XIII 



REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM FOR 

 THE YEAR 1917 



Barton Warren Evermann 

 Director of the Museum 



The annual report of the Director for the year 1916 was 

 presented to the Academy at the annual meeting of February 

 21, 1917. At that time 11 of the large habitat groups, four 

 intermediate groups and two small groups had been completed. 

 Since then new groups have been completed as follows : 



California Condor. — Although the background for this 

 group had been painted in 1916 by Mr. Charles Abel Corwin, 

 it was not until in 1917 that the necessary birds for the group 

 were obtained. In May of that year three splendid birds, an 

 adult male, an adult female, and a young bird perhaps one year 

 old, were secured, in Ventura County by Mr. Jos. P. Herring. 

 These have now been installed and make a very striking group. 



San Joaquiti Valley Jl'ater-Fozvl. — This group shows the 

 various species of ducks, geese, and other water-fowl that 

 spend the winter in the San Joaquin Valley. Six species of 

 geese and about 25 species of ducks are represented. The birds 

 were obtained by Messrs. Paul J. Fair and Arthur L. Reed, 

 with the assistance of Mr. Thos. Rooney, in the vicinity of 

 Gadwall, Merced County, California, through the courtesy of 

 the Los Banos Gun Club. 



The background was painted by Captain Charles Bradford 

 Hudson and makes a scene of unusual interest and beauty. On 

 the whole, this group is generally regarded as the most beauti- 

 ful that has as yet been completed. 



'^I'he Academy has been able to install this really remarkai)!e 

 group through the liberality of Mr. Herbert Fleishhacker who 

 very generously met all the expenses connected with its prepara- 

 tion. 



California Clapper Rail. — This is one of the most attractive 

 of the small panel groups thus far prepared. There are siioun 



