18 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



the title U A Manual of North American Birds." The assistant curator 

 has continued his researches in Japanese ornithology, and reports upon 

 several families have been already completed. These studies are of 

 great importance, and are based on what is believed to be the richest 

 collection of Japanese birds extant. The assistant curator has also 

 worked up an interesting collection of birds from the island of Kanai, 

 one of the Hawaiian group. That portion of the collection for which 

 suitable provision has been made, is reported to be in excellent condi- 

 tion, and it is expected that during the next year it will be practicable 

 to improve the condition of the exhibition series, which is suffering for 

 want of insect-proof cases. The total number of specimens in this 

 department is estimated to be 54,087, of which 40,875 belong to the re- 

 serve series, 7,000 are on exhibition, and 7,112 have been assigned to 

 the duplicate series. 



SECTION OF BIRDS' EGGS. 



The collection of birds' eggs and nests was first properly arranged in 

 1884 by Capt. Charles E. Beudire, U. S. Army, who has since that 

 year been acting as honorary curator. At that time the total number 

 of eggs entered on the catalogue was 40,072, of which 8,000 beautifully 

 prepared specimens have been contributed by Captain Bendire. There 

 are now in the collection 45,938 specimens of eggs and 2,235 nests. 

 An exhibition of birds' eggs would be of popular interest. Among the 

 most generous contributors to the collection during the past year were 

 Lieut. H. C. Benson, U. S. Army; Lieut. G. M. Stoney, IT. S. Navy; 

 Dr. A, K. Fisher, Department of Agriculture; Col. N". S. Goss; Capt. 

 B. F. Goss; Mr. H. W. Henshaw; Mr. William Brewster; Mr. Loren 

 W. Green, and Mr. J. Parker Morris. 



The accessions for the year number 1,208 specimens, which have 

 been classified and arranged. Measurements and records of 7,125 

 specimens have been made, aud 235 nests have been mounted, labeled, 

 and arranged for exhibition. A portion of the reserve series of eggs, 

 which now includes 32,899 specimens, has also been relabeled and 

 classified according to the nomenclature of the checklist recently pub- 

 lished by the American Ornithologists' Union. 



DEPARTMENT OF REFTILES AND BATRACHIANS. 



Active work in this department, under the honorary curatorship 

 ot Dr. H. C. Yarrow, IT. S. Army, has been confined chiefly to the pres- 

 ervation of new material and general routine work. The laboratory 

 rooms have been closed duriug the fire-proofing of the west end of the 

 Smithsonian building. 



Some interesting accessions have been received during the year, not- 

 ably of Corean serpents presented by Dr. N. McP. Ferebee, U. S. Navy ; 

 Mr. C. J. Herring; and Mr. D. Ridgway, of Wheatland, Indiana; and 

 to this gentleman the Museum is indebted for previous co-operation. 



