118 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 1885. 



cea, 86 packages and 29 species; of Echinoderms, 192 packages and 33 

 species, aud of Anthozoa, 37 packages and 12 species. 



Mr. Henry Hempliill lias contributed many specimens of marine in- 

 vertebrates, collected about Key West, Fla., in continuation of bis ex- 

 plorations begun two years ago. Tbe collection of tbis year consists 

 principally of tbe smaller species of Crustacea, Ecbinoderms, Corals, 

 and Sponges, and contains many valuable additions to tbe Musenra. 

 It is partly dried and partly iireserved in alcobol. 



A valuable collection of marine invertebrates, made by Lieut. George 

 M. Stoney, TJ. S. K., in Alaska, in connection witb bis explorations during 

 1884, was received in February. It consisted of 23 lots of specimens ob- 

 tained by dredging and by tbe use of the surface tow-net. Tbe princi- 

 pal groujis of invertebrates common to that region, are well represented, 

 and especially tbe Crustaceans, Echinoderms, and Tunicatcs. 



Many interesting additions have been made by Prof. E. E. C. Stearns 

 to the collection previously turned over by him to this department. 

 They consist mainly of rare species of Alcyonian corals from both the 

 eastern and western coasts of the Pacific Ocean, aud also include three 

 species of crustacean whale parasites [Gyamus). 



Other accessions worthy of notice are the following : 



A fine collection of dried specimens of sea-urchins and star-fishes from 

 the west coast of North America, containing 9 species and 43 specimens 

 of the former group, and 12 species and 41 specimens of the latter, re- 

 ceived from Mr. Alphonse Forrer, of Santa Cruz, Cal. These speci- 

 mens were all identified and in excellent condition. 



Seven species of South Sea Island corals donated by the Hon. H. F. 

 French, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Specimens of Echino- 

 derms and Corals from the west coast of Mexico, received from Prof. 

 Alfred Duges, Guanajuato, Mexico. Specimens of star-fishes and sea- 

 urchins from the coasts of California aud Lower California, collected 

 by Mr. C. H. Townsend. Specimens of a new and interesting variety 

 of fresh- water sponge (Meyenia pliimosa Carter, var. Palmer i Potts), col- 

 lected on the banks of the Colorado Elver, near Lerdo, Sonora, in 

 Northwestern Mexico, by Dr. Edward Palmer. Two finely preserved 

 specimens of Metalia pectoralis, a large sea-urchin, aud several speci- 

 mens of Gorgonian corals, collected at Nassau, Bahama Islands, by 

 Mr. B. H. Van Vleck, of Boston. 



ROUTINE WORK. 



The general care of collections has occui)ied the greater i^art of the 

 time of our small force, and has prevented the accomplishment of much 

 original work. A large quantity of material has been received during 

 the past six months, and the greater part of it has been of such a na- 

 ture as to demand immediate attention. The large collection brought 

 in by the steamer Albatross, from the Gulf of Mexico, in April, was en- 

 tirely sorted and catalogued by the first jDart of June, and placed in 



