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REPORT ON THE MAMMALS AND BIRDS. 



By J. A. Allen. 



During the past year the additions to the departments of Mam- 

 mals and Birds have been numerous and important. A few small 

 lots have been obtained by exchange, but by far the greater part 

 have been purchased, and are the gift of Mr. Agassiz. The col- 

 lection of Mammals has been increased by the addition of some 

 one hundred and thirty mounted skins, and by nearly the same 

 number unmounted, representing about one hundred and fifty 

 species, nearly all of which were new to the collection. The 

 mounted specimens embrace many large and expensive pieces, 

 among which may be mentioned a Narwhal, an adult Atlantic 

 Walrus, a Camel, a Zebra, a Lion, a pair of Saiga Antelopes, Sea 

 Lions, Seals (including the Crested Seal and the Sea Leopard), 

 an Orang-Outang, and some twenty species of Monkeys and 

 Lemurs. A considerable number of skins previously in the col- 

 lection have also been mounted. There have been added to 

 the osteological series twenty-six mounted and nearly the same 

 number of unmounted skeletons, about thirty skulls, and nearly 

 twenty skeletons, the principal bones of which have been mounted 

 separately for the comparative series. 



The collection of Birds has been increased by the addition of 

 over four hundred and fifty mounted skins, representing some 

 four hundred and twenty-five species, nearly all new to the col- 

 lection. There have also been added about one thousand un- 

 mounted skins, representing over four hundred species, two 

 thirds of which were new to the collection. Fifty-five skele- 

 tons, about one half of them mounted, have been added ; also 

 thirty skulls, seventy-five sterna, and about twenty separately 

 mounted pelves. To the Odlogical Department have been added 

 the nests and eggs of twenty-six species, all North American, and 



