ALASKAN CARIBOU ADDED to HALL of AMERICAN MAMMAL HABITAT GROUPS by Wilfred H
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Field News Published Monthly by Field Mtiseum of Natural History, Chicago Vol. 4 JANUARY, 1933 No. 1 ALASKAN CARIBOU ADDED TO HALL OF AMERICAN MAMMAL HABITAT GROUPS By Wilfred H. Osgood from the United States Biological Survey the others, however, they have many Curator, Department of Zoology and the Alaska Game Commission. peculiarities. Among these is the fact that By coincidence rather than design, a Five animals are shown, two large bulls, the females have horns as well as the group appropriate to the season was com- two adult females, and a young male. They males. The feet, also, are unusual, the pleted and opened for exhibition in Hall 16 stand rather close together, in keeping with "dew-claws" being large and the hoofs in December just before the holidays. This their well-known gregarious habits, on a very heavy and broad to prevent sinking is a habitat group of Alaskan caribou or moss-grown ledge of rock, overlooking a in snow and swampy ground. The muzzle reindeer. That the American caribou are wide panorama of treeless mountain tops. is very wide and entirely hairy. A peculiar really reindeer is perhaps not generally The specimens were collected near Rainy habit is that of migration, which is rare known. They are, in fact, so closely related Pass in the general region of Mount among mammals. In passing from one to the Old World species from which the McKinley, and the scene in which they feeding ground to another, especially in domestic reindeer was derived, that in early appear is characteristic of many mountains the fall, caribou often gather in very large classifications they were regarded as the in the interior of Alaska. herds, sometimes numbering thousands. same species. In other The caribou group words, there are wild marks the completion species of reindeer in of the Museum's Hall both the Old World of North and South and the New, but it American Mammal was only in the Old Habitat Groups, being World that a domestic the twenty-fourth and variety was produced. last of the series repre- The name "caribou" is senting the principal of French-Canadian large mammals of the origin and has become New World. The so established for the other North American American animals that species included in this it is now almost uni- hall are: Virginia deer versally used. (in four groups show- The Museum's ing seasonal changes), group was obtained in mule deer, Olympic consequence of the elk, Alaska moose, T h orne-Graves-Field musk-ox, bison, moun- Museum Arctic tain goat, mountain Expedition, sponsored sheep, prongbuck, and led by Bruce grizzly bear, Alaska Thome of Chicago, brown bear, glacier and George Coe bear, polar bear, Graves II of New mountain lion, and York. To this expedi- beaver. South Ameri- tion the Museum is can subjects are: also indebted for its guanaco, tapir, ant group of Pacific bear, marsh deer, walrus. The jaguar and capybara speci- The Reindeer of America mens of caribou were (the last two in one of installed last month in Hall the series of North and South not actually collected Group caribou, 16, completing twenty-four group). American mammal habitat The scene is of the mountains of the Alaskan interior. by Messrs. Thorne groups. typical The caribou were and Graves but it was prepared by Taxider- through their intervention that they were Caribou belong to the deer family, all mist Julius Friesser, assisted by Arthur G. obtained by Alaska Guides, Inc., of which the members of which shed and renew Rueckert and W. E. Eigsti. The background Mr. Thorne is a vice-president, under permit their horns annually. As compared with was painted by Staff Artist Charles A. Corwin. TO FIELD MUSEUM MEMBERS: Trustees and Officers have instituted econo- COFFEE PLANTS STUDIED mies wherever possible, in order that the takes this to Field Museum recently received on loan Field Museum opportunity full service of the Museum to the public its of Members for the from European herbaria two valuable collec- thank thousands might be maintained at the most reasonable have so tions of tropical American plants of the support they loyally given during level of expense. Many projects and like other institu- Rubiaceae or coffee family. The Botanical the trying times which it, activities which would normally be con- a result of the Museum of Berlin forwarded more than 300 tions, has had to face as sidered necessary have been postponed or The mem- sheets. From the Museum of Natural worldwide business depression. suspended pending economic improvement, of Paris there were received 1,850 bership plays an important part in main- but the curtailments have been of a character History sheets. taining the Museum and in making it which causes the least interference