94 Field Columbian Museum — Reports, Vol. i. 



consignments of material from foreign ports. In this connection, 

 knowledgment should be made to the Foreign ' Mlice of Messrs. 

 Marshall Field «.V Company for continued and courteous assistance. 

 Departmental Catalogue, Inventory and Labeling. — The cata- 

 ^uing of specimens in the Department I nventories is progressing 

 rapidly, and in some Departments has been completed. In the 

 Department of Anthropology, the numbering, cataloguing and label- 

 Sj of the collections has been interrupted during the ear by other 

 more essential work, but large numbers of specimens have been iden- 

 tified and catalogued, the card system being used in the preliminary 

 work as a matter of convenience. Much advance has been made in 

 the work of labeling, attention having first been given to general 

 d-scriptive, group, and case labels. A most important feature of 

 this work is being carried out in the Egyptian Section, where 

 Mr. f. H. 15reasted, Egyptologist of the Chicago University,, is 

 engaged in translating the numerous hieroglyphic texts of papyri, 

 grave tablets, scarabs, mummies, etc. The results will first be applied 

 to the writing of detailed labels for the collections, and afterward to 

 the preparation of a guide. The appointment of George A. 

 Dorsey of Cambridge as Assistant Curator in Charge of Physical 

 Anthropologv, has made it possible to proceed with the work of 

 identifying and cataloguing the material in this important division. 

 The Department of Botany has all records of material completed 

 and all specimens numbered and labeled. This not only 

 applies to the case specimens, but also to those stored away as dupli- 

 cates. Specific classification is far from complete, however, and 

 descriptive label writing is only begun. The Curator of Geology has 

 catalogued the entire paleontological collection, and new material is 

 now disposed of upon arrival. The work of replacing the temporary 

 by printed descriptive labels has been carried forward as opportunity 

 permitted, and enough has been done in this direction to add largely 

 to the popular interest in the material. In Economic Geology, the 

 year has been marked by the most patient and steady devotion to 

 cataloguing and labeling. As a result, the records of the Depart- 

 ment are in excellent condition, and descriptive labels have been 

 attached to specimens so generally that the Department is assuming 

 a finished appearance. In addition to the labels on individual 

 specimens, large labels have been provided for each class. The 

 work in the Department of Zoology, except Ornithology, has not 

 been active, owing to the absence of its Curator in Africa, but gratify- 

 ingheadway has been made in cataloguing. A large number of descrip- 

 tive framed labels have been provided for Halls 19 and 20 and for 



