REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1910. 33 



a work which has required extended examination and will be appre- 

 ciated by all who may have occasion to consult the collection. Being 

 provided with distinctive labels, any type or group of types can be 

 readily found as soon as the new arrangement is completed. Spec- 

 imens to the number of 14,128 were entered in the record books, many 

 cards were added to the card catalogue, and many jars were labeled. 



A collection of fishes from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, 

 was the subject of joint study by the assistant curator, Mr. Barton 

 A. Bean, and the aid, Mr. A. C. Weed, who also have in preparation 

 a new set of instructions for collecting and preserving fishes. Among 

 those who made use of the collections during the year were assistants 

 of the Bureau of Fisheries, Dr. Theodore Gill, and ]\lr. C. V. Burke, 

 formerly of Stanford University. 



Insects. — The most important accessions of the year consisted of 

 transfers from the Bureau of Entomology of the Department of 

 Agriculture, including the following: A collection of insects inju- 

 rious to forest trees, mainly coleoptera of the family Scotytidge, 

 comprising some 800,000 specimens, assembled in connection with 

 the investigations on forest insects which have been carried on 

 by the bureau for a number of years; 5,000 miscellaneous insects 

 collected at Tampico, Mexico, by Mr. E. A. Schwarz; about 200 

 specimens of coleoptera, identified by ^Mr. A. L. Montandon; 500 

 microlepidoptera, and 200 bred parasitic hymenoptera. About 400 

 specimens of sawflies, of which many are types and paratj^pes, were 

 presented by Mr. S. A. Rohwer, of the Bureau of Entomology; 406 

 named Tasmanian coleoptera were received as a gift from Mr. H. D. 

 Baker, American consul at Hobart; some 500 specimens of miscel- 

 laneous insects were contributed by the Washington Biologists' Field 

 Club; and about 1,000 Japanese coleoptera were obtained in exchange 

 from ^Ir. John D. Sherman, jr., of Brooklyn, New York. 



The division of insects was moved to the new building in August, 

 1909, and occupies the entire northwest range on the third floor, 

 with the exception of two rooms. The new quarters are far more 

 commodious than the old and much better adapted to the needs of 

 the division. Additional metal cases and drawers of the improved 

 form were provided, and the transfer of specimens to them has been 

 going on as rapidly as practicable. Much more remains to be done 

 in this direction, however, and considerable time will be required to 

 place the material already on hand in proper shape for reference. 

 Most progress has been made with the lepidoptera, coleoptera, 

 hymenoptera, and hemiptera. The number of drawers used in 

 making transfers of lepidoptera alone was 700, and the cards neces- 

 sary for locating their contents were also WTitten. With the assist- 

 ance of several temporary preparators eight collections, containing 

 many thousands of specimens, were mounted and labeled. 

 71245°— NAT Mus 1910 3 



