Oct.  1896. 
Annual  Report  of  the  Director. 
material  in  that  part  of  the  Building  where  it  is  now  installed,  and 
considerable  re-arrangement  will  be  demanded  before  this  division 
will  attract  any  particular  attention.  However,  there  is  a  good  deal 
of  material  already  collected  and  subject  to  requisition,  that  when 
grouped  and  placed  with  relation  to  chronology,  geography,  develop- 
ment of  culture  as  well  as  character  of  instrument,  will  make  an 
excellent  beginning.  So  far,  the  unique  examples  are  largely  from 
Asia  and  Africa,  although  South  America  furnishes  some  very  good 
objects.  Several  old  piano  movements,  a  calderarpa,  and  a  col- 
lection of  the  movements  01  the  modern  piano  are  in  place,  and 
invite  a  great  deal  of  attention  from  the  visitors.  It  is  hoped  to  add 
to  the  divisions  of  this  Department  within  the  year  a  tentative  instal- 
lation in  fire-making  and  horology. 
Taxidermy. — The  section  of  Taxidermy  established  during  the 
year,  while  without  a  head,  in  the  absence  in  Africa  of  its  chief  work- 
man, wTas  not  instituted  in  advance  of  requirements,  for  without 
considering  new  work,  the  material  that  has  been  restored,  preserved 
and  saved,  is  remarkable.  The  greatest  work  has  been  done  among 
the  old  mounted  mammals  that  have  been  re-installed  in  Hall  20. 
The  entire  collection  purchased  before  the  opening  of  the  Museum 
has  been  carefully  restored,  embellished,  repaired,  renovated, 
re-mounted,  etc.,  and  presents  an  entirely  fresh  appearance.  Quite  a 
number  of  the  specimens  in  this  collection  require  such  treatment 
that  they  have  been  stored  awaiting  the  return  of  the  Chief  Taxider- 
mist. Great  care  has  been  bestowed  upon  the  re-poisoning  of  the 
entire  collection.  Eighteen  large  mammals,  mostly  antelopes  and 
deer,  were  mounted  before  the  African  expedition  started,  and  two 
groups  of  monkeys  were  designed,  mounted  and  installed  in  the  West 
Court.  The  accessories  for  these  groups,  tree  trunks,  branches, 
leaves,  fruits  etc.,  were  also  prepared  by  the  Museum  taxidermists. 
Quite  a  number  of  fishes,  reptiles  and  Crustacea  have  been  prepared 
and  mounted,  and  two  hundred  and  thirty  birds,  mostly  North 
American,  have  been  mounted  and  added  to  the  Ornithological  col- 
lections. The  Curator  of  Ornithology  has  prepared  sketches  and 
details  for  a  heron  and  a  duck  group  on  which  work  is  now  in 
progress. 
Photography. — Notwithstanding  the  poor  quarters  and  lighting  of 
the  only  available  place  for  photographic  work,  much  has  been 
accomplished.  The  importance  and  need  of  such  a  section  in  the 
Museum  is  fully  exemplified  in  the  demand  which  has  been  made 
upon  it  from  all  departments  for  the  illustration  of  publications  and 
