11 



in order to utilize to the best advantage the very inadequate space 

 now allotted to the collections, additional shelves were inserted 

 wherever possible, and the vertical partitions were removed when 

 necessary. In some of the cases the specimens are still so 

 crowded that only a part can be well seen, while it is impossible to 

 place many others so that the labels can be read. The catalogu- 

 ing and critical identification of this part of the collection has 

 thus far occupied the greater part of my time, but this work is 

 now finished. Each specimen has been carefully determined, and 

 its full history, so far as known, entered in the catalogue book. 

 Labels have been prepared for the whole collection, two-thirds of 

 which are already in position; the rest are now being printed, 

 and will be put in place in a few weeks. 



" The work of identification was greatly retarded, and to some 

 extent rendered unsatisfactory, by the lack of many important 

 works of reference, owing to which lack I have failed to satisfac- 

 torily identify about five per cent, of the mammals thus far studied. 



"I may add, that in working up the collection, I have found many 

 valuable type specimens, respecting which, and others of special 

 interest, I have made notes that may form the basis of a short 

 paper for the Museum ' Bulletin ' on the collection of mammals 

 when there is means to publish it. 



" I have thus far referred only to the mammals in the Lower 

 Hall. The large collection of monkeys on the bird floor still 

 remains to be catalogued and labeled, in order to complete the 

 work on the mammals. 



" Birds. — I have as yet done no systematic work on the exhibi- 

 tion collection of birds. The Study Collection was early brought 

 together, and placed in the Curator's room, and has since been 

 assorted and arranged preparatory to cataloguing. 



" Through kind assistance gratuitously rendered by Dr. A. K. 

 Fisher, of Sing Sing, and Mr. J. Dwight, Jr., of this city, nearly 

 500 specimens — including the whole of the Elliot Collection — 

 have been catalogued and labeled. Mr. Bailey has worked 

 assiduously on the collection of nests and eggs, which he has arranged 

 in systematic order, placing the eggs in neatly cotton-lined paper 

 trays, and the nests in suitable drawers in the cabinets provided 

 for the collection. He has also catalogued the North American 

 portion of the collection, and will catalogue the rest as soon as 

 he receives the catalogue book, which has been ordered for the 

 exotic part of the collection. As soon as labels are provided, he 

 will proceed to label the whole collection. An order has been 

 given for the construction of four cases in the alcoves of the bird 

 floor, for the public exhibition of a portion of the nests and eggs. 

 The cases are being constructed with cabinets of drawers beneath, 

 for the storage of the reserve collection, which, when these cases 

 are finished, will be removed from the Curator's room to these 

 cabinets, giving some much needed space for the storage of birds. 



