NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS 31 



fauna, represented by specimens of all ages and varieties includ- 

 ing several types; 6000 species, 20,000 specimens of North Ameri- 

 can Insecta besides good collections of Aracbnida and Crusta- 

 cea; a series of American Reptilia and Batracbia; a large col- 

 lection of birds from Nortb America, including a complete series 

 of the avifauna of the Chicago region; a small series of North 

 American mammals, including several from Alaska (moose, 

 mountain sheep^ etc.). Nearly every department contains some 

 type specimens. Material for exchange. 



Botany. 5000 specimens: a representative series of local aud 

 United States phanerogams and vascular cryptogams, and a 

 large collection (700 species) of lichens. Limited number of 

 flowering plants for exchange. 



Ethnology. 1000 specimens: some excellent axes and arrow 

 points of the American Indians from the Central states. 



The arrangement of the academy's collections is consecutive, 

 the sequence beginning with mineralogy and continuing through 

 historic geology, zoology and ethnology from the lower to the 

 higher types. A hand indicates the direction of the classification 

 and four of these are placed in each case. Labels are printed 

 in clear type and each case is furnished with explanatory labels 

 giving notes of classes, orders, families, etc., and in addition 

 pictures, maps and models are profusely used where they will 

 in any way add to the understanding of the objects exhibited. A 

 limited number of well selected specimens are exhibited for the 

 public, mounted on heavy binders board tablets, covered with 

 light-faced manila cardboard, which is not seriously affected by 

 light. The study series, where the majority of the specimens 

 are placed, is installed in drawers beneath the exhibition cases, 

 each set in a dark-colored cardboard tray, the data being printed 

 on a small label glued to the tray. 



The exhibits of the museum are designed primarily for the in- 

 struction of the general public and for this reason each case is 

 made as nearly encyclopedic as possible. The study series is 

 prepared for the student and specialist and is installed with the 

 strictest regard for scientific accuracy, but does not contain 

 descriptive labels of any kind. 



