Annual Report.] 6 [May 7, 



The duplicates of all the zoological collections have been 

 assorted by Mr. Emerton, and arranged in the basement or 

 elsewhere, so that they are easily available for the many 

 purposes to which they can be applied. 



Little has been done during the year in the collection of 

 mammals, except the change of arrangement implied in the 

 alterations of which I have already spoken. A Moose skin 

 has been purchased and is now being stuffed for the N. E. 

 collection. 



The principal work done in the bird collections has also 

 been referred to. The transfer of these collections has been 

 a work of much labor. Mr. Allen has given fifty days to 

 their rearrangement, and much of Prof. Hyatt's time was 

 also devoted to the work, and important assistance has been 

 given by Messrs. Emerton and Saltonstall. The collection 

 seems quite free from Anthreni or other pests, and the new 

 cases will easily preserve it in the future. 



Much work remains to be done in identifying and label- 

 ling. Mr. Robert Ridgway has, during the winter, carefully 

 studied and identified the birds of prey, and similar work is 

 needed in other groups. Dr. Brewer has examined and 

 identified the whole collection of skins, and distributed them 

 in groups so as to be easily accessible. The species in this 

 collection not represented among the mounted birds have 

 been laid aside, and Mr. Arthur Smith has already nicely 

 mounted a large number of them, and will continue the 

 work until completed. 



Valuable donations have been received from the Smithson- 

 ian Institution, principally a large collection of American 

 waders, and from Messrs. Kumlien, Aiken and Bendire; be- 

 sides numerous smaller gifts. A number of birds have also 

 been purchased of Mr. Maynard for the New England Faunal 

 Collection. 



The reptiles have been arranged by Mr. Emerton, and but 

 little other work has been done. Quite a number of New 



