72 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



The following were the principal purchases of plants made during the 



pear: 917 specimens fr Georgia, L,293 specimens from Florida and 



Mississippi, 670 specimens from Missouri, 295 specimens from New 

 Mexico, 268 specimens from Mexico, and 100 specimens (Algge) from 

 various localities in the United States. 



WORK ON THE STUDY COLLECTIONS. 



In the Division of Mammals the work of renovating skins in danger 

 of destruction on account of their greasy condition or otherwise was 

 continued, special attention being- paid to the medium-sized skins 

 monkeys, small carnivores, etc. About 600 specimens were treated 

 during the year. 



The collections of small mammals are now in good condition and for 

 the most part well arranged. The collections of large skins, on the 

 other hand, are still to a great extent in bad or even dangerous con- 

 dition, (\uv to lack of cases, room, and taxidermic assistance. The 

 specimens in cases are overcrowded, and hundreds have remained for 

 several years without cases, exposed to dust and vermin. Still others 

 are in vats containing preservatives, where they have remained for a 

 number of years. 



Considerable work has been done during the year in rearranging 

 the large skulls, a commodious storage space having been provided 

 behind the large wall case on the east side of the South Hall. 



A considerable number of worthless mammal skins which had accu- 

 mulated were brought together, passed upon b} T a committee of inspec- 

 tion, and condemned. 



In order to make room for headquarters for the Depaitment, the 

 mammal collections of the Biological Survey, Department of Agri- 

 culture, formerly in the south entrance of the Museum building, were 

 transferred to the north balcony. Some 3,000 small mammal skulls 

 belonging to the collection of the Survey were cleaned during the 

 year, a platform was built on the cases containing the collections in 

 the southeast range, and 12 new unit cases were constructed. 



In the Division of Birds little work was done on the cabinet collec- 

 tions. The assistant curator was alone, and being fully occupied by 

 the preparations for the Pan-American Exposition and the installation 

 of the children's room, he found little time to devote to other than 

 routine work, such as answering correspondence, recording specimens, 

 attending to accessions, loans, etc. Toward the end of the year, how- 

 ever, 18 new half-unit cases were placed in the West basement, and a 

 beginning made in transferring the birds from the old and imperfect 

 cases previously used and arranging them in systematic order. The 

 collections of birds' eggs are in excellent condition, but the nests are 

 not properU housed, being still in cases not dust proof. The dupli- 



