REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



41 



Description. 



Mammals. 



Birds. 



Reptiles. 



Batrachians. 



Fishes. 



Total. 



Received in the flesh : 



Entire skeletons . 



17 



4 



40 

 16 



7 



7 

 5 

 2 



96 

 3 



26 





1 



2 

 3 



1 

 1 



116 



Incomplete skeletons .. 

 Cleaned : 



Entire skeletons 



Skulls 





10 



1 



3 



71 

 17 



Incomplete skeletons .. 

 Mounted : 



Eutire skeletons 



Skulls 









7 



12 



5 



2 



1 



27 



5 



Limbs and other pieces. 



1 









3 











These tables give a total of 256 specimens on which work was done 

 -during the year, and show that, while the entire number is much less 

 than that of the year previous, the number of large pieces handled is 

 very much greater. The necessary work of preparation has indeed inter- 

 fered seriously with other work, and has increased to such an extent as 

 to render it impossible with the present force to bestow upon it all the 

 attention which could be desired. 



The reflooring of the pedestals of the casts of Megatherium and Ha- 

 drosaurus has necessitated repairs, and in addtion the series of Dino- 

 ceras casts, numbering some twenty pieces, has been mounted and 

 placed on exhibition. A number of skeletons have been transferred to 

 new pedestals, leaving but little to be done in that direction. 



The mounting of the skeleton of the Asiatic elephant "Albert" has 

 toeen the most difficult and protracted work of the year. The skele- 

 ton forms a very important addition to the exhibition series. The label- 

 ing of the osteological collection, which has been done by Mr. Lucas, 

 is in all respects satisfactory. 



The transferring of the work-rooms to the Armory building caused a 

 temporary interruption of work during the month of January. 



Mr. Walter H. Brown, of the University of Kansas, spent six weeks 

 in this department as a volunteer assistant, for the purpose of study- 

 ing the methods of preparing and mounting osteological specimens. 



Modelers. 



A portion of the time of Mr. Joseph Palmer has been devoted to 

 making casts of fishes and reptiles received from time to time by the 

 Museum, and to repairing casts already on exhibition, which have from 

 handling at various expositions and from other reasons become dam- 

 aged. Mr. Palmer has rendered much assistance to Mr. Hornaday in 

 connection with the mounting of mammals. 



Mr. J. W. Hendley has made casts of Eskimo heads, meteoric stones, 

 various objects for the food collection, stone implements, etc. He also 

 made a model of an Indian woman and several models of Eskimos, for 

 use in the display of costumes. 



