DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS. 



211 



and extent of these rcseaiclK s, so far as published, is indicated in the 

 list of pa])ers published during the year and printed in Section iv of 

 the report. 



PRESENT STATE ( »E THE COLLECTION. 



So far as preservation is concerned, all the specimens contained in 

 cases of reasonably modern ])attern are absolutely untouched by insects. 

 The mounted birds, being in remodeled old cases which freely admit 

 both dust and insects, have been subject to more or less injury, but 

 constant vigilance has kept them free from material damage. A con- 

 siderable part of the duplicate collection, kept in ordinary open draw- 

 ers (for want of better), have been to some extent injured by insects. 



The number of si>ccimeus contained in the collection at the end ot 

 June, 1891, is, approximately, as follows: 



study series 



Exhibition series . 

 Duplicate series .. 



1889-90. I 1890-'91. ! Increase.i Decrease. 



46.543 I ^49,995 | 3,452 \ 

 7,133 I t7,403 i 270 

 6,543 I 5,408 ! 



' Number estimated. 



t Number ascertained bv actual count. 



I One bundled and sixty-one dnidicates distriliuted, the remainder ])ut back inti. 



eserve series. 



The actual number of specimens in the study series can not be known 

 until the more bulky portion of it, now stored in the west basement, 

 wliere the specimens are so crowded that it is impossible to count them, 

 has been rearranged in more convenient cabinets. 



The number of the last catalogue entry in the Museum register of 

 birds m June, 1890, is 118,309, and in June, 1891, 120,751!. 



