Jan. 1935 Annual Report of the Director 153 



are represented by adjacent groups. Both of these are composed 

 of specimens collected by the James Simpson-Roosevelts Asiatic 

 Expedition (1926), and the late Colonel J. C. Faunthorpe of Bombay. 

 Preparation of both groups is the work of Staff Taxidermists Julius 

 Friesser and Arthur G. Rueckert, assisted by Mr. W. E. Eigsti. 

 The backgrounds are by Staff Artist Corwin, and are based on field 

 studies furnished through the cooperation of the Bombay Natural 

 History Society. The third new group in Kelley Hall is that of 

 Bengal tigers, for which the specimens were obtained by the Simpson- 

 Roosevelts Expedition. The tigers were mounted by Taxidermist 

 Albrecht, and the background is by Mr. Corwin. Finally, there was 

 installed in this hall a group of Asiatic sloth bears, for which speci- 

 mens were collected by Colonel Faunthorpe, and by Mr. Dilipat 

 Singh, of Singahi, Kheri District (Oudh), India. Staff Taxidermist 

 Rueckert and Mr. Eigsti prepared this group, and Mr. Corwin 

 painted the background from field studies furnished by the Bom- 

 bay Natural History Society. 



A notable reinstallation in Kelley Hall is that of the group of 

 proboscis monkeys of Borneo. This group, originally prepared by 

 the late Carl E. Akeley, has been completely rearranged and improved 

 by Staff Taxidermist Leon L. Pray, assisted by Mr. Frank Letl. 

 The group now has a painted background by Mr. Pray, as well as 

 a foreground reproducing a treetop scene with artificial branches, 

 leaves and vines. The animals were purchased for the Museum 

 years ago by the late Martin A. Ryerson. 



The installation of four new screens, and the reinstallation of 

 several others, practically completed the systematic collection of 

 North American birds in Hall 21. Nearly all of the work on these 

 was done by Staff Taxidermist Ashley Hine. To the synoptic 

 exhibit of foreign birds in the same hall was added a case of gallina- 

 ceous birds prepared by Assistant Taxidermist John W. Moyer. 



Of special interest because of the use of the so-called "celluloid 

 method" in its preparation, is a new specimen of the large flightless 

 bird called cassowary, added to the foreign birds in Hall 21. The 

 head and legs of the cassowary were reproduced in cellulose-acetate 

 by the process developed in recent years for work on reptiles and 

 hairless mammals. These are assembled with the original skin of 

 the body. The mount is the work of Staff Taxidermist Leon L. 

 Walters, originator of the celluloid process, and Mr. Edgar G. 

 Laybourne. 



