REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 139 



Williiim Diinviddio, of the Bni'e:m of Ethnology in Virginia and Mary- 

 land, and Mr. 0. Mindelelf and Mr. James Mooiiey, of the same lUireau 

 have added to the collections of aucieut and modern pueblo ware from 

 Arizona. Donations have been received from Messrs. Thomas Dow- 

 hug, W. II. Phillips, W. L. Abbott, C. Steckelniaii, E. A. Mearns, 

 Thomas Lee, S. L. Frey, J. A. Maxwell, P. L. Jouy, and Miss E. Mayer. 

 The important collection of ancient pueblo pottery madeby Mr. Thomas 

 Keam, of Arizona, which has for a number of years been exhibited as 

 a loan, was purchased by ^Nlrs. Mary Hemenway, of Boston. 



DEl'ARTMKNT OF MAMMA1.S. 



Very little regular work was done in the department during the 

 year, owing to the work for the Columbian Exposition, and the detail 

 of Mr. True, the curator, for general executive work of the Museum. 



In preparing plans of this exhibit two considerations were kept in 

 mind: First, that the Exposition commemorated the discovery of 

 America, and hence that the exhibit ought, as far as possible, to be 

 American in character; and, secondly, that as the general display of 

 the Museum was intended to furnish an indication of the difi'erent 

 branches of its exhibition-work, it was desirable to show, as far as pos- 

 sible, the several classes of such M^ork in which the department was 

 regularly engaged. 



It was first i^roposed that a prominent feature of the exhibit should 

 be a complete series of mounted skins of ISTorth American mammals, 

 including every species, and also every variety that had received a 

 distinctive name. It was intended that this exhibit should be a com- 

 plete rei)resentation of the mammal fauna of the country, and at the 

 same time should show the character and quality of the taxidermie 

 work done by the department. To bring into stronger relief certain of 

 the characteristic mammals of America, it was proposed, in addition, 

 to exhibit groups of specimens, with accessories indicating natural sur- 

 roundings. It was thought that these groups would also add to the 

 attractiveness of the exhibit, and bring into view another branch of the 

 taxidermie work of the Museum. 



At a later date, in order to enhance the interest of the exhibit, it was 

 proposed to include a representation of some of the characteristic mam- 

 mals of Central and South America, or possibly the genera complete. 



Finally, however, when the details of the allotment of space in the 

 Government building became known, the idan underwent considerable 

 modification. 



The complete rei)resentation of species of North American luammals 

 was then abandoued in favor of a display of all the American families, 

 by genera, as a part of a general series of American animals, arranged 

 on the same plan. Thus the exliibit, as finally installed, consisted of — 



1. A series of single mounted skins, representing the families of 

 American mammals, by genera. 



