ioo Field Columbian Museum — Reports, Vol. i. 



Extensive purchases had previously heen made of mammal skins and 

 skulls representing principally the antelopes, monkeys and the felines. 

 Purchases were also made of small mammals from California, the 

 1 i ice collection, which has since been described in a Museum Memoir 

 by the Curator of the Department. Other countries, including Sibe- 

 ria, Africa, Japan and the West Indies, have contributed of their 

 fauna to this division, while the gift of a fine girailc by Ringling 

 Brothers was a valuable donation. The collections in Ornithology 

 have been increased very considerably during the past year, especially 

 by the acquisition of valuable North American species. Some 230 

 species, chiefly from the vicinity about Chicago, have been added by 

 the staff of the Department, and will be useful to the student 

 of local fauna. The study collection has been further increased 

 by about 1,500 specimens, representing thoroughly the birds 

 of Cook County, Illinois, and also, in a lesser degree, the birds 

 of the north coast of Texas. Collections gathered during the pre- 

 vious season are now in the hands of the Curator for study and prepa- 

 ration. Notable progress has been made, particularly in two 

 sections of the Department of Industrial Arts — the textile and the 

 ceramic. The ceramic room has been enriched by several purchases 

 of old china gathered by the Museum's representative in the East, 

 Mr. E. A. Barber, and illustrating the ware and art of the colonial 

 period. From the same source has come a set of Wedgewood cameos 

 and other art specimens. There has also been installed a loan col- 

 lection of vases and ware from Mrs. Schimmelpfeng, of Chicago. 

 French faience plates of considerable historical value were donated 

 by Mr. Hawkins, of New Orleans, and by Mrs. Keeley a set of Rhoda 

 and Damascus plates. To the series of machines and looms in the 

 section of textiles has been added a fabric glove machine and an old 

 hosiery loom. These were secured through the courtesy of Messrs. 

 Marshall Field & Company, at Chemnitz, and were by gift from prom- 

 inent manufacturers of that city. An interesting collection of Roman 

 plaid textiles, mounted, was contributed by Mr. Henry II. Getty, 

 who obtained them during his travels in Italy. Another attractive 

 gift is that of 104 specimens of mounted laces, velvets and brocades, 

 presented by Jesurum & Co., of Venice. By purchase has been 

 acquired a collection of 500 mounted specimens of similar material, 

 collected by Mr. Aver while abroad. To fill out this section speci- 

 mens of mummy cloths and primitive textiles have been transferred 

 from the Department of Anthropology. Numismatics has grown 

 steadily, the periods represented being from the beginning of the 

 Christian era to a recent date. A set of fragments, supposed to be 



