90 KKTOIIT OF NATTONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



In tli*- section of invertebrate paleontology Mr. Schuchert reports 

 the 1. II. Harris collection of Cincinnati fossils as next to receive 

 attention, the available space for exhibition being so nearly occupied 

 that little more can be done in this direction. 



In the section of paleobotany Dr. Peale will begin at once with an 

 entire readjustment of the exhibition series and the work of preparing 

 manuscript of the labels for the same. 



From the manner in which the Museum collections have been built 

 up, it follows almost as a matter of course that they are unusually 

 rich in type material or material which has been the subject of special 

 study. It is my hope to be able to present with this report a catalogue 

 of such types, in order that their whereabouts may be more widely 

 known and incidentally to enhance their value. In this connection 

 it may be well to call attention to the large collections of unstudied 

 material which have accumulated, particularly in the section of inver- 

 tebrate paleontology. I would refer more especially to the fossil 

 insects, bryozoa, hydroids, sponges, etc. It is hoped that before 

 many years some arrangement can be made whereby these collections 

 may he worked up by competent specialists. 



CERSONNEL. 



Several changes in the personnel of the Department have occurred 

 during the year, and the additional assistance afforded has been of 

 great benefit. Miss Lucy M. Graves was appointed as stenographer 

 to succeed Miss Carrie V. Hurlbut, resigned; Mrs. M. S. F. Jouy was 

 promoted to the position of clerk in charge of the records, and Dr. 

 Peter Fireman was given a temporary appointment as chemical geol- 

 ogist. The employment of Mr. C. N. Cruikshank for the purpose of 

 numbering specimens and attending to other miscellaneous work, and 

 of Messrs. J. W. Coleman and Alban Stewart as skilled laborer and 

 preparator, respectively, should also be mentioned. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



No one but a specialist can fully realize how trying it is to be obliged 

 to lay aside systematic work on the collections or the consideration of 

 the many interesting problems which constantly present themselves, 

 for the work of preparing for the numerous expositions which have 

 been held during the past dozen or twenty years. It has been estimated 

 that an amount of time equal to three months, or one-fourth of the 

 entile year, was given by the head of each division or section to the 

 work of preparing and installing the exhibit now at Buffalo. While 

 recognizing that such work is to be regarded as an essential part of a 

 curator's duties, nevertheless the amount of it that has devolved upon 



