

1871.] 231 [Annual Report. 



as far as it goes, its incompleteness is not creditable to the 

 Society. We are deficient in representatives of the larger 

 fishes of our coast, and it is to be hoped that a decided im- 

 provement in this respect may soon take place. 



The Reptilia, which were arranged last year, remain in 

 about the same condition. This collection, also, is very 

 small and needs many additions. 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



There has been the usual activity in this department. Dr. 

 T. M. Brewer has obtained several important additions — one 

 donation from Mr. Thure Kumlein, of several very rare speci- 

 mens, including the Erismatura dominica, from Wisconsin, 

 and a lot from the same gentleman purchased by the Society. 

 Another from the Smithsonian Institute contained an exceed- 

 ingly valuable series of the nest and eggs of Arctic birds. 

 Other additions will be found in the list of donations. 



The Brazilian skins of Dr. Biyant's collection, about 200 

 species, have been arranged, labelled and catalogued, by Dr. 

 Brewer, all the doubtful species being referred to Dr. Geo. N. 

 Lawrence, of New York. The Guatemalan skins purchased 

 from Mr. Yan Patten, have been received and are now being 

 named. 



The Custodian has turned his personal attention more 

 especially to the Birds, this being by far the most valuable 

 collection in the building and most likely to suffer from neg- 

 lect. In order to stop the ravages of anthreni, many expedi- 

 ents have been adopted. Naphthaline has been largely used, 

 but entirely without success. In fact, the use of any such 

 "vacie mecum" is often worse than nothing at all, since it 

 leads the persons in charge to place confidence in its appar- 

 ently favorable effect, and leaves the insects an open field to 

 work in. The birds on the lower shelves alone have become in- 

 fected, the beetle does not seem to rise above these as long as 

 there are any skins unattacked below. Several expedients 

 have been resorted to, but nothing is apparently so effectual 



