REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF HERPETOLOGY. 159 



reat care and cxa<'titud»', aud areuccessitated by the business of the 



epartment, which has greatly increased in magnitude during the last 



ve years. These records are as follows : 



Record of reserve series. 



Record of general series. 



Record of letters received. 



Record of letters sent. 



Record of requisitions. 



Jn these may be found every matter of business transacted in the 

 !)epartment of Reptiles. 



No little labor is involved in attending promply to the official cor- 

 jesponlence, which is quite voluminous at times, for letters of inquiry 

 l.re received from all parts of the world, to answer w hich, require much 

 i.tudy, thought, aud labor. During the year 1884 over two hundred 

 etters were received and answered, and many were written in addi- 

 ,iou. 



I The long-cherished desire of the curator to have prepared a card-cat- 

 dogue of the (collection of reptiles is now in a fair way toward realiza- 

 ion, as a commencement has been made and over a thousand speci- 

 inens have been examined, verified, and recorded. This, in view of the 

 •egular work, which was arduous in 1884, is considered a good begin- 

 ;iiug. 



I The manuscript of a Manual of Herpetology (mentioned in last year's 

 report) by the curator, could be put into the hands of the printer within 

 \i short period if the illustrations were all completed. Owing to a want 

 jf funds, further work upon these has been stopped. 



No special work has been attempted this year apart from the routine 

 iluties and field researches. 



At the present tim(5 the collection is in excellent condition, which 

 eould be much improved were more space available. Although since 

 iDecember 1, 1884, the business of the Reptile Department has been 

 closed \)\ the furloughing of both assistants, still constant attention is 

 given in order that the specimens may not perish for want of suitable 

 care. 



Number of specimens on hand : 



In Tfcservf series 8, 926 



In general soies „ 8,819 



Exhibition set (selected for) : 



Domestic «jOO 



Foreign 150 



Not classi fieri and exotic specimens, probably .S, 000 



Total 23,495 



Total iiumher of entries in record book, 1884 584 



Total nnniher of specimens received to January 1, 1885 1,494 



Total nnmher of entries in record up to January 1, 1885 , 14, 329 



