general guide fo the exhibits Be211A8& general guide to the exhibits THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY aw: Sgegaiege rey bes The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest insti- tutions of its kind in the world. It was founded and incorpo- rated in 1869 “for the purpose of encouraging and developing the study of natural science, advancing the gen- eral knowledge of kindred subjects and of furnishing popu- lar instruction.” Support for the Museum comes from a number of sources. Theodore Roosevelt Square, the property on which the Museum stands, is owned by the City of New York, which provides for building maintenance and for the salaries of the custodial and teaching personnels The total amount of the City’s aid covers about one-third of the Museum’s oper- ating expenses. The remainder, which includes the adminis- trative costs and the support of all the scientific departments and their collections, the preparation of exhibitions, and the financing of research projects, is paid for by the income earned on the Museum’s endowment funds, by the gifts of interested contributors, by membership fees, by grants and awards from foundations, and by revenue from sales and services to the public. The Museum covers approximately twenty-three acres of floor space. In the eleven and a half acres open to the public, there are exhibition areas devoted to every aspect of the study of the natural sciences. In the remaining eleven and a half acres are the scientific and educational offices, labo- ratories, libraries, service departments, workshops, and storage areas. In the storerooms are the tens of millions of = zoological, geological, anthropological, and botanical speci- mens that are studied by Museum scientists and by students and scholars from all over the world. Two major principles give meaning and order to the Mu- seum’s exhibitions and to the carefully catalogued collec- tions: the evolution of life, and the interdependence of all living things, including man. The American Museum of Natural History is located in Theodore Roosevelt Park, bounded by Central Park West, West 81st Street, Columbus Avenue, and West 77th Street. It can be reached... by bus: 8th Avenue or Columbus Avenue, and 79th Street Crosstown to Central Park West by subway: Independent—6th or 8th Avenue Local (trains marked AA, BB, or CC) to Museum and Planetarium Station (81st Street) IRT—7th Avenue (change at 59th Street to Independa- ent Subway, uptown local. See above) IRT—Lexington Avenue, 77th Street Station, then Crosstown bus, westbound, from East 79th Street to Central Park West The Museum is open to the public free of charge every day of the year from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Parking: A parking lot, for Museum and Planetarium visitors only, is located on 81st Street next to the American Muse- 4 um-Hayden Planetarium. A charge of $1.00 is made for passenger cars, $2.00 for buses. Monday-Saturday ........... 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays ........ 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Open nights of Members’ Lectures until 10:30 p.m. Check Rooms are located on the first floor, Roosevelt Me- morial Building, Section 12, and the 77th Street Foyer, Sec- tion 2. They are open on Mondays through Fridays, and closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Lost and Found: All lost articles found in the Museum are sent to the main check room, first floor of the Roosevelt Memorial Building, Section 12, where they are held for thirty days. The Cafeteria, located on the lower level of the Roosevelt Memorial Building, Section 12, serves hot meals, as well as sandwiches and desserts. Groups with box lunches cannot be accommodated. Mondays through Saturdays .. . . 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays ........ 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Snack Bar is for the exclusive use of school groups when schools are in session. Reservations must be made in advance. No reservations are necessary on Saturdays, when the Snack Bar is open to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It is closed on Sundays, holidays, and during the summer. All groups with box lunches must use the Snack Bar. Both the Cafeteria and the Snack Bar are closed on Thanks- giving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum Shop, located on the first floor near the 77th Street Foyer, sells books and pamphlets which cover the field of natural history for both the amateur and advanced naturalist, as well as Museum reproductions, handcrafts from Africa, India, and Indonesia, and fine collections of minerals and sea shells. Two sales areas are especially for children. One is the Junior Shop in the 77th Street Foyer, Section 2; the other is located on the lower level, Roosevelt Memorial Building, Section 12. Mondays through Saturdays . .. . 