REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 75 



The following table shows the number of dry skins made up for the 



study series : 



Primates 7 



Carnivora 21 



Uugulata 11 



Cbiroptera 5 



Insoctivora ^ 



Rodentia '^9 



Marsupialia 1 



Total 129 



A specimen of Bassaricyon gabbii was mounted. 



Several hundred large skins, both dry and in pickle, are on hand. 

 A large number of skulls of mammals were cleaned. 



Imj)rovements were made in the groups exhibited in the mammal 

 hall as follows : The two caribou groups were overhauled and renovated, 

 as were also the African monkey group and the sea-otter group. A 

 large number of single specimens were cleaned. A group of humming 

 birds was designed and arranged for the Division of Birds, and a large 

 number of minor matters received attention. 



Mr. M^illiam Palmer, chief taxidermist, was in Nashville for nearly a 

 month, engaged in repacking portions of the exhibit sent by the Museum 

 to the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Considerable work was also 

 done by Mr. Palmer in connection with the Trans-Mississippi and Inter- 

 national Exposition at Omaha. The taxidermists' shop was removed 

 to new quarters during the year. 



In the Division of Birds the taxidermists have cleaned aud renovated 

 about 2,500 specimens, and have mounted or remounted a number of 

 others, a portion of them being intended for exhibition at the Trans- 

 Mississippi Exposition. A collection of birds which was exhibited at 

 the Tennessee Centennial Exposition was overhauled upon its return. 



Various causes have combined to prevent satisfactory i^rogress in 

 osteological work during the period covered by this report. Consider- 

 able work has been accomplished, however, under adverse circum- 

 stances, as shown by the following table: 



