
MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. t 
of a fine pair of Elk (Cervus canadensis), obtained in Montana by 
Mr. William Dirrett, and a male Virginia Deer (Odocoileus wr- 
gintanus borealis), taken in the Adirondacks, the gift of Mr. W. 
W. Barbour. Mr. Nelson has also revised a part of the Primates, 
both mounts and skeletons, on exhibition in the Systematic col- 
lection; these have been rearranged in three new cases. 
Ill health during the year greatly curtailed the work of Mr. 
Walter R. Zappey, who died in Cambridge on the 20th of Febru- 
ary, 1914. In his death, the Museum lost the services of an 
efficient and most conscientious Preparator. Owing to an early 
interest in birds, Mr. Zappey became a professional taxidermist. 
One result of his field-work, which had attracted the notice of Mr. 
Outram Bangs, was a paper on the birds of the Isle of Pines, 
published under their joint authorship.. This paper was based 
on the material and notes made by Mr. Zappey during two visits 
to the island. Through the ever-ready generosity of Col. John E. 
Thayer, Mr. Zappey was associated with the Arnold Arboretum 
Expedition to Western China, in charge of Mr. E. H. Wilson, 
working during a part of the years 1907-1909 wholly in the inter- 
ests of this Museum. The large and valuable series of vertebrates 
resulting from this expedition, (see Mem. M. C. Z., 40, no. 4), is 
evidence of Mr. Zappey’s industry and ability. From December, 
1909, until March, 1910, Mr. Zappey was in British East Africa 
with Mr. Childs Frick, and through Mr. Frick’s kindness, the 
birds, small mammals, and a few of the large ungulates taken, 
were added to the collections of the Museum. From August, 
1910, until his death, Mr. Zappey worked as Museum Preparator 
upon the research and exhibition collections of birds and mam- 
mals. His skill and faithfulness were as willingly given to the 
most tiresome drudgery incident to his position as to the mount 
of a rare mammal shot by himself in Asia or Africa. For Mr. 
Zappey’s services as Preparator, the Museum is indebted to the 
generosity of Dr. John C. Phillips. 
The constant generosity of Col. John E. Thayer has enriched 
the library and collections of the Museum. ‘To the latter, he has 
given many mammals and insects, while his contributions to the 
ornithological department include specimens from the Antarctic 
and Arctic, as well as from tropical and temperate North America. 
Among Col. Thayer’s gifts to the library are manuscripts and 
publications of great interest and value. The manuscripts in- 
clude two autograph journals and sixty-eight letters of John J. 
Audubon, together with many letters of Mrs. Audubon and her 
