150 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



and reporniug upoa collections or speciuieus received, correspondence, 

 exchanges, arraugement of the exhibition series, etc., that practically 

 he is removed from the rank of active ornithologists. By unusual 

 eifort, however, the curator has managed to prepare a review of the 

 Mexican and Central American members of the following families of 

 birds : Thrushes, Mocking Thrushes, Warblers, Titmice, Creepers, and 

 Dippers; determined a collection of birds from the Lower Amazon, con- 

 taining thirteen new species and une new genus, and a large collec- 

 tion from islands in the Caribbean Sea and the coast of Honduras 5 

 also containing novelties, a monograph of the genus Bendrocincla, and 

 another of the interesting and greatly confused genus of Passerine 

 Parrots {Psittacula), in each of which is described several previously 

 unknown species. 



The assistant curator, Mr. Leonhard Stejneger, has continued his 

 studies of the splendid collection of Japanese birds belonging to the 

 i!^ational Museum. During the year several large private collections 

 from the same country have been received for examination, upon which 

 extensive reports are still in progress of preparation. In connection 

 with these studies he investigated several groups of European birds, 

 with the result of clearing up several doubtfnl points. He has also re- 

 13orted upon two collections of birds from the Hawaiian Islands received 

 during the year. 



The present condition of the collection, so far as the preservation of 

 the specimens is concerned, could not possibly be better. As to con- 

 venience of arrangement, much improvement is to be desired; but this 

 will be possible only when at least twice the amount of room is pro- 

 vided for its accommodation. 



It has not been practicable to make an actual count of the specimens in 

 the bird collection, but their number is very nearly as given in the fol- 

 lowing careful estimate : 



* Total numl)er of accessions 2,207, minus 207 estimated to have been placed in tlio duplicate series, 

 and 376 having been mounted for the exhibition series, plus 955 specimens which liave been dis- 

 mounted and returned to the reserve series. 



tSpecimens dismounted and placed in the reserve series 955, minus 370 mounted from the reserve 

 series. 



X Duplicates distributed 710, minus 207 of the accessions received during the year and placed among 

 the duplicates. 



Last entry in catalogue in June, 1887, No. 111453 ; in June, 1888, 

 No. 113659. 



