REPORT 01 THE SECRETARY. 15 



tution; the Aircraft Building was opened to the public; and consid- 

 erable additional work was entailed by the schemes for reclassifica- 

 tion and reorganization of the Government departments, the putting 

 into effect of the retirement system for civil employees, and the im- 

 pending inauguration of the budget system for Government accounts. 

 Other changes in the organization of the Museum besides the sepa- 

 ration of the National Gallery of Art include the removal of the 

 division of graphic arts from the department of anthropology to the 

 department of arts and industries; the creation of the division of 

 history, formerly under anthropology, as an independent division; 

 the subdivision of the division of marine invertebrates; and the 

 grouping of all strictly engineering units, including mineral and 

 mechanical technology, under one curator. The Museum, as now or- 

 ganized, comprises an administrative office, 4 scientific and technical 

 departments, and 1 independent division, with a total of 49 recog- 

 nized subdivisions. 



The total number of specimens acquired by the Museum during 

 the year was 338,120. This new material is described somewhat in 

 detail in the report of the administrative assistant in charge, ap- 

 pended hereto, so that it is necessary to mention here only a few 

 of the most interesting accessions. In anthropology, a collection of 

 rare Mission Indian baskets was received from Miss Ella F. Hubby, 

 and Dr. W. L. Abbott contributed some very interesting stone fetishes 

 and ancient pottery from Santo Domingo. An immense collection 

 of skeletal material was received from the College of Physicians and 

 Surgeons, New York City, which will double the value of the col- 

 lections in the division of physical anthropology. 



The most notable accession to the department of biology was the 

 material collected in Australia by Mr. Charles M. Hoy through the 

 generosity of Dr. W. L. Abbott. A great collection of Japanese 

 mollusks was donated by Mr. Y. Hirase, of Japan, forming one of 

 the most valuable accessions ever received by the division of mol- 

 lusks. The geological accessions included a quantity of South 

 American material comprising Bolivian tin and tungsten ores, rare 

 copper minerals from Chile, and a representative series of ores from 

 Argentina. An interesting exhibit of precious opal in the matrix, 

 ranging in color from the " black " opal to the pale opalescent tints, 

 was presented by the Eainbow Mining Co., of Nevada. An extensive 

 series of igneous rocks from islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, 

 collected by the late Dr. Joseph P. Iddings, was presented by his 

 sister, Mrs. Francis D. Cleveland. 



The division of textiles received specimens of the fabrics used in 

 the construction of airplanes for military use, and many beautiful 

 specimens of silks, fur fabrics, plushes, and velvets contributed by 



