REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923. 79 



These figures do not represent an actual count, which in some 

 divisions at least it would be a physical impossibility to accomplish 

 at the present time. They are mostly based on an earlier estimate 

 by adding the yearly increment and deducting the specimens which 

 have been disposed of by gift or exchange, or which have dropped 

 out of the collection for other causes. In the division of mammals 

 an actual count was undertaken in 1922 which showed that the 

 actual number was slightly in excess of the estimates, so that there 

 is good reason for believing that the census is a conservative one. 

 In confirmation of this it should be noted that the estimated number 

 of plants is only that of the mounted specimens, and does not include 

 the unmounted material, nor the lower cryptogams. 



Division : 



Mammals 80, 269 



skins, skeletons, and alcoholics 235, 897 



^^^^^ ^ eggs 80, 274 



Reptiles and amphibians 75,972 



Fishes 685, 53G 



Insects 2, 338, 500 



Marine Invertebrates 722, 712 



Mollusks 1, 528, 581 



Echinoderms 158, 000 



Plants 1 1, 150, 000 



Total 7, 055, 741 



