76 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



DISTKIBUTIOX OF DUPLK^ATES. 



As already stated, 1(K) new sets of marine invertebrates from the 

 iluplicate collections, were made np during- the year, for distribution 

 to educational establishments, in accordance with the long-standing- 

 practice of the Museum. Each set contained about 200 specimens, 

 representing- fi-om 92 to 99 species, making in all about 20,000 speci- 

 mens. During the j'ear 50 of these sets were distributed. About 

 one-half of them were sent to high schools and other pulilic schools 

 throughout the United States, and the remainder to various universi- 

 ties, colleges, normal schools, public libraries, seminaries, academies, 

 training schools, and science clubs. 



About 50 sets of fishes were also made up for distribution. 



A series of 60 skins of monkeys, and some other mammals which 

 were without data as regards localities, etc., and hence of no especial 

 value in the study collection of the Division of Mammals, were dis- 

 tributed to four colleges, which signified their desire to make use of 

 the material in teaching. 



LABORATORY USE OF COLLECTIONS BY INVESTIGATORS. 



The collections of mammals, birds, insects and plants were frequently 

 consulted by the naturalists of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 as in previous j^ears. Mrs. Vernon Bailey pursued studies of birds in 

 connection with her book on birds of the Western United States. 

 Mr. Outram Bangs, of Boston, examined the collections of neotropi- 

 cal birds, and the committee on nomenclature, of the American Orni- 

 thologists Union, examined a large amount of material for the purpose 

 of ascertaining, as in past years, the status of newly described North 

 American species. The series of Old World chameleons was studied 

 by Mr. Thomas Barber, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who has in 

 preparation a monographic work on these reptiles. In an endeavor 

 to establish the i-eal status of the snake, known as Trojndonotnf< erythro- 

 gaster^ Prof. H. L. Clark, of Olivet College, Michigan, made compari- 

 sons of specimens in the Museum. Comparisons of insects were made 

 by the following entomologists: Prof. John B. Smith (Noctuidae), 

 Dr. W. J. Holland (Moths), Dr. J. A. (^. Rehn (Orthoptera), Mr. J. C. 

 Bradley (parasitic hymenoptera and sawflies), Mr. H. H. Ballon 

 (Specidae). Dr. Walter Horn, of Berlin, Germany, examined the 

 collections of Coleoptera and identified some of the exotic material. 

 He spoke highly of the work of the late Martin L. Linell, who was for 

 many years an aid in the Division of Insects. 



As for some years past, Dr. N. L. Britton, director of the New York 

 Botanical Garden, was a frequent visitor to the herbarium. During 

 the past year he was principally interested in studying the Crassula- 

 ceae. Dr. E. L. Greene spent much time in reviewing certain of the 



