152 UEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



determined, therefore, to restri75t the exhibit to a coUectiou of North 

 Ainericau game-birds, of which 171 specimeiKs (a large number of tbem 

 mounted specially for the occasion), representing 123 si)ecies, were 

 sent. These were installed bj' Dr. L. Stejueger, assistant curator. 

 This collection embraces, with a few unimportant exceptions, all the 

 North American species of the turkey, grouse, and partridge families, 

 besides all the species of swans, geese, and ducks, shore-birds, &c., of 

 Eastern North America, all accurately labeled with both their P'nglish 

 and scientific names. 



Fuhlications. — The total number of papers published during 1884 which 

 were based exclusively or in jjart on the bird collection of the National 

 Museum is GO, embracing about 450 octavo pages, and of books, 3 vol- 

 umes, two royal 8vo, with a total of 1,096 pages, and one imperial octavo 

 of 893 pages. 



PRESENT STATE OF THE COLLECTION. 



(a) Mounted and alcoholic specimens and sTcins. 



Condition. — In all respects except the manner of installation of the 

 exhibition series, and some inconveniences of arrangement resulting 

 from insufficient storage facilities, the present condition of the collec- 

 tion is excellent. No injury has been done by insects, owing in part to 

 the tight-fitting cases in which the principal part of the skin collection 

 is kept and to the close surveillance kept .over those specimens to which 

 insects could gain access. Bisulphide of carbon has been freely used in 

 all the drawers, close-fitting and otherwise, and any infected specimens 

 discovered were at once quarantined and fumigated. The collection is 

 in very urgent need of better accommodations, however, as is more 

 fully explained under the head of " Eecommendations." 



Extent. — It was found impracticable to make an actual inventory of 

 the collections at the end of 1884, on account of the pressure of numer- 

 ous other duties. But the following estimate, based on the inventory 

 for 1883 and the number of specimens received and distributed during 

 the past year, may be considered as approximately correct : 



SpeciaueDB. 



Kesei' ve skin series 35i, 550 



Exhibition series 6i 800 



Duplicate series 9, 350 



Alcoholic series 1, 650 



Total 50,350 



The reserve series, exclusive of alcoholics, consisted therefore of 

 about 39,350 specimens at the end of 1884. 



{h) Oological collection. 



The collection of birds' eggs has been completely overhauled and 

 rearranjied during the year by Oapt. ('harles E. Beudire, U. S. A., 

 assisted by Mr. C. W. Beckham and Miss Harriet JS. Perkins, Captain 



