Oct. i8g8. Annual Report of the Director. 287 



In addition to the above, the mailing list has been corrected as 

 required by the issuing of the different publications, and 500 copies 

 of an Herbarium pamphlet have been printed. 



Taxidermy. — Notwithstanding his three months' absence on expe- 

 ditions in the Northwest, Mr. Akeley, the chief taxidermist, has created 

 two more striking groups from the material obtained on the African 

 expedition — Waller's Gazelles and the oryx group. The same appre- 

 ciation of the high purpose of his work, the same skillful blending of 

 nature and of art, the same conspicuous care in detail, distinguish 

 these groups as they marked the other creations of which he has been 

 the author. The facilities provided for this important and most 

 valuable division of the Museum are entirely inadequate, not only as 

 to space in which this work must be performed, but as to the con- 

 veniences and appurtenances, and the skilled assistance available. 

 The Curator of the Department of Zoology, to whom the taxidermist 

 is assigned, has submitted an outline for the expansion of this section 

 and for the provision of such aids and agencies as will enable the 

 force so fortunately at command of the Museum to take advantage of 

 the unusual conditions and of a large amount of material of excep- 

 tional value and interest, and to produce in greater quantity and in 

 quicker succession the masterpieces in the representation of animal 

 life, of which Mr. Akeley is so highly competent. I shall ask for these 

 recommendations of the Curator of the Department of Zoology the 

 earliest consideration of the Executive Committee. 



Guards and FmE Protection. — By instruction of the Executive 

 Committee, the guard of the Museum was increased one member 

 during the year, to permit the execution of the rule of the committee 

 granting to each member of this branch of Museum service an annual 

 two weeks' vacation, with pay. Not one complaint of inattention or 

 incivility to the public on the part of a guard has reached the Director 

 during the year. I wish to call special attention to the excellent dis- 

 •cipline, general deportment, and soldierly and genteel appearance of 

 the guard of the Museum, to whom the safety of the building, the 

 security of its contents, and the convenience of the public are due in 

 a large measure. The appliances of the fire department have been 

 increased by the exchange of the two-gallon extinguishers for new 

 three-gallon machines. The equipment at present consists of a 

 Champion chemical engine with a capacity of 55 gallons, and 300 



