352 Field Columbian Museum — Reports, Vol. i. 



1899 with 1898, was about $4,000.00 in favor of the previous year. 

 The sum expended in excess of the budget — $36,000.00 approximately 

 — was exclusively for expeditions, new material, new cases and publi- 

 cations ; therefore, with the exception of the cost of the publications, 

 $1,700.00, the amount expended above the provisions of the budget 

 is represented by Museum material and equipment in value consider- 

 ably in excess of that amount. The books of the Museum have been 

 compared with the Treasurer's statement and a certificate of agree- 

 ment issued. 



The Memberships. — There has been a further decrease in the 

 number of annual memberships, mostly by formal resignations, and 

 for reasons in each case that seemed to justify the retirement. This 

 may be expected in greater or less degree each year, so long as no 

 effort is put forth even to hold the membership already obtained. 



Lecture Courses. — The spring and autumn lecture courses, 

 comprising Course Number Ten, in October and November, 1898, 

 nine lectures, and Course Number Eleven, in March and April, 

 1899, nine lectures, had the same gratifying attendance that has now 

 become the custom. There have been very few lectures when the 

 demands for admission have not exceeded the capacity of the hall, 

 and in no case has the attendance been unsatisfactory. The offers 

 of participation in the lecture courses by students in the fields 

 represented by the scope of the Museum have been sufficient to 

 present very interesting lists of lectures without taxing the members 

 of the Museum staff, except in one or two instances. Following 

 is the Tenth Lecture Course, with the subject and lecturers : 



Oct. I.— "The Pyramids of Egypt" (Illustrated). 



Prof. James H. Breasted, University of Chicago. 



Oct. 8. — "Cuba: Its Products and Possibilities" (Illustrated). 

 Dr. R. S. Martin, Chicago. 



Oct. 15. — "Snake Dancers of the United States" (Illustrated). 

 Mr. G. Wharton James, Pasadena, Cal. 



Oct. 22. — "Plants and Their Environment" (Illustrated). 



Prof. H. D. Densmore, Beloit College, Wis. 



Oct. 29: — "The Moon" (Illustrated). 



Prof. E. E. Barnard, Yerkes Observatory. 



Nov. 5. — "Japan and the Japanese" (Illustrated). 

 Mr. Walter C. Nelson, Chicago. 



