58 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1918. 



coast, and the Devonian stratigraphic series was increased by a 

 rather complete representation of fossils from the Hackberry and 

 Hamilton groups of Iowa, received from Mr. Carroll Lane Fenton, 

 Charles City, Iowa. Three exchanges, aggregating 132 specimens, in- 

 cluding fossil plants and animals, were obtained from Ward's Natu- 

 ral Science Establishment. 



The United States Geological Survey transferred seven small lots 

 of Eocene insects and a fossil fish collected by Mr. Dean E. Win- 

 chester in northwestern Colorado. The insects are well preserved, 

 and the rarity of such fossils makes them, of value and interest at 

 all times. 



All of Secretary Walcott's field collections of 1917, consisting 

 of more than a ton and a half of fossils, have been prepared for 

 study. A large series in his laboratory was labeled and arranged 

 for future study, and the collections are now in better condition, 

 probably, than at any time previously, as he has given personal 

 attention to their arrangement. 



In addition to general routine work, over 1,200 exhibition labels 

 were prepared, many of which are of considerable length. The 

 printing of these had been but partially completed at the close of 

 the year. The collection of fossil insects was completel}- rearranged, 

 a work made necessary by the acquisition of unusually fine lots dur- 

 ing the past few years. All of the type and study material is now 

 in final museum form, the collection occupying about 100 standard 

 drawers. 



Dr. C. E. Eesser, assistant curator, concentrated his individual 

 efforts toward completing the preparation and classification of the 

 Williams collection of Devonian fossils, and to preparatory work on 

 large collections from the Cambrian sandstones of the northwest 

 Mississippi Valley, accumulated by the Secretary a number of years 

 ago, which, on account of their very friable nature, require most care- 

 ful handling. 



The relabeling of all of the old collections in order that the horizons 

 and localities may be stated in terms of to-day was continued, Dr. 

 E. 0. Ulrich, associate in paleontology, rendering valuable aid in 

 this work. The advance in stratigraphic geology has been so great in 

 recent years that practically all specimens received prior to 1910 re- 

 quire restudy and relabeling if they are to maintain their value to the 

 scientific world. As in previous years the Museum had the benefit 

 of Dr. Ulrich's assistants in the necessary tagging and locality reg- 

 istering of the Paleozoic collections. 



Mr. Frank Springer, associate in paleontology, and his private 

 assistant, Mr. Herrick E. Wilson, devoted their time to the collection 

 of fossil echinoderms, and considerable progress was made in bring- 

 ing the exact labeling as to horizon and locality up to elate. 



