REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



89 



there must be a constant weeding out of old material and the insertion 

 of new in ordm- that the collections may be kept up to date, but expan- 

 sion alon<.- any lines other than that of vertebrate paleontology is 

 practically prohibited through lack of space. The work which is now 

 beino- done in connection with preparations for the Louisiana Pur- 

 chase Exposition will, on the assumption that the collections return to 

 us in safety, till the halls to their utmost extent, and it will unques- 

 tiona])ly l)e necessary to store a considerable amount of less desirable 



material. . i z-ii i 



Mention may be made here of the mounted skeleton ot the Church, 

 Michigan, mastodon, collected by Mr. Alban Stewart in tlie spring of 

 1001, which is now in an advanced state of preparation. This gives 

 the Museum its iirst complete mounted representative of this interest- 

 ing group of quadrupeds. 



The acquisition for the workshops of a one-half horsepower^motor 

 with flexible shaft and fittings for drilling and cutting, and a "Jenny 

 Lind" polisher, together with a renewal of the large grinding l)ed and 

 the remodeling of the reciprocating stone saw, have greatly facilitated 

 the work of the preparators. 



The work of the year, as on previous occasions, has been compli- 

 cated by preparation for an exposition. 



RESEARCH. 



Various influences have prevented the Head Curator from taking an 

 active part in research in connection with the Museum collections. 

 Numerous brief papers have been published, but as they were not, for 

 the most part, based upon Museum materials, they need not be men- 

 tioned here. 



In connection with Mr. Tassin, investigations have been made upon 

 the meteorite collections, but the results as yet are far from ready for 



publication. 



The Head Curator has in course of preparation a work upon the 

 History of American Geology. This is as yet so far from complete 

 as to need no special notice at this time. 



Mr. Schuchert has continued his studies on Lower Devonic fossils, 

 as reported last year. A report to be published l)y the Geological 

 Survey of Maryland on this subject is progressing satisfactorily, and 

 it is expected will be ready for the printer some time during the com- 

 ing year. 



Mr. Schuchert has also completed a study of the Cystidea ot tlie 

 Manlius and Coey mans formations. The paper is about ready for pul >- 



lication. 



Mr. R. S. Bassler has in preparation studies on the Bryozoa and 

 Ostracoda. A paper reviewing the entire Bryozoa of the Rochester 

 shales will, it is expected, be completed during the coming winter. 



