38 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1926 
collections of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, and. 
mollusks, have come from Dr. H. M. Smith, fisheries advisor to the 
Government of Siam, while Dr. H. C. Kellers, United States Navy, 
detailed by the Navy Department to accompany the United States 
Navy eclipse expedition of 1925 to Sumatra, has returned with 
valuable series of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, marine 
invertebrates, and other material; from Rev. D. C. Graham in west- 
ern China have come additional collections of mammals, birds, bird 
skeletons, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, and 
insects, including particularly important series from the Wa and 
Omei Mountains in western Szechwan. 
Mr. B. H. Swales, honorary assistant curator of birds, presented 
45 skins to the bird collections, a donation of importance, since all 
represent genera or forms not previously represented in the 
Museum. Among birds of especial interest may be mentioned a 
peculiar roller from Madagascar, Uratelornis chimaera, a flamingo 
Phoeniconaias minor, the only form of the family lacking in the 
collection, a starling Leucopsar rothschildi from the island of Bali, 
the streaked breasted tinamou Vhynchotus maculicollis and a dipper 
Cinclus schulzi from Argentina, together with a rare finch /diopsar 
brachyurus, long known only from the type specimen, which came 
to the National Museum in 1864. Mr. Swales’ donations include 
also a specimen in alcohol of Mesoenas variegatus, a highly peculiar 
form, and seven skeletons of North and South American birds. 
Dr. Casey A. Wood, collaborator in the division of birds, pre- 
sented 20 bird skins from the Fiji Islands and 2 skins and 32 alco- 
holic specimens from Ceylon. 
Geology.—The records in the department of geology show a 
decided increase in the number of accessions; and although the sum 
total of specimens received is less than last year, very choice and 
much-needed materials are included. 
In the division of geology the bulk of material received was by 
transfer from the United States Geological Survey, of particular 
note being a valuable reference collection consisting of approxi- 
mately 5,000 specimens of ores of the rarer metals. This collection, 
which was assembled by Mr. Frank L. Hess during many years of 
field work, comprises unquestionably the most complete series of 
such ores in existence. Many other suites of described material are 
included in these transfers. Additions to the meteorite collection 
were acquired chiefly through exchanges, with examples of 13 falls 
registered as new to the collection. 
The late Col. W. A. Roebling, by his generous donation of money 
for the purchase of minerals, was the chief contributor to the mineral 
collections, 11 accessions, comprising choice exhibition and study 
specimens, being recorded in his name. Other important additions 
