21 



REPORT ON THE REPTILES AND FISHES. 



By Samuel Garman. 



The most important acquisitions in these departments were a 

 series of Chinese types, received in exchange from Dr. Lortet of 

 the Lyons Museum ; a lot of African species, purchased from 

 Dr. Muller ; and a large number of West Indian specimens, 

 bought from Mr. W. B. Richardson. The list of donors in- 

 cludes the names of Dr. C. C. Abbott, Prof. J. A. Allen, Dr. H. 

 Ayers, Prof. S. F. Baird, Miss I. Batchelder, Henry Brooks, Esq., 

 Mr. S. F. Denton, Prof. C. H. Eigenmann, Prof. H. Garman, 

 Mr. Alex. H. Higginson, Col. E. B. Hodge, L. C. Jones, Esq., 

 Jas. E. Mills, Esq., Mr. Geo. B. Shattuck, Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, 

 Mr. T. E. Stone, and N. Vickary, Esq. 



As exchanges, a large series was sent to Prof. S. E. Meek, 

 Eureka College, and smaller lots to Dr. H. Woodward, Prof. H. 

 Garman, and the Zoological Society of London. A considerable 

 number of Reptiles and Fishes were turned over to Professor 

 Mark and Dr. Ayers for students' use. 



The Pleuronectidae, Scisenidse, and the Hsemulons were made 

 subjects of special study by Prof. D. S. Jordan. 



In connection with overhauling, cataloguing, identification, 

 and preparation for exhibition or for storing, constant attention 

 has been paid to reduction of the bulk of the collections by the 

 withdrawal of useless duplicates. So many of these have been 

 thrown away that the amount of alcohol and glass set free has 

 been more than sufficient to replace what was used during the 

 year in all the departments of the Museum. The changes in 

 the Exhibition Rooms necessitated by discoloration were compara- 

 tively few ; the loss by evaporation, breakage, or from corrosion 

 of cans was small. Soaking the larger bones in solutions, and 

 use of the bisulphide in the cases, seems to have put an end to 

 the ravages of the insects in the Skeleton Room. 