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Sundays and holidays ........ 1:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Planetarium Book Corner, located on the first floor of Section 18, features books on astronomy, navigation, and meteorology for both adults and children, and visual aids for the study of astronomy. Mondays through Fridays ..... 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays’ ot), . Saeki 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays: 2c ote 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Rest Rooms are to be found near the 77th Street Foyer, Section 2; on the second floor, Section 5; on the fourth floor, Section 2; and in the Lounge on the lower level of the Roosevelt Memorial Building, Section 12. Smoking is permitted only in the Lounge and in the Cafe- teria; both are on the lower level, Roosevelt Memorial Building, Section 12. Public Telephones are available in the 77th Street Foyer, Section 2; and on the lower level and first and second floors of the Roosevelt Memorial Building, Section 12. 6 Elevators are available in two sections of the Museum: Sec- tion 2 and Section 12. Only the elevators in Section 12 go to the lower level of the Roosevelt Memorial Building, where the Cafeteria, Lounge, toilets, and First Aid Room are located. A First Aid Room for the convenience of visitors is located on the lower level of the Roosevelt Memorial Building, Sec- tion 12. A registered nurse is in attendance during Museum nours. Wheel Chairs, free of charge, can be obtained from the at- tendants at any of the entrances; or they may be reserved in advance by calling Guest Services, TR 3-1300, Ext. 342. Photographing and Sketching: Amateur photographers may take pictures in the Museum halls, provided that they do not inconvenience other visitors. Professional photogra- ohers must get permission from the Museum’s Division of Photography or Department of Public Relations, both of which are open on Mondays through Fridays, except on holidays. Sketching from exhibits is permitted. Guides are available on weekdays after 2:00 p.m. at a mini- mum charge of $5.00 an hour for from one to twenty-five persons. There is no guiding on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Members of the Museum can obtain free guide service upon presentation of an Annual, Family, or Life Membership card. Appointments should be made by calling TR 3-1300, Ext. 254, at least two weeks in advance, stating the day and hour desired, the number to be guided, and the exhibits to be seen. Classes for Children: The Department of Education conducts an extensive program for public school classes called ‘The World We Live In.” This program, scheduled for each school y day from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is devoted to lessons in the halls, question and answer periods, motion pictures, demonstrations, and actual handling of objects of natural science interest. For full information, write or telephone the Registrar, TR 3-1300, Ext. 254. Libraries: There are two research libraries in the Museum. The Main Library is located on the fourth floor of Section 1. It is open from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., except on Sundays and holidays and on Saturdays during June, July, and Au- gust. The Astronomy Section of the Main Library is in the basement of the American Museum-Hayden Planetarium, Section 18, and is open to researchers by appointment. The Members’ Room is at the east end of the south corridor of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Building, second floor, Section 12. Ask the attendant at the main entrance for a schedule of hours. For further information, turn to page 47. A Monthly Calendar of Events, published from September through June, will be mailed, free of charge, upon request to Guest Services, in care of the Museum. Individual copies can be obtained from attendants at the entrances, or from the sales areas. Acoustiguide: A one-hour, tape-recorded lecture tour con- tained in a small portable case with ear plugs. Acoustiguide sets are available on the second floor, Roosevelt Memorial Building, Section 12. Rental fee: 50 cents. The Natural Science Center for Young People is devoted to the wild life and geology of the metropolitan area. The in- formal exhibits include some living plants and animals, seasonal phenomena, and books on nature. The Center is located on the second floor of the School 8 Service Building, Section 11. October through June Tuesdays through Fridays ....... 