REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1921. oR | 
_ Mr. Gidley has continued his systematic arrangement of the Fort 
Union materials, adding about 200 to the identified and 450 to the 
catalogued lists of this collection. 
Since the resignation of Mrs. Stelle, the position of aid in paleo- 
botany has remained vacant. Messrs. Bassler and Resser have there- 
fore been obliged to look after the work of this section. Exhibition 
work has dealt mainly with the biologic series occupying the long 
wall case in the paleobotanical hall. This exhibit, now well advanced, 
illustrates the biologic relationships of fossil plants, and, supple- 
mented by ample descriptive labels and numerous diagrams and pho- 
tographs, shows admirably the evolution of these organisms. Miss 
Beach has assisted in the cataloguing and numbering of the new ac- 
quisitions in the section. 
Present condition of the collections.—'The mineral collection, 
though ranking but third among those of the public museums of the 
country, is nevertheless entitled to almost first consideration on ac- 
count of the method of display. As in the year past, the gem portion 
of this collection has been under the immediate supervision of Miss 
Margaret Moodey, to whose taste is due much of its attractiveness. 
This collection has greatly prospered through the Chamberlain en- 
dowment. Were it necessary to emphasize the desirability of having 
a perfectly definite specified sum from which could be drawn imme- 
diately funds for purchase, it is here offered. Among the entire 
series the opals have perhaps profited the most. The collection as a 
whole is fairly balanced, though naturally lacking as complete a 
series of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other expensive stones as 
might be wished. 
Little has been added to the exhibition series in physical and 
chemical geology, the petrographical series and the collections of 
larger materials grouped under the heads of rock-weathering, glacia- 
tion, vulcanism, etc., remaining practically unchanged from last 
year. The meteorite exhibit has received several important addi- 
tions as listed below: 
Grams. 
Appleyveocudee.. Hngland (Stone) 22. = == 2 590 
; 1, 685 
TOME WHS eae (CS UOLIC)) oe ce wines Ek wu ie ge a ea oo ele 4, 
Colby is. (stone) 1 1,956 
416 
GES VCH Me OUITEVaNeKs(CLhOM ee ek eS A a ee 
rsy ounty (iron) 418 
versa Val Gyeeg@ ai trey (OMA) 2 a ee it le 35, 500 
Bloroigr eC eS SLOMG)) ee eee Rc ea Ee ent ee fat 
MEHUGETIC we USELALTA | (EPO I) eter tar Se ARON A oe 3, 320 
The collection, though ranking but third among the public collec- 
tions in America, is nevertheless one of great importance on account 
of the unusually large proportion of stones which have been the 
subject of systematic investigation. The total number of falls and 
finds now represented is 490. 
