192 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



sieur Peccadeau de I'Isle, of Toulouse, for which the hitter gentleman 

 asked in my presence the sum of $8,000. 



The other two cases of foreign countries contain the display of the 

 Polished Stone Age and the Bronze Age. 



This case is but a synopsis and contains only a small ]»roportion of 

 the specimens we possess, and which are shown in the proper i)art of 

 the Museum. 



Upon the right-hand side of the entrance, the direction indicated by 

 arrows, is the same synoptical display made from America. First, the 

 extinct animals belonging to the quaternary geological i^eriod, and 

 along with them a representative paleolithic implement from each state 

 of the United States in which they have been found. Adjoining this 

 is a sample of the discovery of Dr. Cresson at Claymont, Del., in a rock- 

 shelter, the lower strata of which represents paleolithic, and superim- 

 posed are the various layers of subsequent human occupation, ending 

 with that of the Indian as represented by his arrow heads and other 

 common implements. The other objects from America need not be 

 mentioned, but they are such as are commonly seen in collections, one 

 or two of each having been taken out of their cases, the object being 

 to form a synopsis of the department. 



In the last case on this side is an attempt at classification and 

 arrangement of the arrow or spear-heads or knives, which will be men- 

 tioned further on. 



The rest of the foyer is filled with objects which, from their great size 

 or other conditions, can not be conveniently displayed in cases with 

 their respective localities : The Sacrificial Stone, Ouanhaialli of Tizoc 

 from Mexico ; Chac-Mool, the statue from Yucatan ; the carved entrance 

 to the Palace of Palenque ; the largest and finest metates from Mexico 

 and Central i^merica; a large cupstone weighing about 250 ])ouiids) 

 containing fifty-three cups upon its one side, from Wheeling, W. Va.; 

 casts of grinding stones from Ehode Island, taken from and forming 

 part of the original rock in place, which could not itself be moved; 

 wooden coffins and cedar ladder belonging to and found in the caverns 

 which were occupied by aboriginal people in northern Alabama, and 

 the display of the series of coins from the British Museum, beginning at 

 700 B. C, and coming to the first century A. D. 



The hall is 200 feet east and west by 50 feet north and south. Its 

 total area, counting by outside lines, is 10,000 square feet. Its utilized 

 area is 13,507 square feet. But we have done better than this. Under 

 the present arrangement, the exhibition space has been increased from 

 5,604 to 8,183 square feet, the space occupied by the pueblo models has 

 been reduced from 1,750 to 1,584 square feet, including passage ways. 

 The aisle space has been reduced by some thousand feet, and the space 

 at the entrance has been much increased. Thus it will be perceived that 

 the rearrangement has been a gain m every way, an increase in exhibi- 

 tion space, a decrease in aisle space, and a vast improvement in artistic 

 appearance and scientific utility. 



