17 



Economic Collections. — Building and Ornamental Stones, 

 Ores, etc. — The labels for the Jesup Collection of building stones, 

 received from the Smithsonian Institution, have been placed on 

 the blocks provided for these samples, and the collection ar- 

 ranged in cases. 



DEPARTMENT OF MAMMALS AND BIRDS. 



[Under the charge of Prof. J. A. Allen.] 



Mammals. — The additions to the collection of mammals 

 number 2310 specimens, acquired as follows: — By donation : 50 

 specimens in the flesh ; 18 skins and skeletons from South 

 Africa; 20 specimens in alcohol, 332 skins, 518 skulls, and 27 

 skeletons, from North America. By exchange : 15 skins and 12 

 skulls, from India and Africa. By purchase : 21 Monkeys, 

 mounted ; 28 specimens in the flesh ; 70 skins and 96 skulls 

 from Mexico ; 5 skins from Brazil ; 8 skins from Australia and 

 India; 512 skins, 535 skulls, 11 skeletons, and ^ specimens in 

 alcohol, from North America. 



Among the most important donations is the collection of 300 

 skins, 500 skulls, 26 skeletons, and 20 specimens in alcohol, pre- 

 sented by Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, U. S. A. Messrs. Barnum & 

 Bailey have sent us 15 specimens in the flesh, including an 

 American Bison, 8 Monkeys and several large Carnivores. From 

 the Central Park Menagerie we have received, through Dr. W. A. 

 Conklin, Superintendent, 22 specimens in the flesh, among them 

 the young Hippopotamus recently born in the Menagerie, and 

 other animals of much value. Mr. Frank J. Thompson has pre- 

 sented five Monkeys and a Paradoxure. 



Birds. — The additions to the collection of birds numbers 

 5474 skins, about 4000 eggs, and 60 skeletons, as follows : — 

 By donation : 1560 skins, many nests, and about 4000 eggs. By 

 exchange : 242 skins, nearly all from South America and mostly 

 representing species new to the collection. By purchase : 30 skins 

 from the Bahamas, 85 from Southern Mexico, 128 from Costa 

 Rica, 405 from South America, and 3024 from North America. 



Among the most important donations is a collection of 1200 

 skins from North America and Northern Europe, and 100 nests 

 and about 1000 eggs from Arizona, presented by Dr. E. A. 

 Mearns. We have also received, through Mr. Clarence King, 

 of this city, the celebrated Snowden Howland Collection of Eggs, 

 well known as one of the largest and most valuable private col- 

 lections of North American birds' eggs ever brought together. 

 The Museum is also indebted to Messrs. D. Willis James, Charles 

 S. Smith and Cornelius Vanderbilt, for a valuable collection of 

 South African bird skins. 



