56 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



his literary work at home. lu view of the diflQculties encouutered, he 

 is entitled to great credit for the work which he has been able to 

 accomplish in addition to the routine duties of the department. 



The explorations of Dr. W. L. Abbott in Kashmir, Ladak, and Turk- 

 estan, have, as already intimated, redounded in a large degree to the 

 benefit of this department. The collecting work accomplished by Dr. 

 Edgar A. Mearns and Mr. F. X. Holzner, of the Mexican Boundary 

 Survey, by Mr. Ridgway in Maryland and Florida, and by Mr. William 

 Palmer in Florida, has resulted in the acquisition of many interesting 

 specimens. 



Several ornithologists have used material belonging to the depart- 

 ment in connection with their special studies. In some instances the 

 material was transmitted to their homes, while in others it was studied 

 in the gallery of the department. The curator gives the names of tliirty 

 persons through whose cooperation the collections have been enriched 

 during the year. 



It is gratifying to remark that the material in this department has 

 served as a basis for 26 papers published during the year by the 

 curator, Mr. C. W. Richmond, the assistant curator, and several col- 

 laborators of the Museum. These are all included in the Bibliography 

 (Appendix iv). 



The total number of specimens received during the year was 5,499- 



The entries in the catalogue books aggregate 5,499, as follows: 



„ , ^ , i 133219-13.5700 



Regular catalogues J 149801-150721 



De])artment of Agriculture catalogue 135701-136130 



Boucai'd colltctiou catalogue 115 101-146706 



DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS' EGGS. 



Maj. Charles Bendire, honorary curator, rex)orts that 2,023 eggs and 

 nests were added to the collection during the year. Their value is pro- 

 portionately as great as that of the accessions in the previous year, 

 although far less in number. Several new species and subspecies were 

 included. Nearly all the accessions to this collection were given to the 

 Museum, and the records contain the names of 30 donors wlio have thus 

 rendered assistance. Only four specimens were acquired by purchase 



The most important contributions were made, as in several previous 

 years, by Dr. William M. Ralph, of Utica, N. Y., whose generosity has 

 elicited the warmest gratitude of the Museum authorities. His con- 

 tributions this year consisted of 346 sets, including 1,224 eggs (repre 

 senting 159 species), and 50 nests. This accession contains many rare 

 and valuable specimens, besides adding nine species and subspecies to 

 the collection. Among other contributors of valuable accessions were 

 Dr. W. L. Abbott, of Philadelphia, Pa., who forwarded 38 specimens, 

 representing 11 species; and Mr. Chase Littlejohn, Redwood City, Cal., 

 who x>i"esented 20 specimens, representing three species. Collections 



