86 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1022. 



Harry Warner, preparatory in the division of systematic geology, 

 has, as heretofore, been engaged in the work of cutting, polishing, 

 and otherwise preparing mineral, rock, and ore specimens for exhibi- 

 tion. Several weeks of the latter half of the year have been occupied 

 in sawing a large boulder of New Zealand nephrite. As the boulder 

 measures some 25 by M inches, and nephrite is one of the toughest 

 of minerals, the task has been one of considerable magnitude. One 

 of the results thus far secured is a .full-sized slab three-sixteenths of 

 an inch in thickness, and a most beautiful object when viewed by 

 t ransmitted light. 



Present condition of the collections. — The collections of the de- 

 partment are in excellent condition as a whole. The exhibits have 

 remained more or less unchanged, mainly because there was no 

 necessity for extensive alterations. The available space, with the 

 exception of that devoted to vertebrate paleontology, is fairly well 

 filled and the addition of new material must be accomplished by 

 retiring that which is less valuable or attractive. The gem collection 

 has remained in charge of Miss Margaret Moodey and has been kept 

 fully up to the standard of excellence previously established. In 

 connection with the vertebrate exhibit, Mr. Gilmore states as follows: 



A summary of improvements in the exhibition hall of vertebrate paleontology 



shows the completion of the exhibit of Titanotherium remains; the introduction 

 of a small exhibit comprising the hair. skin, muscular tissue, and stomach con- 

 tents of the Beresovka mammoth; the enlargement of the Chesapeake Bay 

 cetacean exhibit?; the rearrangement of the exhibit of rhinoceros remains; and 

 the addition of the mounted Glyptotherium. As a whole, the exhibition collec- 

 tion, except for the lack of proper printed labels on a few of the specimens, is 

 in the best condition in the history of the section. Although not ranking first 

 iu size among American vertebrate paleontological exhibits, the considerable 

 number of unique specimens displayed places it well up among the leaders in 

 the matter of scientific and popular interest. In this connection attention may 

 be called to the following as being the only skeletons of their kind exhibited 

 anywhere in the world: Thescelosaurus neglectus, Camptosaurus browni, Bra- 

 chyceratops montanensis, Stegosaurus stenops, Triceratops prorsus, Cerato- 

 saurus nasicornis, Basilosaurus cetoides, Epigaulus hatcheri, and Gulo, species. 

 As the only representatives of species may be mentioned Brontotherium hatch- 

 eri, Platygonus cumberlandensis, Sinopa grangeri, and Merycoidodon gracilis. 

 The exhibit of Titanotliere skulls, as mentioned above, is the most ambitious 

 display of these huge mammals ever attempted, while the exhibit of cetacean 

 remains, when completed, will be by far the best to be found in any American 

 museum. 



Throughout the department the study series require each year a 

 certain amount of shifting and rearrangement owing to their con- 

 tinual increase. In all sections they are clean and accessible, and 

 the catalogues are up to date. 



Researches. — The head curator has, as time permitted, continued 

 his researches on meteorites, the results of which are noted in the 



