9 



" Guide to the Geological Hall. — A new guide to the col- 

 lections in this department was prepared early in the year. Being 

 much larger than the first, and illustrated, it has met with a better 

 reception. During the time it has been on sale, nearly nine 

 months, there have been over four hundred copies sold in the 

 building. 



" Bulletin No. 6, consisting of three palaeontological articles, 

 prepared in this department, was published early in October." 



DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS AND MAMMALS. 



[Mr. J. A. Allen, formerly Curator of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, 

 Mass., assumed charge of this department on the ist of May.] 



" On taking charge of this department in May last, a careful ex- 

 amination of the collections of both mammals and birds was made 

 with reference to their extent and condition of preservation. It 

 was gratifying to find them not only so rich and valuable as re- 

 gards material, but thoroughly free from insect pests. In neat- 

 ness of arrangement, in the character of the specimens, as regards 

 the mounting, and in the number of the species represented, 

 these collections rank easily among the first in the country. The 

 collection of mammals numbers not far from one thousand 

 mounted skins, and about three hundred mounted skeletons. Its 

 noteworthy features are the very large series of the monkeys of 

 the world — by far the finest in America — and the nearly complete 

 series of the mammals of North America. The perfection of these 

 two groups has already been made a specialty, and measures have 

 been taken to supply the few remaining deficiencies in each. 



" The collection of birds numbers not far from ten thousand 

 mounted specimens, and about three thousand unmounted skins, 

 besides several hundred mounted skeletons. The series of North 

 American birds, which has been made a specialty, is practically 

 complete, nearly every procurable species being represented, while 

 the few still lacking will be soon supplied. 



' This department also includes a very large collection of nests 

 and eggs, recently purchased of Mr. H. B. Bailey. This collec- 

 tion was brought together with very great care, and ranks as one 

 of the finest and most valuable in the country. In addition to 

 the Bailey Collection, many valuable specimens have been derived 

 from other sources, including a valuable contribution from Dr. 

 Edgar A. Mearns, U. S. A. 



" Before proceeding to a statement of what has been done in 

 the way of work on the collections, it may not be out of place to 

 refer briefly to some of the needs of this department, in the hope 

 that such a reference may lead some of the many friends of the 

 Museum to take liberal measures to supply them. Although these 

 collections are so large, and in general so satisfactory, they still 