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays ..10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. CE BRR aC Fis eckin 9-4 8 83s 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays July and August Tuesdays through Saturdays . .10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Holidays September, closed Groups admitted by appointment only; telephone TR 3-1300, Ext. 281. The Natural Science Center for Young People Locations of Exhibits Floor Section AFRICAN MAMMALS (AKELEY MEMORIAL) ....2,3..... 13 ASTRONOMY (THE PLANETARIUM)* Ee ere 18 BIOLOGY OF BIRDS (SANFORD MEMORIAL) ...1..... 19 BIOLOGY OF INVERTEBRATES ......... tele ee 9 BIOLOGY OF MAMMALS ...3...... 3 BIOLOGY OF MAN ........ lp pee 4 BIRDS Biology of Birds (Sanford Memorial) ..... ) Cae 19 Birds of the New York Area..1..... 12 Birds of the Worid North American Birds (Chapman Memorial) ....3...... 1 Oceanic Birds (Whitney Memorial) ..... 2) ater 19 CORNER GALLERY ........ So cicacpie 5 DINOSAURS Early DINOSAUIS) 2 << asses 4 ie 13 Late: DinoSaurs 2. eee gee. rs in ct 9 EARLY DINOSAURS ....... PAP ae 13 EARLY MAMMALS ........ | ere 5 ESKIMGS: sc55 cee : a eae 7 ETHNOLOGY ESKIMOS! =54%c.2% cs ae eee eee 7 10 Indians of the Floor Section Northwest Coast ........ » es 1 Men of the Montafia ....... 2 os hele 3 FORESTS AND GENERAL ECOLOGY Man and Nature (Warburg Memorial) ..... ee 3 North American Forests ....1...... 5 FOSSIL FISHES, ....:+..-58 4° 13 FOSSILS OF THE NEW YORK AREA ......... s es tS 12 GEOLOGY Geology of the New York Area 1..... 12 Minerals and Gems (Morgan Memorial) ...... 4 eee 4 ICE AGE MAMMALS ....... 4.3533m 2 INDIANS OF THE NORTHWEST COAST ....... 1.22358 1 INSECTS ..i. aaa. 2. ~ ae ae 7 Os: a <“t ie ag ee Fishing scene, Hall of Men of the Montana Man in Africa SECOND FLOOR, SECTION 1 This hall, to be opened in two or three years, will relate the development of man in Africa, from his ancient beginnings to the present. The exhibition will begin with a general his- torical background and show the ways in which man adapted his economic life to Africa’s varied environments. 26 The major portion of the hall will concern the different types of culture found in river valley, grassland, forest, and desert, including the workings of tribal societies, their sys- tems of law and government, family relationships, the nature of tribal belief, and the way in which such societies developed into flourishing kingdoms and empires. The final section will deal with foreign influences in Africa and with problems of transition from tribe to nation. Men of the Montana SECOND FLOOR, SECTION 3 The Montafa is an area of tropical rain forest in South America, just east of the Andes, that is inhabited by many Indian tribes—among them the Shipibo, Conibo, Cashibo, Piro, and Campa of Peru; and the Jivaro of Ecuador. In spite of local differences, the culture of these tribes is broadly similar. Subsistence is based on the cultivation, by primitive techniques, of manioc, maize, and bananas. Hunt- ing is done with the bow and arrow by some tribes, with traps and blowguns by others. The most important method of fishing is with barbasco, a vegetable poison. The typical men’s costume is the cushma, a long garment resembling a nightshirt. This is woven of native cotton, as are also the women’s shirts. Houses have a gabled, thatched roof but no walls. Villages are usually small and are politically and economically autonomous. Corner Gallery SECOND FLOOR, SECTION 5 This area is reserved for special exhibits, which generally have a three- to six-month duration. 27 South Asiatic Mammals SECOND FLOOR, SECTION 9 Some of the larger mammals of southern Asia are displayed in this hall. A pair of Indian elephants is highlighted in the center, and around them are exhibits of the Asiatic lion, four-horned antelope, sloth bear, Sumatran rhinoceros, hoo- lock gibbon, otter, muntjak, deer, and antelope. In the habi- tat groups are several wild Asiatic cattle—gaur, banting, and water buffalo—as well as sambar and swamp deer, leopards, tigers, rhinoceroses, and wild dogs. The back- ground settings of these groups show some of the diversity of terrain found in southern Asia. Theodore Roosevelt Memorial SECOND FLOOR, SECTION 12 One of the largest unobstructed concourses in New York, the second, or main, floor of the Theodore Roosevelt Me- morial is the principal entrance to the Museum from Cen- tral Park West. This memorial was erected in 1936 by the people of New York State as a tribute to a famous son who served as its Governor. Murals symbolic of the twenty- sixth President’s varied career decorate recesses forty-eight feet high on three sides of the hall, while elsewhere on the walls appear quotations from Roosevelt’s writings. African Mammals (Akeley Memorial) SECOND FLOOR, SECTION 13 Many of the best-known game animals of Africa are dis- played in habitat settings in this hall. Dominating the main 28 Bongo Group, Hall of African Mammals floor, in the center, is a herd of seven African elephants, and along the walls are groups of antelopes, giraffes, buf- falo, lions, okapis, bongos, and gorillas, in natural settings in the Congo, Kenya, Libya, Tanganyika, the Upper Nile Valley, South Africa, and Ethiopia. At the east end of the hall are two sculptured figures of African tribesmen by Malvina Hoffman; at the west end is a pair of huge ele- phant tusks. 