BEPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 113 



and separate bones of mammals, birds, and reptiles to the number of 

 577. Mr. C. E. Mirgiiet renovated the okapi skeleton for exhibition 

 and was employed in much other preparatorial work, including the 

 making of a cast of a gorilla skull for the division of physical 

 anthropology. Mr. William Palmer was mainly occupied with the 

 arrangement of the faunal exhibit of the District of Columbia, the 

 exhibition series of insects, and the synoptic series, though he was 

 called upon for much special work in other directions. 



Exhibition coUectio7is. — Two additional alcoves assigned to topical 

 exhibits were opened to the public. They are devoted to the " archi- 

 tecture" of mammals and birds, and the eggs of birds. Most con- 

 spicuous is a large central floor case in which is displayed the enor- 

 mous nest of the wood rat with its inhabitants, while models and 

 illustrations of the burrows of other mammals and of birds are shown 

 in cases against the wall. The birds' eggs are mainly arranged in 

 three table-top cases. 



No mammal groups were constructed, but several specimens 

 mounted separately were added to the series. Foremost among these 

 was the reticulated giraffe, a fine example, which, being placed along- 

 side the common form, gives excellent opportunity for observing the 

 differences between the two. Other large species installed were the 

 giant eland and the gi*eater koodoo from Africa and the fallow deer 

 from Europe. Many small mammals other than North American 

 were also introduced in various faunas, which have hitherto been 

 very deficient in this respect. The enlarged models of bats' heads, 

 referred to in the last report, were finally completed and placed on 

 exhibition. 



The only large group added during the year represents a family of 

 African ostriches near its nest. It occupies a case of the same size as 

 that of the lion group, is placed near the outer end of the main hall 

 between the African mammals and the bird series, and consists of a 

 pair of adult birds in fine plumage with five chicks. Remnants of 

 the eggs from which the chicks have just emerged and a couple of 

 unhatched eggs are lying on the ground in and near the nest. This 

 forms a very attractive exhibit, is much the finest bird group in the 

 Museum, and is on a par with the best of the mammal groups. It 

 was designed and built by Mr. James L. Clark, of New York, who 

 also mounted the old birds, the young ones being prepared by Mr. 

 Nelson E. Wood of the Museum staff. The material was from the 

 Smithsonian African Expedition. Another bird group placed on 

 exhibition in the African fauna represents the hoatzin. It was con- 

 structed for and displayed at the St. Louis exposition of 1904, but re- 

 mained m storage until recently when it was taken out, completely 

 rebuilt, and greatly improved by Mr. William Palmer. The ex- 

 hibit is highly interesting in showing the nestling hoatzins climbing 



71159°— NAT MUS 1914 8 



