V -REPORT UPON THE DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS IN THE U. S. 



MUSEUM, 1884. 



By Robert Ridgway, Curator. 



The year 1884 was wholly unprecedented in the extent, if not in the 

 number, of accessions to the collections of the Department of Birds, and 

 the amount of work accomplished by the curator and his assistants. 

 To the latter are due especial mention, as follows: 



Capt. Charles E. Bendire, U. S. A., who gratuitously rendered most 

 valuable service in the entire rearrangement and labeling of the oolog- 

 ical collection, a labor requiring his personal supervision during seven 

 months. Mr. G. W. Beckham, who until July 1 assisted Captain Ben- 

 dire in the arrangement and cataloguing of the oological collection, and 

 after that date rendered efficient aid in the preparation of the Xew 

 Orleans exhibit. Mr. Henry Marshall, taxidermist of the department, 

 whose skilled work added many attractive specimens to the exhibition 

 series. Mr. George Marshall, engaged after July 1 as assistant taxider- 

 mist. Miss Harriet S. Perkins, assigned specially to the oological sec- 

 tion, and who has therein rendered very efficient service. Mr. C. W. 

 Shoemaker, who performed various clerical duties until December 1, 

 when lack of funds necessitated his being dropped from the rolls. Mr. 

 Hugh M. Smith, who performed with great satisfaction the various du- 

 ties assigned him during his term of service, which extended from July 

 1 to December 1. Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, who, appointed as assistant 

 on the New Orleans exhibit from July 1 until December 1, and after the 

 latter date as assistant curator, rendered most valuable service to the 

 department. 



ACCESSIONS TO THE BIRD COLLECTION. 



(a) Skins and alcoholic specimens. 



The number of birds, chiefly skins, which were added to the collec- 

 tion during 1884 is 8,142 (Museum register Nos. 93092-101233), by far 

 the largest number received in one year in the history of the Museum. 

 The more important accessions were the following : — 



Aiken, G. E., Colorado Springs, Colo.: 14 specimens. 3 species, from 

 Colorado. (Purchased.) 



Batty, J. 27., Parkville, Long Island, N. Y.: 50 specimens, 34 species, 

 from Europe, Peru, and various parts of the United States. ( Exchange.) 



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