29 Oceanic Birds (Whitney Memorial) SECOND FLOOR, SECTION 19 This hall is designed to give the visitor the illusion that he is situated in the middle of the Pacific, as scenes of island bird life from all parts of the great ocean pass before his eyes. Suspended overhead in the sky are oceanic birds in flight. Around the perimeter of the hall, twenty large groups show the birds that inhabit the islands of the Pacific Ocean, from those of the Bering Sea, in the north, to those of Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, and beyond. Most of these ex- Moa habitat group, Hall of Oceanic Birds hibits are based on the great collections made by the Whit- ney South Sea Expedition during the 1920's. Primates THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 2 This hall, at present in the process of renovation, shows some of the diverse types of animals that belong to the same order as man, the Order Primates, and displays some of their modifications and adaptations. On exhibit are gorillas, chimpanzees, gibbons, baboons, marmosets, South American monkeys, and Old World monkeys. The selected specimens are grouped according to the zoological families to which they belong. Distinctive characters of each family are shown. One panel illustrates the characteristics of the primates as a whole, and at the opposite end of the hall is a family tree of the primates. North American Birds (Chapman Memorial) THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 1 This hall, situated in the oldest part of the museum, was started in 1899 by the late Dr. Frank M. Chapman, the noted ornithologist. The backgrounds for the original groups were painted by outstanding artists of the day, including Louis Agassiz Fuertes whose mural, “Flamingo Colony in the Ba- hamas,” is at the north end of the hall. some of the groups have been replaced by new ones, but many are merely refurbished. Among them are the Labra- dor duck, the almost extinct whooping crane, the bald eagle, and the wild goose. A new mural at the north end of 31 the hall depicts the bird life around the famous tar pits of Rancho La Brea near Los Angeles, as it might have appeared about ten million years ago. American Egret Group, Hall of North American Birds Indians of the Eastern Woodlands THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 4 The Eastern Woodlands is a region that reaches from the semitropical coast of the Gulf of Mexico to the wintry in- terior of Canada. The variety of environment was matched by variety of culture. Nevertheless, a number of culture pat- terns were widely shared by the tribes of the Eastern Wood- lands: agriculture where possible, harvest festivals, wood and bark for houses and all sorts of tools and utensils, war- fare for glory rather than gain, permanent fortified villages, and a tendency to form confederacies. Many of the tribes of the Eastern Woodlands were destroyed by disease and 32 warfare shortly after the coming of the Europeans. Indians of the Plains THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 4 The Plains lie between the Rocky Mountains and the Mis- sissippi River and extend from the valley of the Rio Grande into Canada. Two major groups of tribes inhabited the area: the nomadic buffalo hunters who, because they are often portrayed in the motion pictures, are perhaps more familiar to Americans than any other Indians, and the semi-seden- tary farming tribes. The nomadic tribes depended almost entirely on the buffalo. The farming tribes lived in perma- nent villages, but they also spent part of the year following the buffalo herds. The Biology of Mammals THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 3 The classification, adaptations, and evolution of mammals are displayed here. Dominating the center of the hall is a life-sized model of a sulphur-bottom whale, seventy-six feet in length, one of the great attractions of the Museum. In the cases along the walls are exhibits that show the major divisions (orders and families) of the Class Mammalia, with information on the characteristics of each group and its probable evolutionary history. Interspersed among the ex- hibits about the classification and relationships of mam- mals are others that illustrate convergent and parallel evolution; modification for locomotion; albinism and mela- nism; adaptation of the front and hind limbs; modification of teeth; variation in stomachs and brains; and types of