BEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1909. 59 



photographs and transparencies prepared from negatives in the 

 collection of the Xational Museum and the Bureau of American 

 Ethnology. 



ORGANIZATION AND STAFF. 



It is with deep regret that I announce the death of Prof. Otis 

 Tufton Mason, head curator of the department of anthropology, 

 which occurred on Xovember 5, 1908, after a connection with the 

 Institution and Museum of nearly forty years. His associates and 

 friends in the several branches of the Institution met at the Museum 

 the following day to pay respect to his memory, and his funeral took 

 place on November 7. Dr. "Walter Hough was designated to assume 

 his duties as acting head curator. 



I have also to record the decease of Dr. William H. Ashmead on 

 October 17. This distinguished authority on the Hymenoptera en- 

 tered the service of the Museum as assistant curator of the division of 

 insects on July 1, 1897, a position which he continued to fill until 

 April 27, 1908, when failing health, due to overwork, led to his retire- 

 ment from active duties. 



The resignation on October 10, 1908, of Dr. Cyrus Adler, as assist- 

 ant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in charge of library 

 and exchanges, was equall}^ a misfortune for the Museum, in whose 

 affairs he always maintained an active interest, having served as 

 curator of the divisions of historic archeology and historic religions. 

 These two divisions have since been combined under the former title 

 and placed in charge of the assistant curator, Dr. I. M. Casanowicz. 

 On October 12 Doctor Adler was given the honorary title of asso- 

 ciate in historic archeology. Mr. T. T. Belote, appointed aid on 

 July 30, 1908, was promoted to assistant curator of the division of 

 histor}'' on February 15, 1909. The position of aid in the division of 

 physical anthropology was filled by the designation of Mr. T. F. 

 Lane on April 8, 1909. 



In the department of biology, Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, jr., who had 

 been in the temporary service of the British Museum for nearly two 

 years by a special arrangement, assumed his former position as assist- 

 ant curator of mammals on November 1, but was promoted to be 

 curator of that division on June 16, 1909, replacing Doctor True, 

 who, as head curator of the department, had been filling both posi- 

 tions. Mr. J. H. Painter, aid in the division of plants, and a young 

 botanist of great promise, met death by accidental drowning in the 

 Potomac River on December 6, 1908. The vacancy caused by this 

 sad occurrence was left open until June 1, 1909, when it was filled by 

 the appointment of Mr. Paul C. Standley. 



Lieut. Col. Edgar A. Mearns, surgeon, U. S. Army, whose relations 

 to the Museum have so often been referred to in these reports, and 



