![Transcription Center logo](/themes/custom/tc_theme/assets/image/logo.png)
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
Dept. Rept. & [?] Ann. Rep. 1895-1896 ack'd 1. HOW HAS THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1896, COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AS FAR AS (1) THE NUMBER OF ACCESSIONS AND (2) THEIR SCIENTIFIC VALUE ARE CONCERNED? Owing to the prolonged absence of the curator on business connected with the investigation of the fur seal ^[fisheries] of Bering Sea, the number of specimens entered has been considerably smaller than during the years 1894-1895 during which, however, the number of entries exceeded that of any previous year. The total number of entries for 1895-1896 was only 328. The scientific importance has not been less in proportion, however, as some very interesting collections were received for South America, and Madagascar as well as from the United States, the most important scientific discovery being that of the blind [[underline]] Typhlomolge rathbuni [[/underline]] from an artesian well in Texas.