Editoriai,. 345 



tioti, in many cases by a considerable series of specimens. Many 

 genera are represented by every species that is known, and in a very 

 large number of cases either by types or by specimens autographically 

 lal)elled by the author. When the collection shall have been thor- 

 oughly rearranged and placed in order so that it may be carefully 

 studied, it will prove to be for purposes of comparison one of the most 

 important collections in existence anywhere. 



In the department of ornithology good work is being done upon the 

 collections obtained in northwestern America, and in the Province of 

 Santa Marta, Columbia, by Mr. Smith. 



Mr. F. S. Webster is engaged in mounting the reptilia collected 

 by him in Florida two years ago. He has completed a group of 

 Scotch grouse collected by Mr. Childs Frick in Scotland during the 

 past summer. 



The acquisition of the collection of shells belonging to the estate 

 of the late Dr. W. D. Hartman of West Chester, Pa., has added 

 much important material to the already large collection of conchylia 

 belonging to the Museum. A pa])er upon the species of Partitla 

 represented in the collection has been prepared by Mr. Herbert H. 

 Smith. This is known to be the best collection of the species of this 

 interesting genus in existence and is very rich in types. It is the 

 standard collection for purposes of reference, and we have had the 

 pleasure since its receipt of having been requested by European con- 

 chologists to determine material by its help which it was impossible 

 for them to determine by collections accessible in England and on the 

 continent. 



The collections forwarded to the Museum by the Egypt Explora- 

 tion Fund are of much importance. An account of some portions of 

 these collections from the pen of Mr. W. M. Flinders Petrie appeared 

 in the number of Harper's Magazine issued October, 1901. The 

 Museum owes much to the generosity of the kind friends in Pittsburgh 

 who contributed to the fund in the spring of the year 1901. It is 

 sincerely hoped that those who have contributed will continue to do 

 so, and that from year to year Pittsburgh may receive portions of the 

 valuable finds which are being made in Egypt. 



Steps have been taken by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sons of 

 the American Revolution to secure legislation in Congress placing 

 certain pieces of ordnance which have been for many years located 

 at the Allegheny arsenal, in the custodianship of the Museum. It is 



