REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS. 



123 



Dr. Williston's work of the Syrphidce has been already referred to. 



In the report for ]885-'86 a statement was presented giving as nearly 

 as possible the state of the collection at that time. Its condition is 

 more satisfactory at the present time, by virtue of the material that 

 has been more carefully arranged and worked over during the year. 

 Exclusive of the Smith collection at least 10,000 specimens have been 

 added. 



To the exhibition series has been added the synoptic collection of 

 Ooleoptera, contained in 8 unit cases, containing — species, 571; speci- 

 mens, 2,410; drawings, 237, making a total in the exhibition series of — 

 species, '2,637 ; specimens, 7,878; drawings not counted. 



In the study series the arranged collection of Orthoptera now con- 

 tains 542 species, comprising 4,442 specimens. The species are divided 

 as follows : 



Family. 



Species. 



Specimens. 



Forficulidse 



17 



12 



3 



25 



30 



337 



85 



33 



66 



Mantidse 



105 



Pliasmidse 



32 



Blattidse . . 



165 



Tettigidse . ... 



190 





3, 280 

 464 



Locustidse 



Gryllidi© ,. -- _. 



140 









Total 



542 



4,442 







These numbers in regard to species may not prove exact, as so many 

 are still either unnamed or entirely undescribed, and until they are care- 

 fully worked over the specific or other rank of some forms can not be 

 defiinitely determined. 



There are also twenty-seven double boxes, containing several thou- 

 sands of duplicates for exchange. 



In the parasitic Hymenoptera the Microgasters have all been re 

 arranged so as to include all the new and many undescribed species, 

 which I hope soon to find time to define ; while in the biologic series, 

 much of the alcoholic material has been brought together by families, 

 especially that in the Noctuidae, and all in the Khopalocera has been 

 brought together and classified. In the Coleoptera I have also begun, 

 with Mr. E. A. Schwarz, the classification and study of the accumulated 

 biologic specimens. 



The last catalogue entry for June, 1886, was 242, and the last cata- 

 logue entry for June, 1887, is 343. 



