15 



to the nests and eggs number about 600 specimens, and include 

 many of great rarity and value. 



Four cases, combined with cabinets, for storage, have been 

 placed in the Hall of Birds, to which the collection of nests and 

 eggs has been transferred, and in which a selected series of nests 

 and eggs has been placed on exhibition. The removal of the col- 

 lection to its new quarters, and the selection of specimens for 

 exhibition, has been kindly made by Mr. W. B. Bailey, who has 

 also, during the year, contributed many valuable specimens to 

 this department. 



Early in the year a department of Taxidermy was established, 

 with Mr. Jenness Richardson, formerly of the U. S. National 

 Museum, as taxidermist. Many specimens received since in the 

 flesh have either been mounted or properly prepared for mount- 

 ing ; nearly the whole collection of bats has been remounted, and 

 repairs have been made on many specimens already in the collec- 

 tion. 



In May, Mr. Richardson began to collect materials for a series 

 of groups illustrative of the nesting habits of the birds found in 

 the vicinity of New York City- Each group will consist of a pair 

 of birds and their nest and eggs or young, with their natural sur- 

 roundings of characteristic vegetation and other accessories. 

 About twenty of these groups are well under way, and will be 

 ready for exhibition early in May. A skilled modeler of plants, 

 Mrs. Mogridge, formerly at the South Kensington Museum, of 

 London, has been employed to prepare the vegetation required. 

 The results thus far attained are highly satisfactory, leaving little 

 to be desired in point of effectiveness and truthfulness to nature. 



Under the new law for the protection of song and native birds 

 recently enacted by the State of New York, the Museum has 

 been called upon to issue permits in the interest of collectors of 

 birds for scientific purposes ; a few only have been granted, and 

 these only to well-known ornithologists. 



In September a Bulletin (Bulletin No. 7) was issued for this 

 department, consisting of a colored plate and 94 pages of text. 

 It included five papers, one on mammals, two on birds, and two 

 on batrachians. 



DEPARTMENT OF INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY, 

 FISHES AND REPTILES. 



LUnder the charge of Dr. J. B. Holder.] 



The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution having intimated 

 to the Executive Committee of the Museum that he was at liberty 

 to present to them a series of casts of reptiles and fishes, I was 

 directed to visit Washington for the purpose of negotiating for 

 their preparation and transfer. This series embraces carefully 



