\(l REPORT OJ? NWlnN.U. Ml SKIM, lSS!t. 



Curator's time. During the year t\\ont\ five -lots" of material have 

 been forwarded lor this purpose. 



The collection of building and ornamental stones now fills thirteen 

 door-screen cases, one wall ease, two large pyramids, and the tops of 

 three table eases. The eolleetions of roeks and rock-forming minerals 

 are now as extensive as ean be taken eare of in the limited spaee at the 

 eonunand of this department. These eolleetions now eomprise about 

 two thousand specimens. The collections o( dynamic and historical 

 geology have reeeived important additions during the year, but no at- 

 tempt has yet been made to arrange them systematically. The total 

 number of specimens received during the year has been 4,500, and 

 L,135 entries have been made in the catalogue. 



l>< l>,irtmcnt of' Mctallurai/ and Economic (icoloi/i/. — The Curator, Mr. F. 

 P. Dewey, has devoted his time ehieily to the preparation and arrange- 

 ment oi the exhibition material, which is now installed in the south- 

 west court. During the year the Curator made a visit to Providence, 

 R. 1., tor the purpose of examining a collection of petroleum specimens 

 and related materials which had been prepared by Prof. S. F. Peckham 

 in connection with his work for the Tenth Census. This collection num- 

 bers three hundred and sixty specimens, and illustrates very fully the 

 occurrence of crude petroleum in this country. It is in the Museum, 

 and will be placed upon exhibition as soon as practicable. Several 

 valuable collections oi' ores have been added to the collection during 

 the year, among which may be mentioned three series of foreign ores: 

 one from the Australian Museum at Sidney, one from the Auckland 

 Museum in Few Zealand, and one forwarded by the Hou. Otto E. Eei- 

 mer. United States consul at Santiago de Cuba. 



1 hiring the year the Curator has made an examination of the produc- 

 tion of pig-iron at the Muirkirk Furnace, near Washington, and nickel 

 from Kussel Springs, Kansas. This was undertaken at the request of 

 the Hon. J, J. Ingalls. 



The collection has been increased during the year by the addition of 

 664 specimens, and 413 catalogue entries have been made. 



Department of Living Animals. — This department was organized in 

 May. LSS8, and Mr. William T. Iloruada\ . who has recently been ap- 

 pointed Superintendent of the National Zoological Park, retains charge 

 of the collection. Owing to the limited space available for exhibiting 

 these specimens, consisting of a wooden shed adjoining the Smithsonian 

 building on the south, it has become necessary to decline several offers 

 of valuable contributions to the collection. Mr. Hornaday has prepared, 

 during the year, an exhaustive memoir relating to the discovery, life 

 history, and extermination of the American Pison. Owing to the delay 

 attending the printing o( the Museum report, it was found possible 

 to include this paper in the report for 1887, proof of which is now being 

 received from the Printing Office* In order to emphasize the rapid ex- 

 termination of this and several other animals indigenous to the United 



