92 BEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1921. 



As a whole, the exhibition collections throughout the department 

 are now in good order, although there are important gaps. This is 

 particularly the case in vertebrate paleontology, where there is need 

 of skeletal remains of some of the larger reptilian forms. The study 

 series in all divisions are in good order and accessible, and the cata- 

 logues are well up to date. 



Researches. — The Head Curator has continued his studies on 

 meteorites and has completed, for the time being, researches on 

 chondritic structure and metamorphism. 



For the first time in the history of the department there has been 

 made — at least begun — a systematic attempt at determining the 

 mineralogical nature of the ore collections. Heretofore, owing to 

 lack of assistance, it has been possible to classify these collections 

 only according to the principal metal they carried, regardless of its 

 form of combination. Mr. Shannon has attacked the problem with 

 energy, skill, and intelligence, and in connection with his work has 

 not merely discovered minerals new to the localities, but in several 

 instances new to science. Andorite, not previously known from 

 America, has been found to constitute silver ore from Nevada, and 

 lead ores from Colorado have been found to consist of phosgenite 

 and strontiiun-bearing cerussite. Mr. Shannon has also made a de- 

 tailed study of the black sands of Idaho, disclosing many new and 

 unusual facts regarding them. Crystallographic investigations on 

 datolite, vivianite, and boulangerite have been published or are in 

 process of publication. Chemical examinations of four new mineral 

 species, owyheeite, nyeite, higginsite, and orientite, have been com- 

 pleted, and ludwigite from several localities has been investigated. 

 The mineral collbranite has been proven identical with ludwigite. 



The division of mineralogy has likewise prospered under the con- 

 ditions existing during the past two years. Assistant Curator 

 Foshag has thoroughly overhauled and rearranged the mineral col- 

 lection, and corrected and brought up to date the card catalogue 

 of the same. He has also, incidentally, analyzed and described sev- 

 eral minerals, some of which were new to science. Among these 

 mention may be made of plazolite, a new mineral, creedite, and a 

 number of the borate minerals. He has under investigation the 

 minerals microlite, eakleite, a new mineral from California, and 

 some rare lazurite-bearing rocks, also from California. 



With the departure of Mr. Foshag, work on the petrographic 

 series must come to a stop. This is greatly to be regretted since 

 there are thousands of specimens which need assorting, a portion 

 to be reserved, a portion held for duplicates, and still another por- 

 tion to be rejected. This is a work which can be done only by one 

 with some petrographic training. The work is falling more and 

 more behind yearly and unless we are more fortunate in holding our 



