240 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



worth preserving, especially as such single specimens are ordinarily 

 common and well-known species. The most valuable collections are 

 those received from Capt. K. W. Shufeldt, U. fS. A., while stationed at 

 New Orleans, La.; those from Mr. C. L. McKay, collected in Alaska; 

 and those left by the late Mr. George Shoemaker. 



A case of specially prepared insecis, chiefly from my own cabinet, 

 was arranged for the London Fisheries Exhibition, illustrating the 

 transformations of the principal insects affecting the fishery industries 

 either beneficially or injuriously. 



For the rest, the work of the department has been confined to an- 

 swering the letters of inquiry as indicated by the accessions and many 

 others received without specimens. 



The samples of rice which were on exhibition at the Centennial Ex- 

 position, and are now stored in the Museum, proved to be badly in- 

 fested by various species of insects. A list of these has been published 

 in the American Naturalist, 1883, p. 1071, the most interesting of them 

 being a small Coleopteron (Murmidius ovalis) the life-history of which 

 had previously remained unknown. 



During the past summer my attention was called to the depredations 

 done by some insect to the wooden frames of the Japanese pictures of 

 plants in the Museum. Upon investigation the author of the mischief 

 proved to be a very interesting and undescribed species of the genus 

 Hedobia (family Ptinidse, order Coleoptera), probably introduced from 

 Japan, and which I will at some future time describe. 



I transmit herewith a list of the papers published by me during the 

 year, chiefly in my capacity as entomologist to the Department of Agri- 

 culture, but in some part also based upon material received at the 

 Museum. 



On account of the accumulated material already indicated which is in 

 pressing need of being properly mounted and worked over, and with a 

 view of commencing the formation of an exhibit collection for which 

 there is also a great deal of valuable material that needs to be trans- 

 ferred into proper cases, disinfected, properly arranged and labeled, I 

 would again urgently recommend and advise the appointment of a com- 

 petent assistant, as I had no such assistance from the Museum during 

 the past year. 



As heretofore, some valuable collections have been offered for sale and 

 necessarily declined. I would mention that of the late G. W. Belfrage, of 

 Clifton, Bosque County, Texas. Sample boxes sent on for examination 

 •showed the collection to be in admirable condition, and as it contained 

 many typical specimens in all orders its accession to the Museum would 

 have been invaluable, and it could have been obtained at a very reasona- 

 ble price. The famous collection of the late Prof. P. Zeller, of Stettin, 

 Germany, was also offered; it was finally secured in England. It is 

 much to be regretted that we do not have some provision for the pur- 



