148 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



Menagerie, New York, have presented many valuable specimens. Nota- 

 ble among those received from the former gentleman was an ibex, Capra 

 ibex, a well-known European species and one whose extermination seems 

 imminent. Dr. Oonklin presented, among many valuable specimens, 

 two hog deer, Cervus porcinus. 



A series of five young Greenland seals, obtained by Dr. 0. Hart 

 Merriam from Labrador, and a number of fur seals and one specimen of 

 Steller's sea-lion, collected by Mr. C. H. Townsend in St. Paul's Island. 

 Alaska, together with another of the latter species obtained by Dr. 

 Stejneger in Bering Island, were the only pinnipeds received this year. 



Dr. Leonhard Stejneger obtained from M. Grebnitzki, in Bering Isl- 

 and, and presented to the Museum, a skull of a bottle-nosed whale, be- 

 lieved to be Ziphius grebnitzki Stejnr., and the skeleton of a young 

 killer, Orea sp. From the United States life-saving stations not so 

 many cetaceans were received as during the two previous years. The 

 collection was enriched, however, by a foetal and an adult female pygmy 

 sperm whale, obtained respectively by Keeper L. T. Giimm, of Love- 

 ladies Island, New York, and Keeper J. W. Itidgway, of Barnegat 

 City, New Jersey. 



Keeper J. B. Hobbs captured a common dolphin, I), delphis, and Mr. 

 C. H. Townsend collected a skull of the same species on the California 

 coast. The latter collector also obtained a tine specimen of the baleen 

 of the California gray whale. 



In the Exhibition Hall the only new case added during the past year 

 was that built for the group of fur seals presented to the Institution 

 a number of years ago by the Alaska Commercial Company. This case 

 is larger than any hitherto built, except the walhcases, and is furnished 

 with exceptionally large glasses. It corresponds in design with the 

 Orang case, and will be placed opposite the latter at the north end of 

 the hall, previously erected, or in the center. 



The two large groups of ruminants and seals were placed against the 

 south wall. They are unprovided with railings, or other means of pro- 

 tection, and the arrangement can not be regarded otherwise than tem- 

 porary. The curator has spent much time and thought upon the con- 

 sideration of plans for cases suitable for large specimens, but has not as 

 yet hit upon any satisfactory designs. It is quite probable, however, 

 that it will be found necessary to extend the large wall-cases now in 

 the hall. 



Experiments have been made looking toward a better installation of 

 the cetacean casts than the present one. It has been deemed best to ar- 

 range them on a raised base upon the top of the wall-cases. A sample 

 section of the proposed base was made and placed in position, and it is 

 to be hoped that the whole re-arrangement will be effected during the 

 coming year. 



The mounted specimens added to the exhibition series during the 

 year were chiefly ruminants and marsupials. Very few small species 



