REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 67 



From P. II. Silreuseu, Jako1)8h;ivu, Korth Grteuland, miscellaucous iuvertebrates. 



(Gift.) 

 From H. F. Hughes, Harbor, Oreg., specimens of two uudescribed species of 



hydroids. (Gift. ) 

 From H. A. Lafler, Dewitt, Nebr., three accessions of fresh-water Crustacea. (Gift.) 

 FromMuseum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., three species of Brazilian 



crabs (Callinedes). (P^xchange.) 

 From Samuel J. Holmes, Chicago, HI., three anomnrau crustaceans. (Exchange.) 

 From Prof. A. Dugcs, Guanajuato, Mexico, eight specimens of crabs (Pseudothel- 



phusajouyi, Rathbun). (Gift.) 



Material resulting from explorations, as will be noted from the above 

 statement, embraced that received from the United States Fish Com- 

 mission; from the Imperial Royal ISTatural History Musenm, Vienna; 

 from the Royal Biological Station, Helgoland, and from the United 

 States Department of Agriculture. 



A great deal of time is consumed by the scientific force of this 

 department in the selection and preparation of collections sent out in 

 exchange or as gifts. The composition of the sets of the regular series 

 of duplicates has been set forth in previous reports. The last set of 

 Series iv was sent out during the year just closed, and seven sets of 

 Series v were distributed. Twelve special sets were prepared, several 

 of which were for exchange with foreign museums or indiWduals. In 

 addition, nine collections of unassorted foraminiferous material were 

 distributed. 



A fine collection of miscellaneous invertebrates, including a number 

 of commercial sponges, was lent to the United States Fish Commission 

 for exhibition at the Cotton States and International Exposition at 

 Atlanta. For the exhibit of the National Museum at the same Exposi- 

 tion a large and showy collection of invertebrates, consisting chiefly of 

 dried specimens mounted on tablets, was prepared by Mr. Benedict, 

 who was assisted in this work by Prof F. M. Comstock, of the Case 

 School of Ai^plied Science, Cleveland, Ohio. The work of installing 

 this exhibit at the Exposition and of repacking it for shipment to Wash- 

 ington occupied Mr. Benedict's time for one month. 



About 4,200 lots of specimens, consisting chiefly of mollusks, have 

 been received from the I'eabody Museum, New Haven, where the work 

 of separating and classifying the material collected by the Fish Com- 

 mission in past years has been continued by Professor Verrill. 



The following statement regarding matters incident to the care of 

 the collections is taken from the curator's report : 



The former " reptile room '" in the west Ijasement was reassigned to this depart- 

 ment early in January. New and commodious shelving was erected in the middle 

 of the room, and the extra accommodation alforded for alcoholics permitted a more 

 systematic arrangement of the collections in storage in the basement. The groups 

 are now arranged in the main as follows: The echini, startishcs, and holothurians 

 are in the west room; the anthozoa and crinoids in the reptile room; the crusta- 

 ceans, bryozoans, ascidians, and ophiurans in the main basement room, and the 

 sponges are arranged in exhibition cases. 



