50 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



iinie which wouUl otherwise be given to study is oonsumed iu the spe- 

 cial work of the exposition, and nnfortunately the outcome of this work 

 does not as a rule redound to the full benefit of tlie Museum after the 

 exposition is over. This subject has been already dwelt upon in previous- 

 reports, and while the Museum is always ready to make every effort 

 to provide a creditable display at expositions, it can not be said that, 

 taking everything into consideration, the Museum is much the gainer. 

 It is true that special appropriations are generally made to enable the 

 Museum to participate, but these are so inadequate that not only is the 

 result usually unsatisfactory to the Museum authorities, but also the 

 specimens purcliased are not always such as can be assimilated with 

 the permanent Museum exhibits after their return to Washington. 



Notwithstanding these obstacles, very excellent headway has been 

 made in strictly Museum work in many of the departments, as will be 

 seen in the following account of what has been accomplished. 



DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 



By far the most important collection received during the year was 

 that sent iu by Dr. W. L. Abbott, who has collected during the year in 

 Eastern Turkestan, on the border of the Pamir, and in Kashmir. He 

 presented a collection of 107 specimens, including several fine speci- 

 mens of Himalayan ibex, Polo's sheep, Asiatic gazelle, stag, etc., 

 together with good series of marmots, pikas, mice, and other small 

 forms. Mr, William Astor Ohanler presented the type of Ohanler's 

 lieed Buck ( Gerricapra ChanJcri). From Mr. H. C. Moore were received 

 40 mammals from South Africa, including several antelopes. This col- 

 lection will serve an excellent purpose iu filling existing vacancies in the 

 exhibition series. A collection of West African species, though mostly 

 in the form of pelts, was received from Mr. J. H. Camp. It included 

 two specimens of the very rare Golden Mole (Chrysochloris leucorhina). 



The collection has received numerous additions from the National 

 Zoological Park, in accordance with the general understanding that 

 animals dying in confinement shall be turned over to the National 

 Museum, the skins and skulls coming to this department and the 

 skeletons being transferred to the department of comparative anatomy. 

 Several interesting animals, obtained by the Fish Commission, were 

 also added to the collection. From the G-overnment exhibits of Costa 

 Kica, Ceylon, Korea, and Johore at the World's Columbian Exposition, 

 specimens of mammals were acquired at the close of the Exposition, 

 although they were not recorded on the catalogue of the department 

 until during the fiscal year covered by this report. The number of 

 individuals contributing material to this department during the year 

 was 56. The collections of Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, made during his con- 

 nection with the Mexican Boundary Commission, included 708 specimens 

 of mamnuils. This gift contained material of much scientific value, the 

 specimens having been prepared and labeled with the greatest care. 



