02 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



a Iniiidred liavc, liowever, received verbal information or have been 

 accoided the privilege of examining specimens in tlie stndy series. 



Twenty-cue papers, based upon material in the department, have been 

 published by Dr. Dall, aud five by Mr. Charles T. Simpson. One paper 

 has also been published by Mr. G. D. Harris. The titles of these 

 papers appear in the Bibliography (Appendix iv), and in the supple- 

 ments to the latter will be found the names of a large number of species 

 described, as well as of one family and several new genera. 

 • It is i)roposed to continue the work on the collections now in pro- 

 gress until the arrears have been registered and catalogued, the Jef- 

 freys and A'errill collections administered upon, and the duplicates 

 eliminated iVom the reserve series. This will require a considerable 

 amount of time, owing to the extreme piessure of current work. 



The total number of specimens received during the year, exclusive 

 of fossils, was 3,173. The number of entries made in the regular cata- 

 logues of recent mollusks was 5,440. The following paragraphs contain 

 information as to the other clerical work performed, and also as to the 

 present extent of the collections: 



Besides the entries iu tbe register of the reserve collection there have been 175 

 entries in the register of drawings, 1,628 entries in the register of dnplicates, and 

 3,630 entries on cards for card calalogues, showing a total of 12,103 entries of all 

 kinds during the year ending June 30, 1896. 



The additions to the reserves sum up 20,010 specimens, making, when added to 

 last year's figures, a total of 544,398 specimens in the reserve collection. A very 

 low estimate of the number of duplicates will place them at 12,522 specimens. The 

 apccimeiis in alcohol, already catalogued, amount to 20,020, while the unregistered 

 material will add, when catalogued, about 28,000 specimens, making a grand total 

 of about 600,000 specimens in the department of mollusks, exclusive of fossils. 



DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS. 



There have been several changes in the personnel of this department 

 during the year. Prof. C. Y. liiley, who had served as honorary cura- 

 tor since 1882, and who rendered very valuable service to the Museum, 

 died on September 14, 1895. A biographical sketch of his life and 

 work will be found under the head of Necrology. 



Mr. L. O. Howard, who succeeded Professor Eiley as entomologist of 

 the Department of Agriculture, has been appointed honorary curator 

 of the department of insects in the National Museum. Four honorary 

 custodians have also been appointed during the year, each having 

 charge of a special branch of work, as follows : Mr. W. H. Ashmead, the 

 Hymenopteia; Mr. D. W. Coquillett, the Diptera; Prof. O.F.Cook, 

 the Myriapoda, and Mr. E. A. Schwarz, the Coleopterous larva?. Mr. 

 M. L. Linell continues to act as aid. 



The accessions during the year numbered one hundred and thirty- 

 five, an increase of thirty six over tbe preceding year. It is believed 

 that, taking the accessions as a whole, they were five times as valua- 



