REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPARATIVE ANATOMY IN THE 

 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1886. 



By .Frederick W. True, Acting Curator. 



This department, which at present is in reality a department of com- 

 parative osteology, can scarcely be considered as having an independ- 

 ent existence. Its collections are based on material formerly assigned 

 to the four departments which have to do with vertebrate animals, and 

 it is dependent upon the latter for its accessions. It has been the cus- 

 tom as regards important vertebrates received in the flesh to separate 

 the skeleton entirely from the skin, and to prepare the former for this 

 department, the skull and leg bone being replaced by the taxidermist 

 by wooden models. Specimens in alcohol are to a certain extent treated 

 in the same manner. A list of accessions to this department, therefore, 

 would be largely a repetition of the lists submitted by the four verte- 

 brate departments. 



Since it has been established, however, a certain amount of material 

 has found its way into the department directly. The more important 

 of these accessions will be mentioned. 



Important aid toward building up a collection of domestic animals 

 has been received from the authorities of the Washington Board of 

 Health, who gave us permission to select from the dog pound such 

 dogs as were desired for our series. These animals, of course, have no 

 pedigree and are judged by the points they exhibit. It will probably 

 be found best in the end to replace them as far as possible by others 

 whose pedigree is known, though some of them are very fine specimens 

 of the races they represent. The following breeds have been obtained 

 from the pound during the year. 



Newfoundland dog. Scotch terrier. 



Skye terrier. Scotch and Skye terrier (cross). 



Black and tan terrier. Bull dog. 



Bull terrier. Italian greyhound. 



Coach dog. 



Several thoroughbred dogs, with pedigrees, have been received, nota- 

 bly two collies, " ^Testa," from H. T. Leeper, esq., East Bethlehem, Pa., 

 and "Clipsetta," from James Watson, esq., of the same town. A coach 

 dog was received from Lewis Hipkins, esq., and an Irish setter from 

 H. Mis. 170, pt, 2 14 209 