bone structure. On the south side of the hall is the skeleton of Jumbo, the famous elephant, and a mounted lion, the 33 first specimen to be catalogued in the Museum’s mammal collections which now number approximately 200,000 specimens. Insects THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 5 This hall contains exhibits on the origin and relationships of insects: their life cycles, anatomy, classification, and associations with plants and with other animals, including man. Enlarged models of the insect vectors of some human diseases—such as malaria and yellow fever—highlight this section. There follow exhibits on social insects, on insect collecting, and on the evolutionary problems of variation, specialization, and mimicry as illustrated by insects. In wall cases are displays on silk, on the webs of spiders, and on the identification of insects found in local gardens. Window cases in the middle of the hall contain habitat groups of some familiar insects, enlarged models of insect heads, and exhibits touching upon insects in the arts and in other human activities. Reptiles THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 9 Specimens belonging to the major surviving groups of these ancient animals illustrate their diversity in size, form, and habits. They comprise turtles, crocodilians, the tuatara, lizards, and snakes among the reptiles; and caecilians, salamanders, and frogs among the amphibians. Other dis- plays exemplify structural peculiarities, modes of reproduc- tion, parental care, and protective devices. Specimens, models, and habitat groups illustrate such biological prin- 34 ciples as natural selection, adaptations, parallel evolution, and concealing coloration. Additional exhibits explain various aspects of the lives of amphibians and reptiles: how they obtain their food, how they change color, how they attract mates, how they avoid predators, and how they move. Ways in which reptiles in- fluence the activities of man are emphasized in exhibits dealing with the treatment of snake bite, the commercial exploitation of products derived from reptiles, and the superstitions, and egregious notions concerning snakes. African Mammals THIRD FLOOR, SECTION 13 African habitat groups, additional to those on the second floor, are on display in this gallery, from which an excel- lent view can also be obtained of the elephants in the main hall below. The exhibits include groups showing rhinoc- eroses, antelopes, chimpanzees, hunting dogs, leopards, jackals, monkeys, and ostriches. Ice Age Mammals FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 2 The evolution of the Proboscidea from their earliest known beginnings in Africa to the huge mastodons and mam- moths of Ice Age deposits over most of the world is shown in this hall. Also on display are fossil skeletons of a cave bear, dire wolf, saber-toothed cat, buffalo, and bison. The bison is of the type once hunted in North America by Folsom man. An unusual display depicts conditions at the close of the 35 Ice Age at Rancho La Brea, California. Several giant sloths have become mired in tar, and a saber-toothed cat and large wolf are about to meet the same fate. Large murals depict various Ice Age scenes. Modern Horses FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 2 This small exhibit illustrates the great modifications that man has brought about in adapting the horse to man’s vari- Ous needs. Included are skeletons of several famous race horses, as well as animals akin to the horse, such as the donkey and Grévy zebra. Minerals and Gems (Morgan Memorial) FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 4 The collections in this hall include gems and ornamental stones, exhibited in the vertical cases along the center aisle; a systematic mineral collection, arranged according to chemical composition in the table cases; large and spectacular mineral specimens, exhibited in the wall cases; and various special displays in the vertical cases inter- spersing the table cases. The gem collection is outstanding for its quality and variety. Especially noteworthy are the fine collection of varicolored sapphires, the aquamarines and morganites, the tourmalines, and the opals. The min- eral collection is remarkably comprehensive, containing over ninety per cent of all known minerals. Of the special displays, the case of New York City minerals, on the right at the entrance, shows many fine specimens collected on Manhattan Island. The vertical cases in the center of the 36 Quartz Crystal, Hall of Minerals and Gems hall contain a selection of fine carved jades from the William Boyce Thompson collection. Late Mammals (Osborn Memorial) FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 3 The extinct mammals presented here are generally more modern in appearance than those