EEPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1913. 59 



adapted to their keeping than the older pattern. The head curator 

 of the department, Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, who also retains charge 

 of this division, continued, as time permitted, his researches on Phil- 

 ippine herpetology, and completed his report on the reptiles and 

 batrachians collected by the Yale Peruvian expedition of 1911. The 

 division was visited for the examination of material by Dr. Thomas 

 Barbour and Dr. J. S. Foote; and specimens were lent for study to 

 Dr. Alex. G. Ruthven, head curator of the Museum of the University 

 of Michigan; Dr. J. C. Thompson, U. S. Navy, attached to the 

 steamer Albatross; Dr. Charles A. Kofoid, of the University of CaU- 

 fornia; and Dr. Barbour. 



Fishes. — While the number of specimens received by this division 

 was much below the average, the nimiber of types acquired was 

 exceptionally large, not less than 110, besides numerous paratypes, 

 having been contained in a single collection from the Biu-eau of Fish- 

 eries, which also deposited the type and paratype of Eadropterus 

 seUaris, and the type and 11 other specimens of Pseudofleuronedes 

 dignahilis. Leland Stanford Junior University presented the type 

 specimen of Atherinops oregonia and paratypes of six new species of 

 Japanese fishes; while Dr. David Starr Jordan donated the type of 

 Gnathypops ionis from Japan, and was instrumental in obtaining the 

 type of Anguilla manabei, also from Japan, as a gift to the Museum 

 from Prof. Yoshiro Manabe. The type of Pontinus microlepis and 

 three specimens of the rare Pledrypops retrospinis, new to the collec- 

 tion, were contributed by Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, of the Conservation 

 Commission of New York. A number of desirable specimens from 

 Cape Lookout, N. C, were received from Mr. Russell J. Coles, of 

 Danville, Va., and others were acquired through exchange from the 

 Field Museum of Natural History, and the Australian Museum at 

 Sydney. 



The very extensive collections of the division are reported to be 

 in good condition, but their increase in recent years has more than 

 taxed the energies of the few persons attached to the division, and a 

 general revision is now called for and should soon be undertaken. 

 Such a work would be expected to result in a considerable reduction 

 in the bulk of material, and to release a large number of specimens 

 to be used for exchanges, and for distribution to schools and colleges. 



Though mainly occupied with routine work, the assistant curator of 

 the division, Mr. Barton A. Bean, continued his investigation of the 

 fishes of the District of Columbia and of Florida, and the aid, Mr. A. C. 

 Weed, his study of the pike family (Esocidse) . Dr. Hugh M. Smith, U. S. 

 Commissioner of Fisheries, and Mr. Lewis Radcliffe, of the Bureau of 

 Fisheries, made constant use of the collections in connection with their 

 researches on the fishes of the Philippine Islands, as did also Mr. S. F. 

 Hildebrand, of the same bureau, and Dr. S. E. Meek, of the Field 



