Annual Reports 125 



kinds of subjects to an extent that would surprise anyone not familiar 

 with the facts. Visitors come from long distances to examine our collec- 

 tions and to study our local historical literature and maps ; and residents 

 of the island, especially children, are constantly bringing in plants, min- 

 erals, insects, etc., to be identified and named. Numerous requests for 

 information are also received by mail and telephone, and from visitors 

 who call at the Museum in order to make some special inquiry about some 

 matter in regard to which we are assumed to be informed. 



The following requests for assistance and information, selected from 

 the many that have come to us during the year, may serve to indicate the 

 wide range of knowledge that the museum is expected to cover : 



From the Acting President of the Borough, referring a communication 

 from the Bureau of Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, requesting assist- 

 ance in the preparation of the Handbook of Aboriginal Remains East 

 of the Mississippi; from the office of the Borough President, asking for 

 suggestions for suitable names to replace duplications of street names in 

 the borough; from the Superintendent of the Staten Island Rapid Transit 

 Railway Co., a request for suggestions for utilizing unemployed men. A 

 visitor from Massachusetts called especially to obtain information in re- 

 gard to the Richmond Turnpike and the old Post Road between New 

 York and Philadelphia; and there are many inquiries as to the location of 

 buildings of historical interest, such as the house in which Aaron Burr 

 once lived, the old Planter's Hotel, etc. Geological questions include 

 these : " can you tell me what amount of asbestos may be obtained on 

 Staten Island?"; "is there any clay on the island suitable for modeling 

 purposes?"; "are there any deposits of peat of commercial importance 

 on Staten Island?"; as well as many others inquiring about the geological 

 formation in specific localities. Visitors have asked " how to tap sugar 

 maples " ; " how to have broken branches removed from street trees " ; 

 " how to catch and prepare butterflies " ; how to destroy various insect 

 pests which are infesting their trees or plants ; and inquiries of all kinds 

 relating to birds are of daily occurrence. Some miscellaneous questions 

 asked have been " where to board a pet canary while its owner is away 

 on a vacation " ; " how to feed and care for young alligators " ; " has the 

 museum a collection of woods illustrating structure, strength, etc." ; " why 

 are so many geese flying south late every afternoon " (the geese being 

 sea gulls) ; and there are numerous genealogical inquiries from descend- 

 ants of old Staten Island families, who have moved away from the island 

 and wish to locate the land or dwelling once owned by members of their 

 families in the time of the first settlers. 



School Lectures 



Probably no feature of the museum work has been more thoroughly 

 satisfactory than the free illustrated Friday afternoon lectures for school 

 children. The three courses given, extending from October 23, 1914, to 



