REPORT OF NATIOlsTAL, MUSEUM, 1919. 89 



his forthcoming monographs ; all the arctic marine aimelids and all 

 unidentified sipunculids to Dr. Ralph V. Chamberlin, of the Museum 

 of ComparatiA'e Zoology. In addition various smaller lots were sub- 

 mitted for identification, or as supplementing previous sendings. 

 Bottom samples to the number of 175, secured by the Bureau of 

 Fisheries steamer Albatross^ ojff Oregon and Washington, were for- 

 warded to Dr. C. H. Edmunston, of the University of Oregon, for 

 examination and report. 



Plants. — The number of accessions received as well as the number 

 of specimens entered in the record books during the present year is 

 considerably less than the annual average, though the scientific value 

 of the specimens received is about equal to that of the previous year. 

 The low number of entries resulted from the difficulty in securing 

 mounters. "With the exception of the Mexican and Philippine plants 

 mentioned below, the more important accessions relate to material 

 from South America, a region from which a special effort is being 

 made to obtain specimens at the present time. In the order of their 

 importance the larger accessions are as follows: Approximately 

 12,000 specimens of plants, chiefly from Mexico, presented by Brother 

 G. Arsene, representing a nearly complete series of the extensive 

 botanical collections secured by him and his associates among the 

 Christian Brothers during about eight years' residence in Mexico. 

 Some 3,995 specimens of Philippine plants were obtained by pur- 

 chase. Prof. H. Pittier, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, donated a 

 total of 1,761 specimens of Venezuelan plants of particular interest 

 as coming from regions of great importance historically. From the 

 bureau of science, Manila, Philippine Islands, 5,612 Philippine plants 

 were received in exchange. Dr. J. N. Rose's expedition to Ecuador 

 added about 2,000 specimens to the National Herbarium from the 

 Andes of Ecuador, a region not well represented in American her- 

 baria. From the Museu Goeldi, Para, Brazil, 1,077 specimens, from 

 Brazil, chiefly leguminous trees, an unusually complete and well-pre- 

 pared collection, obtained in exchange. 



Notwithstanding the shortage of curatorial help and the difficulty 

 of securing mounters, the work connected with the upkeep and in- 

 crease of the National Herbarium has progressed satisfactorily dur- 

 ing the past fiscal year. Approximately 13,000 specimens have been 

 mounted, while more than 20,000 remain to be mounted, this work to 

 be accomplished in large part by orders already issued. All the 

 specimens mounted have been entered in the record books of the divi- 

 sion, and the gi'eater part distributed into the herbarium together 

 with specimens remaining from last year. This work has been made 

 possible by the employment of temporary help. The remainder of 

 the grass herbarium has also been stamped and catalogued. Work 



