In two of the desk cases, made vacant by moving- 

 specimens on the gallery floor, are exhibited a series of 

 very rare and valuable shells, deposited by Mr. W. A. 

 Haines. 



In the department of Ornithology, we have received 

 from the Smithsonian Institution, as a partial exchange 

 •for the specimens we forwarded last year, 89 species 

 and 104 specimens of bird skins, which, with a selec- 

 tion made by Mr. D. G. Elliot from the large series 

 formerly presented by him, numbers 657 skins which 

 are ready to be mounted aud placed in the cases on the 

 second floor. Mr. Alfred Van Deusen has presented 

 9 species, 17 specimens, of skins from South America. 

 A remarkably large and finely colored specimen of the 

 Wild Turkey, mounted by Mr. Bell, was presented by 

 the late Mr. Alexander Stuart, and a bird's skull, 

 mounted with the bones separate, but retaining their 

 relative position, presented by Mr. Elliot. 



In the Department of Ethnology and Archaeology 

 much labor has been performed in carefully marking 

 numbers in paint upon the specimens, so that they can 

 be freely handled by students in this popular branch 

 of natural science without the possibility of the loss 

 of their locality. 



Large and valuable additions are being constantly 

 made to our collections upon the gallery floor, and with 

 the important deposits of similar specimens from all 

 parts of our country, now rapidly accumulating in our 

 workrooms, the material will soon be gathered for 

 making an exhaustive study of American Archaeology. 

 Mr. Hugh Auchincloss has presented a collection of 

 Indian and Eskimo dresses and implements, made by 

 Prof. Robert Bell, on the shores of Hudson's Bay. 