in the Hall of Early Mam- mals. A series of skeletons demonstrates the evolution of horses. A large series of skulls and a skeleton of a titano- there are displayed. The history of the rhinoceroses, tapirs, and chalicotheres is shown. Various other groups, such as the camels and the rodents, are the subjects of special exhibits. Several exhibits demonstrate the evolutionary processes of convergence, parallelism, isolation, migration, and adap- tive radiation. A section of one of the richest concentrations of fossil mammal remains ever found, the Agate Fossil 37 Quarry, Nebraska, can be seen near the center of the hall. Another display exhibits skeletons of nearly a dozen small camels which were buried together. Large murals depict four typical mammalian assemblages ranging in age from early Cenozoic to late Cenozoic times. A composite geologic section accompanies each mural. 38 Early Mammals FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 5 The interrelationships and early evolution of the mammals are emphasized in this hall, not yet completed. Many of these animals persisted nearly unchanged through long periods of time. The exhibits deal with the origin of mam- mals, their evolution through Mesozoic times, and their later diversification in the Cenozoic. Dioramas depict Paleocene and Eocene lake life from Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. The evolution of primates, insectivores, taeniodonts, tillo- donts, dermopterans, and bats is demonstrated by three exhibits. Many of these groups have living members, such as man himself, but they are especially characteristic of the early Cenozoic. Archaic carnivores and herbivores that have no living descendants can also be seen. There are exhibits demonstrating fossilization, fossil col- lecting, preparation, and interpretation; and principles of historical zoogeography. The evolution of reptiles other than dinosaurs is demonstrated in a separate section. Late Dinosaurs FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 9 The Hall of Late Dinosaurs contains what is perhaps the most comprehensive display of Cretaceous dinosaurs in existence, showing in detail the various duck-billed, ar- mored, horned, and predatory dinosaurs, which were so numerous during the final period of Mesozoic history. Of Tyrannosaurus rex, Hall of Late Dinosaurs 39 particular interest is a natural mummy of a duck-billed dinosaur, showing details of the skin, and the large series of Protoceratops skulls, representing various stages in the growth of this little dinosaur from a newly hatched baby to an adult. In addition, the eggs and nests of eggs of this dinosaur are displayed. The hall is dominated by the mag- nificent skeleton of the gigantic meat-eating dinosaur Tyrannosaurus, on the center island, together with two skeletons of a duck-billed dinosaur and the skeleton of a horned dinosaur, all contemporaneous with the giant carni- vore. The hall also contains a small exhibit outlining the evolution of the pterosaurs, or flying reptiles. Early Dinosaurs FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 13 Jurassic dinosaurs are strikingly typified by the giant bronto- saur skeleton and the accompanying allosaur and stego- saur skeletons, on the central island in the hall. Here, too, are actual brontosaur footprints from Texas. Exhibits near the entrance (east end) show the evolution of the dinosaurs and their adaptations to different modes of life, and draw- ings above the wall cases picture various reptiles that lived before and during the Age of Dinosaurs. At the far (or west) end of the hall is a display showing the evolution of the amphibians, in which the transition from air-breathing fishes to the first land-dwelling vertebrates is indicated, and the dominance of large, heavy-skulled am- phibians during late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic times is emphasized. There are also exhibits of various early rep- tiles of Permian and Triassic age. The Triassic history of reptilian evolution is continued with skeletons of some of the earliest dinosaurs. 40 Fossil Fishes FOURTH FLOOR, SECTION 13 The history of the fishes is recorded in this alcove by a series of synoptic exhibits beginning with a family tree sit- uated to the north of the entrance. From right to left, the next exhibit includes the oldest known vertebrates, the jawless fishes, or ostracoderms, and the first jawed fishes, or placoderms. In the following case the long history of the sharks and ratfishes is illustrated. The diorama includes reconstruction of fishes that lived in a lake in Scotland 300 million years ago. The story of the ray-finned fishes is ex- hibited in the next case. The lobe-finned fishes and the origin of the first land vertebrates are considered in the exhibit to the south of the