1877.] 



SENATE — No. 5. 



17 



REPORT ON THE REPTILES BATRACHIANS AND SELACHIANS. 



By S. W. Garmajj. 



For additions to the collections in these departments, the 

 Museum is under obligations to its friends, Samuel Powel, 

 Aug. R. Grote, Hendrick Butler, Chas. Sarkady, Jos. L. 

 Barfoot, Thos. G. Cary, F. W. Putnam, and J. Henry Blake. 

 All of the contributions were in excellent condition. The 

 work of changing the alcohol has been continued through the 

 entire collections. Although redistillation caused a loss in 

 bulk of about one-half, the amount of alcohol withdrawn, 

 added to what was set free by sending duplicates away, lacked 

 but a barrel of being enough to replace the twenty barrels 

 needed for the change. Numerous experiments are being 

 made to determine the relative stability of various metals 

 when used for cans or labels, and the amounts of evaporation 

 and comparative value of different liquids for preserving 

 specimens. Thirty-seven collections, averaging forty species 

 each, were sent to colleges and museums in different parts of 

 this country and Europe for teachers' use and in exchange. 



Such specimens as were needed in their studies have been 

 taken out from time to time by the college students. 



I am able to report these collections in better condition 

 than ever before. 



3 



