DEPARTiVIP:NT REPOliTS. m 



The lack of gas in the hiboratory is a serious drawback to blowpipe 

 work, but this was largel}^ overcome by the use of candles, while at- 

 tention to the strictly physical properties of minerals and rocks per- 

 mitted the determination of most of the commoner forms. 



The elective zoology given in the spring term (zoology 3a and 3b) 

 consisted mainly of work in economic ornithology and mammalogy, and 

 it is believed that the course, with a few minor changes, will prove 

 both popular and valuable. Three lectures per week were given on the 

 habits and economic relations of the more abundant and important 

 birds and mammals, while tw^o periods of two hours each per week were 

 devoted to Held work wiien the w^eather w as favorable or to laboratory 

 work at other times. The success of these first classes certainly war- 

 rants their continuance. 



The large amount of teaching required under the new schedule has 

 made it impossible to do much work in the museum beyond that which 

 was absolutely necessary to prevent deterioration. The museum is al- 

 ready overcrowded, and practically all available space is now occupied 

 with cases. During the year a notable accession to the collections 

 was made in the gift to the college by the Broas heirs of the entire 

 collection of mounted birds and mammals of the late Levi Broas, of 

 Belding, Michigan. This collection comprises upwards of seven hun- 

 dred specimens, many of which are either new to the museum or are 

 better specimens than those we already possess. By removing poorer 

 specimens from our shelves it will be possible to put on exhibition a 

 part of this new collection, but by far the larger part of it will have 

 to be placed in storage until some increase in museum space can be 

 made. The time is not far distant when a new museum building will 

 become an absolute necessity, but even before that is possible it will 

 be necessary for the department to have an additional assistant who 

 can give most of his time to the preparation and care of museum 

 material, perhaps assisting also in the preparation of specimens to 

 be used in the laboratories. I sincerely hope that such an addition 

 to the department force may be practicable during the coming year. 



Respectfully, 

 WALTER B. BARROWS, 

 Professor of Zoology and Physiology. 



East Lansing, June 30, 1908. 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



President J. L. Snyder: 



Following is a brief report of work done by the Department of En- 

 tomology during the year 1907-S. 



Five courses were given besides a course of thirty lectures to the 

 short course men in fruit work. 



Course six, to the sophomore women, has not l>een given because the 

 sophomore women have not as yet come under the new arrangement, 

 but this course will l»e glv<Mi next year. 



