446 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



mer Mr. Ridgway does much of his work, and has there thousands 

 of bird skins conveniently arranged in cased trays, and also the 

 sectional ornithological library; while in the latter, besides vast 

 supplies of other specimens and material, there are nearly 20,000 

 bird skins stored away in cases. This is a most unfortunate cir- 

 cumstance, as in such a situation this priceless collection is not 

 only most inconveniently placed, but is far harder to defend 

 against museum pests, and in the event of fire would surely all 

 be lost. This reserve series of birds ought to be in a large, well- 

 ventilated room by itself, and so arranged as to be thoroughly 

 accessible. Indeed, another entire museum building is, and has 

 been, a long standing need, and when this is obtained it is to be 

 hoped that these splendid ornithological collections of the Gov- 

 ernment will be properly cared for and allotted a department to 

 themselves. 



As will be seen in my illustration, the cases containing the 

 mounted birds in this hall are confined to alcoves between the 

 columns, and below the corridors on the main floor. There are 

 also numerous separate groups of great beauty arranged in other 

 parts of the room, and in cases about the walls in the spacious 

 vestibule to the south entrance. It will also be seen that, archi- 

 tecturally, this hall is quite imposing; it is also fairly well lighted 

 in some places by large windows, while in others the sun's rays 

 never gain access, and the recesses are gloomy beyond all de- 

 scription. Too much light in rooms where mounted series of 

 birds are permanently kept is, of course, a bad thing, but, on the 

 other hand, we ought to have sufficient to distinguish one bird 

 from another at midday. Some of the birds in these cases are 

 well mounted, especially those done in recent years; but again, 

 in the older part of the exhibition series, the specimens have been 

 prepared in the vilest possible manner imaginable, without any 

 regard whatever to form, habits, or structure. These specimens 

 stand sadly in need of a thorough going over and remounting by 

 skilled taxidermical artists. (At this writing this is being done 

 in a very satisfactory manner.) 



Between the arches on the outside of the railing to the corri- 

 dors, and in some places on the columns themselves, are hung 

 various pictures of birds. Many of these are copies of Audubon's 

 plates; some are Mr. Ridgway's originals; and there are some 

 half dozen of Audubon's copper plates in frames, as the one of 

 the scarlet ibis and others. The public entrance to this depart- 



