56 BEPORT OF NATIOITAL MUSEUM, 1921. 



sides 660 specimens collected in Guatemala and Honduras by Dr. S. 



F, Blake, and 700 from the western United States collected by W. 

 W. Eggleston. Another transfer from the Biological Survey of the 

 same department, contained 1,198 specimens from Alaska, Canada, 

 and various parts of the United States. The University of Minnesota 

 presented the Museum with 749 specimens from several parts of 

 South America, while the National Geographic Society similarly do- 

 nated 1,180 Alaskan plants collected by the several Katmai expedi- 

 tions under the leadership of Prof. Robert F. Griggs. Other gifts 

 were 730 specimens from Venezueki, collected and donated by Mr. 

 H. Pittier ; 726 specimens of Louisiana plants presented by Brother 



G. Arsene, Covington, La.; and 1,614 miscellaneous specimens, the 

 herbarium of the late Dr. F. L. J. Boettcher, a gift from Mrs. 

 Boettcher. A large number of specimens were received in exchange, 

 thus 2,308, mostly from the West Indies, with the New York Bo- 

 tanical Garden; 2,938 j^lants from Borneo and the Philippines, with 

 the Bureau of Science at Manila ; 400 specimens from China and New 

 Caledonia, with G. Bonati, Lure, France; 483 specimens from Mexico, 

 with the Direccion de Estudios Biologicos, Mexico; 1,160 specimens, 

 chiefly European, with Eiksmuseets Botaniska Avdelning, Stock- 

 holm; 2,019 United States plants, with the Arnold Arboretum; and 

 713 specimens, mainly from Quebec, with College de Longueuil. 



EXPLORATIONS AND EXPEDITIONS. 



From the standpoint of exploration and expedition the year just 

 completed must be characterized as unusually poor. In fact, were 

 it not for the expeditions still in the field at the beginning of the 

 year, and for Dr. W. L. Abbott's unflagging interest and generosity, 

 the showing would be very poor indeed. It must be set down as an 

 indisputable proposition that a large museum, and most assuredly one 

 aspiring to be among the leading museums, and, moreover, one repre- 

 senting. the richest nation in the world, can not maintain its standing 

 without being able to send out properly planned and properly fitted- 

 out expeditions for the purpose of expanding, supplementing, and 

 . completing its collections. Take these away and the institution must 

 infallibly sink down to an humble place among those striving for the 

 purpose of science and the benefit of mankind, and, incidentally, the 

 benefit and glory of the country they represent. The value of a 

 national museum of natural history is not so much in the display 

 it is able to make as in the opportunity for research and exploration. 

 It is not too much to say that for such a museum exploration is the 

 very breath of life. Even in countries impoverished by war, directly 

 or indirectly, an honorable and, let it be said, not altogether vain 

 struggle is being kept up to continue the work of adding to the 

 workl's knowledge as circumstances will best permit. If we look 



