REPOKT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 23 



DIVISION <>T GEOLOG N . 



Prof. F. W. Clarke, of the U. S. Geological Survey, continues to act 

 as honorary curator of this department, with Mr. W. S. Yeates as as- 

 sistant curator. The preparation of an exhibit of minerals and gems 

 for the World's Columbian Exposition has occupied considerable time. 

 A large part of the systematic exhibition series has been remounted on 

 ebonized blocks, and the specimens in the reserve series have been 

 transferred to the exhibition hall. It is intended to provide species 

 labels for the systematic exhibition series, indicating- the chemical com- 

 position of each species, its crystallographic form, hardness, specific 

 gravity, and different varieties with their characteristics. The sys- 

 tematic duplicate series was thoroughly overhauled and reclassified. 

 Among the more important accessions were twenty-five boxes of min- 

 erals, presented by Mr. Joseph Willcox, of Philadelphia; several speci- 

 mens of minerals from Connecticut, and a crystal of spangolite from 

 Tombstone, Ariz., presented by Prof. S. L. Penrield, of Vale College; 

 lour specimens of ornamental stones and one specimen of churchite, 

 from Mr. Clarence S. Bement, of Philadelphia; two cut specimens of 

 transparent spessartite, from Mr. Ira R. Allen, of Fair Haven, Vt. ; 

 three specimens of native gold from the Potomac mine, Montgomery 

 county, Md., presented by Mr. A. B. Russ, of Washington, D.C. Sev 

 era! lots of minerals were also received from the V. S. Geological Sur- 

 vey. There have been 4,121 specimens added to the collection during 

 the year, the catalogue entries numbering 1,454. 



GEOLOGY. 



Mr. G. P. Merrill, curator, reports that the work in this department 

 has been largely confined to the arrangement and classification of mate- 

 rial, and the preparation of about 200 sets of specimens for distribu- 

 tion to educational establishments. Several expeditions for collecting 

 specimens were made during the summer and autumn by the curator, 

 and by Mr. W. H. Newhall, his assistant. The work of preparing an 

 exhibit for the World's Columbian Exposition was entered upon, and 

 the curator visited Arizona, New Mexico, Virginia, Tennessee, Ken- 

 tucky, Indiana, and Missouri, collecting a large amount of volcanic and 

 cave material. The contributions made by Mr. G. F. Becker, of the 

 U. S. Geological Survey, Mr. W. B. Robertson, of Saltville, Va., Mr. F. 

 W. Crosby, and Mr. Henry G. Bryant were among the most important 

 received during the year. The catalogue entries numbered 1,045, 

 embracing more than of 4,000 specimens. 



F.— EEVIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. 



REGISTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION. 



In the report of Mr. S. < '. Brown, registrar, it is stated that the total 

 number of packages of all kinds received during the year is 30,702 — an 



