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REPORT ON THE MAMMALS AND BIRDS. 



By William Brewster. 



Tfe collection of Mammals and Birds is now practically, if not 

 absolutely, free from insect pests, and, generally speaking, in excel- 

 lent condition. A reduction in the number of bird skins, similar 

 to that made last year with the mammal skins, has been begun, 

 and already about two hundred damaged or superfluous specimens 

 have been removed. At least twice as many more can be spared 

 to advantage ; for the cases are overcrowded, and the cost of stor- 

 ing poor material is usually largely in excess of its value, to say 

 nothing of the positive injury which it often causes to good mate- 

 rial, — as, for instance, when greasy or otherwise poorly prepared 

 skins come in contact with spotless ones. 



The Museum is indebted to Mr. Agassiz for a score or more 

 of mounted mammals, supplied by Ward to fill gaps in the vari- 

 ous faunal collections. Among them are the curious Golden Mole 

 (Chi*ysochloris capensis), the Strand Mole-rat (Bathyergus mariti- 

 mus), the African Buffalo (Bubalus coffer), the Aard Wolf (Pro- 

 teles lalandii), and the Hunting Dog (JLycaon pictus), from 

 Africa ; the Dugong (Halicore dugong), from Australia ; the 

 Kiang (JHquus kiang), from Thibet ; and, of especial rarity and 

 interest, a fine adult Sea Otter (Enhydris lutris), from the Kurile 

 Islands. 



The most important addition to the bird collection is that of one 

 hundred and eighty-four skins presented by Mr. Frederick R. King 

 of San Francisco. These are all North American, and the major- 

 ity West Coast species, several of which are of considerable rarity. 

 Without exception the specimens are in fine condition, and of 

 unusual value, either for mounting or cabinet use. The Museum 

 has also received from Mr. Agassiz a collection of thirteen small 

 mammals and fifteen birds, taken in Orizaba, Mexico, by Pedro 

 M. Toro. 



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