62 EEPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



DRY SKINS. 



A special feature of taxidermic work during the past year has been 

 the overhauling of the collection of wet skins and the making up of a 

 great many of the duplicates as dry skins suitable for study. The entire 

 force spent about two months in work of this kind, and prepared dry 

 skins as follows : 



Primates— Chiefly moukeys from Honduras 13 



Chiroptera. 2 



Carnivora — Bears, lynxes, wolves, weasels, etc ^. . . . 21 



Rodents — Porcupines, squirrels, rabbits, agoutis, pacas, etc 22 



Ungulates — Deer, chiefly tropical species 7 



Edentates — Armadilloes and sloths 6 



Marsupials 1 



Total 72 



The chief taxidermist was occupied during the entire month of June 

 in preparing a special exhibit for the Cincinnati Exposition. 



The taxidermists in the Department of Birds during the year per- 

 formed the following work : 



Birds mounted 376 



Birds skinned 122 



Mounted birds made into skins 955 



Mounted birds transferred to new stands 1733 



New stands put together 1107 



Skins poisoned 20 



Large mounted birds repaired , 5 



Specimens in the flesh collected, and received. 



Number of mammals siiinned and prepared 56 



Number collected by the taxidermists 44 



MISCELLANEOUS WORK. 



An unusual quantity of miscellaneous work has required attention, 

 which tended to lessen the amount of visible results for the year. The 

 The following are a few of the principal tasks completed : 



43 mammal skins, heads and skulls were poisoned. 



17 mammal heads repaired after return from the Cincinnati Exposition. 



8 pairs antlers cleaned and retouched. 



7 pairs antlers mounted on shields and hung up. 

 25 large mammals cleaned and retouched. 

 24 small mammals cleaned and retouched. 

 14 mounted mammals were repaired and retouched. 

 11 large wet skins picked out for exchange. 



1 large mounted mammal was dismounted. 

 16 barrels of solution were made for wet skin collection. 

 38 barrels and three tanks of wet skins were moved to laboratory. 

 28 boxes of specimens were received. 



14 miscellaneous boxes of specimens were packed and shipped. 

 41 boxes mounted mammals were packed for Cincinnati Exposition. 



9 large cages for living bears, birds of prey, etc., were built by the taxidermists. 



From November 8, 1887, to February 1, 1888, the collection of living 

 animals was cared for by the taxidermists. 



Mr. Joseph Palmer made a trip to North Platte, Nebraska, and brought 

 back two living buffaloes, 



