34 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1918. 



tions made in Celebes by Mr. H. C. Haven, under the grant made by 

 Dr. W. L. Abbott, and in China by Mr. Arthur de C. Sowerby, rank 

 only second to the above. During his exploration in British 

 Columbia Secretary Walcott collected a number of large mammals, 

 including a family of moose, which form a valuable addition to the 

 North American series of mammals. Mention may finally be made 

 of a skull of a killer- whale from Florida, presented by Mr. Lawrence 

 S. Chubb, as it represents a genus not known to have been previ- 

 ously taken on the coasts of the United States. 



In making room for the Bureau of War Risk Insurance it was 

 found necessary in October to move the skin collection to the second 

 floor. The completion of the rearrangement of the small skulls much 

 improved the condition of that series. While it was impossible to 

 secure the needed additional accommodations in the attic for the 

 collection of large skeletons, some much needed space was gained by 

 removing from the cases material of little or no scientific value in 

 consequence of bad condition or lack of history. Progress was also 

 made in labeling this collection and in substituting standard paste- 

 board boxes for old ones of odd sizes and makes in which medium- 

 sized skeletons are stored. The final arrangement of the alcoholic 

 material was completed. No change in the storing of the cetacean 

 material, which is most valuable, has yet been possible, owing to lack 

 of proper cases, the skulls of porpoises especially suffering from 

 crowding. 



The making up in the office of skins sent in flat by collectors has 

 been continued, as well as the making over or dismounting of some 

 old specimens, 15 medium-sized skins having been thus prepared. 

 The Museum force cleaned 1,307 large and medium skulls, 72 skele- 

 tons, 4 sets of leg bones, and 2 antlers, while by contract 4,310 small 

 and medium-sized skulls were thus cared for. This work has pro- 

 gressed so satisfactorily that at the end of- the year only about 80 

 medium-sized skulls and 42 skeletons remained uncleaned. Three 

 large skins have been tanned and 14 skins are now in progress of tan- 

 ning by contract. 



The revised classification of the rodents, undertaken by the curator, 

 Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, jr., in conjunction with Mr. James W. Gidley, 

 assistant curator of fossil mammals, as mentioned in previous reports, 

 has progressed, and a synopsis of the classification was completed for 

 immediate publication. In addition, Mr. Miller has prepared a new 

 edition of his " List of North American mammals in the U. S. Na- 

 tional Museum" (Bulletin No. 79). Besides including all additions 

 to the collections made since 1911, its scope has been extended to in- 

 clude the sirenians and cetaceans, the intention being to keep the 

 manuscript up to date for reference, with the idea of publication 

 whenever opportunity affords, Other researches by the curator re- 



