90 Report of the President 



In May, an expedition left for Australia. This work was 

 directed by Dr. W. K. Gregory, and the Department of 

 Mammals sent as its representative, Mr. H. C. 

 E ,. . Raven, whose long experience in Indomalaysia 



makes him a particularly valuable man for this 

 enterprise. Mr. Raven is still in Australia, and it is planned 

 to keep him there for the ensuing year. Dr. Gregory has re- 

 turned and reports very favorable progress, while a recent 

 letter from Mr. Raven tells of the growing collections. It 

 was highly important that the work in Australia be begun 

 at once and actively prosecuted, since the peculiar conditions 

 prevailing there foretell the extermination of an important 

 part of the fauna in the very near future. This department 

 possesses only the most meagre representation of the Austra- 

 lian fauna, and it is most fortunate that this expedition has 

 gotten under way so auspiciously. Material for habitat 

 groups has been secured, and in addition material of the 

 great gray kangaroo (Macropus) , flying phalangers (Petaurus, 

 Acrobates), opossums (Trichosurus) and insectivorous forms 

 (Phascologale) . 



Mr. Carl E. Akeley left in July for Africa with the purpose 

 of studying gorillas in the field and of securing material for 

 a group of gorillas in the proposed Roosevelt Af- 

 African rican Hall. As might be expected by everyone 



Expedition wno knows Mr. Akeley, he has been successful in 

 his quest, and a recent cable has been received 

 announcing the capture of five gorillas, one of them a huge male 

 weighing some 360 pounds. Mr. Akeley is expected to return 

 in the spring of 1922. 



Most of the time and energies of the two department assist- 

 ants, Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Carter, have been directed toward 

 the proper arrangement and storage of the study 

 Collections collections. Fortunately, the department has re- 

 ceived sortie fifty- four units of the new steel 

 storage cases, which havo been disposed as follows. The room 

 occupied by Associate Curator Anthony has been completely 

 equipped with the new units; the entire length of the corridor 

 down the north wing has been equipped with cases along the 

 west wall; the west, north and east walls of the osteological 

 storage room have been lined with the new units, while three 



