﻿Reports of the Curators and the Custodian. 



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ed together. Should one specimen be affected with vermin it is likely to 

 transmit these vermin to the remaining birds in the drawer. Furthermore, 

 the plumage of the skins becomes more or less ruffled and disturbed, and 

 the skins are not in position to be used in scientific study or examination- 

 Some of the drawers of nine inches in depth have an overplus of small 

 skins, which latter, if laid flat side by side, would not require a space ver- 

 tically of more than two or three inches. The remedy for this is to pro- 

 vide simple adjustable wooden trays (which can be furnished at a nominal 

 expense) and which can be fitted into these drawers, thus doubling, and 

 sometimes trebling the drawer space, and enabling the specimens to be 

 properly disposed and easily and quickly reached and examined. 



The cases for the exhibition of mounted birds and mammals are also ob- 

 viously inadequate. 



In regard to the department of mammalogy, during the year twenty- one 

 mounted mammals have been added to our collection, many of which are 

 rare and fine. Among these may be mentioned the porcupine, Malayan 

 Sun bear, Unus Malayanus: Mexican free porcupine, female, Springurus 

 Mexicanus Shaw Honduras: axis deer : Cervus axis, female, India: kanga- 

 roo: fine specimens of monkeys: jaguar: raccoon: fawn of hog deer 

 (Cervus porcinus, Zimm., Indian species, twenty-four hours old): prairie 

 hare, etc. 



Books added to the Library are Zoological atlas, Mivart's. vol. entitled 

 "The Cat," etc. 



With the earnest wish that the collection of birds and mammals may be 

 increased, and become of still greater value to the student of Natural 

 Science, this report is respectfully submitted. 



Your obedient servant, Wm, Hubbell Fisher. 



Cincinnati, 0., April 1, 1884. 



Report of Curator of Comparative Anatomy : 



The cabinet embraces a variety of skeletons, mounted and unmounted. 

 The entire skeleton of an emu, in ligaments, has been added this year. 

 The skull of a six-banded armadillo is an addition, and several odd bones 

 of some interest. 



The custodian is in progress of cataloguing skeletal forms. He has put 

 in order the case of avian shoulder girdles. 



An appropriation of ten or fifteen dollars should be made to finish the 

 articulation and mounting of the skeleton of the African ostrich. In short, 

 the osteal museum on the fourth floor should have work and money dis- 

 played upon it. 



