REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF INSECTS. 



123 



Dr. Willistou's work of the Syrphidw has been already referred to. 



In the report for 1885->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 

 Coleoptera, 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. 



Farficulidje 



17 

 12 

 3 

 25 

 30 

 337 

 85 

 33 



66 



Mantidse 



105 



Phasmidse 



32 



Blattida3 



165 



Tettigidse 



190 



Acrididse 



3,280 

 464 



LocustidaB 



Gryllidaj 



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 

 defiiuitely 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 Rhopalocera 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. 



