29 



BY PURCHASE. 



THROUGH MUSEUM EXPEDITIONS. 



24 Reptiles from Florida, collected by Frank M. Chapman. 

 BY DIRECT PURCHASE. 



1 Boa Constrictor ; 2 young Alligators ; 3 Pythons ; collection of 

 Reptiles from Florida. 



DEPARTMENT OF TAXIDERMY. 



The most notable piece of work done during the past year was 

 the mounting of the great Indian Rhinoceros " Bomby." The 

 skin when removed from the animal weighed 750 pounds. After 

 immersion for four years in an antiseptic solution it was removed, 

 and found to be perfectly preserved. In preparing it for mount- 

 ing, the skin was thinned down to an even thickness of a quarter 

 of an inch, this operation requiring the labor of two men for two 

 months. In mounting, a wooden manikin was used, made to 

 represent as nearly as possible the natural shape of the animal, 

 upon which the folds and ridges were moulded in clay. Over this 

 completed model the skin was then drawn, and the mounting 

 finished in a highly satisfactory manner. 



Of the 149 mammals received in the flesh a few have been 

 mounted, 55 others prepared for mounting, and 89 made up as 

 skins or skeletons for the Study Collection. Of many of the 

 more important specimens plaster casts were taken while still in 

 the flesh, as a guide in mounting the specimens later ; these casts 

 also afford to artists valuable material for studies. Among 

 those mounted from fresh specimens is the young Hipopotamus 

 received from the Central Park Menagerie. 



A Muskrat group has been prepared and placed on exhibition 

 during the year. It is designed to illustrate the habits of this 

 peculiar species, and represents a section of a river bank showing 

 a burrow and its interior construction. A winter house, built in 

 the water, of grass and other vegetable matter, is also shown. It 

 has been cut down on one side to exhibit the nest within. 



During the summer the Mammal Collection was removed from 

 the lower hall to the bird floor for temporary storage during the 

 completion of the new mammal hall. Although in general, the 

 collection is in a good state of preservation, 172 specimens were 

 found in need of more or less repair, and were placed in good 

 order. Repairs have also been made on many of the skeletons, 

 including the Mastodon and the Elephant Jumbo, which is now 

 again on exhibition at the Museum. The Irish Elk, which for 

 many years has been in bad condition, has been entirely re- 

 mounted, and the few missing parts artificially restored. Also 

 644 skulls of small mammals have been prepared for the Study 

 Collection. 



