oe a 
to prenare an exchange of some outstanding important species, we were sur- 
prised to note that to secure satisfactory material it was necessary to use 
specimens that were collected years ago when Dr, C, V. Riley was Entomolo- 
gist, The importance of these exchanges cannot be overestimated, and the 
immature forms of the commoner species are badly needed for study of the 
specialists, It is hoped that every reader of this note will consider the 
matter carefully, and if possibile, send such material to the Collection as 
will be in his judgment of value. 
W. J. Gerhardt, of the Field Museum, Chicago, spent two days in 
Washington studying museun equipment, and visited the Division of Insects 
to consult with various entomologists. 
Word has been received of the safe arrival of Prof, T, D, A. Cocker- 
ell and his wife in Boulder , and already a consignment of insects has been 
received at the Museum. Professor and Mrs, Cockerell narrowly escaped 
death in connection with the earthquake in Japan, They had boarded the 
steamship Empress of Australia a few minutes before the earthquake. This 
steamship was due to leave Yokohama three minutes after the earthquake oc- 
curred, but she remained in the harbor for some time assisting in gather- 
ing refugees. Her propeller was slightly damaged by the earthquake. When 
the oi1 tanks of the Standard Oil Company took fire and the oil spread over 
the water it looked for some time as if this steamer and all its passengers 
would be completely destroyed by fire, but oy great effort it was removed 
Just in time to avert this catastrophe. Professor Cockerell and his wife 
later transferred to the steamship President Jefferson and were able to 
bring some of their more fragile material in their suitcases. On the 
President Jefferson they were forced to content themselves with very 
crowded quarters, and slept on the floor of the tea room. Both Progessor 
Cockerell and his wife aided in the work of caring for the refugees, and 
he reports a very exciting trip. Ina letter written on board the Presi- 
dent Jefferson he states: "I saw Clausen in Kobe; he was not in Yokohama 
at time of the earthquake, and has great fears (as well he may) for the 
safety of his fine collection of 500 species of Japanese Chalcididae left 
in his house on the Bluff, at Yokohama." From Professor Cockerell's account 
it seems that his trip to Siberia was very successful, and it is hoped that 
considerable progress will be made in working up these coilections. 
Dr, J, M, Aldrich has recently given his extensive collection of 
Diptera to the National Musewm, This collection js the result of Doctor 
Aldrich's personal study on the Diptera from 1890, and contains types of 
more than 500 species and named representatives cf more than 4000 species. 
Besides the named mieriel, the collection contains also many undetermined 
forms, and several hundred species which have been set aside as new, This 
collection has been housed by the Museum since Doctor Aldrich accepted the 
position as Associate Curator of the Division of Insects, but during this 
time has been inactive, and on various occasions part of it has been trans- 
ferred to the Museum collection, This is one of tne finest, most extensive 
accessions of the Museum collection in recent yeers. 

