32 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



In the department of Ethnology Paymaster E. B. Webster, U. S. 

 STavy, rendered valuable service. 



Among the investigators who have utilized the ichthyological collec- 

 tions of the Museum in the preparation of papers, etc., were President 

 David S. Jordan, of Indiana University, and his assistants, and Prof. 

 John A. Ryder, of the University of Pennsylvania. 



The gallery of the department of Birds was thrown open to the mem- 

 bers of the American Ornithologists' Union, who held their annual meet- 

 ing from November 16 to 18, and daily use was made of the library and 

 collections by these gentlemen in connection with the objects of the 

 meeting and their researches as ornithologists. 



Mr. Anastasio Alfaro was sent to Washington by the Government 

 of Gosta Eica in October, 1886, to study the methods of the National 

 Museum. This gentleman was shown every courtesy, especially by the 

 department of Birds, in which he was particularly interested, and 

 every possible facility was afforded him for familiarizing himself with 

 the methods pursued by the Institution. 



In the photographic laboratory instructions were given by Mr. T. W. 

 Smillie to Lieutenants Schaefer, Eogers, Bolles, and Werlich, of the U. 

 S. Navy ; Messrs. Merrill and Hornaday, of the Museum; Mr. Thomas 

 Lee, U. S. Fish Commission; the photographer of the U. S. Goast 

 Survey, and to Dr. May King, a young Chinese lady who is preparing 

 herself for a career as a medical missionary and scientific student in 

 her native land. 



Instructions in taxidermy were given by Mr. W. T. Hornaday to 

 Prof. L. L. Dyche, of the University of Kansas, who served as an un- 

 salaried volunteer in the department for the sake of the experience 

 acquired. 



Mr. L. M. McCormick asked for and obtained access to the collection 

 of fishes and ichthyological literature, to aid him iu the identification 

 Df a collection of fishes belonging to Oberlin College. 



The use of the lecture hall has as usual been granted for a series 

 of lectures delivered on Saturday afternoons, and in some cases on 

 Wednesday evenings, under the joint auspices of the Biological and 

 A-uthropological Societies of Washington. These were largely at- 

 tended. Some of the lectures had direct reference to the work of the 

 Museum, and were illustrated by specimens. 



The programmes of the two parts of this course are here given : 



Part I. 



March 12. — General A. W. Greely, U. S. Army : Animals of the Arctic Regions, 



March 19. — papt. C. E. Button, U. S. Army: Earthquakes! 



March 23.— Mr. W J McGee- The Charleston Earthquake. 



March 26. —Prof. Otis T. Mason : The Natural History of Human Arts. 



April 2.— Dr. B. E. Fernow : Our Forestry Problem. 



Agrll 6. — Mi*. Thomas Wilson : Prehistoric Man iu Western Europe. 



