Oct.  1898.         Annual  Report  of  the  Director. 
287 
In  addition  to  the  above,  the  mailing  list  has  been  corrected  as 
required  by  the  issuing  of  the  different  publications,  and  500  copies 
of  an  Herbarium  pamphlet  have  been  printed. 
Taxidermy. — Notwithstanding  his  three  months'  absence  on  expe- 
ditions in  the  Northwest,  Mr.  Akeley,  the  chief  taxidermist,  has  created 
two  more  striking  groups  from  the  material  obtained  on  the  African 
expedition — Waller's  Gazelles  and  the  oryx  group.  The  same  appre- 
ciation of  the  high  purpose  of  his  work,  the  same  skillful  blending  of 
nature  and  of  art,  the  same  conspicuous  care  in  detail,  distinguish 
these  groups  as  they  marked  the  other  creations  of  which  he  has  been 
the  author.  The  facilities  provided  for  this  important  and  most 
valuable  division  of  the  Museum  are  entirely  inadequate,  not  only  as 
to  space  in  which  this  work  must  be  performed,  but  as  to  the  con- 
veniences and  appurtenances,  and  the  skilled  assistance  available. 
The  Curator  of  the  Department  of  Zoology,  to  whom  the  taxidermist 
is  assigned,  has  submitted  an  outline  for  the  expansion  of  this  section 
and  for  the  provision  of  such  aids  and  agencies  as  will  enable  the 
force  so  fortunately  at  command  of  the  Museum  to  take  advantage  of 
the  unusual  conditions  and  of  a  large  amount  of  material  of  excep- 
tional value  and  interest,  and  to  produce  in  greater  quantity  and  in 
quicker  succession  the  masterpieces  in  the  representation  of  animal 
life,  of  which  Mr.  Akeley  is  so  highly  competent.  I  shall  ask  for  these 
recommendations  of  the  Curator  of  the  Department  of  Zoology  the 
earliest  consideration  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
Guards  and  Fire  Protection. — By  instruction  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  the  guard  of  the  Museum  was  increased  one  member 
during  the  year,  to  permit  the  execution  of  the  rule  of  the  committee 
granting  to  each  member  of  this  branch  of  Museum  service  an  annual 
two  weeks'  vacation,  with  pay.  Not  one  complaint  of  inattention  or 
incivility  to  the  public  on  the  part  of  a  guard  has  reached  the  Director 
during  the  year.  I  wish  to  call  special  attention  to  the  excellent  dis- 
cipline, general  deportment,  and  soldierly  and  genteel  appearance  of 
the  guard  of  the  Museum,  to  whom  the  safety  of  the  building,  the 
security  of  its  contents,  and  the  convenience  of  the  public  are  due  in 
a  large  measure.  The  appliances  of  the  fire  department  have  been 
increased  by*the  exchange  of  the  two-gallon  extinguishers  for  new 
three-gallon  machines.  The  equipment  at  present  consists  of  a 
Champion  chemical  engine  with  a  capacity  of  55  gallons,  and  300 
