. MUSEUM NEWS (Continued from page 2)

Research Associate in Insects, in Feb- Holiday Hours locations of plant specimens in the her- in Sao Brazil. Pro- barium were identified ruary, 1959, Paulo, On Christmas and New Year's Day incompletely by fessor Bondar was trained as an agron- Since complete informa- the Museum will be closed to permit all Muhlenberg. omist and entomologist in Russia and tion is essential in using the herbarium its employees to enjoy the holidays with in France. In 1920, after narrowly es- for comparative study purposes, Dr. their families. These are the only days execution for his activities in the Smith is attempting to fill in the gaps caping in the entire year on which the Museum anti-communist government headed by by identifying the handwriting of the is not open to the public. The Museum Admiral Kolchak, he fled to Brazil from unknown collectors through will be open on December 26 and Jan- compari- Russia. He soon entered the services sons with the known handwriting of uary 2. of the Department of Agriculture of the botanists who collected between 1775 State of Bahia and held various posts in and 1815. This information then also Research that department, later becoming Tech- provides a clue to the area from which nical Counselor of the Central Institute C. Earle Smith, Jr., Associate Cura- the plants were originally obtained. of Economic Development of Bahia. He tor of Vascular Plants, visited Harvard was elected a Research Associate in In- University late this fall to photograph sects in 1942 in recognition both of his the handwriting of various 18 th century John W. Thieret, Curator of Economic scientific achievements and of his close botanists in connection with the research Botany, and Dr. Robert Evers of the cooperation with the Chicago Natural he is conducting on the Muhlenberg Illinois State Natural History Survey, History Museum's Department of Bot- Herbarium. Gotthilf Henry Muhlen- Urbana, Illinois, recently made a re- any and Division of Insects. berg was the first American botanist search trip through Nebraska and Kan- Professor Bondar published several to assemble a herbarium of American sas for the two-fold purpose of studying hundred technical and scientific papers plants, and his collection is presently on and collecting specimens of the grasses in the fields of agronomy, botany, and loan to the Museum from the Academy that grow in those states, and observing entomology. He was an authority on of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. In the prairie vegetation in its autumnal economically important plants. many cases the collectors and original aspect.

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