STATE ZOOLOGIST. Xlil 
ornithologists residing in different parts of the State have very gen- 
erously offered me their assistance in the prosecution of the ornith- 
ological work, and it will be a pleasure to properly credit all such 
assistance in the final report. 
All acquisitions are properly recorded in the accession record of 
the museum, the record containing the accession number, the original 
number and all known data relating to each specimen, whether pur- 
chased, collected or donated. 
The ornithological material is recorded in a special record. 
A ecard catalogue of all this material is now being prepared, and when 
completed will make the material readily accessible. Other collec- 
tions, such as the collection of fishes and insects, will be similarly 
recorded and catalogued. 
It would be unpardonable not to call attention to the cramped con- 
dition of the zoological museum at this time. Some of the valuable 
collections noted above were presented rather reluctantly on account 
of the insecurity and insufficiency of the quarters. The insufficient 
protection against fire and the lack of room for proper display of speci- 
mens have diverted from us some most valuable material that is now 
the property of museums in the East. Collectors, and particularly 
specialists, will continue sending their best and rarest specimens to 
other museums just as long as we do not offer a safe and adequate de- 
pository. 
A zoological museum in good quarters and properly taken care of 
soon acquires material of great general interest and incalculable 
scientific value,—material that costs more in both time and money to 
collect and prepare than any other, and that often can not be dupli- 
cated at any price. It ought, therefore, be housed in the safest pos- 
sible building. 
The zoological museum in Pillsbury Hall has, without any special 
effort on the part of the curator, already acquired an amount of ma- 
terial that simply cannot be properly displayed or arranged in the 
present quarters. Hundreds of fine specimens are crowded into cup- 
boards, drawers and boxes. In this condition the zoological museum 
must be unsatisfactory to the visitors and discouraging to those in 
charge of it and desirous of building it up. Moreover, our opportun- 
ity to get representatives of those animals which are rapidly disap- 
pearing from the State is slipping by. 
If the museum is ever to offer a true survey of what the animal 
kingdom of the State is and was, adequate and safe quarters must be 
provided very soon. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
HENRY F. NACHTRIEB. 
