90 REPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



Basyurus ursinus. Specimens of the two species mentioned were also 

 received from the authorities of the Australian Museum and have been 

 mounted. 



As in former years, the Philadelphia Zoological Society (through Mr. 

 A. E. Brown) has presented to the Museum a number of valuable main- 

 mals which died in the gardens. The following species deserve special 

 mention : Capra ibex $ , Hystrix cristata, Rerpestes widdingtoni, Cercopi- 

 tliecus diana, and C. sabwus. 



Mr. W. A. Couklin, superintendent of the Central Park Menagerie in 

 New York, presented a tiger cub ; and Messrs. Barton and Logan, of 

 Washington, a specimen of Ateles arachnoides. 



AQUATIC MAMMALS. 



Seals. — The most interesting representative of this order received dur- 

 ing the year is a skeleton of an adult male West India Monk Seal, 2Ion- 

 achus tropicalis, purchased from Mr. H. A. Ward, who obtained it in Los 

 Triangulos Islands, off Yucatan. Capt. M. A. Healy, of the U. S. Rev- 

 enue Marine, presented three skins of the Ribbon-seal, P.fasciata, ob- 

 tained off the Alaska coast. During the winter of 1886-'87 a number 

 of Harbor seals were taken in the fish-nets off Wood's Holl, Massachu- 

 setts, and were forwarded to the Museum by the agent of the CJ. S. Fish 

 Commission at that point. 



Cetaceans. — A second skull of the interesting Porpoise described by 

 the curator some time since, under the name of Phoccena dalli, was 

 presented by Lieut. Commander H. E. Nichols, U. S. Navy, who obtained 

 it, together with a skeleton of P. communis, on the coast of southern 

 Alaska. The species is unquestionably valid. From the IT. S. life-sav- 

 ing station at Dam Neck Mills, Virginia (Mr. Bay ley T. Barco, keeper), 

 were obtained skeletons of the common Dolphin, D. delphis, the Pygmy 

 Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps, and the short-finned Black-fish, Globi- 

 cephalus brachypterus. Specimens of the latter species, which is quite 

 distinct from the Blackfish of our northern coast, were also obtained 

 from Osprey, Florida, through the efforts of Mr. Joseph Willcox. 



DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



The series illustrative of the breeds of the domestic Dog has received 

 several important accessions during the year. Among the races repre- 

 sented are a Blenheim Spaniel, an Irish Setter (Glenclaire), two Grey- 

 hounds, and a Bloodhound. A skull of a Pointer dog fourteen years 

 old and the skull of a Newfoundland dog were also received. 



Important changes in the arrangement of the exhibition hall have 

 taken place during the year, 



The large special case for the group ot Fur Seals, mentioned in the 

 last report, was finished and the group was placed therein. 



The new floor cases referred to in last year's report were received in 

 February and the old cases were released and removed from the hall. 

 The new cases are furnished with large glasses aud are to be fitted with 



