90 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1904. 



Polygonum ; to Dr. Theo. Holm, Brookland, District of Columbia, 277 

 sheets of Ca/rex, Betula, Lychnis, etc.; to Mr. George R. Shaw, 

 Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, 212 specimens of 

 pines; to Mr. Oakes Ames, 219 specimens of orchids. 



DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS MATERIAL. 



As already stated, 51 sets of duplicate specimens of marine inver- 

 tebrates were distributed during- the year. These sets contain about 

 200 specimens each, representing from 92 to 99 species, and as many 

 different groups as the nature of the material available permits. Of 

 the 10,000 or more specimens, somewhat less than one-half went to 

 high schools, and the remainder to various other public schools, 

 and to universities, colleges, academies, seminaries, institutes, and 

 museums. Eighteen States are represented in this distribution. 



LABORATORY USE OF THE COLLECTIONS BY INVESTIGATORS. 



The bird collections have been very frequently consulted during the 

 year by ornithologists from different parts of the country. The col- 

 lections from the Western States were examined by Mrs. Vernon 

 Bailey, of Washington City, who is revising her handbook of western 

 birds. The bluebirds and crested flycatchers were studied \>y Mr. 

 E. W. Nelson, of the Biological Survey, in connection with a list of 

 Mexican birds which he is preparing. Mr. H. C. Oberholser, of the 

 same Bureau, made almost daily use of the collection in connection 

 with his official work, and also for identifying birds sent in by various 

 correspondents, and in preparing a report for the Museum on Doctor 

 Abbott's collection from Mount Kilima-njaro, East Africa. Prof. 

 W. W. Cooke, another ornithologist of the Survey, examined the 

 North American series in connection with his study of migrations. 

 The entire stud}^ series was examined by Dr. R. M. Strong, of the 

 University of Chicago, on points connected with his researches on 

 the structure and color of feathers. The Nomenclature Committee of 

 the American Ornithologists' Union considered the validity of various 

 species and subspecies of North American birds as represented in the 

 collection. Dr. Jonathan Dwight, jr., examined the collection of 

 North American gulls. 



In the division of reptiles, Mr. W. P. Hay was given facilities for 

 studying specimens of the diamond-back terrapins, on which he is pre- 

 paring a report for the Bureau of Fisheries. Mr. Vernon Bailey spent 

 several weeks in stud}dng the reptiles of Texas. 



The collection of fishes was frequently consulted by the ichtlryolo- 

 gists of the Bureau of Fisheries, especially Messrs. Evermann, Kendall, 

 Goldsborough, and Pope. 



Mr. Ralph Arnold made a study of the Western American Pectinida?, 

 in connection with a monograph of the group which he has in contem- 



