114 EEPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 



among the branches of the trees by means of the clawed digits of 

 their wings. The transfer to new cases of the other bird groups men- 

 tioned in previous reports was completed. Of individual birds a con- 

 siderable number, mostly African, were prepared and installed. The 

 case containing the tropical humming birds was entirely rearranged, 

 and neat brass holders were introduced for supporting the specimens, 

 thereby greatly improving the appearance of the series. 



There were several important additions of reptiles and fishes. 

 One was an American crocodile, 13 feet long, from the older collec- 

 tion, but entirely made over and placed in excellent condition by 

 Mr. C. E. Mirguet. The series of casts of fishes was somewhat in- 

 creased, but the most novel and attractive exhibit introduced con- 

 sisted of tropical fishes painted in their natural colors and displayed 

 in alcohol in flat- faced jars. It occupies two cases and, while the 

 method of preparation is still to some extent experimental, it is be- 

 lieved to be fairly permanent. Two further sections of the exhibi- 

 tion of marine invertebrates, one representing the littoral fauna from 

 Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, the other the characteristic forms of 

 the Floridian fauna, beginning with Cape Hatteras, were opened to 

 the public; and many specimens for other faunas, especially of 

 crustaceans, were selected, colored, and mounted. 



The series of reptilian and batrachian skeletons was somewhat in- 

 creased and the latter were entirely rearranged. The synoptic series 

 was also partly revised, and the insect collection was transferred to 

 new cases. Many additions were made to the f aunal exhibition of the 

 District of Columbia, including a complete series of all the land and 

 fresh-water shells of the District, which are installed in a sloping-top 

 table case so constructed that even the smallest specimens can be ex- 

 amined under an ordinary hand magnifying glass through the glass 

 cover of the case. 



The division of plants has for the first time been represented to the 

 public by an exhibition of flower studies in water color, selected 

 from a series of about 600 sketches by the late Miss Adelia Gates, 

 recently presented by Miss Eleanor Lewis, her niece, and by others 

 to whom they had been given by the artist during her life. The dis- 

 play, which has been installed in the same hall as the marine in- 

 vertebrates, embraces a wide range of domestic and foreign plants as 

 well as cultivated varieties. 



Explorations. — No biological expeditions were sent out by the 

 Museum during the year, but several field parties not connected Avith 

 it were supplied with outfits or assisted in other ways, and material 

 of considerable interest has been received in return. The principal 

 explorations by which the collections have been benefited were con- 

 ducted by other scientific bureaus of the Government, though the 

 Museum is also greatly indebted to several individuals who have 



