58 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



cieutly large to meet the needs of students who are known to exist. 

 While nothing" of value should be lost, it is questionable whether mate- 

 rial should besought in large quantity, when there is no indication that 

 it will soon be needed. 



(2) Study specimens should be stored as compactly and economically 

 as is consistent with their safety and convenient use, and should be 

 accessible to every student. 



(3) The study series is the storehouse from Mhich the exhibition 

 series may be replaced or extended and from which the needs of other 

 museums may be supplied. 



Records. — The most important fact concerning any object is the local- 

 ity where it was found; next most important, the person from whom it 

 was received. Every specimen should have its catalogue number 

 indelibly engraved or marked upon it, and, when possible, the locality 

 and source. Specimens can be named at any time, but the locality 

 once lost, the object becomes comparatively valueless. The record of 

 donors should be accurate and complete, so that the specimens from 

 any given source can be traced at once to their location. 



