62 Report of the President 



One large item of the work of the year has been the 

 removal of the reptile exhibit including the Cryptobranchus 

 and Bull Frog Groups from the tower in the East Wing on the 

 second floor to the central hall on the same floor. These 

 two groups with the Lower California and Toad Groups fill 

 the new gallery constructed for them, with the exception of 

 a corner space which it is hoped may be filled with a Florida 

 Group. Such a group can be made to emphasize turtles and 

 snakes, and thus round out North American reptiles synopti- 

 cally, while it can also show many other species because 

 of the large and interesting reptile and amphibian fauna of 

 Florida. 



Work on models, casts and mounted specimens, all studied 



and colored from life, has continued for the synoptic series, 



. considerable material having been obtained from 



y . the New York Aquarium and the New York 



Zoological Park through the courtesy of the New 



York Zoological Society. Notable among the models and 



casts are the enlarged study of the bullfrog mouth to make 



clear structures connected with eating, breathing and croaking, 



and a cast of Necturus made by the new oil method ; and 



among the mounted skins, three specimens of Clark's Swift 



are worthy of mention. Four skeletons have been added to 



the synoptic series. 



The new fireproof herpetology storeroom in the basement 

 of the building furnished after the manner of the new store- 

 room of the National Museum was ready for 

 . occupancy soon after the beginning of the year, 



and an important work of the department has 

 been to get the study collection in place on the shelves in 

 this storeroom arranged according to systematic classifica- 

 tion and adequately relabeled in part. The specimens 

 are being renumbered with block tin tags so that each 

 will bear its individual number. A permanent reference 

 catalogue has been prepared for the complete collection and 

 there has been put into working order also a catalogue of 

 new species and genera. This work on the study collection 

 has been done by Miss S. R. Clemence, assistant in the 

 department. 



