REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE INVERTEBRATES 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 1891. 



By KiCiiARO Katitrt'X. Tfonorari/ Cnratitr. 



The eurator is able to report favorable progress in the work of this 

 dei^artmeiit (luring the past year. Except for the teni])orary closing of 

 the exhibition room, its affairs have never been in better condition, and 

 nuich original research has been carried on. 



Tlie construction of a n«^w roof over the west hall of the Smithsonian 

 building has necessitated the removal of most of the collections stored 

 there aud the utilizing of the central part of the fish hall for display 

 pur])Oses on a small scale. The library and office room has, however, 

 been accessible, and has been used as heretofore. The gallery assigned 

 to this department has been better litfed np as a general work room by 

 the transfer to other quarters of a part of the collections previously kept 

 there and tlie introduction of many conveniences for iho, storage and 

 assorting of collections. The small room in the west basement, hitherto 

 used for the unpacking of alcoholic specimens and the storage of the 

 type colle(;tions of that character, has been so darkened by the building 

 of a large structure alongside its windows that it is no longer adai)ted 

 to such purposes, and the overhauling of the alcoholics has to be done 

 at present in the gallery. 



All of the collections have been maintained in good condition, and 

 the number of specinuMis has been considerably increased by additions 

 from many sources. Much time has been occupi<'d in the assorting, la- 

 beling, and cataloguing of s]»ccinu^ns, and in the ])reparatiou of dupli- 

 cate sets for gratuitous distribnticm and the exchanges, Original re- 

 search has been limited chiefly to the higher Crustacea, resi>ecting which 

 several i)apers are in course of pre])aration. 



The curator has been unable to give nion^ than a general supervision 

 to the department during the year, the credit for the activity displayed 

 ])eing due to Mr. James E. Benedict, the assistant curator, and Miss 

 M. .]. Rathbun, who are responsible not only for the general conduct of 

 the work, but also foi- the increased results herein recorded. ]>oth have 

 l>een engaged in working up and describing ])ortions of the collections 

 under their charge, thereby adding greatly to the scientific value of the 

 latter, ami bringing them to tlie attention of specialists and students of 



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