REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I9II 59 



REPORT OF THE ZOOLOGIST 



The work of the zoology section has been conducted with regard 

 to the exhibits which are to be expected in the new quarters, and 

 with a view to preparing the collections now in the Museum for 

 removal with as little injury and confusion as possible. Much of 

 the zoological material, especially that which has been on exhibition, 

 is of so fragile a nature that its safe removal can be accomplished 

 only by careful handling and intelligent supervision at the time of 

 moving. It has therefore seemed important to get the material that 

 may be boxed up for handling by the ordinary methods of transporta- 

 tion packed as soon as possible, so that when moving attention may 

 be given wholly to the fragile material. This policy has been con- 

 sistently carried out during the fiscal year as far as other work would 

 permit, with the result that large parts of the study and duplicate 

 collections are now safely boxed up to stand rough handling and 

 storage for as long as may prove convenient, without danger of 

 injury or further deterioration. 



Among other specimens, those that have been thus cared for are 

 the corals (both duplicate and exhibition collections), the Mazatlan 

 and Carpenter collections of shells, the bird eggs (exhibition and 

 study collections), the bird skins, many of the duplicate shells, the 

 bird nests, and most of the disarticulated skeletons and smaller 

 osteological specimens. The majority of these were previously in 

 storage, and though some of the corals and bird eggs were taken 

 from the exhibition cases, the exhibits had not at the end of the fiscal 

 year been so interfered with as to require closing the exhibition 

 rooms to the public. 



Incidental to this packing, as well as for the sake of discovering 

 the needs of the Museum in the way of new specimens, and of caring 

 for such specimens as might need it, the Zoologist has: thoroughly 

 overhauled the storerooms and storage closets. The bird skins, 

 which on account of the loose construction of the cases in which 

 they had been kept, were in poor condition, have mostly been cleaned, 

 relaxed, and put in first-class condition before packing. 



In preparation for the exhibits in the Education Building, the 

 Zoologist has devoted much attention to plans for the arrangement 

 and dimensions of the cases to be ordered, as well as to the details, 

 methods and materials of construction which seem best adapted for 

 the requirements of the Museum. Many of the mounted specimens 



