REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 25 



Mr. Richard Rathbuu, Curator of Marine [nvertebrates, has care 

 fully examined the alcoholic <-s>ll**t-t m*ii, and has arranged in systematic 

 order the crustaceans, worms, holothurians, ophinrans, crinoids, liy- 

 droids, molluscoids, and sponges. It is his intention to bestow the 

 same care upon the other groups during next year. Fie has also found 

 time to revise the collection of duplicate specimens. Mr. Bathbun re- 

 ports the entire collection to be in an excellent state of preservation, 

 and available for reference or study. 



Definite plans for the formation of an exhibition series of anatomical 

 preparations of soft parts of specimens have been prepared by Mr. True, 

 Acting Curator of Comparative Anatomy. It has, however, been 

 found necessary to postpone the execution of this plan uutil next year. 

 The large wall ease in the exhibition hall of this department has been 

 enlarged by the addition of a wing extending toward the west. This 

 has made possible an improvement in the arrangement of the mounted 

 skeletons of Primates and Carnivores. The arrangement of the collec- 

 tion of Vertebrate Fossils has occupied a considerable portion of the 

 time of the Curator and of Mr. Lucas, Assistant Curator. 



Mr. C. D. Walcott, Curator of Paleozoic Fossils, has, on account of 

 his work as paleontologist of the Geological Survey, been unable to 

 devote much time to the arrangement of the Museum collection. The 

 space allotted to the exhibition series of this department is now nearly 

 filled. The arrangement is, however, in a large measure provisional, 

 and will require modification. Mr. R. R. Gurley has commenced the 

 arrangement of the graptolites. It is Mr. Walcott's intention to arrange 

 as soon as possible the large series of Lower and Middle Cambrian 

 fossils which he has collected from Newfoundland. 



Dr. C. A. White, Curator of Mesozoic Fossils, states that the collec- 

 tions under his care are in better shape than they have ever been be- 

 fore. Early in the year 1889 this department was furnished with ten 

 glass top frames. These are now filled with specimens consisting 

 chiefly of types of species, descriptions of which have been published in 

 the reports of the U. S. Geological Survey. 



The Herbarium is under the care of Dr. George Vasey, Botanist 

 of the Department of Agriculture. He states in his report that the 

 collection of herbarium specimens in the Department of Agriculture, 

 forming a part of the National Herbarium, is exhibited in wall cases, 

 occupying a space of about 85 running feet. This collection is mounted 

 on 120,000 sheets. These are arranged according to orders, genera, 

 and species, and are readily accessible. Then; are still a large quantity 

 of specimens to be mounted and aoded to the collection, besides a great 

 number of duplicates for distribution and exchange. 



The collection of building and ornamental stones, as now installed, 

 tills thirteen door screen cases, one wall case, two pyramids, and the 

 tops of three table cases. The collections of rock and rock-forming 

 minerals are arranged on one pier case and seven slope-top table-cases. 



