90 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1885. 



Emptying of cases in the northwest gallery. — The north-west gallery of 

 the lower main hall of the Smithsonian building having been required for 

 the laboratory of the Department of Marine Invertebrates, the speci- 

 mens of mounted birds contained in the cases therein were removed 

 to other cases on the floor of the hall. 



General rearrangement of the exhibition series. — A number of cases 

 liaving been remodeled according* to plans and specifications furnished 

 by the curator, and others added to the hall, the arrangement of the 

 mounted specimens was improved to as great an extent as is possible 

 with fixed terraced shelves, and prosecuted as rapidly as the work of 

 repairing and painting the cases was completed. The rearrangement 

 is yet incomplete, however, owing to the circumstance that some of the 

 cases are not ready for the accommodation of the specimens. 



Assistance rendered to special investigators and students. — A very con- 

 siderable proportion of the work required of the curator consists of as- 

 sistance rendered to special investigators and students of ornithology, 

 who, in the absence of books for reference or named specimens for com- 

 parison at their command, refer to him for determination very many 

 questions of identification. Such matters often require special investi- 

 gation on the part of the curator, but all such questions referred to him 

 have been cheerfully answered to the best of his ability, and as promptly 

 as proper attention to current routine work of the department would 

 allow. 



PROVISION FOR THE PURCHASE OF IMPORTANT DESIDERATA. 



The Department of Birds stands greatly in need of specimens of cer- 

 tain species of birds which are urgently required for purposes of com- 

 parison, and which can be obtained only by purchase, and there are 

 frequent opportunities for the purchase of very desirable specimens at 

 prices which would make their acquisition by this means far prefera- 

 ble to their acquirement by exchange, even were the latter possible. 

 The curator has no suggestion to make concerning this matter further 

 than to say that if a certain annual sum could be placed at his disposal, 

 under the usual rales governing the purchase of supplies and material — 

 or if he could know the maximum amount which could for each current 

 year be expended on account of such purchases — he would be enabled 

 to use his discrimination to much greater advantage. 



SERVICES OF ASSISTANTS. 



The curator desires to acknowledge the valuable services performed 

 by the assistants who have been appointed or assigned to his depart- 

 ment: Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, assistant curator; Mr. C. W. Beck- 

 ham, and Mr. Hugh M. Smith, who have each performed their respect- 

 ive duties with their usual efficiency and faithfulness. Miss Harriet 

 S. Perkins, in charge of the Oological section during the absence of 



