Custodian.] 16 [May li, 



R. Hunt, F. Perriii, J. Ritchie, S. H. Sylvester and the 

 Smithsonian Institution. 



The department of the Nests and Eggs of Birds has been 

 enriched by the collection of eggs presented by Mrs. Bryant, 

 numbering 1500 specimens of more than 350 species; the 

 greater ])nrt are from North America, and were chosen by 

 .Dr. Bryant himself, as a first selection from the duplicates of 

 the Smithsonian Institution. A suite of nests, 75 in nmnber, 

 accompanied the collection of humming birds, already men- 

 tioned as the gift of Mrs. Bryant. A number of nests and 

 eggs of American birds have been received from the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, and a few other donations from Rev. J. 

 M. Hubbard and Messrs. W. T. Brigham and D. F. Carlton. 



The law permitting scientific miiseums to obtain alcohol 

 free of excise, enabled us to purchase a large quantity at a 

 low price ;^ as a sufliicient number of glass jars has also been 

 procured, the restrictions formerly resting on the Curators 

 of re])tiles and fishes, are now wholly removed ; a room has 

 been furnished for their special use, and the public will soon 

 be invited to witness the progress which has been made in 

 these departments. 



Tlie dry specimens of Reptiles have been carefully poi- 

 soned and prepared for exhibition, and the wet specimens 

 examined, separated and placed in a safe condition. The 

 collection Avill soon be transferred to new cases, where the 

 American and foreign specimens are to be arranged sep- 

 arately by orders. The Curator reports eight hundred speci- 

 mens in this department, to three hundred and thirty-three 

 of which localities are attached. About fifty of these local- 

 ized specimens are dry ; of the alcoholic specimens, 155 are 

 North American and 128 exotic ; the former comprise 29 

 Ichthyodi or tailed batrachians, 20 Anura or tailless batrach- 



• Unfortunately the law has been recently rescinded, and much of what we had 

 obtained is already consumed. 



