132 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



and teeth of the remarkable ziphioid known as Mesoplodon Layardii. 

 Not less interesting are the casts of the head type-skins of Prodel- 

 phinus obscurus and Cephalorhynehus Eeavisidei presented by the British 

 Museum through Dr. Giinther. Two other European institutions, the 

 Eoyal College of Surgeons (Prof. W. H. Flower) and the Cambridge Uni- 

 versity Zoological Museum (Mr. John W. Clarke) presented specimens of 

 cetacea, namely, skeletons of the blackfish and common bottle-nosed 

 dolphin. The U. S. Fish Commission captured several porpoises, and 

 presented in addition the skull of the large fin-back whale (Balcenop- 

 tera). The curator was also instructed to investigate the porpoise 

 fisheries of Hatteras and Cape May, and from each locality brought 

 skeletons of the bottle-nosed dolphin, Tursiops tursio. He also pur- 

 chased in Europe and presented to the Museum the skulls of three im- 

 portant species of the DelpMnidce. 



Sirenians. — The chief addition to the specimens representing this 

 order was a skeleton of a very large Florida manatee. 



DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



The curator has long had in view the assembling of a series of mounted 

 skins and skeletons of the different races of the dog and other domestic 

 animals. Considerable material has already accumulated, and during 

 the year four dogs were added to the series. These were a St. Ber- 

 nard dog from Messrs. Jacobs (of Washington), a Laverack setter from 

 Mr. Schneider (of Washington), a Chinese hairless dog from Mr. Buchs- 

 baum (of Washington), and an Eskimo dog from the Greely Belief 

 Expedition. 



ROUTINE WORK. 



Work upon the general collection of the department (both the ex- 

 hibition and study series) suffered almost complete cessation, from 

 two very important causes. The curator was given permission to^ur 1 - 

 sue certain studies in Europe during the winter of 1883-'84, and did if<?t 

 return to Washington until May. Very soon after his return the ap- 

 propriations for the New Orleans Exhibition were made by Congress, 

 and this department, together with others in the Museum, entered upon 

 the work of preparing a series of specimens worthy of exhibition at 

 that exposition. -This work practically occupied the attention of the 

 entire staff of the department until the close of the year. Time was 

 found, however, for the performance of a few details of regular work, 

 and these I will enumerate before entering upon a discussion of the 

 work performed in connection with the New Orleans Exposition. 



WORK IN THE EXHIBITION HALLS. 



During the absence of the curator, the question of hanging whale- 

 skeletons and other similar specimens was settled favorably, and in 

 consequence the specimens of the hump- back and fin-back whales, 

 which bad encumbered the floor in the east-south range, were suspended 



