COl^TET^TvS. 



Page. 



SUB,IECTS V 



Letter ok Transmit I ai vn 



Contents ix 



List ok Ilhstkatk )NS xi 



PART 1. 



Report ok the Assistant Secretary in Charge of the Nationai, Miseum. 



i. — (ienerai, considerations. 



General consiileratioiis 4 



The scieiitific and administrative staff 6 



Work of the Musenm 7 



II. — SPECIAL TOPICS OK THE YEAR. 



The Museum staff 9 



Accessions to the collections 10 



Catalogue entries 12 



Approiiriations for 1897-98 13 



Excliangi's of specimens with institutions and individuals abroad 14 



Cooperation of the Executive Departments of the Government 18 



Explorations 21 



Collectors' outfits 22 



Development and arrangement of the cxhil)ition series 23 



Lahels 24 



Library 25 



Contributions of the year to scientific literature 25 



Publications 26 



Material lent for investigation 27 



Work of students and investigators at the Museum 29 



Visitors 31 



Material received for examination and report 32 



Meetings of associations in AVashington during the year 32 



National Herbarium 33 



New Museum building 34 



Tennessee Centennial Exposition 34 



Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition 34 



International Exposition at Paris 34 



Necrology 34 



III. — REVIEW OK WORK IN THE SCIENTIFIC DEPARTiMENTS. 



Department of — 



Mammals 38 



Birds 40 



Birds' eggs 43 



Reptiles and batrachians 43 



Fishes 44 



Molluaks 46 



Insects 49 



IX 



