52 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1911. 



date, while the card catalogues of types and illustrated specimens in 

 mineralogy, invertebrate paleontology, and vertebrate paleontology 

 have been perfected. Some 384 lots of specimens of rocks, minerals, 

 and fossils, received from outside sources for examination and report, 

 were identified during the year. 



Exhibition collections. — By the close of the year all of the geolog- 

 ical material which had been exhibited in the older building had 

 been transferred except the fossil plants, the gems, and a part of the 

 collection of applied geology, but none of the installations in the 

 new building had been completed, owing in part to the delay in ob- 

 taining furniture and in part to the large amount of work involved 

 in preparing, arranging, and labeling the specimens. The progress 

 made is, nevertheless, to be regarded as satisfactory. 



The exhibition in mineralogy had been about two-thirds installed, 

 and it was expected to have it entirely ready for the public by the 

 autumn of 1911. The part completed consisted of the systematic 

 series, comprising about 4,000 specimens, or 1,000 more than had 

 previously been shown. This series was entirely reorganized, many 

 of the old specimens being replaced by newer and superior ones, 

 and additions will continue to be made as desirable material is 

 received. The classification used is that proposed by Professor Dana. 

 Washing with warm water and soap was found to greatly improve 

 the looks of most of the specimens, and about 95 per cent of them 

 were subjected to this treatment. With new cases throughout, and 

 the collection of gems to be added, the hall of mineralogy promises 

 to present a very gratifying appearance. 



The large eastern skylighted hall assigned to fossil vertebrates can 

 probably be opened at about the same time as the hall of mineralogy, 

 though its installation will still be very incomplete. New prepara- 

 tions will be added as they are finished, but in the case of large speci- 

 mens the work of cleaning and assembling parts of skeletons is slow 

 and laborious. Among the improvements introduced are new stand- 

 ard styles of pedestals for the floor and of framed inclosures for flat 

 mounts displayed on the walls. The principal preparations made 

 for the exhibition series during the year consisted of skeletons of the 

 zeuglodon (Basilosaurus cetoides), of the type specimen of Cera- 

 tosaurus nasicomis Marsh, and of Camptosaurus browni and Camp- 

 tosaurus nanus. The two latter specimens have been grouped on the 

 same base in a unique and attractive manner. Among large forms 

 previously made ready for the hall are an oreodon (Me?ycoidodon 

 gracilis), a Triceratops prorsus and a Trackodon annectens. The 

 skeletons of the large mastodon (Mamnvut americanum), the "Irish 

 elk " (A Ice gigantea) , and a New Zealand moa (Emeus crrassus) , from 

 the older collections, were entirely remounted and their appearance 

 greatly improved. Many smaller specimens were also prepared, and 



