REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I913 9I 



had been in storage since its delivery in Albany, was also moved 

 but not set up, owing to the delay in delivering the cases. 



To accomplish the difficult task of setting up and restoring these 

 groups, the services of Mr B. M. Hartley, of New Haven, were 

 obtained. During the four months he was at the Museum, the 

 damaged and dismantled groups were put in shape again and two 

 large nesting groups (goshawks and duck hawks) were prepared 

 from material" previously acquired from the collection of Mr S. H. 

 Paine, of Silver Bay, and other smaller exhibits were finished. 

 The skeleton of the finback whale was assembled and hung in the 

 zoology hall by Mr C. E. Mirguet, of Washington, by whom the 

 skeleton was originally mounted. 



One of the important parts of the year's work was in adding 

 to the equipment of the taxidermist's room so that the work of pre- 

 paring the specimens and accessories for the bird and animal groups 

 could be carried on. The water power air compressor used in 

 Geological Hall proved a failure in the new quarters because of 

 its worn-out condition and because of the lower water pressure 

 in its new location, and has been replaced with a much more power- 

 ful portable electric compressor which will be available for a great 

 variety of uses. Other needed additions to the taxidermist's outfit, 

 notably a carpenter's work bench, a drill press and other tools, a 

 galvanized iron box and cover for the relaxing chest and a wooden 

 tank for preserving fluid were also made. 



The collection of birds' eggs and nests has been sorted out, cata- 

 loged and so packed that the specimens suitable for exhibition will 

 be easily accessible. The alcoholic material has been gone over and 

 cared for, and made accessible for study and comparison. Though 

 useful for such purposes, it is not for the most part of a character 

 desirable for exhibition. It will be kept in storage cases in the 

 zoologist's room, and specimens prepared in ways more attractive 

 to the public will be used for exhibition. 



Under the conditions that have prevailed, it has been impossible 

 to devote much time and money to increasing the collections, but a 

 number of important additions to the exhibition collections of mam- 

 mals, birds, birds' nests and eggs and fishes have been received, 

 notably a pair of pumas and a pair of fishers previously ordered 

 from Ward's Natural Science Establishment and a number of native 

 fishes obtained in the local markets and mounted by the museum 

 taxidermist. The most valuable single specimen received is the 

 skin of a large buffalo bull from the Blue Mountain Forest Preserve, 

 presented by Mr Austin Corbin, which has been mounted at Ward's 



