REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSElJM. 135 



nian Vulture or Condor (Pseudogryphus calif ornianus), and of the American Flamingo 

 (Phoenicopterus ruber), for the exhibition collection. 



A complete list of the desiderata of the Museum among North American birds has 

 also been published in the "Proceedings" (vol. iv, pp. 207-223), 



The number of entries in the bird register during the year has been 

 3,761, and of eggs 300. In the latter case, however, the figures afford no 

 indication of the actual number of specimens catalogued. The number 

 of packages sent out was 57, twelve being distributed in exchange, 38 

 lent for examination, (of which 28 have been returned,) and seven miscel- 

 laneous, the total number of specimens distributed having been 892 of 

 skins, representing 597 species, and 123 lots of eggs, representing 90 

 species. 



Forty-four papers founded upon this collection, have been published 

 by eleven persons as follows : Robert Eidgway, 18 ; William Brewster, 

 13; Dr. L. Stejneger, 3; Mr. George N. Lawrence, 2; Mr. iT. C. Brown, 

 2, and one each by Dr. T. H. Bean, Mr. E. P. Bicknell, Mr. J. H. Gur- 

 ney, Mr. C. 0. Nutting, Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, and Mr. L. M. Turner. 



The curator has also devoted much time to the revision of the final 

 volumes of the "History of Xorth American Birds." 



A full bibliographical list, as well as an account of the many valuable 

 accessions to this department will be found in another jiart of this re- 

 port. 



Bird SJieletons. — The care of the collection of bird skeletons was vol- 

 untarily assumed by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, U. S. A.. During the early 

 part of the year the unassorted material was inspected and re-arranged, 

 and was made by Dr. Shufeldt the basis of several publications. In 

 1882 Dr. Shufeldt was ordered to New Orleans, and the collection now 

 stands in the bird compartment of the west basement of the Smithsonian 

 building. 



DEPARTMENT OF REPTILES AND BATRACHLA.NS. 



Dr. Henry C. Yarrow, U. S. A., has continued to act as curator of 

 this department. His services have been voluntary as heretofore, and 

 and he therefore stands upon the list of officers as an honorary curator. 

 His duties in connection with another department of the Government 

 service have rendered it impossible for him to devote very much time 

 to the Museum except in his vacation, though two assistants have been 

 working steadily upon the collections during the entire year. This col- 

 lection is now established in the easternmost of the small rooms south 

 of the corridor leading to the west basement of the Smithsonian build- 

 ing. This can be regarded solely as a storage room and the collection 

 as being provisionally in storage, though the specimens are arranged 

 in a systematic order unsurpassed in any other department. Nothing 

 is on exhibition except the collection of casts of snakes and turtles in 

 the north hall of the new building. Much of the material, lent many 



