report for the year 1900. 1 a 5 



Spirit Collections. 



The specimens in spirit, both exhibited and in store were main- 

 tained in good order. The store collection was slightly added to 

 by the incorporation of Snakes and Lizards included in the pur- 

 chase of the Porter Collection of Minerals. 



The Fish in store were again somewhat reduced by the further 

 transfer of specimens to the cases of the new Fish Gallery. 



Twenty-four gallons of used spirit were redistilled during 

 1900. 



Taxidermists. 



(Messrs. J. A. Thorpe and R. Grant.) 



During the early part of the year the Taxidermist was engaged 

 in completing the remounting of the Australian Psittacidse, and 

 remounting the Cuckoos and Orioles. His attention was then 

 devoted to preparing illustrative groups of Frogs and Lizards. 

 The latter part of the year was devoted to an entire remounting 

 of the remainder of the Australian Birds, and at the close of the 

 year he had completed the Cranes, Herons, and Bitterns. An 

 interesting group of European Skylarks with nest, now well 

 acclimatised in New South Wales, was prepared. This work was 

 supplemented by the entire remounting of three large groups of 

 Trogons, Paradisea, and Macaws. 



Much of the current work was performed by the Assistant 

 Taxidermist, who also is answerable for the preservation and 

 cleanliness of the exhibited and store skin collections. This duty 

 Mr. Grant most etiiciently performed. Three large Sharks were 

 also thoroughly restored, packed, and forwarded to the Royal 

 Zoological Museum at Florence. 



The following is a record of the work performed in the 

 workshop: — 



Mammal skins prepared and made up ... 42 



Bird skins prepared and made up ... 86 



Reptile skins prepared and made up ... 1 



Birds mounted ... ... ... ... 40 



Bird Groups mounted ... ... ... 97 



Bird Nest Groups mounted ... ... 5 



Reptiles and Batrachia mounted ... 77 



Reptilian or Batrachian Groups mounted 24 



Fish mounted ... ... ... ... 10 



Crustacea mounted ... ... ... 1 



Total 383 



