REPORT OF NATIOl^AL MUSEUM, 1925 43 



COMPARISON OF INCREMENT OF SPECIMENS OF 1924-2 5 WITH THAT OF 



1923-24 



The importance of the Museum as a permanent depository of sci- 

 entific material is reflected in the constant increase in scientific value 

 of the annual additions to the collections. In all divisions the ac- 

 cessions of the present year equal and in most instances exceed those 

 of the previous year. As an example, in the division of plants, the 

 number of accessions was 504, or 34 more than in any of the last 14 

 years; the number of specimens received was 116,636, or nearly 

 18,000 more than in any year since 1913, and more than twice the 

 average number of specimens received during the last 14 years. At 

 the same time there was entered in the record books 39,686 speci- 

 mens, about 6,000 in excess of the preceding year. Many needed 

 rarities have come to fill gaps in many collections, while the acces- 

 sion of type specimens has been truly notable. 



ACCESSIONS DESERVING SPECIAL NOTICE 



As one of the accessions of major importance may be cited the 

 collection of Coleoptera and mollusks which came to the Museum by 

 the bequest of the late Col. Thomas L, Casey. It has been estimated 

 that this contains more than 50,000 specimens of beetles, representing 

 about 16,000 species, of which 5,000 are types of species described 

 by Colonel Casey himself. The bequest included a very complete 

 library mainly on Coleoptera, and Mrs. Casey has generously added 

 a fine new binocular microscope for use in work with the specimens. 

 The collection which is of highest interest to coleopterists because of 

 the types that it contains will receive special care and attention, in 

 order to make its treasures available in the best possible manner to 

 specialists. 



Immense collections presented by the National Geographic Society 

 come as the result of two of the Society's expeditions in China, that 

 of Dr. J. F. Eock and that of F. E. Wulsin. These will be treated 

 in greater detail under the divisions to which they refer. In the 

 present connection, it is enough to point out that they embrace over 

 4,500 specimens of vertebrates and 68,000 plants. This wonderful 

 addition to our Chinese material is supplemented by numerous other 

 collections, foremost among which are those made by Eev. D. C. 

 Graham in western Szechwan, which contain large numbers of 

 vertebrates and insects. Col. E. S. Clark continued to contribute 

 Chinese material collected by A, deC. Sowerby, and several other 

 collectors in the same region have added important specimens. As 

 a result the collections of Chinese animals and plants in the National 

 Museum have reached such magnitude and importance as to be- 

 come active factors in the study of the natural history and resources 



