92 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1921, 
As a whole, the exhibition collections throughout the department 
are now in good order, although there are important gaps. This is 
particularly the case in vertebrate paleontology, where there is need 
of skeletal remains of some of the larger reptilian forms. The study 
series in all divisions are in good order and accessible, and the cata- 
logues are well up to date. 
Researches—The Head Curator has continued his studies on 
meteorites and has completed, for the time being, researches on 
chondritic structure and metamorphism. 
For the first time in the history of the department there has been 
made—at least begun—a systematic attempt at determining the 
mineralogical nature of the ore collections. Heretofore, owing to 
lack of assistance, it has been possible to classify these collections 
only according to the principal metal they carried, regardless of its 
form of combination. Mr. Shannon has attacked the problem with 
energy, skill, and intelligence, and in connection with his work has 
not merely discovered minerals new to the localities, but in several 
instances new to science. Andorite, not previously known from 
America, has been found to constitute silver ore from Nevada, and 
lead ores from Colorado have been found to consist of phosgenite 
and strontium-bearing cerussite. Mr. Shannon has also made a de- 
tailed study of the black sands of Idaho, disclosing many new and 
unusual facts regarding them. Crystallographic investigations on. 
datolite, vivianite, and boulangerite have been published or are in 
process of publication. Chemical examinations of four new mineral 
species, owyheeite, nyeite, higginsite, and orientite, have been com- 
pleted, and ludwigite from several localities has been investigated. 
The mineral collbranite has been proven identical with ludwigite. 
The division of mineralogy has likewise prospered under the con- 
ditions existing during the past two years. Assistant Curator 
Foshag has thoroughly overhauled and rearranged the mineral col- 
lection, and corrected and brought up to date the card catalogue 
of the same. He has also, incidentally, analyzed and described sev- 
eral minerals, some of which were new to science. Among these 
mention may be made of plazolite, a new mineral, creedite, and a 
number of the borate minerals. He has under investigation the 
minerals microlite, eakleite, a new mineral from California, and 
some rare lazurite-bearing rocks, also from California. 
With the departure of Mr. Foshag, work on the petrographic 
series must come to a stop. This is greatly to be regretted since 
there are thousands of specimens which need assorting, a portion 
to be reserved, a portion held for duplicates, and still another por- 
tion to be rejected. This is a work which can be done only by one 
with some petrographic training. The work is falling more and 
more behind yearly and unless we are more fortunate in holding our 
