confusion, a system of numbering and cataloging specimens 

 was devised after consideration of the methods of many other 

 museums, and the enormous task of supplying the records 

 of a century was undertaken. From time to time notes of 

 progress have appeared in these pages and the monotony of 

 the work has been relieved by the excitement of recovering 

 lost treasures. 



We cannot expect the average visitor to be deeply inter- 

 ested in the details of museum book-keeping but we do think 

 that some of the results of our inventory are so dramatic as 

 to interest the readers of the Bulletin and convince them 

 of the importance of this side of our work. 



The Elliott Herbarium was early provided with a fire-proof 

 safe and is frequently consulted by visiting botanists. Sub- 

 sequently several additional fasciles of this valuable collec- 

 tion have been recovered from rubbish heaps. 



Important and probably unique collections of Russian min- 

 erals and of phosphates from all over the world have been 

 gathered together, re-identified, and permanently recorded 

 by Professor Martin, to whom the geological department is 

 in many ways deeply indebted. In both of these collections, 

 however, some specimens are m.issing and others without 

 data. These show the imperative necessity of the work we 

 are doing. 



The history of some specimens has been followed for more 

 than a century, e. g., the Sandwich Island helmet and other 

 articles presented in June, 1798. The romantic history of 

 the ''fossil man of Guadaloupe" has been recalled and noted 

 for a future label. 



The rare interest of many specimens has come to light in 

 process of recording. Thus, we learn that, while specimens of 

 the Jabiru, a South American stork, are to be found in only 

 three or four of the largest Museums in this country, our 

 specimen has been here twenty-five years. For more than 

 fifty years the Museum has had a specimen of Solenodon, a 



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