212 EEPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



nants, and the like, were placed in an arsenic bath, and afterwards dried. 

 They are thus rendered secure from the attacks of moths. It was 

 thought undesirable to apply this preservative to the smaller species, 

 which are much handled, and they were, therefore, treated with a com- 

 pound of benzine and other ingredients, and dried. By this method 

 the skins are entirely freed from vermin, but are not rendered abso- 

 lutely secure from fresh attacks. Against these, the vigilance of the 

 Curator alone will avail. 



The skins referred to are at present stored in seven table cases in the 

 •south exhibition hall, and in eight large storage boxes, four quarter- 

 unit cases, and twelve small tin herbarium cases, upon the south bal- 

 cony. Late in the year the work of attaching pasteboard labels to the 

 specimens was begun, and is not yet completed. These labels are in- 

 tended to contain the name of the species, the name of the donor, and 

 the locality, thus supplementing the metallic numbers hitherto in use. 

 The work of separating the collection into duplicate, reserve, and exhi- 

 bition series cannot conveniently be commenced until this task is com- 

 pleted. 



The exhibition series is displayed in two large wall cases and twenty- 

 one other cases, and upon two large terraced bases, in the south hall. 

 Case-labels have been provided for nearly the entire series, and further 

 experiments have been made in species-labels. 



Twenty-five skins have been submitted to the taxidermist during the 

 year for mounting. Of these, 20 specimens have been completed. In 

 addition 6 specimens have been remounted and 5 repaired. Most prom- 

 inent among the new specimens is a group of 5 oraugs of different ages 

 ages and both sexes. It is a very accurate and praiseworthy work, 

 both as regards the mounting of the specimens themselves and the ar- 

 rangement of the foliage and other accessories. The group occupies a 

 specially-made ash case 12 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 11 feet high. 



The seals added to the exhibition-series are principally those received 

 from Dr. C. Hart Merriam during the year. The adult crested seal, 

 no. 13,742, is especially worthy of attention as representing a more ac- 

 curate imitation of the shape of this species in life than has hitherto 

 been obtained. 



The collection of casts. — The collection of cetacean casts has been ma- 

 terially added to. The most important accessions are the casts of Kogia 

 Ooodci and Ziphius cavirostris, the former showing the entire exterior 

 of the animal and the latter of half the same. The complete list of 

 casts made in 1883 is as follows: Kogia Goodei, Ziphins cavirostris, Tur- 

 siops Uirsio, Trichechus manatus, Macrorhinus angustirostris, Canis famil- 

 iaris (pug-dog), Phocama lineata. 



Experiments have been made with a view of suspending the majority 

 of the cetacean casts from the roof in the south hall. These casts are 

 very light in weight and will bring no strain upon the roof, while their 



