106 Field Columhian Museum — Reports, Vol. II. 



A statement of the work done in the Division of Photography 

 appears below: 



1,270 887 11,161 4 



Taxidermy and Laboratory Work. — Laboratory work has been of 

 an exceptionally effective character, and the taxidermists have had 

 a busy and productive year. The magnificent group of red deer 

 exposed to the public about ninety days ago seem to mark the 

 highest point that has been reached in the contribution of scientific 

 illustration upon popular lines. While this group has not, of course, 

 been inspected by the critics at home and abroad whose opinions are 

 of the highest desirability, yet enough is known of their opinion of 

 this piece of scientific art to flatter even so diffident a temperament 

 as that of its creator, Mr. Akeley. 



Excellent results have been secured from the persistent working 

 over and the installation of new material in economic botany and 

 paleontology, and the Herbarium has made splendid progress in the 

 identification, classification and arrangement of its abundant material. 



In the Osteological laboratory much has been accomplished in 

 the last twelve months. The skeletons of fourteen large mammals 

 have been macerated, degreased and bleached preparatory to mount- 

 ing. One hundred and twenty large skulls and sixteen smaller ones 

 have been cleaned and prepared for the study collection. A large 

 number of skulls have also been prepared for photographing, the 

 illustrations being needed for the work on " The Mammals of Mexico," 

 now in preparation. 



Attendance. — An increase in the attendance approximating 14,000, 

 including 2,500 increase in paid admissions, during the year is the 

 most gratifying evidence that could be given of the growing popu- 

 larity of the Museum and its increasing interest and consequent use- 

 fulness. August 24 marked the fourth largest number of admissions 

 in a single day, 11,000. The analysis of the attendance will be quite 

 interesting. It shows a slight falling off in the attendance of school 

 children and teachers on pay days, but this decrease was co-incident 

 with very inclement weather, in the absence of which the comparative 



