104 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889 



In the Department of Birds the interiors of several cases were painted light buff, 

 thirty-two new shelves for mahogany Qoor cases were fitted up, and Locks were* 

 put on unit cases. In the Department of Paleozoic Fossils thirty-nine trays and two 

 hundred and thirty-one new drawers to unit table cases were eased. A large number 

 of shelves for cases were repaired for the Section of Textiles. 



THE WORK OF THE MUSEUM PREPARATORS. 



The preparation of specimens for exhibition in the Museum and for 

 the study series has been satisfactorily continued. The work of mod- 

 eling is in charge of Mr. W. T. Hornaday, chief taxidermist. 



TAXIDERMISTS AND MODELERS. 



The operations of the department in preparing groups of mammals 

 have been greatly hampered by the vast amount of other necessary 

 routine work, but considerable progress has been made with several 

 groups which it is expected will be completed during the coming year. 



These groups are : 



Gray Squirrels. — Part of this group was completed for the Cincinnati 

 Exposition, but owing to lack of space it was not sent. It has now 

 been decided to increase its size, incorporating in it all that it is pos- 

 sible to exhibit of the life history of the squirrels, thus making it more 

 comprehensive and instructive. 



Red Squirrels. — What is stated of the gray-squirrel group applies 

 to this group also. 



Red and Gray Foxes. — Some work has been done on these groups, but 

 more material has yet to be collected. 



Rabbits. — Material has been collected for this group, and it will be 

 one of the first finished. 



Moose. — Considerable work has been done on this large and important 

 group. The manikins for three of the six animals of which this group 

 will be composed, have been made, and it is the intention to bring it to 

 completion at an early date. The group will occupy a special case of 

 the same dimensions as that containing the group of buffaloes. 



In addition to the work mentioned above, a portion of the necessary 

 materials for several other groups have been collected and designs 

 drawn. These groups will include the Rocky Mountain Goat, Rocky 

 Mountain Sheep, Musk-ox, Beaver, Raccoon, and Woodchuck. 



The Opossum and Prairie-Dog groups have been put in their new 

 cases and the Orang-outang group retouched. The Antelope group 

 was sent to the Cincinnati Exposition. When a new case for this group 

 has been made, it is intended to add several specimens of different ages, 

 and to rearrange it for exhibition. 



