HO REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



all the known species of North American birds, so far as could bo secured, together 

 with typical groups to illustrate the avian fauu<» of tho several zoogcographical di- 

 visions of tho earth's surface. The collection had been nearly completed on the origi- 

 nal plan when it became necessary, on account of the limit'Ml space available at New 

 Orleans, to greatly reduce the exhibit, and to limit ir to the game birds above men- 

 tioned. Tliis collection was installed by Dr. Leonhard Srejneger, assistant curator, 

 ■who left Washington .January 'A, and returned on the 16th of the month. The collec- 

 tion filled two double museum cases, fitted with rows of terraced shelves. Each 

 specimen was mounted on a stand of polished black walnut, and provided with a 

 printed label, on which were given, in large, clear type, both the scientific and popu- 

 lar names. 



THE REPTILE EXHIBIT. 



This exhibit included a large and exhaustive series of life size models 

 in plaster of the turtles and snakes of North America, each having 

 been carefully colored by Mr. Schiudler from living specimens or from 

 colored sketches. 



THE MOLLUSK EXHIBIT. 



The exhibit in this department was prepared under the direction of 

 Dr. William H. Dall, cur;itor of the department of mollusks in the Na- 

 tional Museum, and Dr. li. E. C. Stearns, assistant curator. Dr. Dall, 

 in his report for 1885, described it as follows: 



The exhibit in this department of natural history probably surpassed in extent and 

 general excellence any previously made at the great expositions. It was arranged 

 iu twenty-one flat table cases, the specimens being placed in trays inside of the cases, 

 and each of the trays fully labeled. 



The general system followed was a geographical one, and presented a characteristic 

 representation of the more conspicuous and interesting forms of the various zoogeo- 

 grai>hical provinces. 



Tho exhibit included several cases of the fresh-water mussels ( Vnienidee) of the 

 Mississippi drainage area, remarkable for the great number and beauty of the shells, 

 also the rare and peculiar forms belonging to this group from other parts of the world. 

 The land and pond snails of the Mississippi basin were each represented by a single 

 case. 



The marine .shells of the Atlantic coast of America from the Arctic Sea to the Carib- 

 bean, and the sea shells of the Pacific coast from Bering Sea to Panama, including 

 the principal species inhabiting the tidal areas of Puget Sound, to the north, and the 

 Gulf of California, to the south, were similarly displayed. 



Other cases contained selected specimens from the Indo-Pacific region, such as live 

 in the great coral areas of the warm seas between western America and eastern Asia. 



Four cases were devoted to the edible mollnsca of the United States. Two ot these 

 contained the clams, cockles, etc., of the Atlantic sea-board, and in the other two 

 were exhibited those of the shores of western America, from Alaska to San Diego. 



The preparation of the material was completed under the sujjervision of Dr. Stearns, 

 who visited New Orleans and gave his attention to the proper installation and label- 

 ing of the exhibit. 



EXHIBIT OF rUE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN TAXIDERMISTS. 



At the invitation of the Smithsonian Institution the Society of Ameri- 

 can Taxidermists prepared for exhibition at New Orleans a series of 

 specimens illustrative of the work of niembers of that society. Mr. 



