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REPORT ON, MAMMALS AND BIRDS. 
By J. A. ALLEN. 
As the collections of Mammals and Birds for exhibition 
approach completeness, there is naturally a falling off in the 
number of specimens annually received, in consequence of the 
difficulty of getting the remaining desiderata. The additions 
during the last year are accordingly less numerous than for sev- 
eral years past. Of Mammals added, the stuffed specimens num- 
ber thirty-three, and include, among the more noteworthy pieces, 
a fine musk-ox, and two Alaskan walruses, one an adult male, the 
other a very young example. The mounted specimens are eight 
in number, and include a killer-whale ( Orca), and an Australian, 
a Chinaman, and a Sioux Indian. The other additions to the 
Mammals include a collection of eighteen skins (twelve species) 
and thirty-four skulls (fifteen species), from Orizaba, Mexico. 
The fin-backed whale (Balenoptera musculus), reported as pro- 
cured in 1880 in the Report for 1879-80, is now mounted in the 
Systematic Room of Mammals, and forms a striking piece. 
The additions to the collection of Birds embrace two hundred 
‘and seventy-five mounted specimens, one hundred and seventy- 
five skins, fifteen mounted skeletons, and a few skulls and sterna. 
Of the skins, one hundred are from Mexico, forty from California, 
and seventeen from the Island of Luzon, —the latter the gift of 
Mrs. Greenough. Mr. A. L. Babcock, of Sherborn, Mass., has 
presented eighteen skins and a few sterna. 
The mounted material, both skins and skeletons, for the Sys- 
tematic and Faunal Rooms, is now all on exhibition, except that 
for the European, Atlantic, and Pacific Rooms (not yet ready for 
use), and the Mammals are labelled. The preparation of the 
labels for the Birds has begun. There are still some species of 
both Mammals and Birds lacking to complete the South American 
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