<')4 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



t he Museum. The windows were reconstructed so as to give the maxi- 

 mum amount of light, by inserting plate glass in the wall without the 

 intervention of sashes. The walls were painted a pleasing color and 

 the ceiling decorated in an elaborate manner with frescoes representing 

 a bower of vines, with birds perched at the various openings. The 

 floor was relaid in marble mosaic. The cases are of maple, finished 

 as light as possible and made low enough for a child to see on the 

 top shelves. The shelving is of glass. Two aquariums have been 

 placed iti the center of the room, one furnished with a fountain and 

 intended for fresh-water animals, the other for salt-water animals. A 

 large biid cage containing bright-colored birds and songsters is sus- 

 pended from the ceiling. 



The following series of objects selected by the Secretary have been 

 installed in the cases: (1) A series of familiar American birds; (2) com- 

 mon European birds; (3) large birds of prey; (-1) interesting water 

 birds; (5) curious birds, such as the crocodile bird, kiwi, etc.; (6) 

 some brilliant-colored birds; (7) curious nests and eggs; (8) a series of 

 specimens with accessories representing protective mimicry, under the 

 caption, kt How creatures hide;*" (9) remarkable insects; (10) bright- 

 colored shells; (11) other interesting invertebrates; (12) remarkable 

 minerals. In addition, the bower of a bower bird is exhibited and a 

 number of Audubon pictures representing birds in action. 



The labels are adapted to the comprehension of children, being in 

 untechnical language throughout. They are printed in large type and 

 contain interesting information regarding the habits of birds, etc. It 

 is confidently anticipated that the airiness and beauty of the room and 

 fittings and the beauty and brilliancy of the exhibits will prove exceed- 

 ingly attractive to children and hardly less so to older persons. 



At the beginning of the year a new terrazzo floor was laid in the 

 southeast range, containing the exhibition series of reptiles, batrach- 

 ians, and fishes, and the cases were reassorted and arranged with 

 special reference to the lighting and all extraneous objects removed. 

 Toward the close of the year two windows which were formerly 

 obscured by the roof of the restaurant Outside were opened again, and 

 the hall, in spite of the rather low ceiling, is now one of the best 

 lighted in the building. The fishes occupy upright cases along the 

 walls, and the reptiles and batrachians a series of floor cases with slop- 

 ing tops. These latter are not the best that could be designed for this 

 purpose; but as no new ones could be built, it was necessary to make 

 use of them. The exhibit consists of casts of North American species. 

 It is intended to supplement these by collections of South American 

 and Old World species in liquid. 



The question of the best form of preparation for an exhibition series 

 of lower \ ertebrates is one which has occupied a good deal of attention. 



