REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 1 i i 



rei)reseiits all but about L'.") ot tho species recorded in Lesquereux's 

 Tertiary Flora. The whole liora of this group, as now known, will 

 probably embrace about 350 species, and when completed it will repre- 

 sent, it is thoujiht, one of the most satisfactory aids to geolof^y that 

 has been atforded. 



Mr. AVhite's work for the Museum has been entirely on the great 

 Lacoe collection, and at the end of the year about 125 boxes, weighing 

 15,000 pounds, had been shi})ped to Washington. As the magnitude 

 and value of this collection was stated at length in the report for last 

 year, it is unnecessary to again refer to it. The larger part of this 

 donation has now been labeled and sent to Washington, but much 

 remains, especially in the way of duplicates It is probable that a fur- 

 ther arrangement will be perfected whereby Mr. White will be enal)led 

 to complete the transfer. 



No especially important accessions have been made during the year, 

 the lots received being either single specimens or small collections from 

 limited areas. The Museum has, however, obtained by purchase a very 

 fine series of fossil cycadean trunks from Lower Cretaceous strata near 

 Hot Springs. South Dakota. They are six in number, and range from 

 10 inches in length and G inches in diameter, to over 3 feet in length 

 and 2 feet in diameter. The finest specimen, which weighs 721 pounds, 

 is undoubtedly the largest example of the kind ever found. The speci- 

 mens have been photographed in various positions, and will be made 

 the subject of a special monograph. 



The routine work in arrangement and classification of the collections 

 has been of the same nature as in several previous jears. We had 

 constructed in the west tower-room a large storage-case, capable of 

 accommodating about 500 3-inch unit trays. The entire miscellane- 

 ous Carboniferous collection, which is being studied l)y Mr. White, 

 was jjut in this case, and the room on the balcony floor reserved for the 

 Mesozoic and Tertiary iilants. Five quarter-unit table cases were also 

 placed in the west tower room, and the Avhole collection of fossil wood 

 was placed in them. At the present time everything in the department 

 is perfectly accessible. This condition is only brought about, however, 

 by storing in the Armory building all that can not l)e accommodated 

 in the cases. This arrangement, wliile probably the best that the 

 present division of space will admit of, often causes serious inconven- 

 ience, as collections or specimens desired for study or comparison are 

 in storage. When the great Lacoe collection is installed, the need of 

 additional space will T)e nnn*li greater than now. 



Prof. Ward's work during the year has been practically a continua- 

 tion of that recorded as in hand in his last report. He has continued 

 the exploration of the Potomac formation, both in the innnediate vicinity 

 of Washington and below Richmoml, Va., with the result of discover- 

 ing a number of new plant beds, from which a large nund)er of new 

 and interesting plants were obtained. The specimens from the Potomac 

 H. Mis. 1S4. i)t. 2 12 



