REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39 



as well as for their workmanship, some having been owned by persons 

 of high distinction. The collection of postage stamps, postal cards, 

 and stamped envelopes was increased to the extent of about 9,000 

 examples, and many additions were made to the series of coins and 

 medals and of portrait photographs. So many contributions were 

 received for the period costume collection as to permit of the instal- 

 lation and opening of the hall allotted to this subject. 



Especially notable among the acquisitions in biology were some 

 200,000 insects obtained by entomologists of the Department of Agri- 

 culture during economic investigations in Texas and neighboring 

 States. Mr. H. C. Raven, whose work has continued to be maintained 

 by Dr. W. L. Abbott, sent over 1,500 mammals and birds from eastern 

 Borneo, including numerous rare and probably some new forms. Be- 

 sides extensive collections of fishes and marine invertebrates, the 

 Bureau of Fisheries transferred a large number of reptiles and batra- 

 chians from various parts of North America, and the first series, with 

 the types, of tjie mammals obtained in Lower California during the 

 cruise of the steamer Albatross in 1911. The Biological Survey, in 

 addition to its regular deposits of North American mammals and 

 birds, turned over to the Museum many mammals from Patagonia 

 and reptiles and batrachians from Panama, and Prof. A. M. Eeese 

 contributed a large quantity of specimens of several groups collected 

 by him at the Philippine Islands. Additional mammals were re- 

 ceived from China, Africa, the island of Sardinia, etc., and reptiles 

 and batrachians from California, Mississippi, Alabama, and other 

 southern States. A generous donation from Dr. E. A. Mearns, United 

 States Army, retired, consisted of his large private collection of bird 

 skins, eggs, and skeletons, containing many rarities. Other sources 

 of fishes than those above referred to were JTapan, Fanning Island, 

 the Philippines, Panama, and California; and of insects, the Bahama 

 Islands, Florida, the southwestern and western States, and Alaska, 

 besides which important series in several groups of insects of eco- 

 nomic importance were among the contributions. The division of 

 moUusks received as gifts the important collection of the late Prof. 

 F. W. Bryant, of Lakeside, Cal. ; about 2,000 specimens obtained by 

 Mr. John B. Henderson, jr., during a dredging expedition to the vi- 

 cinity of Chincoteague, Va., and many other valuable donations. The 

 marine invertebrates from the Bureau of Fisheries consisted chiefly 

 of material in several groups which had been the subject of study 

 and report. About 100 species of rotifers, mounted on slides, were 

 presented by Mr. H. K. Harring, and numerous more or less impor- 

 tant collections were received from various sources. The additions to 

 the herbarium comprised over 10,000 specimens, mainly of grasses, 

 from the Department of Agriculture, resulting from recent field 

 work; about 3,500 West Indian and African plants from the New 



