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gratified to learn that some friend or friends of the Museum 

 may feel disposed to contribute means for the prosecution of 

 systematic investigations in the hope of securing the data neces- 

 sary to demonstrate the truth or the falsity of the claims set forth 

 by various prominent men of science. A map of the localities 

 which should be covered by such a system of research appears in 

 this report. 



Department of Entomology. — This department is under 

 the charge of Mr. William Beutenmiiller as Curator, with Mr. 

 R. L. Ditmars as assistant. The collections in this department 

 include such a large number of specimens that the work of cata- 

 loguing and numbering them is very tedious, and requires much 

 time and care. In addition to this work much time has been devo- 

 ted to labeling and arranging specimens in the cases for exhibition. 



A section of the Gallery Hall, East Wing, was assigned for the 

 collections of this department, and was opened to the public late 

 in the year. The wall cases on the north side of this hall are 

 filled with specimens of Moths and Butterflies mounted on the 

 Denton plaster tablets, having a concave surface ; each species is 

 represented by four specimens, the sexes being illustrated by two 

 specimens each, showing the upper and the lower surfaces. A 

 representative collection of Beetles from all parts of the world 

 has been placed on exhibition in the desk cases, and also many 

 specimens of Grasshoppers, Cicadas, etc. The Jesup Collection 

 of Insects Injurious to Forestry, and collections of Wasp and 

 Termite Nests, Scorpions, Silk Worms, etc., are displayed in the 

 wall cases not devoted to the main collection. 



An effort will be made to add to the number of specimens 

 mounted on plaster tablets as soon as a satisfactory arrangement 

 can be made. A number of large water color illustrations of inju- 

 rious insects have been made from the specimens mounted with 

 natural accessories, and a number of other similar illustrations, as 

 yet unfinished, will be completed with the return of spring, when 

 the necessary specimens can be collected. 



A group is in preparation illustrating the life history of the 

 Honey Bee, in which will be shown the old and the modern hive, 

 and the nest of wild bees. 



