136 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



years ago to Prof. E. D. Cope for investigation, has been reutrned and 

 incorporated with the remainder of the collection. 



One of the most important tasks accomplished during the year has 

 been the preparation of a complete catalogue of the Korth American 

 species in which every specimen, with its locality and the name of its 

 collector, is given, the duplicates being specially designated. This is 

 the first of the systematic catalogues of the National Museum and 

 forms Bulletin 24, prefaced by a new check-list of the reptiles and 

 batrachians of IsTorth America. 



Much has already been accomplished by the curator of this de- 

 partment in the identification and final arrangement of the exotic rep- 

 tiles, a task which, like that of rearranging those of North America, 

 has been especially laborious, for the reason that the original labels in 

 many instances were destroyed in the fire of 1865, and have never been 

 replaced. 



The number of entries in the record books for the year is 230, repre- 

 senting about 920 specimens. The following census of the collection is 

 presented by the curator : 



Reserve series 7,972 



General series 2, 686 



Temporary exhibit 600 



Duplicates 2,000(?) 



Identified 5,000(?) 



Total, about 18,000 



This census relates to the North American reptiles. In addition 

 there are estimated to be about 8,000 foreign reptiles. A number of 

 living reptiles have been placed on permanent exhibition in the new 

 building. 



DEPARTMENT OF FISHES. 



The west range of the Smithsonian building has been assigned to 

 the department of fishes for exhibition jjurposes, and has been redec- 

 orated and fitted with new cases. The fish laboratories in the north 

 end of the west basement on the first story, in the basement north of 

 the corridor leading to the- west basement, in the east end of the cloister 

 north of the west range, and m the temporary second story of the same 

 cloister, have been re-arranged and made more convenient by building 

 a private stair-case in the tower at the northwest corner of the main 

 building, and by the construction of new stories in book-cases. 



A large number of fishes were placed on exhibition, but have been 

 withdrawn for the purpose of making a revision of the entire collection. 

 This task, which is still in progress, is one of great magnitude, the 

 number of duplicates being large, and the history of many of the speci- 

 mens having been recovered since the fire. It is now being carried on 

 with great rapidity by Dr. Bean, who has been assisted by Messrs. 



