Report of the President. 2 1 



manuscript of the description of the Shasta, which, as Part V, 

 will close Volume XVII. 



East Asiatic Committee. — During the past year the field 

 work was concluded and Dr. Laufer has devoted his time to 

 the classification and arrangement of the Chinese collection, 

 and to his researches on the collection of ancient Chinese 

 pottery. His manuscript on the pottery of the Han period is 

 practically completed. To assist him in his studies, Dr. Laufer 

 has made use of several collections of Chinese pottery belong- 

 ing to art collectors, generously loaned to him for the purpose, 

 and in this connection we wish especially to acknowledge the 

 courtesies extended by Mr. Marsden J. Perry, of Providence, 

 R. I., and Mr. Thomas B. Clarke and Mr. R. H. Williams, of 

 New York City. 



Department of Entomology. — Good progress has been 

 made in rearranging the collections and in installing new 

 exhibits. Of special mention are specimens representing six 

 races of the honey-bee; a series of queen cells; some unusual 

 forms of comb of the domesticated honey-bee, built on 

 branches of trees, and wax moclels of certain insect-galls. 



There are now on exhibition 22,600 specimens of insects, 

 nevertheless much is yet to be added to bring the collection 

 up to a proper standard of completeness and usefulness. 



The Curator has procured 1,800 insects, which he has 

 mounted in sixty cases for circulation in the public schools. 

 Each case illustrates the life-history of the cecropia moth, 

 development of the monarch butterfly, life and work of the 

 honey-bee, and common household pests. 



Arrangements have been made with the following experts 

 for the identification of special groups of insects, and their 

 assistance is gratefully acknowledged: 



Mr. Otto Heidemann Washington, D. C. 



Mr. E. P. Van Duzee Buffalo, N. Y. 



Prof. H. Osborn Columbus, O. 



Prof. P. R. Uhler Baltimore, Md. 



Dr. W. H. Ashmead Washington, D. C. 



