REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 33 



and unsightly pasteboard tray, usually white, wiiicli is so often seen in 

 collections of shells, iiiiuerals, and fossils. Jt is i)articularly well 

 suited for coins and other single objects which it is desired to dig- 

 nify by i)laciug on a special mount with a i)leasing back-ground. 



The tray of sheet iron used in the Dresden Museum is nmch stronger 

 than the pasteboard tray custonuirily used in other ninseunis, and for 

 large study collections is undoubtedly preferable, although less desir- 

 able for exhibition i)nrposes. 



For very precious objects, such as small bronzes, ivory carvings, and 

 small examples of metal-work, which lie Hat upon the slielves, or at the 

 bottom of table case, our curat(ns occasioiuilly use cushions of maroon 

 or dark blue plush, bound with silk cord; this, however, is a refine- 

 ment in installation which is not recommended for use except in very 

 si)ecial cases, as when it is desired to install a loan or gift collection 

 very elaborately, or when the objects exhibited are of the greatest 

 intrinsic worth. 8uch cushions may l)e used to excellent advantage 

 on glass shelves. 



EXHIBITION .TAR8. 



The necessity for rectangular jars for the exhibition of alcoholic 

 preparations has long been felt, and for many years our people have 

 been in conference with the glass-blowers concerning thein ; but the 

 difficulties in the way of securing satisfactory results seem almost 

 insuperable. 



The most desirable form of rectangular jar — one with a wide aperture 

 of the "salt mouth" pattern — seems to be unobtainable. This is to be 

 regretted, since a Jar which can be closed with a circular ground-glass 

 stopi^er is the most convenient for museum purposes. The plan of a 

 round opening closed by a stopper was proposed, and experiments 

 were nmde for improving the ordinary type of anatomical receptacle, 

 long in use in this country as w^ell as in Euroi)e. in which the large 

 opening at the top is closed by a tiat plate. Such receptacles as this 

 have been used for a number of years in the Museum of Comparative 

 Zoology and in the Army Medical Museum, and they have also long 

 been in use in Europe, both for round and rectangular vessels. 



A modification of this device, by Mr. James E. Benedict, is described 

 as follows : 



The lip is ground to a perfect plane, and the opening, closed by a 

 sheet of glass aunointed with vaseline, is held in place by a cover which 

 just completes the rectangular shape of the jar, its edges filling the 

 shoulder, which is blown on the onter margin of the top of the jar, as 

 shown in the accompanying diagram (Fig. 7). This cap is sufficiently 

 heavy to hold tlie cover plate in i)lace, and it takes the place of 

 the unsightly mechanical claini)s of the Jar customarily used in 

 museums for anatomical prei)arations. The arrangement is thor- 

 oughly satisfactory for exhibition purposes, and the cover being made 

 H. Mis. 184, pt. 2 3 



