EEPOKT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 213 



appearance when suspended is more pleasing to the eye than when 

 they are placed upon supports. 



The alcoholic collection. — The alcoholic collection is contained in 910 

 bottles and 13 tanks, and is still kept in a small room in the south tower. 

 The collection includes about 103 anatomical specimens, properly speak- 

 ing, the remainder being adult animals, fceti, and the like, preserved 

 whole. It is doubtful whether it would be desirable to exhibit any of 

 the latter in bottles, but the skins can be mounted in the dry way quite 

 as readily as those of fresh animals. The collection includes a great 

 number of duplicates, all of which will be separated before the close of 

 the present year. 



The anatomical specimens are in excellent condition and can be dis- 

 played with advantage in the exhibition halls when suitable cases and 

 jars have been designed. 



Distribution of duplicates. — The number of distributions during the 

 year 1883 was 8, of which 3 were gratuitous distributions and the re- 

 mainder exchanges. The whole number of specimens distributed was 

 14, 7 gratuitously, and the remainder in exchange for other specimeus. 



Assistance. — The operations of the department were carried on during 

 the larger part of the year by the Curator and two copyists. The serv- 

 ices of the osteological preparator were also received in connection with 

 the re-arrangement of the osteological collection. The work of poison- 

 ing the collection of skins was performed by another preparator of the 

 Museum. 



The work of the chief taxidermist in building up the exhibition se- 

 ries has already been referred to. 



From March to October the Curator held the position of acting assist- 

 ant director, and was unable therefore to give his entire attention to 

 the department. His duties as librarian have also continued during the 

 year. In December he secured permission from the director to visit 

 certain of the museums of Europe with a view of studying their 

 methods of preparation and installation. 



• Work in research. 



The number of papers and notes based wholly or in part upon the 

 material of the department, published in 1883, was eight. Of these the 

 curator furnished five, Dr. Leonhard Stejneger one, Mr. Charles Nutt- 

 ing one, Dr. G. E. Dobson, of the British Museum, one. 



The work of the Curator has been mainly of a preliminary character, 

 and he has directed his attention especially to the cetaceans and pinni- 

 peds. An annotated catalogue of the mammals displayed at the London 

 Fisheries Exhibition was prepared at the request of the Commissioner. 

 The papers contributed to the census report have not yet been pub- 

 lished. The papers now in course of preparation relate to the ceta- 

 ceans and seals recently received, and to a comparative study of a 



