24 REPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



together ami arranged in the exhibition hall a series of thefire-inakiug 

 tools of most of the American aborigines. The Curator has extended 

 his studies on the subject of human transportation.* 



Mr. Thomas Wilson, Curator of Prehistoric Anthropology, has pro- 

 posed a re-arrangement of the exhibition hall on the second floor of the 

 Smithsonian building. His plans are set forth in his report.t 



Mr. True. Curator of Mammals, has continued the work of arranging 

 the hall under his charge. Groups of prairie dogs and opossums have 

 been thus treated during the year. Several special cases have been 

 constructed for this department. Some important changes in the ar- 

 rangement of the exhibition series have been effected. These are ex- 

 plained in detail in the report of the Curator. 



The systematic arrangement of special bird exhibits has been accom- 

 plished by Mr. Eobert Eidgway, Curator. These are descri bed at length 

 in his report.t The arrangement of the collection of skins is considered 

 by Mr. Eidgway to be exceedingly unsatisfactory, on account of the 

 lack of storage room. An apartment in the south tower has been as- 

 signed to this department. 



Capt. Charles E. Bendire, Curator of Birds' Eggs, has continued the 

 arrangement of the reserve series and also of the series of eggs of for- 

 eign birds. 



A thorough re- arrangement of the entire collection of reptiles and 

 batrachians has been found necessary, and Dr. Leonhard Stejueger, 

 Curator, has already made a beginning with the reserve series of North 

 American species. Lack of proper accommodations necessarily ren- 

 ders any work of this kind slow and difficult. 



The collection of fishes is very inadequately provided for. Dr. T. H. 

 Beau, Curator, states that it has become necessary to place the 

 jars containing the specimens on the floor, thereby putting them in 

 danger of being broken, and causing much extra labor and confusion. 



Mr. William H. Dall, Curator of Mollusks, has arranged for exhibi- 

 tion the Lea collection of Unionidw, and he hopes to be able to com- 

 plete during the summer the arrangement of this magnificent collection 

 of fresh water mussels. 



In the Department of Insects there has been unusual activity in the 

 arrangement and preparation of collections for exhibition. Work upon 

 a general exhibition collection to be permanently placed iu the Museum 

 has been carried on. An additional laboratory has been completed for 

 the use of this department by the construction of a room over the Pub- 

 lic Comfort room. The arrangement of the reserve collection is pro- 

 gressing. The rearrangement of the Coleoptera has been continued, 

 and the family Oarabidse has been entirely re-arranged, occupying sixty- 

 eight boxes in the reserve collection and eighteen double boxes in the 

 duplicate series. 



* See paper ou this subject iu the Museum report for ld87, p. 237. 

 t See section II. 



