DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 145 



The regular routine work of the department, identifying specimens, 

 cataloguing, assorting, and rearranging, was carried on as usual. 

 For the Department of Agriculture collection, 5,897 skins and 5,88J 

 skulls were catalogued by our clerks. A large number <>(' skulls of 

 small mammals belonging to this collection were cleaned during the 

 year, but large numbers remain uncleaned. The Museum also made 

 up a considerable number of skins of foxes, skunks, coat is, peccaries, 

 bears, etc., belonging to this series. 



No special report on the work of the taxidermists can be made with 

 advantage at this time. Only two taxidermists were retained on the 

 Museum roll during the year, and these were engaged for the greater 

 part of the time in work connected with the World's Fair exhibits. 

 Nothing could be done to decrease the number of skins in pickle, 

 though it is unfortunate that some of them should remain longer 

 unmounted. 



Mr. P. L. Jouy, formerly assistant in the department, was engaged 

 in field work during the year. The explorations of Dr. Mearns have 

 already been referred to. 



A few specimens were loaned for study or distributed during the 

 year. These were: To Dr. J. A. Allen, New York, 3 skins and 5 skulls 

 of Capromys, for study; to Mr. William Taylor, San Diego, Tex., 5 

 skulls of North American mammals, in exchange; to Dr. Harrison 

 Allen, Philadelphia, Pa., 2 skeletons of fruit bats, for study. 



Identifications of North American mammals were made for Mr. GL S. 

 Miller, Jr., of Cambridge, Mass. Mr. (i. H. Eagsdale, of Gainesville, 

 Tex., received information regarding the distinguishing characters of 

 the various species of American eats. 



The number of specimens in the several series, dune 30, 18!>L>, was as 

 follows : 



Number of mounted skins in the exhibition series S3S 



Number of skins and alcoholic specimeus in the study and reserve scries .. . !t. 47H 



Number of skins arid alcliolic specimens received during the year 709 



The last entries in the several catalogues June 30, 1892, were as follows: 

 Regular series : 



Skins and alcholics I'D, 17."> 



Skulls and skeletons 35,527 



Department of Agriculture deposit : 



Skins _' 34, 328 



Skulls 46, 419 



H. Mis. 114, pt, L> 10 



