REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



39 



the foetal young up to an enormous old bull which measured 5 feet 8 

 inches in height at the shoulders.* 



Upon his return from the field Mr. Hornaday at once proceeded to 

 mount a series of six of the finest skins to form a group, with natural 

 surroundings. In view of the near extermination of the species the 

 specimens are already of almost priceless value, and the group when 

 finished will form a very important and attractive addition to the hall 

 of mammals. The careful life studies made by the chief taxidermist 

 in the field enabled him to produce specimens of unrivaled excellence. 



Notwithstanding this very serious interruption to work in the labora- 

 tory by work in the field, and still further by a removal of the laboratory 

 from the Annex building to the Armory, and the care of the Montana 

 collection when it arrived, the amount of work accomplished in the 

 laboratory has been very considerable. During the year thirty-one 

 mammals were mounted and placed on exhibition, among which, after 

 the group of buffaloes, the most commanding figure is that of a superb 

 Bengal tigress. A very fine barren-ground caribou, an immense prong- 

 horn antelope buck, and a family of coyotes are also noteworthy addi- 

 tions of the year, while the collection of marsupials is still further en- 

 riched by the addition of eleven more species. 



During the months of April, May, and June, Mr. Joseph Palmer ren- 

 dered the chief taxidermist very efficient and valuable assistance in 

 the work of mounting some of the buffaloes, the caribou, antelope, and 

 other mammals. Mr. A. H. Forney has continued to render satisfac- 

 tory service as assistant taxidermist during the year, and remained at 

 the Museum in charge of the laboratory during the absence of the chief 

 taxidermist in Montana. 



List of mammals mounted in the Museum ivorkshops from July 1, 1886, to June 30, 1887. 



Bos americanus (old bull). 

 Bos americanus (old cow). 

 Bos americanus (young bull). 

 Bos americanus (young cow). 

 Bos americanus (yearling). 

 Bos americanus (young calf). 

 Bos americanus (bull bead). 

 Bos americanus (bull bead). 

 Bangifertarandus green landicus. 

 Antilocapra americana. 

 Cariacus, sp. 

 Cariacus, sp. 



Ornithorhynchus paradoxus. 

 Bettongia grayi. 



Thirty mammals representing the following orders were skinned and 

 preserved for mounting or for study: Pinnates, 2 specimens; Carnivora, 



15381. 



Felis tigris. 



15694. 



15491. 



Canis leitrans, juv. 



15697. 



15707. 



Canis latrans. 



15685. 



15708. 



Canis latrans. 



15686. 



15575. 



Vulpes fulvus, 



16703. 





Odobcenus obesus (remount). 



15503. 



15478. 



Sarcophilus ursinus. 



15502. 



15479. 



Phalangista vulpina. 



15503. 



15477. 



Thylacinus cynocephalus. 



15668. 



15311. 



Bettongia rufescens. 



15714. 



15303. 



Halmaturus temporalis. 



15634. 



13600. 



Halmaturus bennetti. 



15621. 



13606. 



Halmaturus wilcoxi. 



15314. 



13602. 



Halmaturus billardieri. 



13596. 



13598. 



Halmaturus brachyurus. 





See Section in, Paper 5. 



