EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1!)21. 91 



Mr. Gidley has continued his systematic arranijement of the Fort 

 Union materials, adding about 200 to the identified and 450 to the 

 catalogued lists of this collection. 



Since the resignation of Mrs. Stelle, the position of aid in paleo- 

 botany has remained vacant. Messrs. Bassler and Resser have there- 

 fore been obliged to look after the work of this section. Exhibition 

 work has dealt mainly with the biologic series occupying the long 

 wall case in the paleobotanical hall. This exhibit, now well advanced, 

 illustrates the biologic relationships of fossil plants, and. supple- 

 mented by ample descriptive labels and numerous diagrams and pho- 

 tographs, shows admirably the evolution of these organisms. Miss 

 Beach has assisted in the cataloguing and numbering of the new ac- 

 quisitions in the section. 



Present condition of the collections. — The mineral collection, 

 though ranking but third among those of the public museums of the 

 country, is nevertheless entitled to almost first consideration on ac- 

 count of the method of display. As in the year past, the gem portion 

 of this collection has been under the immediate supervision of Miss 

 Maro-aret Moodev, to whose taste is due much of its attractiveness. 

 This collection has greatly prospered through the Chamberlain en- 

 dowment. Were it necessary to emphasize the desirability of having 

 a perfectly definite specified sum from which could be drawn imme- 

 diately funds for purchase, it is here offered. Among the entire 

 series the opals have perhaps profited the most. The collection as a 

 whole is fairly balanced, though naturally lacking as complete a 

 series of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other expensive stones as 

 might be wished. 



Little has been added to the exhibition series in physical and 

 chemical geology, the petrographical series and the collections of 

 larger materials grouped under the heads of rock-weathering, glacia- 

 tion, vulcanism, etc, remaining practically unchanged from last 

 year. The meteorite exhibit has received several important addi- 

 tions as listed below : 



Grams. 

 Appley Bridge, England (stone) 590 



Colby, Wis. (stone) \\fm 



Forsyth County, N. C. (iron) ] ^^„ 



1 418 



Owens Valley, Calif, (iron) 35,500 



Troup, Texas (stone) 115 



Yenberrie, Australia (iron) 3.320 



The collection, though ranking but third among the public collec- 

 tions in America, is nevertheless one of great importance on account 

 of the unusually large proportion of stones which have been the 

 subject of systematic investigation. The total number of falls an^d 

 finds now represented is 490. 



