REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1920. 85 



accumulation of mounted specimens, the material of several large 

 genera has been rearranged and put thoroughly in order. A distri- 

 bution of specimens recently mounted and recorded is planned for 

 tlie present summei-. in so far as this will be possible in view of the 

 limited amount of room available in the present linear sec[uence of 

 cases. The difficulty of securing mounters has been less acute than 

 during the preceding 3^ear, and in consequence about 18,000 specimens 

 huxQ been mounted, chiefly by contract. Mounting of specimens is 

 stdl in arrears, however, between 12,000 and 15,000 specimens re- 

 maining unmounted at the "present time. A considerable portion of 

 these Avill be mounted under requisitions outstanding. Tlie work of 

 segregating type and duplicate type specimens from the main her- 

 barium has been continued at intervals, and 9,477 specimens have now 

 been distinctively labeled, catalogued, placed in individual covers, 

 and added to the so-called type herbarium. 



The general character of the work of the preparators has been 

 indicated above in connection with the report on the work done with 

 regard to the exhibition series. Besides this the taxidermists and 

 other preparators did much work for the various divisions on the 

 study material. Thus 49 mammals, birds, and reptiles, some of them 

 quite large, received in the flesh from the National Zoological Park 

 or other sources, were skinned and prepared. A large number of 

 older mounted specimens of the same orders not desired in the ex- 

 liibition series were made over into study skins, among them many 

 important species, including types, as related above. A number of 

 older specimens sent out to educational institutions had also to be 

 gone over, cleaned, and packed. In addition to the specimens 

 mounted and placed on exhibition there were also a number of un- 

 finished mounts in various stages of completeness at the end of the 

 year. Mr. W. L. Brown finished the mounting of the West African 

 buffalo and in addition tanned or worked up 66 mammal skins, in- 

 cluding gorillas, chimpanzees, buffaloes, etc. Owing to the protracted 

 absence on account of failing health of the bird taxidermist, Mr. 

 Brown was also intrusted with a considerable amount of work ni mount- 

 ing and dismounting birds. Mr. George Marshall was mostly engaged 

 in mounting smaller mammals and in repair work. Mr. Xelson K. 

 Wood, the bird taxidermist, was absent on account of ill health 

 for four and a half months. The most difficult cases of mountinof 

 and remounting old and valuable specimens are reserved for his skill, 

 and 10 birds were added by him to the exhibition series, while 165 

 of the most precious historical specimens were dismounted for the 

 type and study series. Mr. J. W. Scollick, the osteologist, was 

 mostly engaged in attending to the vast accumulation of bird skele- 

 tons, of Avhich he cleaned not less than 156, two mammal skeletons, 

 and one snake skull. Under his supervision 51 mammal skeletons. 



