178 FiiiLU MfSLUM Of Natlkal H1.ST0RY ~ Rkports, Vol. V. 



studied. A full scries of lalx>ls was provided i%-ith which white silk 

 threads extending from each element to its label indicate defimlcly the 

 several parts. The contents of several cases in Mall S9> containing 

 chicHy vertcbralc Miocene fossils, were rearranged, largely in order to 

 admit new specimens which had l)ocn worked out in the laboratory. 

 "Va- most important of these was a mount of the posterior half of a 

 skeleton of the rare OliRocenc aquatic rhinoceros, Metamynodon. This 

 was mottnted in relief on a slab three and one-half by five foot in size, 

 the texture and color of the slab bcin^ made to imitate as far as po«ible 

 the matrix from which the bones were taken. Each bone was also 

 mounted so as to be easily removed from the slab whenever this may 

 be desired for purposes of study, or otherwise. Other newly prepared 

 specimens installed in these cases were, skulls and lower jaws of the 

 rare Oligocene ungulate, Protoccras ccler, and the same of the Oligooene 

 s " r '.oerus. The lar^;e model of jaws of the fossil shark cx- 

 hii'iu-i ui ii.i.11 60, was found to be undergoing injur>' on account of too 

 much handling by visitors. It was accordingly removed to an alcove 

 and a railing placed in front of it. The position of others of the larf^ 

 moimts in this hall was also changed in order to give wider passageways 

 and better protection. In this connection the opportunity was improved 

 to repair injuries which had been caused to many of the large mounts 

 in this or adjoining halls by too great inqui^itiveness of visitors. 

 Mounts so repaired included those of the Glyptodon, Hadrosaurus, 

 Colossochelys, Uintathcriuni, Carcharodon and Mastodon. The large 

 case of Miocene fossils formerly in Hall 60 was moved to Hall 61 and 

 the skull and partial skeleton of Telcoccras received during the year 

 as well as some smaller specimens were installed in w^all cases in 

 the same hall. Work in the palcontological laboratory was hindered 

 by the absence of the prcparator during a large part of the year, but 

 nev'crthdess a numlxjr of valuable specimens were either worked out or 

 mounted, or both. Among the specimens thus prepared in the laboratory 

 during the year were the Mctam>'nodon, Protoccras and Perchoerus 

 mounts already mentioned, a skull and jaws of Parahippus, portions of 

 a skeleton of Megacerops, a number of canine teeth of the saber-tooth 

 tiger and bones of the Mammoth. Some specimens received in exchange 

 also were given treatment necessary to insure their better preservation. 

 In reclassif>-ing the serial or synoptic collection of mammals in the 

 Department of Zoology, many duplicates were eliminated and various 

 other specimens, which it is now evident will not meet the standards or 

 needs of the installations planned for the new Museum building, have 

 been transferred to the reference collection or disposed of otherwise. 

 Among these are a considerable number of nxnmted mflmmals prepared 



