152 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



determined, therefore, to restrict the exhibit to a collection of North 

 American game-birds, of which 171 specimens (a large number of them 

 mounted specially for the occasion), representing 123 species, were 

 sent. These were installed by Dr. L. Stejueger, assistant curator. 

 This collection embraces, with a few unimportant exceptions, all the 

 North American species of the turkey, grouse, and partridge families, 

 besides all the species of swans, geese, and ducks, shore-birds, &c, of 

 Eastern North America, all accurately labeled with both their English 

 and scientific names. 



Publications. — The total number of papers published during 1884 which 

 were based exclusively or in part on the bird collection of the National 

 Museum is 60, embracing about 450 octavo pages, and of books, 3 vol- 

 umes, two royal 8vo, with a total of 1,096 pages, and one imperial oetavo 

 of 893 pages. 



PRESENT STATE OF THE COLLECTION. 



(a) Mounted and alcoholic specimens and shins. 



Condition. — In all respects except the manner of installation of the 

 exhibition series, and some inconveniences of arrangement resulting 

 from insufficient storage facilities, the present condition of the collec- 

 tion is excellent. No injury has been done by insects, owing in part to 

 the tight-fitting cases in which the principal part of the skin collection 

 is kept and to the close surveillance kept over those specimens to which 

 insects could gain access. Bisulphide of carbon has been freely used in 

 all the drawers, close-fitting and otherwise, and any infected specimens 

 discovered were at once quarantined and fumigated. The collection is 

 in very urgent need of better accommodations, however, as is more 

 fully explained under the head of " Eecommendations." 



Extent. — It was found impracticable to make an actual inventory of 

 the collections at the end of 1884, on account of the pressure of numer- 

 ous other duties. But the following estimate, based on the inventory 

 for 1883 and the number of specimens received and distributed during 

 the past year, may be considered as approximately correct : 



Specimens. 



Reserve skin series 32, 550 



Exhibition series fi, 800 



Duplicate series 9, 350 



Alcoholic series 1, 650 



Total 50,350 



The reserve series, exclusive of alcoholics, consisted therefore of 

 about 39,350 specimens at the end of 1884. 



(b) Oological collection. 



The collection of birds' eggs has been completely overhauled and 

 rearranged during the year by Capt. Charles E. Bendire, U. S. A., 

 assisted by Mr. 0. W. Beckham and Miss Harriet S. Perkins. Captain 



