58 EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



cases in the mammal ball. The collection is now, for the first time in 

 many years, thoroughly classified and under control, and the total 

 number of skins and alcoholic specimens is reported to be 5,694, and of 

 skulls and skeletons 4,214, making a total of 9,908. The accessions of 

 the ye^r have, in number, variety, and importance, been fully equal to 

 those of earlier periods. No less than 38 specimens, including such rare 

 and peculiar forms as the eland, harnessed-antelope, cheetah, two spe- 

 cies of lemur, wart-hog, and baboons, have been received from the pro- 

 prietors of zoological garcens and menageries, for which due acknowl- 

 edgments are made in the Museum report. Au unusual number of 

 cetaceans and seals, many of great novelty and interest, have come in 

 from various sources. The amount of taxidermic work accomplished 

 has been unusually great, owing to a special allotment for the employ- 

 ment of extra help, made from the appropriation for the New Orleans 

 Exhibition — 149 specimens in all having been added to the mounted 

 series, including several large forms, such as the buffalo, puma, jaguar, 

 and beaver. 



Department of Birds. — Mr. Ridgway reports that the year has been 

 unprecedented in the extent of the accessions and the amount of work 

 accomplished. The number of birds added during the year is 8,142, 

 2,658 having been distributed. The collections have been entirely re- 

 arranged and the exhibition series is receiving a complete overhauling. 

 Over 1,200 skins have been mounted, and copy for 1,000 species labels 

 have been sent to the printer. The total number of specimens in the 

 reserve series is now 50,350, 6,800 of which are in the exhibition series. 

 Very much of the increased activity of the year was due to the stimulus 

 of preparation for the New Orleans Exhibition and the aid received from 

 this appropriation. About 500 birds were sent to New Orleans, consti- 

 tuting a complete representation of American game birds. 



Department of Birds' Eggs. — During the year the collections have been 

 ■overhauled and thoroughly rearranged by Capt. Charles Bendire, U. S. 

 A., who has incorporated with it his own collection, including* nearly 

 8,000 specimens, the finest in the United States, which he has presented 

 to the Museum. This collection now represents pretty nearly all that 

 is known of American oology, and contains 40,072 specimens, of which 

 1,272 are foreign. 



Department of Reptiles and Bairachians. — Comparatively little has been 

 [lone in this dei)artment, owing to the absence of Dr. Yarrow on a col- 

 lecting expedition in Utah during the summer months, which he has in 

 former years devoted to volunteer work upon the collections. 



Department of Fishes. — The work upon this great collection has made 

 fine progress during the year. The curator, Dr. Bean, has nearly com- 

 pleted his card catalogue of the reserve series, and during the summer 

 Prof. D. S. Jordan was employed, in the interest of the New Orleans 

 Exhibition, in selecting a special exhibition series to include all the 

 fresJi-watcr fishes of the United States, and to make a special collect- 



