16 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



classification adoi)ted by the Americau Ornithologists' Uuion, which is 

 described in the report of the curator, Mr. liidgway. 



Many important groups have been received for special critical revis- 

 ion, notably the various Procellarian genera JEstrelata and Fuffinus, 

 and Ihii gaiwra CoUinus, Lariis,Lagopus, und J^mpidonax. Dr. Stejue- 

 ger has contiiuied his revisions of Japanese ornithology. 



An important research completed during the year was that upon the 

 birds of Mexico, made by Professor Ferrari-Perez, of the Geographical 

 Exploring Exjiedition of Mexico, who brought to Washington for the 

 purpose the entire collection of birds in the "National Museum of Mexico. 

 Professor Ferrari-Perez's report was based upon the studies of the two 

 national collections, and has been published in the I'roceedings of the 

 ^National Museum.* 



There are now 55,945 specimens in the collection, of whicli 7,000 have 

 been set apart for exhibition. The exhibition series might advantage- 

 ously be made to include 15,000 specimens if space permitted 



SECTION OP birds' EGGS. 



Much has been accomi)lished during the year by Capt. C. E. Bendire, 

 U. S. Army, honorary curator, in the classification and arrangement of 

 the collection of eggs and nests. The collection includes about 44,000 

 specimens, of which 1,491 are on exhibition, 31,124 are in the reserve 

 series, and 11,548 are duplicate. More than 2,550 additions, in 253 lots, 

 have been made during the year. It is to be hoped that before long 

 it maj' be possible to give more space to this crowded collection. Cap- 

 tain Bendire has, as heretofore, made generous contributions from his 

 private collection. 



DEPARTMENT OF REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. 



The collections in this department are very Inadequately provided 

 with space, either for reserve or exhibition purposes. The collection, 

 still under the honorary curatorship of Dr. II. 0. Yarrow, U. S. Army, 

 includes about 25,350 specimens, which ici)resent nearly every si)ecies 

 of North Americau reptiles and batrachians. 



Prof. E. D. Cope has in preparation, under tlie direction of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, a report on the reptiles of North America, and has 

 made a large number of identifications and descriptions. He has also 

 completed his report on the Batrachia of North America, and identified 

 all the undetermined batrachians in the collection. 



During the year 444 entries, including 1,705 specimen.s, were made 

 in the catalogue of the department. 



DEPARTMENT OF FISHES. 



The curator, Dr. T. II. Bean, has re-examined the entire collection, now 

 including some 75,000 specimens. No less than twenty-five barrels of 

 alcohol wore used in retillingthe bottles and repla<5ing the old alcohol. 



• Vol. IX, pp. ]2r)-i'J0. 



