184 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



was given to looking after laboratory work and in the preparation of a 

 paper on " The Taconic System of Emmons, and the use of the name 

 Taconic in Geologic nomenclature." This study prevented the continu- 

 ance of that of the Upper Cambrian Terrane. This latter will be re- 

 sumed during the ensuing year. 



I respectfully repeat the recommendation made in my report for the 

 last fiscal year, " that a sum be set aside each year for the increase of 

 the collection by purchase and by sending out collectors." 



In the report for 1885-'86a summary was given of the material in the 

 collections, and in the report for the last fiscal year (1886-'87) the acces- 

 sions were given. To that there are now to be added the accessions of 

 the year just ended, which represent 158 specimens. The catalogue 

 numbers taken up during the year are from 17,497 to 17,896, both in- 

 clusive. 



The material selected for the exhibition series includes 10,955 speci- 

 mens, as follows : 



Specimens. 



Cambrian 1,331 



Lower Silurian 2,736 



Upper Silurian 1,711 



Devonian 2,076 



Carbouiferous.... 3,101 



10, 955 



The exhibition cases, thus far assigned to my department, do not 

 furnish sufficient space for making a representative display of all the 

 species J hence it has been planned to have a study and reference col- 

 lection arranged in the drawers, beneath the cases. The duplicate 

 specimens will be packed until storage cases can be secured for them. 



The plan of arrangement of the exhibition series is zoologic, within 

 certain geologic series of rocks ; the first object being to show the 

 stratigraphic succession of the faunas. Later on, when the collections 

 are larger and more thoroughly worked up, a typical zoologic series 

 should be arranged in connection with material from the Mesozoic and 

 Cenozoic groups and recent invertebrates. 



A list of the publications which appeared during the year and which 

 were based on studies of the material contained in the collections or 

 from field work done by myself, is given in the Bibliography, section 

 IV of the Eeport. 



