2456 



Journal of Applied Microscopy 



Calvert Vaux in the first section of the American Museum of Natural History. 

 It is a T-shaped case — in reality two parallelopipedons connected by a slope — 

 designed to form a front upon three sides, two aspects against the alcove itself, 

 and the third upon the hall face of the case (Fig. 37). 



In this disposition, of course, the alcoves are lighted by a window, which 

 should be almost the entire width of the alcove itself. By removing the shelv- 

 ing, large enough compartments are formed for single large figures, as mammals, 

 while their generally good illumination, increased also by the inclined ends, their 

 great capacity, their structural interest, and the room-like effect of the alcoves 

 produced by their approximating distal ends, all combine to attract for them a 

 more considerate inspection than they have received. The dimensions of this 

 example of pier case are as follows — compare (Fig. 38) : plan, a-b, 3 ft.; a-c, 9 ft.; 

 d-e, 4 ft.; e-f, 12 ft.; elevation, L-L', 1 ft.; L'-L", 7 ft.; L"-L"', 1 ft.^ x, y, 3 



Fig. 89. — Old wood hall with Jesup Hall of woods in New York Museum. 



is the intersection of a vertical partition with the base of the case, forming a 

 background and reflecting surface for the objects in front, and dissipating the 

 confusion of cross lights, as well, and more particularly limiting the vision to the 

 shelves immediately in front of the visitor; 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, etc., are the bare sock- 

 ets of uprights armored with ratchet strips for the attachment of brackets to 

 support shelving. 



These are strong and elaborate cases, requiring considerable labor for their 

 construction. The construction itself is fundamentally determined by two T- 

 shaped wooden forms. The form at the bottom has an iron sheath at the base, 

 and an iron hoof forming a bearing at the base of the doors, and projecting so 

 that standing on it, or any accident, will not splinter it, as if it were wood. The 

 form at the top has a slight and perhaps quite unnecessary iron sheath. Upon 

 the two forms respectively, floor and roof are laid, while the partitions of the 

 sash spaces, which are iron, support the latter. The whole is practically wood 



