REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 41 



containing them ; the frequent poisoning of many thousands of objects subject 

 to destruction by insect pests, and the renewal of alcohol on liquid prepara- 

 tions, or the filling up of tanks, jars, and vials from which the preservative had 

 more or less evaporated. The labeling and cataloguing of individual specimens 

 as identified went on continuously, and, besides, there was the preparation of 

 specimens for the reserve series and exhibition halls, the selection and arrange- 

 ment of duplicates for distribution, and the identification of material received 

 from several hundred persons, as happens every year. 



Of investigations conducted during the j'ear mention may be made of de- 

 tailed studies on the examples of basketry and traps contained in Doctor 

 Abbott's collection from southwestern Malaysia by Prof. O. T. Mason, who 

 also prepared a paper entitled " Vocabulary of Malaysian basketwork." Dr. 

 Walter Hough completed a paper on the manufacture of pulque wine and began 

 a study of the Malaysian blowguns received from Doctor Abbott. The Jewish 

 ceremonial objects in the National Museum were described and illustrated by 

 Dr. Cyrus Adler and Dr. I. M. Casanowicz, and the latter has in progress an 

 account of the collection of rosaries. In prehistoric archeology investigations 

 were conducted by Mr. William H. Holmes and Dr. J. W. Fewkes. Dr. Ales 

 Hrdlicka continued his studies on the human skeleton of different races and 

 completed a manuscript entitled " Physiological and medical observations among 

 the Indians of the Southwest and northern Mexico." 



The principal researches based upon the collections in biology related to the 

 following subjects : The fossil cetaceans of North America ; the birds of North 

 and Middle America ; the reptiles of Japan, the Philippine Islands, and North 

 America ; the mosquitoes of North and Central America and the West Indies ; 

 the mollusks and brachiopods of the eastern Pacific Ocean collected by the 

 Fisheries steamer Alhatross; Crustacea from East Africa and the Antarctic 

 Ocean ; the crinoid collection of the museum ; the corals of the Hawaiian 

 Islands ; animal parasites ; and the cacti, ferns, and other groups of plants. In 

 addition to the above many collections were being studied for the museum by 

 specialists attached to other institutions. 



The material obtained during his visit to Meteor Crater, Canyon Diablo, 

 in May, 1907, was the subject of investigation by Dr. George P. Merrill, ac- 

 cording to whose conclusions the well-known and peculiar depression existing 

 there was caused by impact, presumably of a large meteor. Studies were also 

 conducted on the meteorites in the museum collection by Doctor Merrill, assisted 

 by Mr, Wirt Tassin. Extensive investigations were carried on by Dr. R. S. 

 Bassler on fossil invertebrates, by Mr. J. W. Gidley on fossil mammals, by 

 Mr. C. W. Gilmore on fossil reptiles, and by assistants of the Geological Survey 

 on fossil plants. 



EXHIBITION COLLECTIONS. 



For some years past there has been no opportunity to increase the exhibition 

 collections, except in a very limited way, for in nearly all the halls the cases 

 are so crowded as to interfere with the circulation of visitors and objects can 

 not be viewed to advantage. This does not mean, however, that these collec- 

 tions require any less attention than before, since their maintenance demands 

 constant oversight and labor. Moreover, changes are often made by replacing 

 older collections with others more recently acquired and of greater present 

 interest. 



From the new material obtained for the Jamestown Exposition and returned 

 during the winter, as many articles as possible were placed on exhibition. 

 The loan collections of General Wood and Senator Beveridge were installed in 



