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^[[Curator Reports Living Animals
W. T. Hornaday]]

[[double underline]] Explorations [[/double underline]]. - In October 1887 it was decided to establish immediately in connection with the National Museum a Department of Living Animals, chiefly for the purpose of affording materials for study in connection with certain lines of work then being prosecuted in the museum. It was decided that hereafter all gifts of living animals which might be offered to the Museum would be accepted, cared for in the best manner possible, and exhibited with due credit to the donors. It was also decided that whenever it was found advisable to purchase a living wild animal for ^ [[insertion]] study [[/insertion]] purposes, at a nominal price, it might be done. In accordance with this determination, Mr W. T. Hornaday was directed by the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who was at that time U. S. Fish Commissioner, to make a collecting trip on Fish Car No. 1. to and through Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington Territory, Oregon and Utah, in the interest the new department of living animals which it was proposed to establish.

Mr Hornaday left Washington ^ [[insertion]] on [[/insertion]] Oct 8, on Car No 1. Mr J. Frank Ellis, messenger, and proceeded westward. In the course of 

^[[Copy used in 87-88 report]]

Transcription Notes:
edited for consistent insertion tag formatting - @meg_shuler