REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPARATIVE ANATOMY 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



By Frederic A. Lucas, Assistant Curator. 



During the past year the specimens collected for this department by 

 the Eclipse Expedition of 1889-'90 have been identilied and catalogued, 

 and some necessary work was done on vertebrate fossils. 



A large portion of the time of the assistant curator has been occupied 

 in drawing up a tentative plan for a synoptic exhibition series of in- 

 vertebrates, mounting the specimens, and writing labels for the portion 

 arranged. Labels needed for the exhibition series of skeletons, and for 

 the specimens of domesticated animals, have also been prepared, and 

 the work of labeling the exhibition series of vertebrate fossUs was com- 

 menced. 



Mne small lots of specimens of fossil and recent bones have been 

 submitted and identified. Many specimens have been lent to Dr. K. 

 W. Shufeldt for study in connection with the preparation of a work on 

 the osteology of North American birds. Skulls of various fishes were 

 prepared for the use of Dr. Gill, and a series of bones of Ehytina was 

 selected for the Museum of Comi^arative Zoology. 



The more important accessions during the year were a small collection 

 of North Bornean birds, containing some important desiderata, and a 

 collection of birds made by Mr. Wm. Palmer at the Pribylof Islands. 

 The additions to the exhibition series have been mainly skeletons of 

 such birds as were needed to complete the representation of important 

 groups. Three species of Galapagos Tortoises were also mounted. It 

 is gratifying to report the continued growth of the study series of 

 osteological specimens, especially of mammals and birds, although it 

 is to be regretted that, owing to lack of sutficient space and of the 

 necessaiy time, it is impossible to j)roperly arrange them. Were space 

 available, six mouths' time, or more, could be i^rofitably spent on the 

 birds alone, as this part of the collection represents the accumulations 

 of years, and includes much material still unclassified. 



No special researches have been made in this department during the 

 year, with the exception of a careful study by the assistant curator of 

 the osteology of the Family Faridcc and some of its allies. He has also 



243 



