34 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1913. 



The collection of building and ornamental stones owes its concep- 

 tion to Dr. George W. Hawes, curator of geology in the Museum dur- 

 ing the last year and a half of his life, who undertook, in connection 

 with the work of the Tenth Census, a systematic study of the building 

 stone resources of the United States, the results of which were pub- 

 lished in one of the reports of that Census. Since then every effort 

 has been made to keep the collection up to date, and it is believed now 

 to fairly represent all of the kinds of building and ornamental stones 

 obtainable in the country, and also the more important materials of 

 the same nature which are imported from abroad. It comprises at 

 present 2,548 specimens, mostly in the form of 4-inch cubes, which 

 are installed in 18 floor upright cases specially designed for the pur- 

 pose. In addition to these there are 13 rectangular bases or pedestals, 

 with stone panels and tops, for the exhibition of certain materials of 

 which it was desirable to have larger samples than could be incor- 

 porated in the regidar systematic series. In connection mth the 

 building up of this collection as complete records as possible have been 

 kept of the tests made upon the varieties of stone represented by the 

 samples, and of the weathering and other qualities of building stones 

 in general, making the collection of extreme usefulness in respect to 

 all industries with which it may have relations. 



Paleontology. — The paleontological collections have entire posses- 

 sion of the main story in the east wing, in wliich paleobotany occupies 

 the north aisle, 151 feet long by 31 feet 8 inches wide, with 4,782 square 

 feet of floor space; the fossil invertebrates, the southern side of the 

 wing to a distance of about 198 feet from the pavihon and a width of 

 31 feet 11 inches, with 6,320 square feet of floor space; and the fossil 

 vertebrates, the large skyUghted area and most of the outer end of 

 the wing, with 13,893 square feet of floor space. 



The exhibition in paleobotany comprises a stratigraphical series of 

 specimens illustrating all the important plant-bearing horizons, and a 

 number of special features. The Carboniferous material, derived from 

 the Lacoe bequest, is especially notable for the number, large size and 

 splendid preservation of the specimens. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic 

 plants are less well represented, but this condition will be remedied 

 with the progress of the work of the Geological Survey in the western 

 coal fields. The interest of the pubUc in these natural wonders has 

 led to the introduction of a case of petrified wood from the fossil forest 

 of Arizona, the Yellowstone National Park and other locaUties, and 

 many of the specimens have been poHshed to bring out their rich 

 coloring. A number of large tree trunks and other exhibits have been 

 arranged between the cases; the south wall has been partly utilized 

 for enlarged drawings and specimens, and a large, very primitive 

 Devonian tree, and an exceptionally large and fine example of a Car- 

 boniferous Lepidodendron have been mounted against the west wall. 



