ADVERTISEMENT. 



The publications of the National Museum consist of two series: 

 Proceed ino^s and Bulletins. 



The Proceedings, the first volume of which was issued in 1878, are 

 intended primarily as a medium of publication for newly acquired 

 facts in biology, anthropolog-y, and geology, descriptions of new forms 

 of animals and plants acquired by the National Museum, discussions of 

 nomenclature, etc. A volume is issued annuall}' or oftener for distri- 

 bution to libraries, while in view of the importance to science of the 

 prompt publication of descriptions of new species, a limited edition of 

 each paper is printed in pamphlet form in advance. 



The present volume is the twenty-sixth of the series. 



The Bulletin, publication of which was begun in 1875, is a series 

 )f more elaborate papers, issued separately and l)ased for the most 

 tart upon collections in the National Museum. The}^ are mono- 

 graphic in scope, and are devoted principally to the discussion of 

 iarge zoological groups, bildiographies of eminent naturalists, reports 

 )f expeditions, etc. 



A quarto form of the Bulletin, known as the "Special Bulletin," has 

 been adopted in a few instances in which a larger page was deemed 

 indispensable. 



The Annual Report of the National Museum (being the second vol- 

 ume of the Smithsonian Report) contains papers chiefly of an ethno- 

 logical character, describing collections in the National Museum. 



Papers intended for publication l)y the National Museum are usually 

 referred to an advisory committee, composed as follows: Frederick 

 W. True (chairman), William H. Holmes, George P. Merrill, James 

 E. Benedict, Otis T. Mason, Leonhard Stejneger, Lester F. Ward, 

 and Marcus Benjamin (editor). " 



' />'^ S. P. Langley, 

 Secretanj of the Svdtlisonlan Institution. 



