94 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



The number of the last catalogue entry on June 30, 1895, was 5561, 

 and on June 30, 1896, 5620. The total number of specimens now in 

 the collection, not including duplicates, is 5,620. 



The collections of oriental antiquities and religious ceremonial objects. — 

 The collection of oriental antiquities is under the honorary curatorship 

 of Dr. Paul Haupt, while Dr. Cyrus Adler occupies the position of 

 assistant curator and is also custodian of the collection of religious cere- 

 monial objects. There were twenty-eight accessions during the year, 

 this being more than three times the number for the preceding year. 

 A collection of facsimiles of important codices of the Bible, historical 

 editions, and manuscripts was acquired by purchase. Twelve manu- 

 scripts and editions of the Bible were deposited by Dr. Adler and 

 three by Dr. Goode. A series of Hittite casts was purchased; also a 

 cast of a human-headed winged bull, and one of a lion. 



A collection of musical instruments, coins, and gems referred to in 

 the Bible has been formed from material transferred from other depart- 

 ments in the Museum. 



A series of carved ivory plaques was obtained, in exchange, from 

 Prof. H. H. Giglioli, director of the Eoyal Zoological Museum, Flor- 

 ence, Italy; and specimens of pottery from the Cotton Grotto at Jerusa- 

 lem were presented by Dr. Adler. The accessions also included 

 twenty-six photographs from Miss E. E. Scidmore, Washington, D. C; a 

 Bible from Dr. S. M. Burnett; seven marble fragments of Greek mytho- 

 logical figures from Professor Jerichau, Washington, D. C; and two 

 Bibles from Dr. I. M. Casanowicz, of the United States National 

 Museum. A model of a Babylonian temple tower was made in the 

 Museum. 



An exhibit of biblical objects, comprising about two hundred and 

 fifty specimens, was jarepared for the Cotton States and International 

 Exposition at Atlanta. This is described more in detail in a paper 

 published in Part ii of this volume, in which the results of recent 

 discoveries and researches in the domain of biblical and oriental archae- 

 ology are also discussed. 



The various objects received during the year have been placed upon 

 exhibition, and the present arrangement of the collection is set forth 

 m the chapter on the "Development and Arrangement of the Exhibi- 

 tion Series." 



A study of Assyrian and Babylonian seals, based upon the collec- 

 tions in the Museum, has been begun by Dr. Adler, and two papers 

 based upon Museum material have been published by him during the 

 year. 



It is proposed to rearrange the Jewish and Mohammedan collections 

 and to rearrange, classify, and complete the installation of the collec- 

 tions illustrating the religions of Eastern Asia. 



The total number of specimens now in the collection is 3,020, of which 

 300 were received during the year j ust closed. The last catalogue entry 

 in June, 1895, was 154990, and in June, 1896, 155122. 



