196 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



Dr. Stejneger has continued his important investigations on birds of 

 Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, and has also contributed a valuable 

 paper on the extinct Pallas Cormorant of Bering Island. Other per- 

 sons, both in the United States aud in Europe, have used extensively 

 material belonging to the department in their special work or researches, 

 particular refereuce to these authors aud tlieir subjects being made in 

 the Bibliography. 



In addition to researches the results of which have been published, 

 the curator has, as time could be spared, been engaged in the prepara- 

 tion of manuscript for two Museum publications, designed as hand- 

 books of reference to the exhibition collection, which are designed to, 

 and it is hoped will, meet a popular want. These hand-books pertain 

 to the humming-birds and the game-birds, respectively. The former is 

 published in this volume as a special paper in section in. Much work 

 has been done on the latter, about 270 pages of copy having been writ- 

 ten, and it will be finished as soon as it is practicable to do so, the very 

 numerous duties of the curator prohibiting continuous work on them 

 for any considerable time. 



The present state of the collection is satisfactory, except as regards 

 arrangement, which, however, can not be remedied until new cabinets 

 are provided. The skin collection, both study-series and duplicate 

 series, urgently requires re-arrangement, which will be commenced as 

 soon as the necessary cabinets are received. 



The mounted collection, so far as arranged, is in excellent condition 

 as regards the preservation of the specimens, aud is fairly satisfactory 

 in arraugement. The present arrangement, however, is only temporary, 

 and will be revised after the provisional re-arraugement has been com- 

 pleted. Nine and one-half cases altogether, including wall-cases, are 

 yet to be arranged, and the curator hopes that he will be able to resume 

 that important part of his work very soon. 



The number of specimens in the skin collection can be only approxi- 

 mately given, it being impracticable at the present time to make an 

 actual count. Taking the estimated number of last year as a basis, 

 and applying the same method to estimating the increase of this year, 

 the total number of specimens in the collection of the Department of 

 Birds at the end of June, 1890, is about as follows: 



Reserve skin series.. 

 Duplicate skin series 

 Exhibition series 



1888-'89. 



1 889-' 90. 



Increase. 



45, 450 



46, 543 



1,084 



6,750 



6,543 





6,714 



*7, 133 



t419 



Decrease. 



* By actual count. 



tPart of specimens mounted during latter part of 1888-'89, but not in cases when count for the year 

 was made. 



The last entry in the catalogue in June, 1889, is 110,630; the last on<> in 

 June, 1890, is 118,309; the total additions duriug the year numbering 



