REPORT OF NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1923. 63 



utilized to keep in condition the alcoholic collection. The biblio- 

 graphic card catalogue of Philippine mollusks has received but little 

 attention, owing to the pressure of other work. The collection is in 

 an excellent condition as far as systematic arrangement and cleanli- 

 ness are concerned. 



In the division of echinoderms all of the material received has 

 been determined, catalogued, carded, and incorporated in the col- 

 lection. Considerable progress has been made in incorporating 

 specimens from past accessions. The amount of unidentified ma- 

 terial and of identified material not incorporated in the collection 

 lias thus been markedly decreased. A survey of practically the whole 

 collection has shown its condition to be excellent. The installa- 

 tion has here and there been improved by the transfer of specimens 

 to better containers. The decrease in the relative proportion of un- 

 determined material has increased the scientific value of the col- 

 lection, which in every way is in better condition than last year. 



In the division of plants curatorial work in connection with the 

 upkeep and increase of the National Herbarium has progressed sat- 

 isfactorily during the past year. Doctor Maxon has reidentified 

 many specimens of ferns belonging to particular groups, and Mr. 

 Standley has determined and revised a large quantity of Mexican 

 and Central American material in the course of his work upon the 

 Flora of Central America and the identification of the collections 

 obtained by himself in Salvador and Guatemala. Doctor Kose re- 

 vised the representation of several genera of American Caesalpi- 

 niaceae, and Mr. Killip has determined a large quantity of South 

 American material. Much important work of critical determina- 

 tion has beeni done by Dr. S. F. Blake in the composites and in 

 various groups of South American plants; by Dr. C. V. Piper in 

 genera of the Fabaceae ; and by Dr. A. S. Hitchcock and Mrs. Agnes 

 Chase in the grasses. At the beginning of the fiscal year there was 

 upon hand a considerable accumulation of specimens awaiting 

 mounting, and the number of specimens received during the year 

 has been equal to that normally accessioned. The mounting, which 

 is the most difficult problem in connection with the upkeep of the 

 herbarium, has proceeded satisfactorily, chiefly because of the plan 

 of gluing recently adopted, and of the employment of extra labor 

 for the purpose. The number of specimens completely mounted is 

 about 36,000, a much greater quantity than in any late year. There 

 still remains an accumulation of some 40,000 specimens. There are 

 also about 15,000 specimens which have been glued but not made 

 ready for the herbarium by strapping. During the spring of 1923 

 all the accumulation of mounted plants, consisting of not less than 

 60,000 specimens, was distributed into the herbarium. As a result. 



