34 REPORT or NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1907. 



first or reserve scries of specimens and the remainder of the dupli- 

 cates were to come to the National Museum. A partial separation 

 under this agreement was made several years ago, but the final ad- 

 justment of the matter, in which the great bulk of the collections is 

 concerned, was left to be taken up during the past year. The work 

 began in April, L907, and will occupy at least six months. The two 

 assistant curators of the division of marine invertebrates have been 

 detailed to cooperate with Professor Verrill in carrying out this im- 

 portant undertaking, which will result in the transfer to the Museum 

 of many thousands of valuable specimens, including a great number 

 of types, and of species not hitherto represented in the collections. 



In the division of plants the rearrangement of the herbarium on 

 the system of Engler and Prantl, which has been mentioned in pre- 

 vious reports, was nearly completed. Specimens to the number of 

 28,378 were incorporated in the permanent series, making the total 

 number of sheets so disposed of since the transfer of (he collection to 

 the Museum 319,982. The number of specimens mounted during the 

 year was 9,617. One hundred and sixty-eight pigeonholes were added 

 to the herbarium stacks, bringing (he total to L0,362. The matter of 

 adopting metal cases received further consideration, and a trial case 

 has been in use during a part of the year. 



All the skulls and skeletons of birds in the division of comparative 

 anatomy contained in the Museum building were rearranged in ac- 

 cordance with Sharpe's classification. A catalogue was made of all 

 the osteological material stored in the west shed on Ninth street, with 

 the exception of the birds preserved in alcohol, from which skeletons 

 are to be prepared at a future time. Apart from a few skeletons 

 and some very large pieces, all the miscellaneous mammalian skele- 

 tons were brought into the Museum building, in order that such as 

 were of value might be put in their proper places. 



The chief taxidermist remounted the group of Polar bears pre- 

 sented by Mrs. E. M. Ziegler, the position of the bears being changed, 

 a seal introduced, and new groundwork constructed. A Kashmir stag 

 was also renovated and 41 small mammals were mounted. The latter 

 represent a distinct advance in a branch of taxidermy, which has 

 always been considered very difficult, special care being taken to 

 faithfully represent the physiognomy and characteristic attitudes of 

 these little animals. The results are very satisfactory, especially in 

 those cases in which it was possible to use fresh skins. The species 

 were chiefly North and South American and European. About DO 

 other specimens and groups were repaired or prepared for the reserve 

 series. The taxidermist assigned directly to the division of mammals. 

 besides much miscellaneous work, made up '.)<> skins for the study 

 series and skinned 19 other mammals and 12 reptiles. The bird 

 taxidermist was chiefly engaged in remounting valuable large Old 



