34 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



A consiaorablo, amount of vertebrate material is nearly ready for 

 installation in tlic exhibition series, and additional space for this pur- 

 pose is much needed. 



A great deal of detail work has been accomplisliedin connection with 

 the exhibition series in the department of minerals, and as a result the 

 appearance of tlie collections is much improved. 



In the department of geology the historical series, the volcanic and 

 elementary series, and the collections illustrating rock weathering and 

 glaciation have been entirely rearranged. A large amount of work has 

 also been done in the hall devoted to the economic series. That por- 

 tion of the geological collections which is on exhibition is, all things 

 considered, in very good condition, although, on account of the over- 

 crowded condition of the hall and of tlie cases themselves, the appear- 

 ancfe of the collections is not all that could be desired. 



In the west hall, which is devoted to the department of ethnology, 

 are exhibited the objects connected with (1) JSTegroid Africa, (2) the 

 Malayo-Polynesian or Indo-Pacific peoples, and (3) various Asiatic peo- 

 ples. All of the Mexican and part of the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican 

 collections in the department of prehistoric anthropology have been 

 ]>laced ui)on exhibition. This work necessitated the rearrangement of 

 the cases already devoted to objects from these countries. As many as 

 possible of the unbroken vessels from mounds in the United States 

 were i)hu'ed ui)on exhibition. 



The collection of boats has been overhauled, the larger ones being 

 suspended from the ceiling. Many models of boats have been repaired. 



In the east hall two new cases have been erected for the accommoda- 

 tion of the electrical collections and the series illustrating methods of 

 land transportation. 



The condition of the exhibition series in the section of grapl'iic arts 

 remains practically the same as at the close of the preceding fiscal year. 

 Alth(mgh the collection is not considered complete, it probably illus- 

 trates better than any other collection of its kind, either in this country 

 or abroad, the technical development of the reproductive processes. 



The collections of oriental antiquities and religious ceremonial objects 

 are exhibited in the east and west halls immediately adjoining the 

 rotunda. In the northeast alcove the Egyptian collection is installed, 

 consisting of casts and busts arranged around the walls, the mosaic from 

 Carthage, the collection of coins and gems, the collection of AssjTian 

 seals, and other objects installed in cases. The southeast alcove con- 

 tains the Assyio Babylonian collection, including the temple tower, the 

 serpent column of Delphi, the collection of Bibles and musical instru- 

 ments, casts arranged upon the walls, statues, etc. Above both of these 

 alcoves, casts of leliefs of the obelisk from Constantinople and a series 

 of Hittite casts are exhibited. The southwest alcove contains objects 

 of Brahnianism, liuddhism, and Shintoism, while the Graco-Roman, 

 Jewish, and .Alohammedan collections are installed in the northwest 

 alcove. 



