REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 27 



Comparative Anatomy, has ])eon placed in the same hall with the other 

 invertebrates, at the west end of the Smithsonian buildinj^, in cases 

 specially constructed to receive it. It needs revision and the addition 

 of numerous types. 



Nothinj^ of special moment was accomplished toward improviiio- the 

 exhibition series of insects and of mollusks. 



Owing to the erection of a gallery in the East-South Range, the 

 whale skeletons suspended from the ceiling near the side walls had to 

 be removed to a position nearer the center of the hall. To protect 

 the roof from collapse and to sustain the skeletons, specially con- 

 structed wrought-iron slings were devised by the Chief of Buildings. 

 The hall was necessarily in confusion while these large specimens 

 were being readjusted, but at the close of the year it had been brought 

 again to an orderly condition. The exhibition series of osteological 

 specimens is very full and can not be much expanded in the present 

 quarters, 



A special series, comprising the principal North American game 

 birds and game fishes, was placed on exhibition in the hallway of the 

 Smithsonian building, together with a number of mounted heads of 

 large game — the moose, caribou, antelope, etc. 



ACCESSIONS. 



The accessions of the year, though not equaling those of 1898 in 

 number of specimens, were of at least equal scientific interest and 

 importance. 



The U. S. Fish Commission transmitted an extensive zoological 

 collection made during its recent exploration of the island of Porto 

 Rico. It comprised not less than 5,000 mollusks, representing some 

 400 species (including a number of new forms and other rare and 

 interesting material) and a large series of invertebrates of other 

 classes. 



While associated with the representatives of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission in the zoological exploration of Porto Rico, Mr. A. B. Baker 

 collected an extensive series of bats, about 200 reptiles and batrachians 

 (including several undescribed species), and over 100 bird skins. 



In the Division of Mammals, on account of the fact that the mate- 

 rial was largely collected to supply deficiencies, the additions were of 

 much interest. Some 900 small mammals were collected for the 

 Museum by Mr. Loring in Norway, Germany, and Italy. These were 

 chiefly from localities from which the types of the earlier European 

 mamraalogists were derived, and hence of importance in determining 

 the identity of descrilied species. A collection of European bats and 

 an additional lot of small manmials from Norwa}' were also purchased. 

 These are the first collections of European mammals of any moment 

 which have found their way into the Museum. Baron de Sel3^s- 



