in. -REVIEW OF WORK IN THE SCIENTIFIC 

 DEPARTMENTS. 



DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 



Since the death, in September, 189G, of Dr. G. Brown Goode, the 

 assistant secretary, the time of Dr. F. W. True, curator of mammals, 

 has been occupied almost exclusively with the administrative work of 

 the Museum. Dr. True states that the department has been without 

 a regular force at times, and throughout the year there has been no 

 officer on duty higher than an "aid." Under these circumstances it 

 has been possible to do very little more than preserve the collections 

 intact and j)revent the routine work from accumulating. 



The exhibition series has remained practically unchanged during the 

 year. A number of antlers have, however, been hung on the walls. 

 The specimens in the cases are very much crowded, and little could be 

 done to improve the general appearance, while it has seemed undesir- 

 able to increase the series by adding freshly mounted specimens. The 

 collection is still much in need of labeling. This is especially true of 

 the foreign mammals, of which there are but few specimens for com- 

 parison in the study series. The American series needs relabeling, on 

 account of the recent extensive changes in nomenclature, but the cura- 

 tor has not found time for this work during the year. 



The study series is in fair order, but could be rendered more accessi- 

 ble if additional cases and more space in which to arrange them, could 

 be provided. At present it is impossible to carry anything like a 

 natural sequence from case to case. 



More storage cases are needed for the larger mammals, many speci- 

 mens of which are now exj)osed to dust. 



The arrangement of the collection of medium-sized skulls has pro- 

 gressed, but has not yet been finished. 



Considerable work has been done on the alcoholic collection, and the 

 smaller siDecies are in fair order. There are still many jars of the larger 

 forms (rabbits, weasels, and the like) which need overhauling. It will 

 be necessary to reconstruct the storage shelves on which these speci- 

 mens are placed, before the latter can be properly arranged. 



The accessions for the fiscal year just closed do not compare favora- 

 bly with those of previous years, either in number or value. No new 

 sources of supply have developed, and for the reasons above set forth 

 the curator has been unable to give special attention to the matter of 

 38 



