68 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1902. 



but as this was not put in place until near the close of the 3 ear little 

 was done toward rearrangement. The specimens themselves are in 

 g-ood condition. During the year 1,06J- mammal skulls, mostly of 

 large size, were cleaned by the Museum preparators, of which 590 

 belonged to the collection of the Biological Survey, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture, and 474 to the regular collections. In addition, 2,167 

 small skulls were cleaned by contract. This work is of special impor- 

 tance, as in the study of manmials cranial characters are largely 

 depended upon for the discrimination of species. The additions to 

 the collections of the Biological Survey were catalogued in the Museum 

 as hitherto, and 13 new storsige cases were constructed for their 

 reception. At the request of Di-. D. G. Elliot, of the Field Colum- 

 bian Museum, the skulls of a considerable lumiber of types and rare 

 species were photographed for his work on the mannnals of Mexico 

 and Central America. 



In the Division of Birds the conditions existing last year continued 

 with little change. The curator being occupied the greater part of 

 the time in preparing manuscript for the press, the routine work fell 

 almost altogether on the assistant curator, who was without assistance 

 except for a fcAV weeks. During this period some i)rogress was made 

 toward completing the rearrangement of the birds in the new cases 

 provided last year. The assistant curator took charge of the rei)acking 

 of exhibits at the Buffalo Exposition and installing them at the 

 Charleston Exposition. 



In the Division of Reptiles a beginning was made in rearranging 

 the study collections on the new shelving provided last year, l)ut as 

 this work involves a large amount of re-identiiication of species it 

 necessarih^ })roceeds slowly. The collections are in a good state of 

 preservation. 



Little more can be accomplished in the Division of Fishes by the 

 present small force than to keep the collections from deteriorating, and 

 to enter and care for new accessions and to attend to the scientific 

 correspondence. Toward the close of the year, however, the work of 

 preparing 100 sets of duplicate specimens for distribution to educa- 

 tional institutions was begun, and good progress made. The assistant 

 curator went to Charleston in January to install the collection of 

 fishes in formalin which was transferred from the Buffalo Exposition. 



A large number of standard drawers was added to the equipment of 

 the Division of Insects, and the re-arrangement of the collections 

 thereby much facilitated. The Lepidoptera have now all been well 

 arranged by Dr. Dyar in the standard drawers. Mr. Schwarz has 

 been engaged in similar work on the Coleoptcra and completed 50 

 drawers during the year. The Ichneumonidea and C-halcidoidea Svere 

 arranged by Mr. Ashmead. Mr. Currie has worked continuously on 

 the Neuroptera and by his efforts the collection of Odonata has been 



