REPORT OP ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 147 



euhauced by tlie careful and exi»licit lal>eliiii;-, in jxtpular language, of 

 every object contained in it. 



The gifts <»f material in this department have been so numerous and 

 valuable that it is not practicable to mention in this place e\en by 

 name all the contributors. They are enumerated in the list of acces- 

 sions in Api)endixYi. 



Among the collections containing more than lifty specimens may be 

 menti(uied those of Dr. W. L. Abbott, from Kashmir and Baltistan; 

 of Dr. W. L. Abbott, from the mountains and vale of Kashmir; of P. L. 

 Jouy, from Jalisco, Mexico; of Dr. E. A. Mearns, U. S. Army, from 

 northern Mexico, and the adjacent parts of Isew Mexico, Texas, and 

 Arizona, including 823 skins; of Lieut. Wirt Robinson, U. S. Army, 

 from Colombia and Curasao. 



Mr. Ridgway reports as follows upon the state of the collection: 



The present state of the coUectioa is very satisfactory as regards preservation, but 

 quite otherwise so tar as the arrangement of the skin collection of the larger birds,storefl 

 chiefly in the \vest basement, is eoncerned. This is due to causes almost beyond con- 

 trol, the chief of which is the congested state of the collection, which has far outgrown 

 the space available for storage. The difficulty is, moreover, constantly increasing. 

 To remedy the trouble considerable progress has, however, been made in rearrange- 

 ment; but the space is so much overcrowded with cases that work can only be done 

 slowly and at great disadvantage. At least five times the space now occupied by 

 the collection would be necessary for its proper iirrangement, without consideration 

 of future accessions. 



It has long been intended to make an extensive distribution of duplicate specimens, 

 both to relieve the congestion of our storage facilities and to advance the study of 

 ornithology in the various institutions of learning throughout the country ; but this 

 has been delayed until the entire collection can be rearranged, since the two being 

 simply different parts of the same undertaking, are necessarily carried on together. 



The total numberof specimens was, atthe end of June, 1893, substantially as follows : 



Total skin scries at end of June, 1892 60, 5^2 



Additions during 1892-"93 * 1^ 9j^5 



Total skins at end of June, 1893 62 517 



Exhibition collection at end of June, 1893 8, 154 



Total specimens at end of June, 1893 70 671 



Total specimens at end of June, 1892 68. 416 



Increase during 1892-'93 2 255 



The last entry at end of June, 1892, is 12(j,301. 

 The last entry at end of June, 1893, is 128,852. 



Specimens were sent for study to the American Museum of Natural 

 Hi.story, to Osbert Salvin, esq., and Count Salvador!, Loudon; to (iur- 

 dou Trumbidl, of Hartford; Witmer Stone, of Philadelphia, and other 

 specialists. 



DEPAKT3IENT OF BIRDS' EGGS. 



The collection of birds' eggs still remains in the charge of Maj. 0. 

 E. Bendire, U. S. Army, retired, who, since the gift of his own unsur- 



" Less additions to mounted collection (370 in number) and specimens distributed 

 (136). 



