REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS. 



03 



living specimens of the Almiqui, Solenodon cubanus, which was obtained 

 from Mr. J. Gundlach, and on a remarkable malformation of the hoofs 

 of au ass received from Texas. 



A considerable number of inquiries regarding North American Mam- 

 mals have been responded to. A number of Texan species were identi- 

 fied for Mr. G. H. Bagsdale, of Gainesville, in that State, who also 

 received information regarding methods of preparation. Dr. D. D. 

 Slade, of Cambridge, applied for information regarding the metacarpals 

 of the Auroch and Bison. A controversy between this observer and 

 Mr. F. A. Lucas on the value of the character drawn from the differ- 

 ences in the metacarpals of the two species will be found in " Science.' 7 



At the request of the Director, the curator spent some time in inves- 

 tigating the question of the color variation of the Puma, Fells concolor. 



Dr. Harrison Allen examined the entire collection of deers' antlers in 

 connection with the question of bilateral asymmetry in. the class Mam- 

 malia. 



The collections are in nearly the same condition as at the close of last 

 year; it is, on the whole, quite satisfactory. The entire series is under 

 control, though a final division of material remains to be made, and ap- 

 pliances for keeping out dust are still needed. Very few of the speci- 

 mens, either in the exhibition or study series of skins, are without 

 written or printed labels. The alcoholic series is arranged by species 

 in preserve jars, and the specimens themselves, in most cases, have 

 only simple metallic labels bearing the catalogue numbers. 



The number of specimens in the different series at the present date 

 and at the close of the last fiscal year is shown in the following table: 





June 30, 



1886. 



June 30, 



1887. 



Number of specimens in the exhibition series of skins 



735 

 3, 862 



2,854 



752 



Number of specimens in the duplicnte-study series of skins 



4,088 

 2, 971 





Total . 



7,451 



7,811 







The number of skins and specimens in alcohol added and distributed 

 during the year is as follows : 



Number of specimens added during the year ending June 30, 1887 401 



Number of specimens distributed during the year ending June 30, 1887 42 



Among the skins and alcoholic specimens added were represented 

 17 species and subspecies not previously in the collection. The type of 

 Dipodomys deserti, Stephens, was added, and Bat No. 15623 was made 

 the type of a new species, Vespertilio longierus, True. 



The last entry in the register for skins and alcoholics on June 30, 

 1886, was No. 15482 ; on June 30, 1887, No. 15899, 



