REPORT OF ASSISTANT DIREC lOJi. 23 



The iVIiiseum has, diuin.u- tlic past year ns in previous yonrs, received 

 accessions from the folh)\\ iu<;- sources : 



(a) l>y gift froii! correspondents. 



(b) By exchan}>e with institutions at liome and abroad. 



(c) By the depositor the collections of Ihc various surveys and (lov- 

 ernnieut departments which liere find their k^yal repository. 



(d) From the work in connection with the several expeditions. 



(c) As a result of the explorations carried on under the ])atronage or 

 with the co-oi)eration of the Smithsonian institution and Museum. 



Mr. John Durand has rendered eflScient service in negotiating ex- 

 changes with European museums. 



Every important accession is fully described in the reports of the sev- 

 eral scientific departments. 



12. PROGRESS IN CLASSIFICATION AND ARRANGEMENT, 

 (a) Laboratory worJc and catalogue entries. 



By "laboratory work" is meant the work of the curators upon the col- 

 lections in their special apartments, whicli are not open to the public. 

 Here the collections are received, unpacked, classified, identified, and 

 catalogued ; here also it is determined whether specimens should be 

 l)laced in the exhibition series; or, if not thus assigned, whether or not 

 t \\{'\ are sufficiently important as material for investigation in the study 

 series, or should be called "duplicates" and distributed to other insti- 

 tutions. 



The efficiency of the Museum work depends, in a large degree, upon 

 the facilities which axe afforded to curators for careful and thorough work 

 in the laboratories. It is here that the specimens are indelibly marked 

 with the catalogue number, upon which all future authentications de- 

 ]iend. Here also must be prepared the labels, upon which the value 

 of the exhibition series to a great extent depends; and here are prose- 

 cuted the scientific investigations, which, through the publications of 

 the Museum, establish the reputation of its scientific staff for thorough 

 and accurate work. The laboratory accommodations are being im- 

 l)roved, but still there is much to be desired in respect to space, number 

 of clerical assistants, and faeilities for the use of books and instru- 

 ments and other appliances. 



In a museum, as in a temporary exposition, the efficiency of eacli 

 department depends also upon the energy and constant i)resence of a 

 thoroughly competent head, and consequently upon the opportunities 

 afforded him for good work in his laboratory. 



The present organization of the Museum is of such recent date that 

 nearly all the curators are still embarrassed by the accumulations of 

 past years, and the greater portion of their time is necessarily devoted 

 to unpacking and overhauling the unclassified material which they 

 found already on hand when they assumed the duties of their present 

 offices. These heritages from the past will soon be under control, and 



