REPORT OF DKPARTMKM OP HERPETOLOGY. 15!> 



great care and exactitude, and are necessitated bj the business of the 

 department, which has greatly increased in magnitude during the last 

 Ave years. These records arc as follows: 



Record of reserve scries. 



Record of general series. 



Record of letters received. 



Record oi letters sent. 



Record oi* requisitions. 



In these may l>e round ever\ matter ol business transacted in tlie 



Department <>r Reptiles. 



No little labor is involved in attending promply to the official cor 

 respoD lenee, wiiieli is <] u i t «> voluminous at times, tor Letters of inquiry 



are received from all parts of the world, to answer which, require much 

 study, thought, and labor. During the year 1884 over two hundred 

 letters were received ami answered, and many were written in addi 

 tion. 



The Long-cherished desire of the curator to have prepared a card-cat- 

 alogue of the collection of reptiles is now in a, fair way toward realiza- 

 tion, as a commencement has been made and over a thousand speci- 

 mens have been examined, verified, and recorded. This, in view of the 

 regular work, which was arduous in 1884, is considered a good begin- 

 ning. 



The manuscript of a Manual of Herpetology (mentioned in last year's 

 report) by the curator, could be put into the hands of the printer within 

 a short period if the illustrations were all completed. Owing to a want 

 of funds, further work upon these has been stopped. 



No special work has been attempted this year apart from the routine 

 duties and field researches. 



At the present time the collection is in excellent condition, which 

 could be much improved were more space available. Although since 

 December 1, L884, the business of the Reptile Department has been 

 closed by the forloughing of both assistants, still constant attention is 

 given in order that the specimens may not perish for want of suitable 

 care. 



Number of specimens on hand: 



In reserve aeries 8, 986 



I 'i genera] lies 8,819 



Exhibition set (selected for) : 



Domestic 600 



Foreign 150 



Not classified and exotic specimens, probably _ 5,000 



Total 23,495 



Total mi nil mi of entries in record book, 1884 584 



Total number of specimens received to January 1, 1885 1,494 



Total number of entries in record up to January 1, 1885 14,329 



