REPORT OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. 59 



service not only for future exhibitions, but in the preparation of typical 

 collections to be distributed to educational institutions. 



The number of accessions during- the year amounted to 5,441, and the 

 total number of specimens in the collection is 45,252, of which 8,522 are 

 duplicates. The princii)al literary product of the department has been 

 a work upon prehistoric rishin<»' in Europe and North America, pre- 

 pared by the curator. 



18. DIVISION OF ZOOLOGY, 

 (a) Department of Mammals. 



Notwithstanding the absence of the curator, Mr. Frederick "W, True, 

 in Europe during the first quarter of the year, and other diversions of 

 his attention and time to routine work not connected with his regular 

 duties, the progress of this department has been exceedingly satisfac- 

 tory. The work upon the exhibition series has been hampered by the 

 fact that money has not been available for the construction of the de- 

 sired cases in the manimal hall. The collection is now, for the first 

 time iu many years, thoroughly classified and under control, and the 

 total number of skins and alcoholic specimens is reported to be 5,604, 

 of skulls and skeletons 4,212, making a total of 0,908. 



The accessions of the year have, in number, variety, and importance, 

 been fully equal to those of earlier periods. No less than 38 specimens, 

 including such rare and peculiar forms as the eland, harnessed antelope, 

 cheetah, two species of lemur, wart-hog, and baboons, have been re- 

 ceived from the proprietors of zoological gardens and menageries, for 

 which due acknowledgments are given in the Museum report. An un- 

 usual number of cetaceans and seals, many of great novelty and inter- 

 est, have been received from various sources. The amount of taxider- 

 mic work accomplished has been unusually great, owing to a special 

 allotment for the employment of extra help, made from the appropria- 

 tion for the New Orleans Exhibition, 149 specimens in all having been 

 added to the mounted series, including several large forms such as the 

 buffalo, puma, jaguar, and beaver. 



{h) Department of Birds. 



This year is shown by the report of Mr. Ridgway to have been one 

 of unusual activity in the Departu)ent of Birds. The collections have 

 been entirely rearranged, and the exhibition series is receiving a com- 

 plete overhauling. Over 1,200 skins have been mounted, and several 

 hundred of them fastened on walnut stands. Copy for 1,000 labels has 

 been iHei)ared. The total number of specimens in the reserve series is 

 50,550, 6,800 of which are in the exhibition series. In this, as in several 

 other departments, the main direction of (^fi'ort during the year was to- 

 wards the preparation of the special exhibit of North Anjerican game- 

 birds for the New Orleans Exposition, comi)rising 171 specimens, repre- 



