REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1907. 13 



Ocean and the Okhotsk Sea. Noteworthy series of mammals, birds, 

 and reptiles were obtained from the Philippine Islands and other 

 interesting localities. Of fishes, 25,000 specimens were received; of 

 insects. 44.000 specimens, and of plants. 47.000 specimens. 



The additions to the section of fossil invertebrates were especially 

 notable, amounting to over 115.000 specimens. They were acquired 

 partly by transfer from the Geological Survey and partly by 

 donation. 



No material changes were made in the exhibition halls, except in 

 connection with the fine arts, as described elsewhere. About 16,000 

 duplicate specimens were distributed to schools and colleges, and 

 some 25,000 were used in making exchanges. The classification of the 

 collections, especially those recently received, has necessitated an ex- 

 ceptional amount of painstaking investigations, resulting in the prep- 

 aration of many important scientific contributions. The publications 

 for the year comprised 8 volumes and 4 parts of volumes. 



While field researches were engaged in at different times of the 

 year by a few members of the staff, the trips were all of relatively 

 short duration, though they resulted in extensive additions to the 

 collections and the filling of many gaps. 



The Museum is represented at the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Ex- 

 position by a comprehensive historical exhibit, and at the Inter- 

 national Maritime Exposition at Bordeaux, France, by a few striking 

 examples and models of aboriginal water craft and early steamboats. 



NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. 



Reference is made on pages 7, 8, and 9 of this report to the action 

 by Congress in 1846, charging the Smithsonian Institution with the 

 custodianship of all objects of art belonging to the United States, 

 and to the initial plan proposed on the part of the Board of Regents 

 for carrying out this important provision of the fundamental law. 



In the Smithsonian building, which was immediately put in course 

 of erection, two rooms were especially designed for the collections of 

 art — the west hall and connecting range on the main floor. These 

 quarters were so used for a time in conjunction with the library and 

 reading room, but the accommodations proved so inadequate that it 

 became necessary to also devote to the same purpose a part of the 

 large upper hall now occupied by the collection of prehistoric 

 archeology. 



Examples of art were among the very first acquisitions by the Insti- 

 tution, and from time to time thereafter additions of one kind and 

 another were received, but any sum that might have been spared for 

 this purpose from the Smithsonian income would have been wholly 

 insufficient to make any pronounced or systematic progress in this 