alcove entrance. Suggestions fora Brief Visit If this is your first visit to The American Museum of Natural History, and your time is limited, we suggest that you try to see some of the exhibits for which the Museum is most noted. They are listed according to floors, and, with the aid of the floor plans on page 12, they can be easily located. Even so, to see all of these displays on one visit would be a formidable undertaking. Instead of trying to see all the Museum on your first trip, come again and again to enjoy the countless exhibits that cannot be seen at one time. FIRST FLOOR Haida Canoe, 642 feet long, made from the trunk of a single cedar tree... 77th Street Foyer, Section 2 Hall of the Biology of Man, Section 4, a completely new hall devoted to the evolution, structure, and function of man as an organism 41 Chambered Nautilus, Paper Nautilus and other models of cephalopods add interest to the representative shell collec- TOO (2a wis Keller Memorial Shell Exhibit, Secton 2. Life in the Soil, showing a part of the world we rarely see... Hall of Man and Nature, Section 3 Hall of North American Forests, Section 5, an explanation of the forest as a natural community of trees, plants, and animals The Origin and Structure of Life, Section 9, the story of life —how it began and how it functions today. This exhibit, part of the Hall of the Biology of Invertebrates, contains a spec- tacular Plexiglas replica of a living cell, and a large schematic model of DNA, the chemical compound that de- termines hereditary characteristics within living organisms. Reconstruction of the Extinct Dodo, that bird of fable and crossword puzzles; and Courtship of Birds, a recently com- pleted exhibition... Hall of the Biology of Birds, Section 19 Hall of North American Mammals, Section 13, twenty-nine habitat groups showing a wide variety of mammals, both large and small Totem Poles and Carved Spoons, outstanding examples of the art of the Northwest Coast Indians...Hall of Indians of the Northwest Coast, Section 1 SECOND FLOOR The New Forest Group, a section of Hampshire, England, where Theodore Roosevelt and Lord Grey went on a bird walk in 1910........ Hall of Birds of the World, Section 2 42 Paper Nautilus, Keller Memorial Shell Exhibit Sounds of a Peruvian rain forest, including howling monkeys and falling trees...Hall of Men of the Montana, Section 3 Corner Gallery, Section 5, where special exhibitions are held Indian Leopard Habitat Group, a dramatic representation of the Indian jungle... Hall of South Asiatic Mammals, Section 9 Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall, Section 12, with its 100-foot ceiling and colorful murals depicting episodes in the life of the twenty-sixth President of the United States Hall of African Mammals, Section 13, designed and partly executed by the renowned Carl Akeley Reconstruction of a Moa, a long-extinct bird that once lived in New Zealand; Birds of the Galapagos Islands, a way sta- tion on the voyage of the ‘‘Beagle”’: Birds of Paradise, exotic and magnificent....... Hall of Oceanic Birds, Section 19 43 Bald Eagle Group, Hall of North American Birds THIRD FLOOR Hall of North American Birds, Section 1, an early hall (1906) recently renovated and dedicated to Frank M. Chap- man, the father of American ornithology Sulphur-bottom Whale, a life-sized model of one of the largest animals that ever lived...Hall of the Biology of Mammals, Section 3 FOURTH FLOOR “Star of India,” largest star sapphire in the world... Hall of Minerals and Gems, Section 4 Murals of Prehistoric Life, weil-known restorations by Charles R. Knight... Hall of lce Age Mammals, Section 2 Fossil Camels, reconstructed as they were found, embedded in rocks... Hall of Late Mammals, Section 3 Fossil Skull of ancient giant crocodile... Hall of Early a Mammals, Section 5 Tyrannosaurus rex, largest of the meat-eating dinosaurs; Dinosaur Eggs, fossilized eggs of Protoceratops, found in Outer Mongolia... Hall of Late Dinosaurs, Section 9 Dinosaur Tracks, the actual tracks of a brontosaur and an allosaur, excavated in Texas and reassembled here, together with reconstructions of the skeletons of these dinosaurs... Hall of Early Dinosaurs, Section 13 Publications Publications of The American Museum of Natural History fall into two categories: popular and technical. Popular publications consist of Natural History, a nature magazine for adults Nature and Science, a biweekly publication for children American Museum Science Books, inexpensive books on life and earth sciences by outstanding authorities The Natural History Library, a paperback reprint series about man and the natural world. Technical publications consist of Bulletin of The American Museum of Natural History, papers on the results of scientific research, explora- tion, and collections