USNM Curators Annual Reports - Department of Reptiles: Annual Report, 1894-1895

It’s 1895 and you just received a small amount of fluid from the Smithsonian’s Department of Reptiles. Don’t panic. It’s probably just formalin, a liquid the department was experimenting with to preserve specimen as a substitute for alcohol. The department was so pleased with the results that they mailed small samples to their correspondents. Help us transcribe the report and transport back to 1895 to explore the new accessions and practices of the Department of Reptiles. To learn more about this collection, check out the finding aid.