REPORT OF NATIOITAL. MUSEUM, 1923. 57 



their study by the visitors from the city greatly facilitated. These 

 collections are as yet quite incomplete, chiefly because heretofore no 

 suitable exhibition space had been available, but from now on no 

 efforts will be spared to bring together a representative series of the 

 District fauna. Doctor Bartsch, Curator of Mollusks, has kindly 

 consented to look after this exhibit. 



During the year it has been possible to further complete the Aus- 

 tralian mammal exhibit by adding several kangaroos, a " Tasmanian- 

 Devil " and a marsupial cat. To the exhibit of the mammals of the 

 Oriental Region a finely mounted Malay tapir has been added which 

 necessitated the entire reinstallation of the Oriental ungulate case, 

 the bottom being sanded, etc. Of other large mammals added to the 

 exhibition series, I may mention a splendid black wolf, a full grown 

 South American ant-eater and an African red river-hog. But the 

 main achievement of the taxidermists has been the mounting and in- 

 stallation of an old gorilla by Messrs. Brown and Aschemeier col- 

 lected a few years ago by the latter while attached to the Collins- 

 Garner Expedition to French Congo. It was thus possible to retire 

 the old mounted specimens which has been an eyesore for many 

 years. In the near future it is hoped to similarly replace the chim- 

 panzee now on exhibition. 



The work of caring for and recording the study series in the vari- 

 ous divisions has been attended to in the usual manner. 



In the Division of Mammals 18 quarter and 4 half unit cases have 

 been added to the storage facilities for large skulls and skeletons in 

 the attic. Considerable progress has been made the past year on this 

 part of the collection, the new cases being used in part for storage 

 of material that has for years been exposed in open wooden cases. A 

 few cases have been added to the facilities for storing and spreading 

 of the skin collection, which has been, and is still in quite an over- 

 crowded condition, especially the large skins, although some of the 

 smaller groups have been given proper space, eliminating the crowd- 

 ing. Considerable time has been spent during the year in the further 

 arrangement and storage of the cetacean collection. Ten quarter 

 and two half unit cases have been added to the facilities for storing 

 this collection. The skulls have all been rearranged, the small skele- 

 tons arranged and in most part put in cases, the large skulls and skele- 

 tons have been partially arranged, numbered, and properly labelled. 

 A card index of all cetacean material is being made, and is about half 

 completed. Practically all the tanning is now being done by our 

 own taxidermists. The rotary drum installed for this purpose has 

 been turning out very good results. Two of the quarter unit cases 

 were applied to the rearrangement of certain groups of the skin col- 

 lection, work on which considerable progress has been made. Addi- 



