88 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1885. 



BIRDS MOUNTED FOR EXHIBITION SERIES. 



The number of birds mounted by Mr. Marshall for the exhibition se- 

 ries is as follows : 



Specimen*. 



In January 55 



In February 24 



In March 15 



In April 56 



In May 37 



In June 48 



TotaL 235 



Nearly all of these were mounted from dried skins. 



SPECIAL WORK ACCOMPLISHED. 



New Orleans Exposition. — In compliance with instructions, the cura- 

 tor of the Department of Birds and his assistants prepared for exhibi- 

 tion at the New Orleans World's Cotton Exposition a collection of North 

 American game birds, numbering 163 finely mounted specimens, and 

 representing nearly all the species. It was at first intended to make 

 the exhibit much more comprehensive, and in fact a collection of much 

 broader scope had been nearly completed, when it became necessary y 

 on account of the limited space available at the exposition, to make 

 the great reduction which ensued. This collection was installed by the 

 assistant curator, Br. Leonhard Stejneger, who for the purpose left 

 Washington January 3 and returned on the 16th of the month. Dr. 

 Stejneger reports that " in regard to completeness, perfection of mount- 

 ing and preservation, scientific exactness and popular instructiveness," 

 this collection " was superior to any other ornithological exhibit at the 

 exposition." 



The collection filled two double Museum cases fitted with two rows of 

 terraced shelves, the exhibition surface amounting to a little more than 

 600 square feet. Each specimen was mounted upon a stand of polished 

 black walnut, and provided with a printed label on which were printed,, 

 in large, clear type, both the scientific and popular names. 



Meeting of the Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of the 

 American Ornithologists'' Union. — The organization known as " The Amer- 

 ican Ornithologists' Union" was formed at the urgent request of the va- 

 rious ornithological interests of the country, for the special purpose of 

 harmonizing existing differences in the nomenclature of North Ameri- 

 can birds, and thus removing the most serious obstacle to the study of 

 ornithology. At the meeting of organization, in New York City, in Sep- 

 tember, 1883, a "Committee on Classification and Nomenclature" was 

 appointed, the curator of this department being honored by his selec- 

 tion as a member. This committee, in pursuance of a call from the- 

 chairman, held a meeting in Washington, during the period extend- 



