56 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 
CUSTODIAN’S7REPORG: 
CINCINNATI, April 1, 1890. 
To the Cincinnats Society of Natural History : 
Since my appointment as Custodian, a few weeks ago, in place 
of Mr. H. P. Smith, resigned, I have carefully looked through the 
collections in the Museum, and find them in the various conditions 
of good, bad and indifferent. I found that, owing to the badly- 
fitting doors in a number of the exhibition cases, and to a lack of 
proper care, that their contents were more or less injured by dust, 
smoke and soot; and especially was this the case in regard to the 
collection of bird-skins, which were exposed in badly fitting draw- 
ers without protective covering, and as a consequence the skins — 
were badly stained and discolored, in most instances beyond the 
reach of restoration. 
The museum pests, as moths, dermestes, etc., had also been 
getting in their nefarious and destructive work, and had done some 
damage. I have had all of the bird and mammal skins taken out 
and carefully looked over, the drawers thoroughly cleaned, and 
the skins replaced and covered with canton-flannel, and the draw- 
ers and cabinets thoroughly fumigated and disinfected with cam- 
phor, naphthaline and carbolic acid. They are now entirely 
protected from smoke, dust and soot. . 
I also found the insects in anything but a good condition. The 
Curator of Entomology, Mr. Dury, kindly went over the ‘‘ Hunt- 
ington Collection” of insects with me. We found evidences 
of the work of the dermestes in nearly every box. Many rare 
specimens had been also damaged through careless handling, by 
having the antenne and legs broken off. We removed and 
destroyed those that seemed to be infected with pests, and those 
that had been utterly ruined. I have thoroughly disinfected the 
cases, and have put them away where they can not be handled, 
and hope that no more destruction may ensue. As soon as possi- 
ble I intend to remove all the insects to the small hall-room on the 
second floor, and fit a tight door to the room, so that it can be, in 
amanner, hermetically sealed, thoroughly and effectively fumigated 
