REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1910. 69 
ORGANIZATION AND STAFF. 
Following the death of Prof. Otis T. Mason on November 5, 1908, 
Dr. Walter Hough, the assistant curator of ethnology, was made act- 
ing head curator of the department of anthropology. On January 1, 
1910, however, Prof. William H. Holmes relinquished his position as 
Chief of the Bureau of American Ethnology in order to again take up 
his duties in the Museum, and was returned to the head curatorship 
of this department, which he had filled from the time of its organiza- 
tion in 1897 until called to the bureau in 1902. Dr. Hough and Dr. 
Ales Hrdlitka, who, as assistant curators, had long been in charge of 
the divisions of ethnology and physical anthropology, respectively, 
were both made curators during the year, the former on January 1, 
the latter on March 28, 1910. Mr. Arthur P. Rice was designated a 
collaborator in the division of ethnology on August 12, 1909. 
The development of the exhibition collections in biology, long held 
in check through the lack of accommodations, but now become a most 
important and necessary feature of the work in connection with the 
new building, has demanded a more definite organization. This was 
effected during the year, and Dr. James E. Benedict, for many years 
assistant curator of marine invertebrates, was placed in charge as 
chief of exhibits, his appointment dating from November 16, 1909. 
In the division of mammals, Dr. M. W. Lyon, jr., assistant curator, 
was given indefinite leave on October 5, 1909, being succeeded by 
Mr. Ned Hollister, who received a temporary appointment on January 
3,1910, and a permanent one on March 21, following. The services of 
Mr. H. C. Oberholser, of the Biological Survey, were secured tempo- 
rarily, beginning February 1, to assist with the collections in ornithol- 
ogy. Mr. Austin H. Clark, previously a collaborator, was made an 
assistant curator in the division of marine invertebrates on February 
16, 1910, and Mr. Waldo C. Schmitt, a temporary aid in the same 
division on February 21. Mr. Paul R. Myers was appointed aid in the 
division of insects on March 1, 1910, in succession to Mr. D. H. Clemons 
transferred to the Department of Agriculture. Miss Mary Breen was 
designated collaborator in the division of mollusks, beginning Feb- 
ruary 25, 1910, and Mr. M.S. Curtis, a temporary aid in the division 
of plants from April 12 to June 30, 1910. 
Dr. J. E. Pogue was appointed assistant curator of mineralogy on 
July 1, 1909, to succeed Mr. Wirt Tassin, who had resigned to engage 
in business in May previous. Mr. F. B. Laney, assistant curator of 
geology, resigned on May 15, 1910, to enter the service of the Geolog- 
ical Survey. 
It is necessary torecord the decease during the year of two dis- 
tinguished associates of the Museum, Dr. Robert Edwards Carter 
Stearns and Dr. Charles Abiathar White, both of whom had long been 
