54 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1925 



small Corvidae were rearranged, with some shifting of specimens 

 among other cases. A considerable number of specimens laid aside 

 in previous years for determination were identified and distributed 

 systematically through the collection. In this way some additional 

 space was provided for the unusual amount of material received 

 from China during the year, a considerable part of which will have 

 to be held apart from the main collection until determined. The 

 Rock collection from China, including 1,611 skins, was provided 

 with standard Museum' labels, and various other lots of specimens 

 were similarly labeled. Unsatisfactory label-holders on cases hous- 

 ing specimens of the study series were removed and more suitable 

 ones supplied. Eggs and nests received during the year were cata- 

 logued, but not distributed in the systematic series. About 1,100 

 eggs were labeled and placed in the collection. The alcoholic 

 material received during the year was provided with suitable con- 

 tainers and labeled. In the skeleton collection, 573 specimens were 

 placed in suitable boxes, labeled, and distributed, and the data 

 recorded on the card catalogue. Considerable material was cleaned 

 by the preparators during the year, but thus far has not been labeled 

 or prepared for distribution. The condition of the collections of 

 all kinds is excellent, there being no deterioration so far as known. 



In the division of reptiles and batrachians about 1,200 specimens 

 have been installed in permanent places in the storage room. Prac- 

 tically no replacement of the old cork-stoppered bottles by glass- 

 stoppered jars has been possible during the year, owing to difficulty 

 experienced in obtaining an adequate number of standard jars to 

 hold incoming specimens. The present condition of the collection 

 on the whole is very good. 



All the material received in the division of fishes during the year 

 has been identified, catalogued, entered on cards in" the index files, 

 and installed in the regular collections. The shelves and containers 

 in the storage room were cleaned and jars refilled where evapora- 

 tion had occurred, many labels have been restored where they had 

 become obliterated, and large storage jars have been resealed to 

 reduce evaporation to a minimum. The condition of the material 

 is considered very good. 



In the Division of Insects, since the adoption several years ago 

 of the tray system for most of the orders of insects, the process of 

 transferring the collection to trays has been under way, and is al- 

 most complete for some of the large orders, especially for the Dip-^ 

 tera. In Coleoptera and Hymenoptera there is still much to be done. 

 During the year Dr. H. E. Ewing arranged the collection of 

 scorpions, and placed most of it in standard containers. He con- 

 tinued rearranging the tick collection until now about 60 per cent 



