— 132— 



In Arachnida we have the advantage of Dr. Marx's collections and 

 labors. Our material is largely in his hands for determination and will 

 prove an excellent one. In the Scorpiones we have probably all but 

 one or two of Wood's types, and several new species. 



In Myriapoda our material is very rich in species and specimens. 

 Many of Wood's types are still here, and our older material has been de- 

 termined for us by Prof. L. M. Underwood. The same gentleman on a 

 recent collecting trip through parts of Georgia, added a considerable 

 quantity of material in this sub-class. 



Mr. C. H. Bollman of Bloomington, Indiana, has within die last 

 }ear or two described many species of Myriopoda, a large proportion ol 

 the types of which are in our collection. 



In addition to this there is a very large and important class of material 

 which has not yet been mentioned at all —viz : the Biologic material. In 

 this, the collection is incomparably rich, nearly all of the resulis of Prof. 

 Riley's breedings and of the work done in the Department of Agriculture 

 being represented in it. 



Nowhere else is there such an abundance of adolescent stages in all 

 orders, blown and in alcohol. 



This vast mass of material is being slowly put into shape. The de- 

 mands upon the time of the Museum officers in routine work, answering 

 inquiries, making determinations t'tc. , are so gieat that progress is not so 

 rapid as desirable. However, the Orthoptera are- completely arranged. 

 The Hemiptera-Heleroptera are also in good shape. In the Lepidoptera 

 about half the work is done. In Coleoptcra a good beginning has been 

 made — in Hymenoptera and Dipiera isolated families only have been put 

 into shape. It is expected however that greater facilities will be provided 

 hereafter in laboratory space which will advance work much more 

 rapidly. 



A great demand upon time is caused by the necessity of preparing 

 an Exhibition collection for the Public at large. The Museum, being a 

 Government Institution, of course demands a visible result in its Exhibi- 

 tion Halls from all its Departments, and with this aim a large number of 

 boxes, 24 x 30 inches, has been prepared and is being prepared. In 

 all we have nearly 100 such boxes besides a large quantity of other Exhi- 

 bition material. 



It has been deemed wise in this series to separate the scientific, pract- 

 ical, and merely interesting sides. 



For the first we have prepared, and very nearly finished, a complete 

 synopsis of the class. A single box defines the sub-classes and orders, 

 each illustrated by specimens or drawings. Following this, in each order 

 all the families and higher divisions are defined on printed labels, and 



