REPOKT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 73 



from the central library amounted to 18,500, ineliiding 7,000 with- 

 drawn for assignment to the sectional libraries, of which there are 

 now :^7, as follows: 



Administration. Marine invertebrates. 



Anthropology. Materia inedica. 



Biology. Mesozoic! fossils. 



Birds. ■ Mineralogy. 



Botany. Mollusks. 



Children's room. Oriental archaeology. 



Comparative anatomy. Paleobotany. 



Editor. Parasites. 



Ethnology. Photography. 



Fishes. Prehistoric anthropology. 



Geology. Reptiles. 



History. Stratigraphic paleontology. 



Insect.s. Technology. 



Mammals. 



TAXIDERMY AND OSTEOLOGY. 



Owing to the absence in Cuba, during several months, of Mr. William 

 Palmer, chief taxidermist, and the detail of his assistant during the 

 last half of the year to the Division of Mammals, the amount of taxi- 

 dermic work accomplished has been less than usual. Sixty-tive speci- 

 mens in the flesh, including 81 mammals, 23 birds, and 11 reptiles, 

 and also 11(> skins of mammals, were received. Many of the fresh 

 specimens came from the National Zoological Park. Twenty-five 

 skins were mounted for the exhibition cases and 93 were prepared for 

 the study series. Many specimens were renovated or remounted for 

 dispUi}' purposes. 



The taxidermists of the Division of Birds have remade a number of 

 old skins, besides preparing and mounting several specimens received 

 in the flesh. They have also reduced some of the mounted specimens 

 to skins and have overhauled a large portion of the extensive exhibi- 

 tion series. 



The amount of osteological work has also been smaller than usual, 

 because of the necessity of transferring one of the assistants tempo- 

 rarily to the Department of Geology. One thousand skulls of mammals 

 and the skeletons of several mammals and l)irds received in the flesh 

 have, however, been cleaned. The large skeleton of the luunpback 

 whale which has ])een displayed in the Osteological Hall was removed, 

 and in its place has been substituted the specimen formerly suspended 

 in the south hall, showing both the skeleton and the exterior. 



PHOTOGRAPHY. 



Mr. T. W. Smillie, the photogi"aph(M\ reports having made for the 

 Museum during the year 435 negativi\s, r>-l:4 platinuiu prints, 175 silver 

 prints, 1,8-1:1 blue prints, and (57 traMs[)arencies. In a nuiseum of the 



