268 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION 



Since most of the type specimens of the known Central and South 

 American species are in foreign museums, it would be necessary 

 for these in charge of the work to visit those museums in order to 

 ascertain just what these species are. An effort would be made to 

 duplicate these types in order that we may have in this country the 

 necessary units for comparison. 



Methods. — The methods recommended are those of the Biological 

 Survey of North America, of which your petitioner was the organizer 

 and of which he has had continuous charge for the past 14 years. 

 These methods, brieP.y stated, consist in the study of faunas and the 

 collection of specimens in the field, followed by the elaboration of re- 

 sults. The field expeditions, which have now covered most of North 

 America from southern Mexico to Hudson Bay, Great Slave Lake, 

 and various parts of Alaska, are in charge of trained field natural- 

 ists who note the changes in passing from one faunal belt or area to 

 another, establish points along their boundaries, and make collections 

 of the characteristic species. The parties are small and compact, 

 usually consisting of three men — the assistant in charge, a competent 

 field collector, and a man who acts as cook and packer (or boatman). 

 They travel by wagon, pack outfit, or boat, according to the require- 

 ments of the country. Experience has shown that a given number 

 of men accomplish vastly more work when divided into small par- 

 ties than when united in large parties. 



Date of beginning. — As the preliminary arrangements would take 

 some time, it is recommended that a definite answer be given as 

 early as practicable, and, if favorable, that the initial appropriation 

 be made available in September, 1903. 



Cost. — As it is impossible to obtain at the outset a sufficient num- 

 ber of competent trained field naturalists, it is recommended that the 

 work be begun with a rather small grant, and that thereafter the 

 annual appropriation be increased in accordance with the following 

 estimates : 



Estimate for fall of 1903 $3,00C 



Estimate for First Ykas. 



Salaries of two chief assistants, at $3.000 $6,000 



Salaries of two tield collectors, at $1,500 3,000 



Salaries of two field collectors, at $1,200 2.400 



Field expenses, including' transportation, subsistence, collecting 



outfit, and materials 5,000 



Tansportation charg^es on specimens to the United States 500 



Salary of stenographer and clerk 1,000 



Cases for specimens 500 



Total $18,400 



