REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY. <>7 



was detailed to make entomological collections in the I fawaiian Islands. 

 taking advantage of the excellent opportunities for transportation, etc., 



afforded on account of the marine work being carried on from island 

 to island by the U. S. Fish Commission. Further advantage was taken 

 of the operations of the Commission by detailing Dr. J. E. Benedict to 



accompany the steamer Fish Hawk, which was engaged in an investi- 

 gation of the offshore fishing icmks in the Gulf of Mexico opposite 

 Anelote River. Florida. By invitation. Mr. Charles T. Simpson 

 accompanied Mr. J. B. Henderson, jr., in conchological explorations 



about the islands of Haiti and .Jamaica. About six weeks i n November 

 and December were spent in this work. 



In addition to the collecting parties sent out last year in behalf of 

 the Pan-American Exposition, Prof. .1. B. Steere made explorations 

 along the Amazon River, Brazil, in the spring of L901, and Messrs. 

 Barton A. Bean and William H. King collected fishes at Key West, 

 Florida. Messrs. Palmer and Riley, who visited Cuba on behalf of 

 the Exposition, and Mr. M. \V. Lyon. jr.. who made collections in 

 Venezuela, returned to the United States in August. 



In duly. L900, Messrs. Charles L. Pollard and William R. Maxon 

 made botanical explorations in Alabama. Georgia, and Tennessee, 

 obtaining collections of much interest. In May. L901, Mi - . Pollard 

 visited the mountains of North Carolina and obtained a rich collection 

 of violets, as well as other plants. 



ACCESSIONS. 



In the majority of divisions of the Department the accessions sur- 

 passed those of last year in number and were of equal or greater 

 importance. The increase in mammals was 2,593 specimens, a very 

 large number. Of insects a smaller number was received 37,000, as 

 compared with 85,000 last year but the value scientifically was not 

 inferior. The accessions of birds' eggs far surpassed those of last 

 year in number and value. The importance of the accessions to the 

 Division of Marine Invertebrates was much greater than last year. 

 On the whole the year may be considered as more than ordinarily 

 prosperous. 



Dr. W. L. Abbott continued his extensive natural history explora- 

 tions in the East Indies, and contributed large collections of mammals, 

 birds, reptiles, mollusks, insects, and marine invertebrates from the 

 Natuna Islands, the Mergui Archipelago, and the coast of Tringanu 

 (Malay Peninsula). About twenty new species of mammals have been 

 detected in these collections, and there are doubtless others, as well 

 as new birds, reptiles, etc. These collections constitute additions of 

 great importance. 



While stationed at Newport, Rhode Island, Dr. E. A. Mearns, U. S. 

 Army, made extensive zoological collections in all classes, which he 



