54 REPORT OP NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



the name of Mr. A. Boucaid, Isle of Wight, Kuglaud, who presented 

 1,060 speciiiiens. These represent a large number of families. Dr. W. 

 L. Abbott, whose name occurs in connection with accessions in several 

 of the departments, contributed 258 specimeus from Kashmir, Ladak, 

 and Turkestan. Six accessions, including si)ecies obtained in Arizona, 

 California, and Lower California, wore transmitted by Br. Edgar A. 

 Mearns, TJ. S. A., and Mr. F. X. Holzuer, in connection with their 

 work on the Mexican IJonndary Survey. In addition. Dr. Mearns also 

 contributed .'UO specimeus, representing 100 species, from Fort Clark 

 and Fort Hancock, Tex. The curator obtained 152 specimens from 

 Florida, Maryland, and Illinois, and Mr. R. S. Matthews, of the National 

 jNlnseum, presented 159 specimens of birds from the United States, 

 Mexico, and Central America. Mr. Charles W. Richmond, assistant 

 curator of this department, presented 115 specimens from Virginia, 

 Mexico, Borneo, and other localities. Mr. William Palmer, chief tax- 

 idermist of the Museum, presented S specimens of Hooded AVarbler 

 from Virginia, and also collected 30 specimens from Florida. In addi 

 tion to collections received from individuals, mention should be made 

 of the contribution of 21 specimens from Alaska by the IT. S. Fish 

 Commission, and of 41 specimens from South America, ac(]uired from 

 the La Plata Museum, La Plata, Argentina, in exchange. 



A series of specimens has been selected with considerable care for a 

 special exhibit of a popular character. This has l»een installed on the 

 first floor of the south tower. In this series it is intended to include 

 every species likely to be asked for by the casual visitor, or by anyone 

 nmking an elementary study of ornithology. It is thought that it will 

 be of especial interest to the pupils of the public schools. The exhibit 

 consists of the following series: The more familiar European birds; the 

 more familiar North American birds; remarkable l)irds of other parts 

 of the world; a series illustrating and explaining the confusion of pop- 

 ular names, examples of protective coloring, protective mimicry, etc., 

 "Giants and Pygmies," or the largest and snuillest members of certain 

 groups; a series of eggs, showing a gradual transition in size from the 

 egg of the extinct JK})iornis to that of the smallest humming bird; albi- 

 nos and other abnormal color varieties and malformations, and a series 

 of flightless l)irds, together with those of extraordinary i)owers of 

 flight, for comparison. A catalogue will probably be printed, which, by 

 means of reference numbers and letters, corresj^onding to the number- 

 ing on the shelves and cases, will enable the visitor to locate any speci- 

 men witiiout ditflculty. In addition, a label will be provided for each 

 specimen. It is also proposed to place in the alcove a reading table 

 and a case containing a few selected works by well-known writers on 

 ornithology. 



Valuable assistance in the preparation of this exhibit has been 

 receive<l from ]\Irs. Olive Thorne Miller, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 



Tlie following paragraphs from the curator's report Avill serve to show 



