252 Field Museum of Natural History — Reports, Vol. V. 



numbered space assigned to them on the floor plans of the exhibition- 

 halls. Little was done toward completing the re-installation of the shell 

 exhibit. Fifteen skeletons that were stored in Taxidermy were turned 

 over to the Division of Osteology. These were prepared, catalogued and 

 index cards written for the same. Eighty- seven skulls were cleaned for 

 the Division of Mammalogy. Three skeletons were cleaned for the 

 collection of Comparative Osteology. Since the middle of May the 

 entire time of the Assistant Curator has been devoted to packing 

 skulls and skeletons for moving. During that time fifty-three boxes and 

 crates of large skulls and skeletons were packed. Six drawers of the 

 storage cabinet were packed with small ligamentary skeletons. 



The N. w. Harris Public School Extension of Field Museum of Natural History. 

 — At the close of the year there were 588 cases available for circulation 

 among the public schools of Chicago. It is very gratifying to be able 

 to report that despite a reduction in the number of the staff, owing to 

 the enlistment of two of its members in the United States Army and the 

 resignation of another, fifty-four cases were installed during the year. 

 It was necessary to alter hanging and increase storage facilities for cases 

 in order to accommodate 250 new cases. It may be said, and with some 

 pride, that the type of case originally adopted by this Department 

 continues to meet the many demands made upon it. The schedule 

 prepared at the beginning of the year for the delivery of cases to public 

 schools during the scholastic year was maintained, except for a period 

 of several days during the early part of January, when deep snow pre- 

 vented delivery of cases to schools. In connection with civic activities 

 held on the Municipal Pier during the summer, a loan of cases from this 

 Department was requested. During the first part of July twelve cases 

 were sent to the pier in compliance with this request. After these cases 

 had been on exhibition but a few days, the Superintendent of the pier, 

 in a communication, expressed his and the public's appreciation of 

 "the very interesting and highly educational exhibits" and adding 

 "these exhibits are studied with great interest by young and old, and 

 many enthusiastic statements are made concerning them. They are a 

 real attraction to the pier and I am writing you for the purpose of 

 asking you to supplement the present exhibit." In compliance with 

 this later request, twelve cases were sent. The twenty-four cases were 

 on exhibition in a large, well-lighted hall, in which were also exhibited 

 paintings and sculptures. A request was granted to the Twenty-sixth 

 Ward Woman's Civic League for several cases to be exhibited in the 

 field house in Welles Park for the purpose of illustrating a lecture on 

 the extension work of the Museum. The Curator of the Children's 

 Museum of Brooklyn stated in a communication received early in the 



