General guide to the exhibition halls of the American Museum of Natural History . hree canvases portraying the life of different species ofwhales and including Bowhead Whale, Finback Whale, and KillerWhales Attacking a Gray Whale. These seven murals are the work ofMr. John P. Benson, the noted marine painter. At the far end of the hall is the large habitat group showing a coralreef in the Bahamas. The group extends from the main floor of the hallup to the limits of the balcony ceiling and shows the multitudinous lifebelow the surface, as well as the land, sea and sky above. This group isin the
General guide to the exhibition halls of the American Museum of Natural History . hree canvases portraying the life of different species ofwhales and including Bowhead Whale, Finback Whale, and KillerWhales Attacking a Gray Whale. These seven murals are the work ofMr. John P. Benson, the noted marine painter. At the far end of the hall is the large habitat group showing a coralreef in the Bahamas. The group extends from the main floor of the hallup to the limits of the balcony ceiling and shows the multitudinous lifebelow the surface, as well as the land, sea and sky above. This group isin the final stages of completion after many years of study and prepara-tory work. 34 OCEAN LIFE At either side of the painted background of the coral reef group is alarge mural showing dolphins in a running sea. Below the level of the Dalcony and hanging just beyond reach fromthe rail at the head of the stairway is a cast of a young Sperm Whalewhich came into New York Harbor and eventually was held a captivein the Gowanus Canal at Brooklyn. It was brought to the Museum inthe STELLERS SEA LION The most striking figure in the Sea Lion Group, Hall of Ocean Life Shells In wall cases, table cases and A-cases around the balcony is arrangedan exceptionally fine exhibit of shells with many items of unusual beautyor rarity. Several important private collections have beendonated to the American Museum and are incorporated here,including the D. Jackson Steward, Jay, Crooke and Frederick A. (on-stable collections. One of the rarest of shells is the Conus gloria maris,in a small glass case at the right of the entrance, and the largest shell is OCEAN LIFE 35 the giant clam Tridacna, weighing 579 pounds, to be found at the leftin the small foyer as one enters from the Hall of Fishes. On the main floor of the Hall of Ocean Life and under the overhangof the balcony are the habitat groups of marine mammals. Beginningat the northeast corner, the first of these is the group of NorthernElephant
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade191, booksubjectnaturalhistorymuseums