with the its educa- possible to carry on successfully Museum's primary functions as an educa- All this material has been determined by tional and scientific missions. Under present tional institution. Associate Curator Paul C. Standley. Several the revenue obtained from mem- in it. conditions, With full recognition of the loyalty shown new species were discovered A large fees is more than ever a vital factor of the Paris consisted of bership thus far by the Members, it is felt that it part sending plants in the of the Museum. in Brazil de Sainte- budget is now permissible to make a special appeal collected by Auguste While the stress of the past few years for further continuation of the Members' Hilaire in 1816-21, and of others gathered Jos6 Triana in 1851-57. has naturally brought some decline in the support. Likewise, Members are requested in Colombia by to find also number of Members on the rolls, the great to propose the names of possible new It was remarkable a specimen majority have continued their support, and Members who might take the places of collected in Uruguay by Commerson in this is deeply appreciated by the Museum's some of those who, because of financial 1767. It had waited 165 years for study Trustees and Officers. On their part the difficulties, have been forced to resign. and identification. Page 2 FIELD MUSEUM NEWS January t 19SS Field Museum of Natural History ATTENDANCE AGAIN INCREASES character of the exhibits in this hall. This Founded Marshall 1893 also made it evident that the by Field. The steady increase in the number of production Roosevelt Road and Lake of a satisfactory botanical exhibition would Michigan, Chicago visitors to Field Museum, noted for years require careful planning, collecting in near-by past, continued during 1932. At the time THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES and distant localities, and continuous of going to press with this issue of Fiexd employment of skilled and specially trained Sbwelx L. Avery William H. Mitchell Museum News there was every indication John Borisn Frederick H. Rawson workmen. that the total for the year might reach William J. CHAUoats George A. Richardson In 1916 President Field Marshall Field Fred W. Sargent 1,800,000 persons, as the number up to and Stanley personally undertook to the considerable Stanley Field Stephen C. Simms including December 18 was 1,789,722, many carry expense Ernest R. Graham James Simpson of the continuation of this work. The more than in any previous year of the Albert W. Harris Solomon A. Smith Field Plant Labora- Samuex Insull, Jr. Albert A. Spragub Museum's history. This represents an Stanley Reproduction tories of the Museum have since functioned Gyrus H. McCormick Silas H. Strawn increase of about 20 per cent over 1931, John P. Wilson as a of the of and when the number of visitors was 1,515,540. part Department Botany have provided the altogether exhibits OFFICERS The increase in rate is shown by the fact unique that are the Hall of Stanley Field President that the 1931 gain over 1930 was approxi- gradually filling large First Vice-Presidenev temporarily unfitted 13.5 Plant Life. Albert A. Spbague Second Viee-Presidenl mately per cent. The collection as a whole is designed to Jambs Simpson Third Vice-President Adding to the attendance figure some view the Stephen C. Simms Director and Seer^ary 700,000 children reached by extra-mural present a general of plant world, Solomon A. Smith . Treasurer and Assistant Seeretanf and forms activities conducted by the James Nelson past present, by showing typical characteristic of its main divisions from and Anna Louise Raymond Foundation for FIELD MUSEUM NEWS bacteria The Public School and Children's Lectures, and upwards. flowering plants shown constitute the of the Stbphbn C. Simms, Director of the Museum Editor the Department of the N. W. Harris Public larger part and include a large number of CONTRIBUTING EDITORS School Extension, it is found that the educa- display useful and interesting plants that are of Berthold I^UFER Curator tional influence of the Museum benefited of Anthropology to man. B. E. Dahlgren Acting Curator of Botany a total of approximately 2,500,000 persons particular importance Oliver C. Farrington Curator of Geology in 1932. Material for exhibits of plants not of Wilfred H. Osgood Curator of Zoology sixth local occurrence, has been obtained by H. B. Harte Manaffing Editor The year 1932 was the consecutive year in which attendance exceeded one special Museum expeditions. Specimens been and studies at first million. It is have gathered Field Museum is of the interesting to note that the open every day year during hand made in several American the hours indicated below: total for the past five years has been approxi- tropical those known for their November, December, January 9 A^.