Report of the President 27 



In view of the generous contributions by the Trustees, Mem- 

 bers and the Jesup Fund to the Congo Expedition during the 

 years 1909-1915, and of the ardent field 



Exploration in the work ty Messrs. Herbert Lang and Tames 

 Belgian Congo _ ^ J . . . . & / 



P. Chapin, it is a pleasure to report that the 



results of this expedition far exceed our most sanguine expec- 

 tations in every branch of natural history as well as in an- 

 thropology. The statistics of the collection are as follows : 



Zoological Specimens : 



Mammals 5,800 



Birds * 6,241 



Reptiles and Batrachians 4,800 



Fishes 5,400 



Invertebrates 110,000 



Total 132,241 



Ethnographical and Anthropological Objects 3,800 



Photographs — Anthropology and Zoology (40 Albums) 9,500 



These collections have been distributed to specialists in va- 

 rious parts of the United States and in Great Britain for sci- 

 entific description. In the Museum, the principal studies are 

 under the direction of Curator Allen, and the specimens are 

 being worked up by the two leaders of the expedition, Messrs. 

 Herbert Lang and James P. Chapin, by Dr. Joseph Bequaert 

 and by Mr. John T. Nichols. 



The insects and the birds are in especially perfect condition. 

 The collection of mammal skins was greatly enriched by gifts 

 from the officials in the Belgian Congo, all of whom aided the 

 expedition in the most cordial way. The entire collection of 

 skins has been permanently prepared, and some of the choicest 

 specimens, such as the white rhinoceroses and the okapi, are 

 being superbly mounted in the atelier of Mr. Carl E. Akeley, 

 with the cooperation of Mr. James L. Clark. 



The most important publication in progress is a two-volume 

 narrative of the Congo Expedition, to be written by Messrs. 

 Lang and Chapin in conjunction with various specialists. All 

 together the Congo Expedition promises to be the most im- 

 portant single undertaking in the history of the Museum. 



