148 REPORT ON NATIONAI> MUSEUM, 1886. 



Menagerie, New York, have jireseuted msiuy valuable speeimeus, Nota- 

 ble among thosereceived from the former gentleman was an ibex, Ca^ira 

 ibexi a well-iviiowh European ypecies and one whose extermination seems 

 imminent. 3)r. Conklin presented, among many valuable specimens, 

 two hog deer, Gervus porcinus. 



A series of five young Greenland seals, obtained by Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam from Labrador, and a number of fur seals and one specimen of 

 Steller's sea-lion, collected by Mr. C. H. Townsend in St. Paul's Island. 

 Alaska, together with another of the latter species obtained by Dr. 

 Stejneger in Bering Island, were the only pinnipeds received this year. 



Dr. Leonhard Stejneger obtained from M. Grebnitzki, in Bering Isl- 

 and, and presented to the Museum, a skull of a bottle-nosed whale, be- 

 lieved to be Ziphius grelmitsli Stejnr., and the skeleton of a young 

 killer, Orca sp. From the United States life-saving stations not so 

 many cetaceans were received as during the two previous years. The 

 collection was enriched, however, by a fwtal and an adult female i)ygmy 

 sperm whale, obtained respectively by Keeper L. T. Giimm, of J^ove- 

 laiUes Island, New York, and Keeper J. W. Kidgway, of Baruegat 

 City, New Jersey. 



Keeper J. K. Hobbs captnred a common dolphin, i>. delphis^ and Mr. 

 C. H. Townsend collected a skull of tho same species on the California 

 coast. The latter collector also obtained a fine specimen of the baleen 

 of the California gray whale. 



In the Exhibition Hall the only new case added during the past year 

 was that built for the group of fur seals presented to the Institution 

 a number of years ago by the Alaska Commercial Company. This case 

 is larger than any hitherto built, except the wall-cases, and is furnished 

 with exceptionally large glasses. It corresponds in design with the 

 Orang case, and will be placed opposite the latter at the north end of 

 the hall, previously erected, or in the center. 



The two large groups of ruminants ami seals were placed against the 

 south wall. They are unprovided with railings, or other meains of pro- 

 tection, and tho arrangement can not be regarded otherwise than tem- 

 porary. The curator lias spent much time and thought upon the con- 

 sideration of x>lans for cases suitable for large specimens, but has not as 

 yet hit upon any satisfactory designs. It is quite i)robable, however, 

 that it will be found necessary to extend the large wall-cases now in 

 the hall. 



Experiments have been made looking toward a better installation of 

 the cetacean casts than the present one. It has been deemed best to ar- 

 range them on a raised base upon tho top of the wall-cases. A sample 

 section of the proposed base was made and placed in position, and it is 

 to be hoped that the v.hole re-arrangement will be effected during the 

 coming year. 



The mounted spedmens added to the exhibition series during the 

 year were chiefly ruminants and mursupials. Very feM- small species 



