GEOLOGY IN NATIONAL MUSEUM MERRILL. 291 



crystallization, and structure, the series showing perfection of crys- 

 talline form being as yet incomplete. Beyond this is a small up- 

 right case containing examples of the nongaseous elements that occur 

 in nature, free or uncombined. Upon the left is a row of 14 cases 

 (known as American cases) in which are installed a systematic 

 series of minerals comprising upwards of 3,500 specimens from all 

 parts of the world, arranged according to the system prevailing 

 among mineralogists. It is difficult among so many to select any 

 particular specimens for especial reference. On account of their 

 rarity and crystal development the large scheelite from Ryndo, 

 Korea, the gift of Mr. J. Morgan Clements, and the cinnabar from 

 Hunan Province, China, the gift of United States Consul N. T. 

 Johnson are worthy of mention, though to the public at large the 

 beautiful series of California tourmalines, the Brazilian and North 

 Carolina emeralds, the large (1,022 pounds) beryl from Grafton, 

 N. H., and the large cluster of Brazilian amethysts are doubtless more 

 attractive (pi. 17, fig. 2). 



Among the rare, but inconspicuous objects are the only specimens 

 known of crystallized turquoise, two of the finest known specimens 

 of the rare mineral hodgkinsonite, a series of exceptionally fine, 

 crystal groups of ferberite, and a cluster of the largest known 

 colemanites. 



On the south side of the hall (pi. 16, fig. 1) are 9 floor upright cases 

 in which are arranged materials of the same nature as those on the 

 north side, but not systematically classified. They are selected mainly 

 on account of their size and beauty, and special reference may be made 

 to the fluorites from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and Cumberland, 

 England; two cases showing the forms of calcium carbonate occur- 

 ring in nature, including the large clusters and twin forms of calcite 

 from the lead mines of Missouri; two similar cases showing the 

 varieties of quartz or silica ; one case of zeolites from the trap rocks 

 of New Jersey, and one of numerous ornaments cut from various 

 kinds of material as described in the catalogue of gems and precious 

 stones. Two flat cases contain an historically interesting collec- 

 tion assembled by Prof. C. U. Shepard, one of America's pioneer 

 mineralogists. This is particularly rich in rutiles from Graves 

 Mountain, Ga. At the eastern end of the hall are large masses of 

 the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite, from the copper mining 

 regions of Arizona and Russia. 



While by no means the largest or finest of the numerous mineral 

 collections of the country, the Museum collection is unusual in the 

 number of type specimens it contains (upwards of 100) i. e., the 

 actual materials upon the study and analysis of which new species 

 have been founded. 



