REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY. 73 



cate eggs were overhauled during the year and a considerable amount 

 of worthless material discarded. 



In the Division of Reptiles the old trays containing the study collec- 

 tions were replaced al the beginning of the year by a new system of 

 shelving, doubling the storage capacity of the laboratory. The shelves 

 are movable and provided with simple runners, so that they can be 

 raised or lowered with the greatest ease and without loss of time. A 

 rearrangement of the collections could not be undertaken during the 

 year, as the electric lighting of the laboratory was not completed. 

 The clerk of this division, the only assistant of the curator, was ill 

 for a considerable part of the year, and finally died. 



The collections of fishes were thoroughly overhauled and provided 

 with new alcohol. Red labels were furnished for the type specimens 

 received during the year, and a considerable part of the regular series 

 relabeled. 



One of the principal operations of tin 1 Division of Mollusks was a 

 thorough revision of the Lucinacea, the larger portion of which was 

 relabeled in accordance with the revised classification of the group. 

 The new accessions of the year were labeled and distributed to their 

 proper places in the collection. 



The sets of lower marine invertebrates prepared for distribu- 

 tion to educational institutions having been exhausted, a new series of 

 loo sets was prepared during the year. Each set contains about 300 

 specimens, representing from S5 to 95 species. Ten special sets of 

 duplicate specimens were also made up and distributed to museums 

 and kindred institutions and 12 lots sent out for exchange purposes. 

 Accessions of the year were cared for as soon as received, and the 

 greater part of the crustaceans named, but for the lack of clerical assist- 

 ance it was impossible to catalogue specimens as fast as received. 



The ophiurans received from the Agassiz Albatross expedition of 

 L891, and determined by Drs. Lutken and Mortensen, were catalogued 

 and the duplicates divided into seven sets and distributed to seven of 

 of the principal museums in Europe and America. 



In the Division of Insects the work on the general collections is 

 reported upon by Dr. L. (). Howard, honorary curator, as follows: 



The collections arc probably as well cared I'm- as the r< i at our disposal, the help 



available, and the number of insect drawers obtainable will permit. 



The Lepidoptera are well arranged in the standard insect drawers, and die large 

 and valuable Hofmann collection of European moths has been incorporated. A card 

 catalogue of speciea of the entire collection of Lepidoptera has Keen prepared and 

 greatly facilitates the quick finding of specimens. 



The collection of saw Ihes and part of the ichneumon Hies have been transferred to 

 these same drawers and Mr. Schwarz lias superintended the transfer of the North 

 American Cerambycidse to them, the Hubbard and Schwarz collection in this family 

 being at the same time incorporated with the regular museum series. A rearrange- 

 ment of some of the exotic collections of Colei iptera has a No been made. 