Anthropological Papers of The American Museum of Natural History, researches in the study of man Memoirs, monographs American Museum Novitates, shorter scientific articles and descriptons of new forms. Micropaleontology, a quarterly journal for the student 45 of micropaleontology (purchased through the Depart- ment of Micropaleontology) Curator, a quarterly magazine for the museum profes- sion (purchased in the Museum Shop) Contributions of the American Museum-Hayden Plane- tarium, reprints of important articles in the area of astronomy (purchased through the American Museum- Hayden Planetarium Library) With the exception of Micropaleontology, Curator, and Con- tributions of the American Museum-Hayden Planetarium, the above publications can be purchased through the Li- brary of the Museum, fourth floor, Section 1. Lectures and Courses Free Gallery and Slide Talks for Adults are available, fall and spring, on specific aspects of the social and natural sci- ences. For schedule, write to Adult Education Division or call TR 3-1300, Ext. 445. Free Motion Picture Programs on natural science subjects are held on Wednesdays for adults only, and on Saturdays for adults and children, from October to May at 2:00 p.m. Consult the monthly CALENDAR OF EVENTS for place and subject. Adult Lecture Series are presented in the fall and spring in the various fields of natural and social sciences, by scien- tists and other outstanding specialists. A brochure listing topics and admission fees can be obtained by writing to Adult Education Division or by calling TR 3-1300, Ext. 445. Planetarium Courses: The American Museum-Hayden Plan- etarium conducts a series of courses during the fall and spring for which nominal fees are charged. The series in- 46 cludes introductory and advanced courses in astronomy, celestial navigation, meteorology, and space science. A bul- letin providing information and a registration blank is avail- able upon request. Membership Membership means growth. Although The American Mu- seum of Natural History has more than 145,000 members, the constant support of new members is needed to sustain and extend the Museum’s work in science and education. Without continued membership support, the function and growth of this vital work could be seriously curtailed. Members not only have the privilege of participating in the important work of the Museum, but they also enjoy many special activities and the exclusive use of a Members’ Room on the second floor of the Theodore Roosevelt Me- morial Building. Here members may become acquainted with the varied activities of the Museum. The room offers a convenient meeting place for members and their friends, and a comfortable atmosphere in which to relax between visits to the exhibition halls. There is a small science refer- ence library. Information on opening and closing hours is posted on the door of the Members’ Room, or may be ob- tained from any attendant. The American Museum of Natural History offers several classes of membership. The Associate, Annual, and Family Memberships continue for a full year from the date on which the dues are paid. Life Membership and membership of a higher category continue throughout the lifetime of the member. The various classes of membership and the priv- ileges accorded to each are: An Associate Membership entitles you to an annual sub- 47 scription to NATURAL HISTORY; a discount of ten per cent on purchases of $1.00 or more in the Museum Shop and the Planetarium Book Corner; use of the Members’ Room; and, upon request, a membership certificate, the monthly CAL- ENDAR OF EVENTS, and the ANNUAL REPORT. With an Annual Membership there are all the above priv- ileges, plus many additional ones: admission to ten evening Members’ Lectures and ten Lectures for Children of Mem- bers on Saturday mornings; one extra ticket for all evening lectures; seven free admissions to the American Museum- Hayden Planetarium; and ten free tickets for the Museum’s parking lot. A Family Membership gives you the benefits of the Annual Membership, plus three extra guest tickets for the evening lectures. This membership has been established to make it possible for parents to bring their children to the Mem- bers’ Lectures. Life Members receive all the benefits of the other member- ships, and upon presentation of Life Membership Card, un- limited admission to the Sky Shows at the American Mu- seum-Hayden Planetarium. Associate ©. 052. os bs ona eee yearly $5.00 Antal os so secs, feces ee yearly $15.00 Family 2... as shies Sele Ree yearly $25.00 Life: J.-A aoe Re eee eee single contribution $500.00 Details of Patron, Benefactor, and Founder classes are available upon request. Membership blanks can be obtained in the Museum Shop, the Members’ Room, or at any of the Museum’s entrances. 48 July...1964 \