DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 83 



Mr. A. H. West, keeper of the United States life-saving station of 

 Sea Bright, JST. J,, reported the appearance off that coast of a remarka- 

 ble cetacean, of which he made a sketch. The drawing represents an 

 animal like a sperm-whale, but with a sharp fin on the back and a spout- 

 hole on the top of the head. As the specimen was not secured it is 

 impossible to say whether the animal was other than a sperm-whale. 



The curator has continued to collect material for a monograph on the 

 American cetacea. He also wrote in May, for Part III of the Museum 

 report for 1884, a description of the spotted dolphin {Prodelphinus) 

 obtained from Peiisacola, Fla. ; described at length the new Florida 

 muskrat; and, conjointly with Mr. P. A. Lucas, prepared an essay upon 

 the osteology of the West Indian seal. 



He has corresponded with Dr. Gr. E. Dobson, of Netley, England, rel- 

 ative to certain types or species of Soricidse in the Museum collection ; 

 with Dr. C H. Merriam relative to Putorius nigripes; with Mr. Oldfleld 

 Thomas, of the British Museum, relative to the type of Mtis peruvianus, 

 Peale (which cannot at present be found) ; with Dr. Chr. Fr. Liitken, 

 of Copenhagen, relative to the pygmy sperm-whale; with Dr. G. E. 

 Manigault, of Charleston, S. C, relative to the transfer to the Museum 

 of the type of Hyperoodon semijunctus of Cope ; with Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, 

 TJ. S. A., at Fort Wingate, N. Mex., relative to a supposed new species 

 of Hesperomys. 



Material for study was, with the permission of the Director, sent to 

 Dr. Merriam, Dr. Dobson, and Dr. Shufeldt. 



PRESENT CONDITION OF THE COLLECTIONS. 



The mounted specimens sent to Kew Orleans not having returned, 

 the exhibition series remains as on. January 1, except that 44 freshly 

 mounted sj)ecimens have been added. 



EESEEYE AND DUPLICATE SERIES. 



The totals on January 1, 1885, were as follows : 



Skins and alcoholics ? 4,870 



Skeletons and skulls 4,087 



The number of specimens added between January 1, 1885, and July 

 1, 1885, is as follows : 



Skins and alcoliolics 256 



Skeletons and skulls * 345 



Including the exhibition series, the number of specimens now in the 

 collection is as follows : 



Skins and alcoholics. 6,034 



Skeletons and skulls 4,432 



