REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 45 



On account of the pressing nature of Professor Ward's duties in con- 

 nection with the Geological Survey, lie lias not been able to prepare a 

 report for this year, and this brief statement is therefore submitted in 

 lieu of a formal report in Section n. 



Department of Minerals. — The growth of the collection during the 

 year has, through the energetic administration of its Curator, Prof. F. 

 W. Clarke, been very satisfactory. The two most important accessions 

 were received from the U. S. Geological Survey. These collections 

 were made by Prof. S. P. Penfield and by Dr. W. P. Hillebraud, who 

 visited Colorado and the adjacent States and Territories for the purpose 

 of making mineralogical investigations and collections. A series of 

 specimens of wood opal, collected by Dr. A. C. Peale in Montana, has 

 also been contributed by the Geological Survey. Professor Clarke in 

 his report* makes mention of eleven accessions as of especial interest. 



It is to be deeply regretted that Mr. Joseph Willcox has found it 

 necessary to withdraw his collection of minerals from the Museum, 

 where it had been deposited for more than four years. Mr. Willcox 

 had offered to sell this collection to the Museum for an exceedingly 

 modest sum, but this offer could not be entertained, the Museum having 

 no fund for the purchase of specimens, and thus the Museum has sus- 

 tained an irreparable loss. 



A series of specimens, illustrating the gems and precious stones of 

 North America, was prepared for exhibition at the Cincinnati Exposi- 

 tion. 



During the year 5,794 specimens were added to the collection, and 

 631 entries were made in the catalogue. 



Department of Lithology and Physical Geology. — There has been un- 

 usual activity in the work of this department during the year. The 

 Curator, Mr. George P. Merrill, has visited certain localities in North 

 Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and 

 Maine, for the purpose of collecting specimens. These expeditions have 

 resulted very advantageously to the Museum. Among the new mate- 

 rial received sixteen collections have been selected as worthy of special 

 mention in the report of the curator.* 



One of the objects of the expeditions already alluded to was for the 

 purpose of collecting material for distribution to educational establish 

 ments. It has been quite impossible to till the numerous applications for 

 lithological specimens from museums, colleges, and schools throughout 

 the country. Mr. Merrill has succeeded in obtaining a very large quan- 

 tity available for this purpose, and during the coming winter it is ex- 

 pected that a sufficient number of sets of specimens can be prepared to 

 till the applications now on tile. Prom material on hand at the begin- 

 ning of the year covered by this report, twenty-two sets of minerals 

 were prepared and distributed. The determination of material sent for 

 examination and report has occupied no inconsiderable portion of tii<- 



"See Section n. 



