Camptorhynchus labradorius (Gmelin)
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Labrador Duck
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The last occurrence of the Labrador Duck in Canada was on Grand Maanan
Island, New Brunswick in April, 1871. This extinct species was last sighted
on December 12, 1878 at Elmira, New York. The Labrador or "Pied"
Duck was prized for its favor by commercial hunters which contributed
to its extinction. The small numbers of breeding ducks nested along the
north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the coast of Labrador to the
south tip of Baffin Island. A preserved specimen of the Labarador Duck
was found in the museum until 1971 where it was moved to National Museum
of Natural Science in Ottawa. A replica of the Labrador duck is on display
in the McCulloch museum.
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Rhinocerous Beetles
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This large, harmless beetle is distinguished by a large protruding horn which is used by the males during mating. The large grub-like larvae feed inside tree trunks while the adults eat flowers and fruit. This beetle measures 8 inches in length and is native to South America. Several species have come close to extinction as a result of over collecting.
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Long Horned Wood Burrowing Beetle
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Its larvae feeds on the trunks and branches of orchard and shade trees.
The antennae in the adults can reach twice the length of the body.
The large larvae provides a major source of protein by primitive peoples.
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Morpho Butterfly
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Collectors valued these jewels of the insect world due to the luminous color of their wings used in making costume jewelry. Faced with extinction, strict laws were created to protect these specimens. They are native to Brazil and live in forest canopy.
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Murex ramosus L.
from Indo Pacific |
- Pterocera (Lambia): - Spider Conch - 9 species
- Strombus: True Conchs - 52 species
- Tibia: Shinebone shells - 6 species
- Terebellum: - 1 species from Indo-Pacific
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Flower Coral
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Coral skeletal specimens are from living species growing on inshore, offshore, fringing , barrier reefs in tropical Atlantic waters. Acropora palmata and montastrea annularis are the most prominent reef -builders. Coral fragments form the sand grains of "coral" beaches. Reefs provide a hatchery for young fish and is vital for beach stability. Corals are susceptible to pollution, bio-erosion, organisms such as sea urchins, snails, molluscs, sponges, worms, fish and regeneration.
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Giant Sequoia
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This mountainous tree is one of the world's largest trees (1000 tons). A car can be driven through the base of the huge trunk. They grow at elevations of 1,400 to 2,400 m on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in wet climates. The reddish-brown, fine flacked bark is 60 cm thick with deep furrows. The branches are arranged alternately. Scaled leaves are arranged in spirals close to the twig. The oval shaped cones are 8 cm. long with scales covering the five seeds with 2 wings.
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Drum Microscope
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In 1742, Benjamin Martin designed a microscope in the shape of a cylinder
or drum. They were widely used between 1820-1840. The substage mirror
and stage is located at the base of the brass cylinder of the draw-tube
which contains the optics. Six objectives, a lieberkuhn a live box, a
hand magnifier, and specimen slides were included with the microscope.
These microscopes were manufactured in London, England in the early nineteenth
century. This microscope was donated by Bill Sheridan.