REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1909. 41 



J. M. T. Partello, U. S. Army. Dr. E. E. B. McKenney, of Wash- 

 ington, District of Columbia, presented 52 specimens from Panama, 

 and Dr. C. T. Forsyth-Major, of London, 8 specimens from Corsica. 

 There were received in exchange from Mr. Thomas Barbour, of Cam- 

 bridge, Massachusetts, 72 specimens from various parts of the world, 

 including topotj'pes and other important material, and from Mr. J. 

 Hurter, of St. Louis, Missouri, a series of rare salamanders and other 

 valuable specimens. 



Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, curator of the division, continued his 

 investigation of the reptile fauna of the Philippine Islands. The 

 collection of toads was studied by Miss Mary C. Dickerson, of Xew 

 York, in connection with her work on Xorth American tailless 

 batrachians. Mexican reptiles were examined by Dr. S. E. Meek, 

 of the Field Museum of Natural History ; South American specimens 

 by Mr. Thomas Barbour; and turtles by Dr. O. P. Hay. 



Fishes. — Besides the large collections from the Bureau of Fisheries, 

 previously referred to, mention should be made of a series of Florida 

 fishes collected by Mr. Barton A. Bean, assistant curator, who, as 

 in several jjrevious years, was invited by Mr. W. H. Gregg to accom- 

 pany him on his yacht Onan., which cruised, this season, from St. 

 Augustine to Molasses Key. There were also received specimens of 

 fishes obtained on the expedition of Dr. S. E. Meek to Central 

 America and during the explorations of Mr. H. J. Brown and Mr. 

 W. D. Filmer about Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, New South 

 Wales. 



Over 11,500 specimens of fishes were catalogued, labeled, and 

 installed. Special attention was given to labeling and recording 

 types and other rare specimens recently received. A large number 

 of earthenware jars were procured and the specimens which, on 

 account of their size, had previously been kept in copper tanks were 

 transferred to them, with the view of preventing further discolora- 

 tion from contact with the metal. 



Five lots of fishes were lent for study. Mr. C. V. Burke examined 

 the liparid fishes from America and Japan, occupying a table in the 

 laboratory for about four months; and the naturalists of the Bureau 

 of Fisheries and Dr. Theodore Gill had constant access to the collec- 

 tions. Mr. B. A. Bean and Mr. A. C. Weed described new species 

 of selachians. The former also identified the Costa Rican fishes 

 received the previous year, and continued his study of the Florida 

 fishes, as did Mr. Weed his work on the pickerels. 



Insects. — This division received several large and important gifts, 

 of which the most noteworthy came from Mr. William Schau.s, who 

 added to his previous donations about 18,000 butterflies and moths 

 from Costa Rica and otlier tropical countries. Mr. H. L. Viereck, 

 of the Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



