REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS 

 IN THE U, S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, L889. 



By C. V. Riley, Honorary Curator. 



The past fiscal year has been rather a busier one than usual in this 

 department, and has been signalized particularly by the preparation of 

 exhibit collections. During the early part of the year the educational 

 collection for exhibition at the Cincinnati Exposition was completed 

 and sent to Cincinnati, where it remained until December. 



In August the Assistant Curator was sent North, and examined a 

 number of private collections at New York City, Brooklyn, Albany, 

 Brockport, and Buffalo for the purpose of obtaining exchange material 

 for the Museum. During October and November, work upon a general 

 exhibit collection to be permanently placed on the lower floor of the 

 Museum, was begun and carried on. In December, work on additional 

 laboratory space was begun, and was completed in May. A large ad- 

 ditional room has thus been added to the much needed conveniences of 

 the department. During December work was also begun upon an ex- 

 hibit collection devoted mainly to the economic aspects of eutomology 

 to be sent to Paris, as a part of the exhibit at the Exposition. As 

 additional help was needed upon this work, Mr. Martin L. Linell, of 

 Brooklyn, was engaged temporarily for this purpose. The work of pre- 

 paring this exhibit continued assiduously to the end of March, when it 

 was shipped to Paris. 



April 1 the Assistant Curator, Mr. John B. Smith, resigned, to accept 

 the more lucrative position of entomologist of the Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station at New Brunswick, N. J., and Mr. M. L. Linell was ap- 

 pointed Aid. 



On April I went to Paris as one of the expert Commissioners, and as 

 representative of the Secretary of Agriculture to the Paris Exposition, 

 and during my absence of live months in those capacities Mr. L. O. 

 Howard was Acting Curator, and I would here acknowledge my indebt- 

 edness to him in that connection. 



The number of accessions during the year have been about as usual, 



but the following more important ones may be mentioned : 



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