112 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
have a bony core from which the outer covering is shed annually. The 
core itself always remains in place. 
THE NEW HALL OF RECENT FISHES. 
HALL devoted to the exhibition of Fishes has just 
been opened to the public on the second floor of the 
Museum, at the extreme end of the north wing. The 
collection consists of a fine series of mounted skins, 
casts and skeletons, supplemented by colored plates 
of various typical and striking forms. It is intended 
(1) to give a synoptic view of the Fishes of the world based on anatomi- 
cal characteristics; (2) to emphasize, by means of descriptive labels, 
the food-fishes and others having commercial value or striking pecu- 
liarities; (8) to bring into relief certain general features of biological 
significance, like variation, apparent degeneration, protective mimicry, 
brilliant coloration of tropical forms, and adaptation to such special 
conditions as food-supply and deep-sea life. 
A large study-collection of alcoholic specimens supplements the 
exhibition series. This material is in one of the Museum laboratories, 
where it is available for research work by students. 
THE FOREL COLLECTION OF ANTS. 
Proressor AuGustEe Foret of Yvorne, Switzerland, has just con- 
tributed an important addition to the large collection of Formicidie 
already in the Museum by donating a series of some 3,500 specimens, 
representing about 1,400 species of exotic ants. In this collection there 
are nearly 800 type specimens, which are, of course, invaluable to future 
students. ‘The Museum collection is now so extensive and contains so 
many of the 5,000 known species, subspecies and varieties of these 
highly variable insects that the study of additional materials from any 
part of the world can be undertaken here profitably and without expend- 
ing time in going over the much scattered and often very inadequate 
descriptions of some of the earlier myrmecological writers. 
