REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 143 



skeletons and two skulls of the genus J'ro(h'l2)hinns. accompanied by notes on the 

 external coloration, which will doubtless throw light on tlie identity of the species 

 of this genus of dolphins. The collection also includes several specimens of Fruit- 

 bats, Fteropus, including some which appear to represent an undescribed species. Mr. 

 William Astor Chanler deposited a collection of about 35 mounted heads of African 

 antelopes. An excellent series of 31 skins of the large game of South Africa, includ- 

 ing the true zebra, hartebeestes, gnus, and otlier antelopes, lions, hyenas, wart-hogs, 

 etc., were presented by Mr. H. C. Mooi"e. Dr. P. L. Sclater, secretary of tlie Zoolog- 

 ical Society of London, presented a number of pelts of antelopes, and other East 

 African mammals, collected in Berbera, Somali, by Capt. Swayne. Mounted speci- 

 nu!us o( Anomalitrus, Siuutnia, (lalcojiitluciiii. and Bathi/nrgus were purchased to till gai)8 

 in the exhibition series. A number of small maunuals of liurmah, from the collection 

 of L. Fea, were also purchased. Skins of Brown's Kangaroo, the Spotted Cuscus, and 

 the Papuan wild hog, characteristic mammals of New Guinea, were obtained from 

 Bruno Geisler. 



Dr E. A. Mearns, U. S. Army, continued his extensive collection of mammals 

 from the Mexican boundary. Mr. P. L. Jouy made a collection in Mexico, and Prof. 

 B. W Evermann in South Dakota. Mr. C. H. Townsend, of the U. S. Fish Commis- 

 sion, obtained a Califoruian Sea lion (in San Luis Bay, Lower California), three Sea 

 elephants, and a Steller's Sea lion. Prof. C. H. Gilbert obtained for the Museum, 

 near Monterey, Cal., a fietal specimen of the rare Steam's grampus, Grampua 

 stearnsii. Forty-four mammals were received f'-om the Zoological Park, including 

 4 bears, 2 Venezuelan deer, 3 llamas, a beaver, and several monkeys. A fine skeleton 

 and a skull of the extinct Artie Sea cow, Rhytina, were purchased through the 

 U.S. Fish Commission. The commission also obtained a skull of a Walrus. A skele- 

 ton of the Rocky Mountain Goat was purchased. 



As already stated, few changes were made in the exhibition hall during the year. 

 The collections presented a more or less chaotic appearance, owing to the necessity 

 of withdrawing specimens for the Columbian Exposition. 



The regular routine work of the department was carried on as usual. The skulls 

 and skins deposited by the Department of Agriculture were entered; the work of 

 cleaning skulls belonging to these collections progressed continuously, and 122 skins 

 were made up, including 15 deer, 27 fur-seals, and other larger forms. 



The system of cataloguing the skin and skull of the same individual under diflerent 

 numbers, which had been in operation since 1852, has been abandoned so far as the 

 collections deposited by the Department of Agriculture were concerned, and all 

 specimens derived from a single individual, whatever their character, now receive 

 the same number. The same system will be applied to the regular series as soon as 

 the present volume of the catalogue is closed. The first number of the new series is 

 50,001. The old plan, which was satisfactory while the collection w;ls small, had 

 become very burdensome, and was furthermore constantly i>roducing confusion in 

 numbers. 



A space in the upper part of the south-entrance laboratory was made available for 

 storage pur])oses by the construction of a gallery, or second floor, at the south end 

 of the room. 



As soon as they were relieved of work for the World's Fair, the taxidermists 

 proceeded to overhaul the skins which had accumulated in the vats for the previous 

 two years, and also early accessions. It was found that many had deteriorated 

 more or less for lack of attention, and a few were entirely ruined As many as pos- 

 sible were dried for the study series and others were laid aside to be mounted at the 

 earliest opportunity. This work was still in progress at the clo.se of the year. The 

 mounting of two antelopes, a gnu, and a hartbeest was begun. During the year 

 82 dry skins were made up for the study series of the Museum, and, as already 

 Stated, 122 skins belonging to the Department of Agriculture <leposit. 



Dr. E. A. Mearns, IJ. S. Army, with the aid of aa assistant, continued for some 



