Annual Reports 37 



floor space could be immediately utilized for the instalation of instructive 

 and interesting features from the specimens in storage, which by reason 

 of lack of such space we are unable to display or even to make con- 

 veniently accessible for study or research work. Any further growth of 

 the museum is practically impossible, not only for the reasons mentioned, 

 but also for the reason that prospective donors are often inclined to with- 

 hold gifts when informed that it may be impossible to place them on exhi- 

 bition at the present time. Large additions to our geological and min- 

 eralogical collections could be readily secured by gift and exchange; but 

 inasmuch as these would have to be immediately placed in storage in the 

 Annex or in the cellar of the Museum, and would be an additional burden 

 in the event of moving, I have refrained from any attempt to have them 

 placed in our possession. 



The most conspicuous new features installed during the j'car, are the 

 exhibit of devices for attracting and feeding wild birds, displayed in the 

 local biology room on the first floor, and the series of framed posters and 

 views of Staten Island localities hung on the walls of the stairway be- 

 tween the first and second floors. 



The two exhibits by the committee on art loan exhibits of the Section 

 of Art were not only interesting for the members of the Association but 

 served as valuable media for advertising the activities of the museum in 

 this connection, and were well worth the time and energy expended in 

 their instalation, removal, and subsequent rearrangement of the museum 

 material. 



In connection with the library the accessions were of the same general 

 character as in previous years, consisting for the most part of publications 

 received from other institutions in exchange for our Proceedings, and 

 donations of Government reports and papers of a scientific, economic, and 

 historical nature. As exchanges there were received 427 books and pam- 

 phlets, and by gifts 489, or a total of 916 additions during the year. There 

 is yet a small amount of shelf room available, but this will be all taken 

 up within the next year and provision will soon have to be made to begin 

 packing and storing such works as may seem to be of least importance. 

 Even now it is impossible to have all books easily accessible, and the neces- 

 sity of shelving them wherever space is available, either in the library or 

 in sectional bookcases placed elsewhere in the Museum, renders any proper 

 systematic arrangement exceedingly difficult. A considerable amount of 

 binding is imperatively necessary in order that volumes may be kept intact 

 and the loss of separate parts prevented, and the museum and library com- 

 mittee will be asked to consider this matter as soon as possible, recom- 

 mend the works which may be regarded as most important in this con- 

 nection, and utilize to the best advantage whatever funds may be available 

 for the purpose. Certain necessary textbooks for the work of the museum 

 were purchased from the library fund, and others are the personal prop- 

 erty of the members of the museum staff; but certain works of a similar 



