EEPOET OF AiSSIiSTANT SE0KP:TAKY. 41 



provided, many new preparations rcplacinj^- older ones, and a number 

 of large forms not previously represented being added. Among the 

 latter were a cast of the King Co})ra snake with accessories represent- 

 ing the edge of an Indian jungle, a very large Mata-mata turtle from 

 the Amazon Rivei-, a hugh alligator snapper, the largest of the North 

 American watei" turtles, se^'eral boas, lizards, toads, and frogs. An 

 exhibit of lizards will be arranged in some of the wall cases. Among 

 the additions to the exhibition series of tishes was the cast of a large 

 white, or man-eater, shark. 



The permanent installation of insects in the hall lecenlly assigned 

 to this group at the western end of the Smithsonian building has pro- 

 gressed to the extent of mounting al^out 2,700 specimens in 21) of the 

 standard boxes occupying several upright cases. Tn tlu^ labeling of 

 this series attention has especially been called to speci(\s of peculiar 

 habits and to those of most interest to the puV>lic. 



A partial set of the colored plates of dowering plants, pul)lished in 

 the third edition of Blanco's Flora de Filipinas, has been placed on 

 exhibition in the Division of Botany. 



To the display of vertebrate fossils have been added partial skele- 

 tons of the large Trlceratops prorsii^, of the carnivorous dinosaur, 

 Allomurus, and of the toothed bird, [lesperonuH ■r<yal!-'<. The instal- 

 lation of the Harris collection of invertebrate fossils, in a section of 

 the rail-case of the gallei'v in the southeast court, has ])een practically 

 completed. This collection, i-eceived in lS!t,S, is one of the finest 3'et 

 made in the region it represents, being especially rich in crinoids, star- 

 fishes, and trilobites, containing of the last group al)()ut (!0(> out of the 

 750 species known from the (Cincinnati formation. 



The collections relating to physical and chemical geology ha\'e, in 

 part, been thoroughly overhauled and rearranged, and about loo pho- 

 tographs, maps, and other pictures illustratixc of these subjects ha\"e 

 been placed on the adjoining walls. The building of galleries in the 

 south-west range made it necessary to remove for a time the collection 

 of minerals, which at the close of the year was being reinstalled after 

 careful renovation. 



VISITORS. 



The numl)er of visitors to the ^luseum ])uilding was 173,8S,S and 

 to the Smithsonian building 144,107. The tal>les following show, 

 respectively, the attendance during each month of the past year and 

 for each year beginning with 1881, when the Museum building was 

 first opened to the public. 



