130 Field Museum of Natural History — Reports, Vol. IV. 



petroleum; and adjoining, seven relief maps. The laboratory of 

 vertebrate paleontology formerly occupying Hall 73 was moved to 

 the section of taxideraiy. Space was also found in this section for 

 storage to the number of several hundred of the field bundles which 

 are to be worked out later. The greater portion of the Department 

 Library was moved to Alcove 118. By erection of a partition in 

 front of the alcove an enclosed space was obtained in which the 

 books are kept securely and at the same time inade accessible. 

 The economic and mineral specimens stored in trays and formerly 

 occupying Hall 75 were moved to Hall 60. Reinstallation of the 

 specimens in the cases since their removal has for the most part 

 been completed and in connection with the work some improvements 

 and additions have been made. The case containing the Chalmers 

 crystal collection and the case of ornamental stones was provided 

 with finished glass shelves and the specimens reinstalled upon 

 them. Some specimens were added to the case of ornamental stones 

 and the entire collection was relabelled. Nine of the onyx slabs 

 in the onyx collection were framed, improving their preservation 

 and appearance. Several of the relief maps were repainted and framed, 

 making this work, which has been carried on at intervals for some 

 years, now practically complete. In repainting each map the opportu- 

 nity was improved to bring the detail of the maps up to date, altera- 

 tions being found especially necessary on the maps of the Grand 

 Canyon, Yosemite Valley and Yellowstone Park. Other relief maps 

 which were thus repainted and framed were those of Palestine and 

 the Arkansas River. Considerable work was done before the removal 

 of the petroleum collection in the way of placing the specimens in new 

 containers and reorganizing the collection. The Standard Oil Com- 

 pany generously provided for the collection a full "series of new cases, 

 and installation in these had been nearly completed at the time of 

 removal. The cases provided were nine wall cases, six flat floor cases 

 and two pyramidal floor cases, all of the standard Departmental type. 

 An important change made in the installation of the collection con- 

 sisted in the adoption of a new jar for the liquid specimens. The 

 new jar adopted holds a much smaller quantity than the old but makes 

 nearly as much displa}', and the optical characters of the specimens 

 are better b ought out. The jars used were of a special design, sixteen 

 inches high and two inches in diameter. The expense of supplying 

 them was also generously borne by the Standard Oil Company. An- 

 other change made was to remove to closed cases the tubes of oil sands 

 which have been so exposed as to have become badly soiled. The 

 cases now used for these sands are of the standard pyramidal type. 



