REPORT OF ASSISTA^^T SECRETARY. 63 



DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS. 



The report of tbe lioiiorary curator, Prof. (^ V. Kiley, shows an increase 

 in the number of accessions, there being 173 in ISO.") against lO.i in the 

 preceding year. The most important gifts in 180.") were as follows: 

 A collection of Odouata from Chinese Turkestan, presented by Dr. 

 William L. Abbott, whose generosity to the Museum has been so 

 frequently manifested in his gifts to this aud other departments both 

 in this and in previous years: a collection of Lepidoptera from Guiana, 

 presented by the IJritish Guiana ( 'ommission to the World's Columbian 

 Exposition; a large collection of Lepidoptera from Jombeue Range, 

 East Africa, presented by Mi-. William Astor Chanler and Lieutenant 

 von H(ihnel; a collection of Japanese insects representing 1,500 species 

 of all orders from the Imperial l^niversity, Tokyo, Japan; types of 35 

 species of Koctuids from Prof. J. P. Smith, New Prunswick, N. J. Other 

 valuable collections were acquired by exchange. 



Tlie biologic material of Coleoptera, including a large collection of 

 European larva', obtained in past years by exchange with Schiodte aud 

 Meynert in Coijenhagen, as well as by Professor Riley's own collectings 

 and breedings, has been arranged in systematic order in two cabinets. 

 A large part of the year was devoted to the study and proper arrange- 

 ment of the exotic Coleoptera, This work was undertaken i)rimarily 

 to facditate report upon the Japanese collection and the material 

 obtained in East Africa by Dv. W. L. Abbott, Mr. William Astor Chan- 

 ler, and Lieutenant von Hohnel. 



The urgent demand for space in other directions rendered it neces- 

 sary to temporarily withdraw from exhibition the series illustrating 

 systematic entomology. The study series are rei)orted to be in good 

 condition. A large amount of material, especially in the orders Hyme- 

 noptera and Coleoptera, remains unidentified, owing to i)ressure of work 

 in other orders. 



During the year the curator commenced a com})rehensive study of 

 the Termites of the world. The assistant, Mr. M. L. Linell, began a 

 study of the Coleopterous fauna of the Galapagos Islands and its rela- 

 tion to the continent. 



In ten instances material from this department was placed in the 

 hands of specialists for study and identitication. Eight entomologists 

 have taken advantage of facilities offered to study material in the 

 curator's offices. 



The curator, his collaborators, and other specialists in entomology 

 have published during the year 31 pa^jers based upon the Must-um 

 collections. These are mentioned by titles under the names of the 

 authors, in the Bibliography (Appendix iv). Twelve new genera and 

 320 new species are described in these papers. This remarkably large 

 number was due to the descriptions by Mr. W. H. Ashmead of new 

 genera aud species from St. Vincent, forwarded by the West India 



