8 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



National Museum — Continued. 



Books $2, 000 



Rent of workshops 4, 040 



Building repairs 6, 000 



National Zoological Park 75, 000 



BUILDINGS. 



I have set aside a small room in the Institution's building, in the 

 south tower; have had some alterations made, with a view to increas- 

 ing its light and cheerfulness, and am having plans prepared for the 

 purpose of bringing together there, in a simple and attractive manner, 

 objects which may be of interest to children. This small collection, 

 I hope, may serve a double purpose — that of interesting the child's 

 mind to the point of inquisitiveness which finally results in study, and 

 to the setting of an example which may cause such little collections, 

 and, possibly, even larger ones, arranged especiall}' for children, to 

 grow up in other sections of the country. 



The llegents' room on the second floor has been partially renovated, 

 and a room in the half story below has been fitted for the care of the 

 valuable collection of physical apparatus used by Professor Henry and 

 others in various investigations. 



The hall devoted to the bird collection has been rendered lighter b}' 

 the rearrangement of exhibition cases and by replacing the wooden 

 floor by terrazzo pavement. In the hallway of the east basement a 

 cement pavement has been laid and the heating apparatus rearranged. 



The electric plant installed in the building some years ago was at 

 the time considered ample for the needs of the Institution, but during 

 the past year it became necessarj^ to secure a large increase of power, 

 and this was finally secured l)y taking service from the local electric 

 light and power company, and the operation of the plant in the Insti- 

 tution has been discontinued for the present. 



Improvements in the Museum, Astrophvsical Observatory, and 

 Zoological Park buildings are mentioned elsewhere. 



RESEARCH. 



One of the most important functions of the Institution during the 

 half century of its existence has been the promotion of original 

 research in the various branches of science. It is so now, and investi- 

 gations of great benefit have continued to be carried on bv persons 

 directly connected with the Institution or b}^ others aided by special 

 grants. 



In this connection the parent Institution has found it possible to con- 

 tinue to render aid to investigations through the Hodgkins fund, as 

 mentioned somewhat in detail below, and it has also continued the 

 rental of a table at the Naples Zoological Station, where certain biolog- 

 ical researches have been conducted. 



