Oct. 1899. Annual Report of the Director. 371 



other groups are well on their way towards completion. Besides 

 these, sundry single specimens, including a wild sheep, an ibex, and 

 a deer have been mounted. The new building has proven very satis- 

 factory and work can now be accomplished with comfort and without 

 the risks and inconvenience that obtained in the previous confined 

 space. The groups executed by Mr. Akeley keep fully up to the high 

 standard of excellence exhibited by those previously produced by 

 him, and place the Museum's possessions in this class of work not 

 equalled by any other institution in this country. In pursuance of 

 the authority of the Executive Committee, needed assistance has 

 been given the taxidermist, and work is constantly proceeding with 

 much more satisfaction with regard to its quantity. A large number 

 of birds have been mounted. 



Attendance. — The total attendance of the year shows a decrease 

 •of 942. This, in view of the notably large attendance on several 

 free days, is a surprise, except when it is understood that there was 

 one less Sunday in September, 1899, than there was in 1898, with 

 which the comparison is naturallj' made. There was an increase in 

 paid attendance over 1898, and a very large increase in attendance 

 of school children as well as of students and of teachers appeared 

 from the records of the days when an admission fee was charged. 

 On other days no discrimination could be made. The following is a 

 list of school classes of 30 pupils or more that visited the Museum 

 during the year just closed : 



Schools, 



Chicago— Teachers. Pupils. 



Normal, 2 42 



Carter, i 33 



Farragut, 2 45 



Normal, 4 194 



Normal, 2 38 



S. D. Wentworth, 3 95 



Normal, 7 112 



Normal, 2 49 



Normal, 72 



Normal, 2 67 



Smith Branch, Hyde Park High, •. 2 128 



Greenwood Avenue, i 31 



Hyde Park High, I 105 



Normal, 3 150 



Sherwood, 2 34 



Forestville, i 35 ' 



Hull House Kindergarten, 4 35 



Hyde Park High, I 43 



