REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 41 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The publications of the Museum have consisted of an annual report, 

 comprising the second part, or volume, of the annual report of the 

 Smithsonian Institution; of a series of Proceedings for the ordinary 

 technical papers, and of a -series of Bulletins for the longer technical 

 papers or monographs. In 1894 the National Herbarium, which, for 

 lack of space, had been held at the Department of Agriculture since 

 1869, was returned to the National Museum, but the publication con- 

 nected with it and entitled ''Contributions from the National Herba- 

 rium" established in 1890, continued to be issued by the Department 

 of Agriculture until this year, when Congress, upon the recommenda- 

 tion of the Secretary of Agriculture, transferred its management to 

 the National Museum, in accordance with the following item in the 

 sundry civil act for 1908: 



For printing and publishing the contributions from the United States National 

 Herbarium, the editions of which shall not be less than three thousand copies, 

 including the preparation of necessary illustrations, proof reading, bibliographical 

 work, and special editorial work, seven thousand dollars: Provided, That one-half of 

 said copies shall be placed on sale at an advance of ten per centum over their cost. 



Under this provision volumes ii and vii previousl}^ published and 

 entitled respective!}" Botany of Western Texas, by J. M. Coulter, and 

 Systematic and Geographic Botany and Aboriginal Use of Plants, by 

 Coulter, Rose, Cook, and Chesnut, the editions of which had become 

 exhausted, were reprinted, and also the following new Contributions, 

 parts 1, 2, and 3 of volume viii, consisting of Studies of Mexican 

 and Central American Plants, by J. N. Rose; Economic Plants of 

 Porto Rico, by O. F. Cook and G. N, Collins; and A Study of cer- 

 tain Mexican and Guatemalan species of Polypodmm, by William R. 

 Maxon. 



Of the Bulletins of the Museum the most important one issued was 

 the second volume of Robert Ridgway's extensive monograph on the 

 Birds of North and Middle America, covering the families Tanagrida? 

 (Tanagers), Icterida? (Troupials), Cffrebidfe (Hone}" Creepers), and 

 Mniotiltidse (Wood Warblers). The third volume, sent to the printer 

 before the close of the fiscal year, treats of the Motacillida3 (Wagtails 

 and Pipits); Hirundinid^e (Swallows), Vireonida? (Vireos), Ampelidite 

 (Waxwings), Ptiliognatidse (Silken Chatterers), Dulida? (Palm Chat- 

 terers), Laniidiv (Shrikes), Corvidaj (Crows and Jays), Parida? (Tit- 

 mice), Sittida? (Nuthatches), Certhiida^ (Creepers), Troglodytidee 

 (Wrens), Cinclidj^ (Dippers), Chamasiid^ (Wrentits), and Sylviidge 

 (Kinglets, etc.). 



Another noteworthy bidletin was that by Dr. Harrison G. Dyar, of 

 the Division of Insects, entitled A List of North American Lepidop- 

 tera and Key to the Literature of this Order of Insects. It is num- 

 bered 52, and comprises 723 octavo pages. 



