STUDIES ON MUSEUMS AND KINDRED INSTITUTIONS. 333 



attention is paid to the art of stuffing and mounting- animals.*^ Exam- 

 ples of this may l)e found in the great groups of tlie Ameriean elk and 

 bison, surrounded by artiticial foliage and the like, in cases 32 feet long, 

 18 feet wide, and 14 feet high; and also in different groups of birds, 

 as for example, the pelicans. There are 55 such groups of birds and 

 20 of mammals displayed in as man}" separate cases, independent of the 

 systematic collection. 



In a section of the local ))ird collection the residents are separated 

 from the migrants, and the latter are arranged in such a manner as to 

 show those occurring in the neighborhood in different months, an 

 arrangement that stimulates oliservation of nature. There are alto- 

 gether about 12,000 stuffed birds in the collection. Particular atten- 

 tion should be called also to the room devoted to North American 

 woods, especially to sections of the trunks, with the foliage, blossoms, 

 and fruits in water color. Almost every forest tree north of Mexico 

 is represented. The comprehensive collections of skeletons, displaj^ed 

 on the fifth story in a long corridor lighted from above, are practical 

 and readily accessible. They lie in open, interchangeable, sliding 

 drawers in cases with glass doors, so that the contents are readily 

 accessil)le. The collections of 15,000 mammal skins and 70,000 bird 

 skins are kept in separate and well-closed tin cases of three different 

 sizes, standing one aljove another, with light, interchangeable sliding 

 trays— an arrangement to be recommended in case of lack of space. 

 Disinfection is accomplished b}" means of hot air (127° C), and also by 

 bisulphide of carbon and b\' formalin.* 



Of the ethnographic and prehistoric collections, the American series 



f'The first preparator, J. Rowley, has published a book on the subject, The Art 

 of Taxidermy (New York, D. Api)leton & Co., 1898), in whicli may be found fur- 

 ther information re.ijarding some special methods. 



^ Some additional details regarding the collections may lie given here. In the pale- 

 ontological s(>ction are to be found the North American invertebrates of James Hall 

 (see also under Albany), with theii- many types, which were purchased in 1875 for 

 $70,000; the North American mammals, reptiles, amphibia, and fishes of E. I). Cope, 

 as well as his pampas mammals; the Terrell collection of fossil fishes from Ohio; a 

 fine series of inoa skeletons, and the rich returns of. the expeditions which the 

 museum sends out every year. Besides what has been mentioned, we may also refer 

 to the series of TUanoUiermm species and the Tylomurus dyapelor (Cope), over 30 feet 

 long. The entomological section contains one of the foremost general collections of 

 insects in America, with about 400,000 specimens (Dresden has 280,000) and espe- 

 cially rich in types. The concliological section is conspicuf)US. The collection of 

 mammal and l)ird skins is limited almost entirely to America. It contains the 

 ornithological collections of Prince Max von Wied from Brazil, with many tyjies; 

 that of G. N. Lawrence from North America, and D. G. Elliot's collection of lium- 

 ming ]>irds. The mineralogical section is very large and especially rich in jeivcls, 

 which were collected ))y G. E. Kunz, the mineralogist of the well-known New York 

 firm of Tiffany & Co., for the Paris Exixisition of 1889. Another collection by the 

 same mineralogist has just been pui'chased from the recent I'aris Exposition for 

 $50,000 and presented to the museum. [.Mr. J. P. Morgan presented in 1901 the 

 celebrated Bement collection of minerals, worth .'?L'0{),()00.] Einally, special mention 

 may be made of a great collection of American building stones. 



