REPORT OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. 65 



Dr. White is preparing a complete index of all the mesozoic and ceno- 

 zoic invertebrate fossils of North America. A catalogue of all the 

 type-specimens of the mesozoic and cenozoic species belonging to the 

 Museum, is neariy completed. 



19. DIVISION OF BOTANY. 



(a) Department of Plants, Fossil and Recent. 



The collection of fossil plants now contains 923 distinct species iden- 

 tified and installed. The report of Prof. Lester F. Ward contains 

 elaborate statistics of the collection, from which it appears that 7,201 

 specimens have already been catalogued. The accessions of the year 

 have been of but slight importance. The Joad collection of recent 

 plants has not yet been unpacked, owing to lack of room, but will soon 

 be arranged and in proper condition for study. During the year Mr. 

 William R. Smith, superintendent of the Government botanic gardens, 

 has ])laced in the rotunda of the new building a number of very beau- 

 tiful palms, which add very much to the attractiveness of the apart- 

 ment, and which, having been selected with reference to their economic 

 importance to man, will, when labeled, furnish instruction as well as 

 pleasure to the visitors. 



Through the assistance of Mr. Frank H. Knowlton, the curator has 

 been enabled to classify and catalogue a large mass of unassorted ma- 

 terial which has accumulated in this department. 



20. DIVISION OF GEOLOGY, 

 (a) Department of Mineralogy. 



Considerable progress has been achieved in the development of this 

 department. The curator has performed valuable work in instituting 

 scientific investigation upon specimens, the results of which have been 

 valuable to the Museum. 



During the year the growth of the collections has been steady and 

 encouraging, the work of installing the collections has been definitely 

 begun, and a system of exchanges has been fairly inaugurated. The 

 reserve series contains 5,881 specimens, and the duplicate series, 5,883. 



The accessions have been large and numerous. The most important 

 is that of Mr. Joseph Willcox, Media, Pa. This collection consists of 

 about 1,400 specimens, and is in some respects one of the finest in 

 America. The collection of Col. J. J. Abert, presented by his son, J. 

 T. Abert, and consisting of 1,245 specimens, is also of great value an<l 

 interest. 



An allotment of $2,500 from the New Orleans appropriation was do- 

 voted to building up the collection of gems and ornamental stones. The 

 schedule adopted included all the gems proper, rock crystal, agates and 

 jaspers, malacliite, lapis-lazuli, &c., and every important gem or orna- 

 mental sjH'cies was secured both in the rough and cut conditions. 

 S. Mis. 33, pt. 2 5 



