12 



MUSEUM OF COMPARATIYE ZOOLOGY. [Apr. 



catalogued. Many hundreds more still remain to be recorded. 

 It is hoped that during the coming year the cataloguing will be 

 completed, and the whole collection systematically arranged. 

 As tlie work progresses, the specimens are removed from the 

 barrels in which they are now stored, to glass jars and stone 

 crocks, these having been found to be in the end the more 

 economical and convenient. Each species is generally placed in 

 a separate jar, suited to its size and to the number of specimens 

 of it contained in the collection. When the number of speci- 

 mens of any species is very great, as is the case in some of our 

 smaller native species, the specimens are separated into several 

 jars, and arranged according to the localities at which they 

 were collected. This revision of the collection is revealing the 

 fact that there are a large number of specimens that may be 

 spared for skeletons, and the preparation of them has already 

 been commenced. Although this work requires much time, if 

 it is carried steadily forward, as it is now proposed by the 

 Director that it* shall be, the osteological collection in the 

 Museum, already large, will soon be much increased from this 

 source. In accordance with instructions received from the 

 Director, it is proposed to prepare a large series of skeletons of 

 those species for which there is ample material, for the purpose 

 of determining within what limits individuals of the same 

 species may present variations in their osseus structure. This 

 will give a basis for determining the value of specific identifi- 

 cations when made from single bones, to which unsatisfactory 

 data paleontologists are frequently restricted. A comparison 

 of the young of different species is also to be made, in order to 

 ascertain at what age they take on their specific, generic and 

 family characters. 



The additions to the collection of Mammals, during the past 

 year, have been small. This is mainly due to the fact that at 

 present, at least so far as skins are concerned, there is no longer 

 room for their proper storage ; perhaps in part to the general 

 necessity for limited expenditures. One invoice of especial 

 value, however, has been received, through the kindness of 

 Captain Charles Bryant. This lot is from the Islands of St. 

 George and St. Paul, Alaska, and embraces a skull, a complete 

 skeleton and a fresh skin of the Walrus ( Tricheclius rosmarus 

 Auct.), fresh skins and complete skeletons of two adult speci- 



