REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OP BIRDS L53 



Bendire presented to the National Museum bis unique collection of 

 North American birds' eggs, numbering mark 8,000 beautifully pre- 

 pared specimens, representing anrivaled series of many \er\ rare, 

 species, besides a number not previously represented in the .Museum. 

 Tins valuable collection was incorporated with that of the Museum, the 

 two thus combined being entirely rearranged after the sequence of 

 species given in the latest edition of the "Smithsonian" catalogue of 



North American birds (Bulle'tin U.S. National Museum, No. L'l ), and 

 neatly packed in ^lass-lopped drawers, between strips of cotton batting. 

 The collection 18 arranged in 5 unit eases and [54 drawers, besides va- 

 rious other temporary receptacles. 



A complete census of the egg collection has been made by Miss Per- 

 kins, assisted by Mr. Hugh M. Smith. The total number of eggs, ex- 

 clusive of those in nests, which were not counted, is 40,072, distributed 



as follows : 



North American reserve series 24, i-;; 



North America!] duplicate series 11,317 



Total North American 35 800 



1'ahcarclic reserve series -J, .7. Hi 



Neotropical reserve series 1 211 



Miscellaneous foreign series l'.KJ 



Kergnelen Island series 104 



Foreign duplicate series 231 



Total foreign collection -1, 272 



35,800 



Grand total 40, 07^ 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Oases Jor the exhibition series. — By far the most argent need of the 



department of birds is the want of suitable cases for the arrangement of 



the exhibition collection. The main purpose of this collection being the 

 entertainment and instruction of the general public, it is due the latter 

 that this, to them most important, portion of the collections should be 

 exhibited in a manner which will afford them the means of deriving both 

 pleasure and instruction from its inspection. In its present condition the 

 exhibition series of birds is not only not in keeping with the dignity of 

 the National Museum, but it is actually and deservedly the subject of 

 much unfavorable comment. With the cases at present provided it is 

 not possible to arrange the collection in any attractive manner, even 

 w ore the number of cases sufficient for its accommodation. '\ ne Ameri- 

 can .Museum of Natural History in New York Oity is able, on account 

 of its large, well-lighted, ami admirably constructed cases, to make a 

 display of the most diversified forms of the feathered creat ion, with 

 which the bird exhibit of t he Nat ional Museum cannot be compared; 



except to its discredit. I would m<>M earnestly recommend that the 



