DEPAETMENT OF INSECTS. 169 



study, at his request. This material was returned later, with some addi- 

 tions new to the collection. 



In Coleoptera the systematic arrangement has been continued, and 

 nine of the Carabid genera were arranged in eight boxes. Thus far 83 

 species and varieties are represented, and the material has not yet 

 been entirely sifted. The extreme wealth of material, the number of 

 the collections among which it is scattered, and the small size of some 

 of the species renders the task of arrangement a slow one. 



In the Lepidoptera the family Saturniidce has been arranged in fiA^e 

 cabinet drawers. We have 17 species in 58 specimens, and but 4 spe- 

 cies are needed to complete the family. Of duplicates we have 7 spe- 

 cies in 47 specimens, a large proportion of which were subsequently 

 used in the exhibit series. 



From Dr. Marx, of the Department of Agriculture, were received 

 one hundred and twenty-six vials of named Arachnida, many of them 

 specimens which had been previously turned over to him for study, but 

 quite a number of which were donated by him. These were all mounted 

 on vial blocks and temporarily arranged. 



Considerable time was speut in going over a portion of the collection 

 for Museum pests. 



" During December the work of thoroughly examining the collection 

 was completed and the ordinary routine matters attended to. ' 



In January, 1888, the re-arrangement of material on the iioor of the 

 Museum placed a court at the disposal of this Department for exhibit 

 purposes. W'hat had already been prepared was moved into this new 

 space, and work was vigorously prosecuted on a series of exhibition 

 boxes, some of which were completed, but none placed, owing to the 

 lack of cases. A very fair show, however, was made with the space 

 and material at our command. 



Some of the Lepidopterous family JSFoctuidw were placed in cabinet 

 drawers, and a small amount of systematic work done. 



In February, 1888, two boxes of American butterflies were completed 

 and placed on exhibition. The assignment of additional table cases to 

 this department added considerably to our storage room and much 

 material was transferred from the laboratory to these cases. 



The Coleoptera were carefully sifted for material in Lachnosterna, 

 which was roughly arranged, and a selected series sent to Dr. George 

 H. Horn, of Philadelphia, for study. 



A large lot of Diptera, principally Bombyliidfe, and many typical, 

 were received from Mr. D. W. Coquillett, one of my agents at Los An- 

 geles, California, and turned over to the department. 



In March, six additional boxes for the exhibition series were prepared 

 and put on public view. 



The Bombyliid material received last month suggested an overhaul- 

 ing of our material in the family, which was begun. 



In April the work on the Bombyliidae was continued and completed. 



