14 EEPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1913. 



tion series, the overflow from each extending a greater or less distance 

 into the adjacent ranges. The department of anthropology, which is 

 centrally located with respect to the other two departments, occupies 

 the north \\ing, the northern section of both ranges in the first story, 

 and the entire east range in the second story, with an aggregate of 

 65,941 square feet of floor space, besides the 7,264 square feet used 

 for the National Gallery of Art. The department of geology is 

 assigned the east wing and the eastern section of the east range in 

 the first story, with 47,691 square feet of floor space; while the 

 department of biology has possession of the west wing, the western 

 section of the west range in the first story, and the entire west range 

 in the second story, with an aggregate of 64,398 square feet of space. 



The magnitude of the task of installing the large area thus defined, 

 of selecting, preparing, arranging, and labeling the great number and 

 variety of specimens required, preceded by the plamiing and construc- 

 tion of the necessary cases, can be realized only by the few who have 

 had experience in such matters. By expediting the work, by follow- 

 ing along the lines of least resistance in order that the pubhc might be 

 denied access to the several parts of the building for as short a time as 

 possible, the halls have been opened up in rapid succession, the last 

 of them before the close of the past year. While to the casual visitor 

 the installations may in the main seem altogether presentable, some 

 of them are, in fact, still very incomplete, awaiting material which has 

 been planned for and which to a greater or less extent is in course of 

 preparation. In other cases the arrangements have been more or 

 less provisional, demanding an extended revision in the matter of 

 details which is steadily progressing, and the work of labeling re- 

 mains largely to be done. It is to be understood, of course, that how- 

 ever thoroughly the above provisions may be carried out, the collec- 

 tions will be subject to changes and improvement during aU time in 

 order that the public may be kept in touch with the advancement 

 of knowledge in natural history, and, through the introduction of 

 better methods of illustration, may be led to a clearer understanding 

 of the lessons which the exhibits are designed to convey. 



On April 23, 1913, during the semicentennial celebration of the 

 National Academy of Sciences, the arrangement of the mammal haU 

 in the west "wing havmg been effected, the south or main entrance of 

 the building was fu'st regularly opened to the public, which now has 

 access to the great structure on both the north and south sides. 



ANTHROPOLOGY. 



Of the several divisions administered by the department of antlii'o- 

 pology, four have been estabhshed in the new building as constituting 

 together one of the great branches of natural history as now generall}^ 

 recognized by museums. They are physical anthropology, etlmology, 



