96 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



of Gilolo, and a three-joiuted trombone from Sumatra, obtained in 

 exclian^ue from Mr. M. F. Savage, New York City; a small bird-shaped 

 earthenware whistle, presented by Hon. W. W. Eockhill, Assistant 

 Secretary of State; and a musical instrument transmitted by Mr. E. 

 O. Schuyler, New York City, in exchange. 



Tliere Avere 43 entries made in the catalogue during the year, 

 embracing the same number of specimens. The entire number of 

 instruments in the collection is now more than 1,300. 



Mntcria medica. — Owing to the rearrangement of the collections in 

 some of the exhibition halls and the temporary removal of the cases 

 containing these exhibits, the materia medica collection was rendered 

 unavailable for exhibition purposes during the greater part of the year. 

 No special effort to increase the collection was made, therefore, by the 

 honorary curator, Dr. J. M. Flint, U. S. N., and his efforts therefore have 

 been largely directed to the care and preservation of the specimens 

 already on hand, and the routine work of the office incident thereto. 



This tem])orary diminution of active work in this section allowed 

 the (uirator to devote some time to microscopic work, in which he has 

 for many years been interested, and in this connection he X)aid special 

 attention to identifying, mounting, and arranging for exhibition a 

 series of Foraminifera for the department of marine invertebrates. A 

 paper, by the curator, describing a large number of species of Forami- 

 nifera, is being prepared by Dr. Flint for publication by the Museum. 



Coincident with his microscopical studies the curator has devised a 

 plan for exhibiting microscopical objects not requiring the use of very 

 high magnifying powers. The instruments used are shown in plates 

 1-4, and they are best described in Dr. Flint's own words : 



The following description and illustrations of apparatus for public exhibition of 

 microscopic objects arc presented as being pertinent to the subject of the installation 

 of museum exhiliits. The apparatus described is believed to be the first practically 

 successful attempt to make a series of such objects available for examination by the 

 public, -without extravagaut expense or extreme watchfulness. 



The fust appliance for this purpose, devised by the writer, was an accessory to 

 the ordinary microscope stand. It consisted of a circular plate of pasteboard made 

 to revolve upon a pivot attached to the stage, the j>late carrying a series of objects 

 mounted upon small disks or small squares of glass (Plate 1). This accessory was 

 made in 1885, and described in the American Monthly Microscopical Journal for 

 November of that year. 



This arrangement was only suitable for class use under the immediate supervi- 

 sion of the instructor. For public use the principle of the rotary stage has been 

 developed by enlarging the circular plate, inclosing it securely in a box with a glass 

 top upon which the microscope is fastened, giving a rotary motion to the stage by 

 means of a friction roller operated by a milled head on the outside of the box, and 

 a to-and-lro movement effected by a rack and pinion controlled by another milled 

 head in close proximity to the former. By a combination of the two movements any 

 ])<'rt ion ot the plate may be brought under the microscope, and any number of objects 

 arranged thereon be brought into the held in succession. The objects being inclosed 

 in the l)ox are secure from injury; the movement of the microscope for focal adjust- 

 ment is limited by stops so that the object can not be entirely lost to view ; the eye- 

 pieces are screwed in so that they can not be stolen, and the instrument is practi- 



