394 Field Museum of Natural History — Reports, Vol. IV. 



Painted backgrounds for a large group of Moose and a group of South 

 American Capybara, including a Jaguar, have been prepared, and con- 

 siderable work on the accessories for both these groups has already been 

 done. The mounting of the specimens for the Moose group, very fine 

 specimens secured by a Museum expedition last fall, is progressing in a 

 satisfactory manner. A new method for making artificial bodies 

 (manikins) for small mammals was introduced by Taxidermist Pray, 

 which seems a decided improvement over the old way. A striking 

 group of East African Buffalo, created by Carl E. Akeley, was 

 installed in the South Court late in the year. This group, which 

 includes two old bulls, one young bull, a cow, and a calf, is an impres- 

 sive example of the possibilities of modern taxidermy. The five bulky 

 animals are so skilfully and naturally grouped that the effect of space 

 and power is not lost even in the confinement of a case of moderate size. 

 In addition to simplicity and fidelity to nature both in grouping and in 

 modeling, the individual animals of this group have an unusual quality 

 produced by a new and superior technique in the treatment of the skin. 

 The principal feature of this method consists in applying the tanned 

 skin to the model in a dry instead of moistened condition. The result 

 in the finished specimen, especially in the case of thinly haired animals, 

 is much more likelife than that of other methods, the skin appearing 

 soft and natural instead of hard and unyielding. In the exhibition 

 of comparative osteology 445 skulls were cleaned, and the follow- 

 ing skeletons mounted and installed: Gila Monster (Heloderma 

 horridum); Box Turtle (Cistudo Carolina); Jacana (Jacana spinosa); 

 Pigeon (Columba livid), and Cave Bat (Eonycteris spelaa). A large 

 habitat group of birds representing bird life in the far north on Walrus 

 Island, Alaska, has been completed and placed on exhibition. This 

 group includes 51 birds with nests, eggs, and several nestlings; some of 

 them, notably the Red-faced Cormorant, are rare and are becoming 

 more so each year. Among the most interesting birds in this group may 

 be mentioned, in addition to the Red-faced Cormorants, theTufted 

 Puffins, Horned Puffins, Paroquet Auklets, and various species of 

 Gulls (among them the Red-legged Kittiwake Gull), Murres, etc. 

 An instructive feature of the group is in showing the Glaucous and 

 Glaucous-winged Gulls stealing and eating the eggs of the Pallas Murres, 

 which breed in great numbers on this barren, isolated island. For the 

 serial collection there were mounted : 1 Coot (Fulica americana) ; 1 Red- 

 shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) ; 2 Kittlitz Murrelets (Brack yr am phus 

 brevirostris) , and 1 Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) . A 

 number of bird skins from fresh specimens sent in for the study collec- 

 tion, including the Snowy Owl, were prepared. A number of fishes and 



