56 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923. 



cial assistance was given also by Oakes Ames, who was interested in 

 obtaining specimens of orchids from the regions visited. Mrs. Pen- 

 nell and Dr. Tracy E. Hazen, of the Biological Department of Colum- 

 bia University, also accompanied the expedition for part of the time. 

 About 7,200 numbers of plants were secured, represented by over four 

 times that number of dried specimens, which have been distributed 

 equally between the contributing institutions. The collection is one 

 of the largest and most important ever obtained in Colombia. 



Mrs. Agnes Chase visited Europe from March until July, 1922, 

 for the purpose of studying the grass collections in several of the 

 larger herbaria. The herbaria at Vienna, Munich, Florence, Pisa, 

 Geneva, Berlin, Leiden, Brussels, Paris, and London were visited, 

 and many type specimens of American grasses were examined. A 

 large number of valuable specimens of grasses also was obtained for 

 deposit in the National Plerbarium, including fragments of many 

 types, and duplicates of early South American collections. 



William R. Maxon, Associate Curator of the Division of Plants, 

 left Washington in May, 1923, accompanying a party directed by 

 O. F. Cook of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, whose purpose is 

 to investigate the rubber resources of Central America. At the time 

 of preparation of this report, the party was in Panama, and it was 

 expected that two months additional would be spent in Central 

 America. 



Dr. A. S. Hitchcock, Custodian of the Grass Herbarium, left 

 Washington in May, 1923, with the expectation of spending six 

 months in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru, where he intends to devote 

 particular attention to the study of grasses, but will also make collec- 

 tions of other groups of plants. The expedition is supported jointly 

 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, New York Botanical Gar- 

 den, and Gray Herbarium. 



WOEK OF PRESBKVINQ AND INSTALLING THE COLLECTIONS— PRESENT CONDITION OF THE 



COLLECTIONS. 



There being no prospect of any amelioration of the conditions 

 which are preventing a further expansion of the exhibition series or 

 its restoration to its prewar extent for some years to come, the report 

 under this heading must necessarily be one of minor changes and 

 improvements. A highly desired improvement must be recorded, 

 however, inasmuch as three rooms opening into the foyer in the base- 

 ment have been temporarily given over to this Department for the 

 display of the animals of the District of Columbia. These collections, 

 which for lack of room had been scattered in various halls or stored 

 away are now brought together and made available for the students, 

 amateurs, and school children of Washington. By segregating them 

 on the lower floor, their distinct local character is emphasized and 



