REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29 



tion.s or by g-ifts from the people of the United States and foreig'n 

 countries, but while the people ma}' take just pride in what they feel 

 is their own, collections gathered in this way are, as has just been 

 observed, not only partially duplicated or triplicated, but are at the 

 same time fragmentary and lacking in that completeness that comes by 

 systematic work in bringing similar classes of objects together under 

 a well-considered system. 



The tilling of the gaps just alluded to can onl}' be brought about by 

 the application of a purchasing fund. After repeated requests to 

 Congress, a small appropriation was made at the last session for the 

 special purpose of purchasing specimens, but the amount thus avail- 

 able is so limited and the deficiencies in the present collections are so 

 great that it will be impracticable to add any entirely new series of 

 objects at present, and the fund will be devoted to filling the gaps in 

 existing series. It is hoped that Congress may hereafter grant larger 

 sums for the acquisition of specimens. 



The curators of the several departments of the Museum have con- 

 tinued during the past year the classification and arrangement of old 

 and new material preparatory to its exhibition. The information gath- 

 ered by the curators while examining and arranging specimens has in 

 many cases been printed in the form of descriptive catalogues contain- 

 ing scientific information expressed in such untechnical language that 

 visitors uninformed in the subject may readily understand the collec- 

 tions. The Secretar}^ has constantl}'^ had in view the importance of the 

 comprehensive labeling of objects placed on exhibition and he is grati- 

 fied that much progress has been made in this direction, the museum 

 having been well defined as a collection of instructive labels each illus- 

 trated by a well-selected specimen. 



In the Appendix wall be found a report giving details in regard to 

 Museum work during the year, with reference to many important 

 accessions. Mention may be made here of a few additions of special 

 public interest, among which are a considerable number of memorials 

 of the war with Spain and the Philippine insurrection. To the geo- 

 logical collections were added some interesting fossil animals secured 

 from the fields of Wj^oming, and a large amount of zoological 

 material was collected in Cuba and Porto Rico. There has also been 

 transferred to the Museum the extensive and very valuable series of 

 vertebrate fossils collected by the late Professor Marsh during his con- 

 nection with the United States Geological Survey. This collection 

 aggregated five car-loads, and is particularly rich in specimens of the 

 gigantic Dinosaurs, besides fif t}^ skulls of Titanotherium, probably the 

 best specimens in existence. 



The general appearance of several of the Museum halls has been 

 improved by replacing the old wooden fioors bv terrazzo pavements, 

 and appropriation has been made for the completion of this much- 



