REPORT OP DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS lf)3 



Bendire presented to the Natioual Museum his unique colleitiou of 

 North American birds' efjgs, numbering nearly 8,(KK> beautifully pre- 

 pared specimens, representing unrivaled series of many very rare 

 species, besides a number not previously represented in the Musouni. 

 This valuable collection was incorporated with that of the .Museum, lh<^ 

 two thus combined being entirely rearranged after the sequence of 

 species given in the latest edition of the '■'Smithsonian" catalogue of 

 North American birds (liulietiu U. !S. National Museum, No. lil),, and 

 neatly packed in glass-topped drawers, between strips of cotton batting. 

 The colle(;tion is arranged in 5 unit cases and 154 drawers, besides va- 

 1 ions other temporary receptacles. 



A complete census of the egg collection has been made by Miss Per- 

 kins, assisted by Mr. Hugh M. Smith. The total number of eggs, ex- 

 clusive of those in nests, which were not counted, is 40,07L', distributed 

 as follows : 



North American reserve series ^4, 483 



North American duplicate series II , 317 



Total North American 35 fiOO 



Paliearctic reserve series 2, 53(; 



Neotropical reserve series 1,211 



Miscellaueous foreign series ItK) 



Kerguelen Island series 104 



Foreign duplicate series 2'6l 



Total foreign collection 4, 272 



35,600 



Grand total •. 40, 072 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Cases Jor the exhibition aeries. — By far the most urgent need of the 

 department of birds is the want of suitable cases for the arrangement of 

 I he exhibition collection. The main purpose of this collection being the 

 entertainment and instruction of the general public, it is due the latter 

 that this, to them most important, i>oi'tion of the (;ollections should be 

 exhibited in a manner which will aliord them the nutans of deriving both 

 l)leasure and instruction from its inspection. In its ])resent condition the 

 exhibition series of birds is not only not in keeping with the dignity of 

 tile National Aluseunj, but it is actually ami deservedly the subject of 

 imuih unfavorable comment. With the cases at present provided it is 

 not possible to arrange the collection in any attractive manner, even 

 were the number of cases sufficient for its aceoiumcxlation. The Ameri 

 can Museum of Natural History in New York City is able, on account 

 of its large, well-lighted, and admirably constructed cases, to make a 

 display of the most diversitied forms of the feathered creation, with 

 which the bird exhibit of the National Museum cannot be compared, 

 except to its discredit, i would most earnestly recommend that the 



