Report of /)i rector of Afttsciun. 67 



Klvl'OKT OI' DIRI-X'TOK OI* :\IUSHl'M. 



Cincinnati, April 4, 1892. 

 To THii Pkksidknt and MkmiuvRS of tiik Cincinnati 

 Socip:ty op Natural History: 



As the Director of tlie Museum of the Societ}', I have to 

 report that the collections are in a good state of preservation, 

 having been carefully looked after, and the perishable speci- 

 mens well disinfected and poisoned. The alcoholic specimens 

 are also in good condition. 



During the past year the Paul Mohr Collection has been 

 transferred to our Museum, and the most attractive poi^tion is 

 now on exhibition in the third story of the new addition. 



A fine collection of East India corals and shells, costing 

 $400.00, has been donated to the Society, principally through 

 the efforts of Robert Clarke, Esq. This collection is also dis- 

 played in the new room alluded to above. 



In order to add more light for the proper exhibition of the 

 articles on the fourth floor of the old building — principally 

 Osteological specimens — a sky-light should be placed in the 

 roof. This would also give more light to the stairway. 



Our building is very dark and old, and not at all suited to 

 the proper display of natural history specimens ; and it does 

 not seem as though it could l)e put in better condition, being 

 so illy-adapted for the purpose — except at a large outlay of 

 money. The better thing to do is to secure a lot and a new 

 building at as early a day as possible, and in view of this it 

 would be very unwise to spend any money on the old build- 

 ing, or to buy temporary cases for the specimens, as has been 

 l^roposed. The onl}^ improvement or outlay I would suggest 

 is the sky-light before mentioned. This is really necessary 

 for the proper lighting of the fourth floor, since the back 

 windows have been closed by the new addition. 



The attendance of the public at the Museum has been 

 greater than ever before — being more than six persons a day 

 during the entire year. 



There have been a number of other donations during the 

 year, which have been noticed in the Journal of the Society. 

 Among these is the Shafer Collection of shells and fossils, 

 donated by the Cuvier Club, but not yet put on exhibition, 

 owing to a lack of cases suitable for the purpo.se. 



