12 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1941 



of three species of crocodilians, all that are known from Mexico, 

 were obtained. The study of these groups has been completed. 



Not all the lizards have been studied yet. Completed genera num- 

 ber 22, comprising 4,547 specimens of 116 species and subspecies. 

 Eleven are unnamed. Six lizard genera remain to be studied. 



The amphibians are not completed. A preliminary sorting, how- 

 ever, reveals some 5,173 frogs and toads, of about 110 species; 6,064 

 specimens of approximately 40 species of salamanders; and 6 speci- 

 mens of one species of caecilian. Most of these are being studied by 

 Dr. E. H. Taylor. 



The turtles have been turned over to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger for 

 study. 



While most of the data pertaining to this collection are reserved 

 for a future paper, descriptions of new species and surveys of certain 

 genera have been prepared for preliminary publication. Seven such 

 papers have been issued during the present year. 



SMITHSONIAN MAIN HALL EXHIBIT 



In my last two annual reports I have spoken of the project of 

 installing in the main hall of the Smithsonian Building a new type of 

 exhibit intended to serve as a visual index to all Smithsonian activ- 

 ities. During the 95 years since the founding of the Institution, 

 its activities have so expanded in scope and the buildings it occupies 

 have so increased in number that it has been impossible for visitors 

 to get an adequate idea of what the Smithsonian is and what it does. 

 The project was brought to completion during the year, and the 

 new exhibit was formally opened to the public on Monday, January 

 20, 1941. The Board of Regents of the Institution had a preview 

 of the exhibit on January 17, when their annual meeting was held 

 in the main hall. 



As stated previously, the entire project has been handled by a 

 committee consisting of Messrs. C. W. Mitman, chairman, W. F. 

 Foshag, Herbert Friedmann, F. M. Setzler, and W. P. True, all of 

 the Institution's staff. The great hall of the Smithsonian building, 

 some 150 feet long by 50 feet wide, was first completely redecorated 

 according to the committee's recommendation. Then special back- 

 grounds for the exhibits were designed and constructed to form eight 

 separate alcoves and four quadrants, the central aisle being left clear 

 for free circulation of visitors. The eight alcoves present graphi- 

 cally the work of the Institution in astronomy, geology, biology, 

 radiation and organisms, physical anthropology, cultural anthropol- 

 ogy, engineering and industries, and art. The four quadrants, facing 

 the central area of the hall, contain exhibits on the scope of the 

 Institution's work, the National Zoological Park, history, and the 

 organization and branches of the Institution. 



