REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 43 
tion of the Navy Department in this matter has been greatly 
appreciated. 
Dr. Hugh M. Smith, honorary associate curator in zoology, at 
present fisheries adviser to the Siamese Government, through 
arrangement with the National Museum and with some outside 
assistance, has secured valuable collections from Siam that have 
added especially to the series of fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, 
and mammals. The material received is especially important since 
there has been little previously in the Museum from this region. 
Preliminary examination has shown several previously unknown 
species, some of which have been already described. The region 
is one of considerable importance since it connects the Malayan 
region with China, from both of which we have great series of 
specimens. 
Prof. M. M. Metcalf, of Johns Hopkins University, presented to 
the Museum extensive series of batrachians collected during work 
on opalinid parasites in that group in South America. 
The National Geographic Society has transferred to the National 
Museum specimens collected by Dr. Walter Koelz during the expedi- 
tion of 1925 to Greenland under Capt. Donald B. MacMillan. Capt. 
Rk. A. Bartlett forwarded an interesting series of marine inverte- 
brates collected during a visit to the coast of Labrador, and Mr. 
J. Morgan Clements sent collections of marine invertebrates and 
fishes secured during travels in Polynesia. 
Mr. Paul C. Standley, associate curator of plants, through coopera- 
tion with Mr. Oakes Ames and the United Fruit Co., visited the 
Canal Zone and Costa Rica, making extensive collections of plants. 
A week was spent at the Barro Colorado Island Biological Station 
gathering data for a list of the plants of the island. In Costa Rica 
Mr. Standley visited the Canton de Dota, where are found the first 
paramos north of Colombia. A month in the mountains of Guana- 
caste and work in other upland sections as well as in the Atlantic 
lowlands gave important data to be utilized ultimately for a report 
on the flora of Central America. 
Dr. W. L. Abbott, through his continued interest in the National 
Museum, financed an expedition by Mr. Emery C. Leonard, aid in 
the division of plants, to northern Haiti for a period extending from 
November to March. The 9,000 specimens procured will supplement 
material previously in hand for a report on the botany of the island. 
Dr. AleS Hrdliéka, curator of physical anthropology, in the depart- 
ment of anthropology, under the joint auspices of the Buffalo Society 
of Natural Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution, made an ex- 
tensive journey that included areas where remains of fossil or ancient 
man had been discovered in southern Asia, Australia, and Africa, 
and returned with series of photographs, specimens, and first-hand 
