334 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Large as has been the receipt of specimens, the number 

 is small in comparison to what might have been added had 

 there been any satisfactory way of caring for the specimens 

 which were received in the flesh. These were, with the ex- 

 ception of one mammal and six birds, all prepared by the 

 curator, assisted in a few instances by Mr. Charles Haines. 



That there is not attached to the museum some compe- 

 tent person who could prepare, in first-class maiuier, the 

 accessions of mammals and birds in the flesh, is greatly to 

 be regretted, for there are many individuals Avho are willing 

 and anxious to aid the society by valuable donations of this 

 nature, but whose offers of fresh material have been repeat- 

 edly declined for no other reasons than that it incurred an 

 expense when sent to local taxidermists, or occupied the 

 time of the curator and janitor needed at other work. 



A plea to sportsmen and others for donations of fresh 

 material, and also a museum circular treating of the com- 

 plete care and preparation of mammals for scientific pur- 

 poses, which was "svritten by the curator, has not been 

 circulated, nor even printed, there being no provision for 

 the care of such specimens which would certainly be 

 received. An early change in regard to this really import- 

 ant matter is earnestly hoped for. 



Another museum circular, similar in plan to the one on 

 mammals, has been partly written — treating of birds — but 

 not completed for the reasons just given. 



A label for the use of these departments has been de- 

 signed in three sizes. These labels will be attached to those 

 specimens which are now designated only by the field col- 

 lectors' numbers, and to others that may require them. 



A careful inspection of the entire collections was made 

 in December, with very satisfactory results; the specimens 

 are believed to be absolutely free from insect pests of any 

 kind. 



A manuscript catalogue of all the skins in the study series 

 has been made, and the specimens numbered to correspond. 



