REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRP^TARY. C)i) 



parasitic material. The Bureau lias published a large number of valua- 

 ble papers based on its investigations, and new studies in scientific 

 and economic helmmthology are being constantly commenced. Thus, 

 Dr. Stiles, who has just completed his "Revision of the Adult Leporine 

 Cestodes," is now engaged in a study of the cestodes of birds. 



The titles of papers published during the year by Dr. Stiles and Dr. 

 Hassall, based upon material in the collections, are given in the Bibli- 

 ography (Appendix iv). 



At the end of June, 1895, 106 entries had been made in the catalogue. 



DEPARTMENT OF COMPARATIVE ANAT03IY. 



The curator of this department, Mr. F. A. Lucas, reports that about 

 250 specimens have been added to the collection during the year. The 

 accession of greatest value is the skeleton of the type of Cerrmqjra 

 Chanleri. This was collected by Mr. William Astor Chanler in the Tana 

 liiver region, East Africa, and was presented by him to the National 

 Museum. Some desirable birds in alcohol have been received from Dr. 

 Edgar A. Mearns, resulting from his participation in the work of the 

 Mexican Boundary Commission. 



Under the direction of IVIr. Lucas the work of cleaning skulls of mam- 

 mals and skeletons and sterna of birds has been continued. During 

 the year 850 skulls have been thus treated for the dei)artment of mam- 

 mals alone. These are entered in the catalogue of the mammal depart- 

 ment, and therefore the total number of entries in the catalogue of 

 this department is correspondingly diminished. 



Mr. Lucas has continued his studies on the anatomy of the swifts 

 and the tyrant tly catchers, on the taxouomic values of the tendinal 

 perforations of the tarsus in birds, and on the modifications and taxo- 

 uomic value of the tongues of birds. He has also commenced a study 

 of the osteology of Zeuglodon ceioides and of the cranial characters of 

 the finches and tanagers. 



Specimens of birds in alcohol have been lent to Mr. Hubert Lyman 

 Clark and to ]Mr, W. P. Pycraft m connection with their studies of the 

 embryology and pterylog]ai)hy of birds, and other material belonging 

 to the department has been transmitted for investigation and compari- 

 son to Trof. 1']. D. Cope, Dr. C. S. Huntington, and Prof. 11. F. Osborn. 



Several papers by the author, based on Museum material, have been 

 ]niblished in the Proceedings of the National INiuseum, the "Ibis," the 

 "Auk," and in "Natural Science." 



The chief drawback to satisfactory progress in this department, as 

 in many of the other departments, is lack of space. Mr. Lucas has, 

 however, several plans for future work laid out, and these are best 

 given in his own words: 



Little can be done for tho improvement of the study series, owing to lack of room, 

 but there are many specimens, especially among tlie birds, which need to be trans- 

 ferred to proper boxes and Inbeled. and this will be done as fast as opportunity 

 offers, while sue h sjiecimeus as can be cleaned will l)c added to the study series. 



