114 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 
among the branches of the trees by means of the clawed digits of 
their wings. The transfer to new cases of the other bird groups men- 
tioned in previous reports was completed. Of individual birds a con- 
siderable number, mostly African, were prepared and installed. The 
case containing the tropical humming birds was entirely rearranged, 
and neat brass holders were introduced for supporting the specimens, 
thereby greatly improving the appearance of the series. 
There were several important additions of reptiles and _ fishes. 
One was an American crocodile, 13 feet long, from the older collee- 
tion, but entirely made over and placed in excellent condition by 
Mr. C. E. Mirguet.. The series of casts of fishes was somewhat in- 
creased, but the most novel and attractive exhibit introduced con- 
sisted of tropical fishes painted in their natural colors and displayed 
in alcohol in flat-faced jars. It occupies two cases and, while the 
method of preparation is still to some extent experimental, it is be- 
lieved to be fairly permanent. Two further sections of the exhibi- 
tion of marine invertebrates, one representing the littoral fauna from 
Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, the other the characteristic forms of 
the Floridian fauna, beginning with Cape Hatteras, were opened to 
the public; and many specimens for other faunas, especially of 
crustaceans, were selected, colored, and mounted. 
The series of reptilian and batrachian skeletons was somewhat in- 
creased and the latter were entirely rearranged. The synoptic series 
was also partly revised, and the insect collection was transferred to 
new cases. Many additions were made to the faunal exhibition of the 
District of Columbia, including a complete series of all the land and 
fresh-water shells of the District, which are installed in a sloping-top 
table case so constructed that even the smallest specimens can be ex- 
amined under an ordinary hand magnifying glass through the glass 
cover of the case. 
The division of plants has for the first time been represented to the 
public by an exhibition of flower studies in water color, selected 
from a series of about 600 sketches by the late Miss Adelia Gates, 
recently presented by Miss Eleanor Lewis, her niece, and by others 
to whom they had been given by the artist during her life. The dis- 
play, which has been installed in the same hall as the marine in- 
vertebrates, embraces a wide range of domestic and foreign plants as 
well as cultivated varieties. 
Explorations—No biological expeditions were sent out by the 
Museum during the year, but several field parties not connected with 
it were supplied with outfits or assisted in other ways, and material 
of considerable interest has been received in return. The principal 
explorations by which the collections have been benefited were con- 
ducted by other scientific bureaus of the Government, though the 
Museum is also greatly indebted to several individuals who have 
