118 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. - 1885. 



cea, S6 packages and 29 species; of Echinoderms, 102 packages and 33 

 species, and of Anthozoa, 37 packages and 12 species. 



Mr. Henry Hemphill has contributed many specimens of marine in- 

 vertebrates, collected about Key West, Fla., in continuation of his ex- 

 plorations begun two years ago. The collection of this year consists 

 principally of the smaller species of Crustacea, Echinoderms, Corals, 

 and Sponges, and contains many valuable additions to the Museum. 

 It is partly dried and partly preserved in alcohol. 



A valuable collection of marine invertebrates, made by Lieut. George 

 M. Stoney, U. S. N., in Alaska, in connection with his explorations during 

 1884, was received in February. It consisted of 23 lots of specimens ob- 

 tained by dredging and by the use of the surface tow-net. The princi- 

 pal groups of invertebrates common to that region, are well represented, 

 and especially the Crustaceans, Echinoderms, and Tunicates. 



Many interesting additions have been made by Prof; R. E. C. Stearns 

 to the collection previously turned over by him to this department. 

 They consist mainly of rare species of Alcyonian corals from both the 

 eastern and western coasts of the Pacific Ocean, and also include three 

 species of crustacean whale parasites (Cyamus). 



Other accessions worthy of notice are the following : 



A fine collection of dried specimens of sea-urchins and star-fishes from 

 the west coast of North America, containing 9 species and 43 specimens 

 of the former group, and 12 species and 41 specimens of the latter, re- 

 ceived from Mr. Alphonse Forrer, of Santa Cruz, Cal. These speci- 

 mens were all identified and in excellent condition. 



Seven species of South Sea Island corals donated by the Hon. II. F. 

 French, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Specimens of Echino- 

 derms and Corals from the west coast of Mexico, received from Prof. 

 Alfred Duges, Guanajuato, Mexico. Specimens of star- fishes and sea- 

 urchins from the coasts of California and Lower California, collected 

 by Mr. C. H. Townsend. Specimens of a new and interesting variety 

 of fresh-water sponge (Meyenia plumosa Carter, var. Palmeri Potts), col- 

 lected on the banks of the Colorado River, near Lerdo, Sonora, in 

 Northwestern Mexico, by Dr. Edward Palmer. Two finely preserved 

 specimens of Metalia pectoralis, a large sea-urchin, and several speci- 

 mens of Gorgonian corals, collected at Nassau, Bahama Islands, by 

 Mr. B. H. Van Vleck, of Boston. 



ROUTINE WORK. 



The general care of collections has occupied the greater part of the 

 time of our small force, and has prevented the accomplishment of much 

 original work. A large quantity of material lias been received during 

 the past six months, and the greater part of it has been of such a na- 

 ture as to demand immediate attention. The large collection brought 

 in by the steamer Albatross, from the Gulf of Mexico, in April, was en- 

 tirely sorted and catalogued by the first part of June, and placed in 



