14 
DIVISION OF BIOLOGY 
R. M. Anderson, Chief of the Division, reports; 
Organization and Personnel 
The main subdivisions of the Division of Biology are zoology and 
botany. The only zoological collections upon which curators are actively 
engaged in systematic work are mammals, birds, reptiles, and batrachia. 
There are considerable collections of marine and freshwater invertebrates, 
and a small collection of fishes, which are being stored and cared for. 
The national collection of insects, which was formerly a part of the mu- 
seum, was loaned to the Entomological Branch, Department of Agriculture, 
some years ago, at the time Parliament was occupying the Museum 
building, and is still in the possession of that Department, where it has 
become greatly increased and is in constant use. Co-operation in insect 
work has been resumed during the year by the appointment of Mr. 
Arthur Gibson, Dominion Entomologist, as curator of insects in the 
National Museum of Canada, and preparations are under way to install 
some new entomological exhibits in the Museum halls. The National 
Herbarium is the repository of the botanical collections, and is cared for 
by a Chief Botanist, with one Herbarium Assistant (recently superannuated 
in April, 1928). 
A list of the staff comprising the Biological Division is given in the 
annual report preceding this one. 
Office Work 
The ordinary routine work of the division consists of a considerable 
amount of correspondence and the identification of specimens of birds, 
mammals, and plants sent in by individuals and institutions, and answering 
questions in regard to them. Considerable time is also taken up in answer- 
ing inquiries referred to the officers by other departments of the Govern- 
ment, particularly those of a faunistic character, the Museum branch 
being the only place in the Federal service where scientific data in regard 
to certain phases of Canadian wild life are being collected and studied. 
The National Museum is the natural repository of scientific material for 
study and comparison and its facilities are made available to the public 
as fully as possible by the limited staff. 
The educational function of the Museum has not been neglected. In 
addition to the popular lecture courses, in which members of this division 
have lent aid, numerous specimens have been loaned to schools for natural 
history study, and selected lantern slides have been loaned for lecture 
purposes to persons engaged in educational work. Loans of individual 
specimens and, in some cases special groups of animals and plants, are 
made from time to time to museums and qualified individuals who are 
monographing certain groups, and other institutions have reciprocated by 
loaning specimens for study by officers of this division. 
•ji;*' A considerable amount of new data has been secured, through field 
work by members of the staff, and by correspondence with interested 
persons throughout the country, on the animal and plant life of Canada. 
With the immense territory of the Dominion of Canada, and a small 
scientific staff endeavouring to cover it as thoroughly as possible, the 
