A hike in search of butterflies, a boat tour and a musical performance for children are among the events planned for summer visitors to the Peabody Museum of Natural History.
Visitors will also be able to see the more than 50 objects telling the story of the first truly American dogs as they appear in art, in myth and in the everyday life of the Maya, the Aztec, the Inca and the Inuit in the museum's newest exhibition, "The Wild and the Tame: Dogs in Native America." Drawn from collections at Yale, Harvard and Princeton universities, and from private individuals, "The Wild and the Tame" includes objects such as clay and bone toy dogs made to entertain children; a sculptured and painted dog effigy excavated from the tomb of a Mayan noble; dog figurines represented in ceramic, ivory, leather, basketry and beadwork; and skulls and other objects illustrating the evolution of dogs and wolves. The exhibit also explores the dog's role as a helper and partner in human labor, as well as its symbolic role in the world views of many peoples.
In addition, the Peabody Museum also features a permanent collection of dinosaur fossils in its Great Hall of Dinosaurs and a hall devoted to mammalian evolution. Other exhibit themes include Primates, Mesoamerican and Andean Cultures, People of the Pacific, Ancient Egypt, Plains Indians and People of the Northwest Coast, Connecticut Indians, Fossil Plants, Minerals, Birds of Connecticut, Meteorites and Wildlife Dioramas.
The Museum Store features gift items from around the world. It is open during regular museum hours.
Special summer events include the following:
Saturday, June 6 -- 10 a.m.-noon. "Explore the Watershed," a boat tour of the Quinnipiac River and New Haven Harbor, held in conjunction with the Center for Coastal and Watershed Systems and Tallmadge Brothers, Inc., Connecticut's largest shellfishing company. Space is limited. The fee is $15 per person. Call 432-3776 for information and reservations.
Thursday-Sunday, June 25-28 -- Visit the Peabody Museum's booth on the New Haven Green during the third annual International Festival of Arts and Ideas (see related information, page 3-A).
Friday, July 17 -- noon-4 p.m. As part of "Butterfly Days at the Peabody," children can create and color butterfly hats while learning facts about the colorful creatures.
Saturday, July 18 -- 10 a.m. During the "West Rock Butterfly Walk" led by guide Larry Gall, participants can identify butterfly species and learn about their habitats and life cycle, among other facts. Call 432-3776 for reservations.
Sunday, July 19 -- 1:30 p.m. Chris Rowlands will present his newest "Dino Rock" performance of songs and stories for children. Free with museum admission.
Monday, Aug. 10 -- 9 a.m.-noon. "A Day at the Station." Peabody Museum staff photographer William K. Sacco will lead a mini-seminar on photography in the field at the Museum Research Station in Guilford, Connecticut. The cost is $12 per person. Call 432-3776 for reservations.
Located at 170 Whitney Ave., the Peabody Museum is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-
5 p.m. The museum will be closed on July 4 and Sept. 7 (Labor Day). Admission is free to museum members, Peabody volunteers and members of the Yale community with a valid University I.D. For others, admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children (ages 3-15) and senior citizens (65 or older). The museum is wheelchair-accessible. For further information, call the InfoTape at 432-5050 or visit the museum's website at http://www.peabody.yale.edu.
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