170 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



Twenty-foiiu boxes are used in tbe anaugemeiit and there are nearly 

 four boxes of duplicate material. The collection in this family is ex- 

 tremely rich, as I have been especially interested in it since ray studies 

 of the enemies of the Rocky Mountain locust began. Efforts will be 

 made to have it monographically studied. 



The material in Lachnosterna having been returned by Dr. Horn, its 

 arrangement was begun. Six additional boxes were prepared and 

 placed on exhibition. 



The month of May was devoted to the study of our material in Lach- 

 nosterna, which was very largely augmented by the efforts of Mr. Smith 

 and of my assistants in the Department of Agriculture, Messrs. Schwarz, 

 Pergande, and Alwood, who collected many thousands of specimens of 

 the local species. 



Almost the entire month of June was employed directly or indirectly 

 in preparing a series of boxes for the exposition at Cincinnati, Ohio, and 

 forty-eight boxes were completed and sent off. In this work Dr. George 

 Marx prepared the Arachnida, and Mr. Tyler Townsend, assigned from 

 the Department of Agriculture, assisted during a portion of the month 

 in the work of preparation. 



This series, entirely unique and, so far as completed, of great educa- 

 tional value, is in effect a classification of the entire Insecta illustrated 

 by the specimens themselves and by drawings Twenty-eight boxes, 

 containing 559 species in 1,684 specimens and 683 drawings, were made 

 up. Eight boxes, also belonging to the series, but previously prepared, 

 contained 571 species in 2,410 specimens and 257 drawings. In all, 

 this series contains 1,130 species, 4,094 specimens, and 920 drawings, 

 representing all orders save the Hemiptera, the Diptera, and the Hy- 

 menoptera. 



There were also sent from the general exhibit series eight boxes of 

 forestry insects and four boxes of insects affecting cultivated plants, 

 the number of specimens in which can not readily be estimated and 

 were not counted. 



The assistant curator has during the year been quite active in origi- 

 nal work largely connected with the arrangement of the Museum ma- 

 terial. This has been chiefly in Lepidoptera, and wall be indicated in 

 detail in the list of writings. 



In the -Sphingidw he has completed his studies for the monograph 

 long since begun. This is an important paper, which should have been 

 published as a bulletin of the Department, and I regret that, because 

 of the inevitable delay in getting it out from the Government Printing 

 Office, Mr. Smith chose to publish it in the proceedings of the Ameri- 

 can Entomological Society. 



In the arrangement of the Arctiidse Mr. Smith made some critical 

 notes on the species of Arctia, the results of which were presented to the 

 American Association for tlie Advancement of Science at the New 

 York meeting. He has also made some extremely interesting notes on 

 the genus Lachnosterna, which are not yet in shape for publication. 



