64 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1892. 



work of preparation of floors, preliminary to the laying of new pavements by the con- 

 tractors, was continued during January and February. 



February — Shelves were placed at the west entrance, in order to provide storage 

 room for the property clerk. The wall-case on the south side of the north hall was 

 altered. 



March. A large number of exhibition cases were cleaned, the locks overhauled, 



and the doors eased. The preparation of the lecture-hall for meetings and lectures 

 required the attention of the laborers several times during the month. It was found 

 that the weight of the exhibition cases rendered the bird gallery in the Smithsonian 

 building unsafe, and some of the cases were accordingly removed. 



April, — An electric light was hung at the east entrance of the Museum. Skilled 

 laborers were engaged in repairing the tiling around the building. Repairs were 

 made in the chapel of the Smithsonian building. 



May. — The boiler room in the Smithsonian building was thoroughly cleaned and 

 whitewashed, and new window frames were placed in the coral hall. The chapel 

 was prepared for an exhibit by the National Art Association. An electric alarm was 

 placed in the .Joseph Francis case, for the purpose of protecting the collection. 

 Sewer traps were placed at the foot of the steps at the northwest entrance of the 

 Museum and in front of the door to the World's Fair carpenter-shop, the work being 

 done by Museum laborers. An addition was made to the south end of the Museum 

 carpenter-shop, to provide room for two lathes. 



j une . — A. number of exhibition cases were brought from storage in the Armory 

 building and prepared for shipment to the Madrid Exposition. The large lathe 

 was removed from the engine room to the carpenter shop. The shed at the west 

 end of the Smithsonian building was extended to provide room for the storage of 

 cases, etc. The work on the new return pipes of the Smithsonian building was com- 

 pleted on the 17th instant, so far as it was possible to carry them this fiscal year. A 

 concrete walk was laid in the area at the south door of the Smithsonian, the work 

 being done by laborers from the Museum force. Extensive repairs were made in the 

 public-comfort rooms. 



THE WORK OF THE MUSEUM PREPARATORS. 

 TAXIDERMISTS. 



The force of taxidermists, under the charge of Mr. William Palmer, 

 has been engaged, the greater part of the time, in the preparation of an 

 exhibit for the World's Columbian Exposition. The entire exhibition 

 series of mammals has been examined and cleaned, and a number of 

 mounted specimens have been repaired and placed upon new stands. 

 The skins in pickle have been overhauled. The total number of skins 

 received from all sources during the year is 492. Of this number 368 

 have been worked up. The total number of skins on hand at the end of 

 the year is 452. For the World's Fair exhibit, 181 mammals have been 

 mounted and finished, including 6 Rocky Mountain sheep, 5 Newfound- 

 land caribou, 3 Alaskan caribou, 3 Arizona deer, 1 armadillos, 5 badg- 

 ers, 8 Californian sea lions, a male walrus, from Walrus Island, Bering 

 Sea. and an African crocodile. A series of experiments have been suc- 

 cessfully made with a view to preparing a composition for making casts 

 of reptiles. Experiments, with good results, have also been made in 

 1 (reserving leaves and plants for use as accessories in groups of ani- 

 mals. 



