or intended to be covered, with glass. Each case is further protected by a removable 

 drop front; and the drawers, save those which house the nests of Golden Eagles, 

 Ravens, Western Redtails, etc., are easily removable. 



Now that it has been decided to provide a separate building for the Hazard col- 

 lection, the first, presumably, of the new series, we will have drawer space enough 

 to house the normal accumulations of the next two years. This means, however, that 

 we cannot at present indulge any more display cases, such as the one containing the 

 group of Magpies' nests, nor, indeed, until we get into our new quarters. 



Until the completion of the index files, now under way, it will be impossible to 

 report either the exact number of species represented in the M. C. O. collections, 

 or the number of eggs — something over 1000 (of which 800 A. O. U.) of the former, 

 and 20,000 of the latter. The number of nests, likewise, is beyond immediate estimate, 

 but we believe that we already have more installed than any other collection (save, 

 possibly, one) in America. 



All seasonal and minor accessions are indexed as they come in, but the incor- 

 poration of the Dawson and the Willard collections has not yet been completed upon 

 the files. This proves to be a huge undertaking, since each set of eggs must have three 

 separate records, showing its whereabouts and standing. We believe our cataloging 

 system to be the most complete ever installed in connection with an egg collection, 

 and we shall take pleasure in explaining its workings in an early number of the 

 Journal. Although the cataloging has been going forward for a year, it lacks yet 

 some six months of completion. 



The Museum of Comparative Oology is ostensibly only three years old, but because 

 it has profited by some thirty-five years' experience in the person of the Director, its 

 efforts have not been mere experimental outreachings. In the planning of cases and 

 in the arrangement of material, especially, the management feels that it can without 

 immodesty begin to exercise the teaching function. Each minutest detail Of arrange- 

 ment and economy in the Museum of Comparative Oology is to be studied and scru- 

 tinized and submitted to the most candid discussion. While we expect ourselves to 

 learn a great deal in the process of further experimentation, we hope to be found, 

 helpful, or at least suggestive, to those who have not followed the game so long. 



The Annex, Looking West. Giant Cases, 7-Unit (Cubic Yards) at Left; 3-Unit Cases in Center; 

 New Type, 2 1 /2-Unit Cases, on Right. 



Page ten 



