REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I917 21 



paired corridors leading from trie main hall to the rotunda into the 

 zoology hall, that is, next adjoining the Fuertes bird paintings. The 

 cases which have now been constructed and put in place are keyboard 

 cases equipped with inside steps and supported by wooden bracket. 

 These line both walls of each corridor. 



The work of installing the specimens has proceeded to a point at 

 which it may be said that about one-half the collection is now 

 exposed to view. It is planned to give exhibition space to as many 

 of these specimens as practicable and at the same time to protect 

 their delicate coloration from fading by excluding practically all 

 the daylight and displaying them under electric lamps. The lighting 

 device for this purpose has been installed and the display is of 

 great effectiveness because of the extraordinary variant combinations 

 of color patterns on the most graceful of all shapes. The collection 

 attracts because of its beauty. 



jl Other exhibits in zoology. A habitat group of the otter and a 

 very effective reproduction of the burrow-nest of the bank swallow 

 with its birds, have been located and installed by the members of 

 the zoology staff. Recently there have been acquired the materials 

 necessary for habitat group of the timber wolf (eight animals) and 

 of the beaver (seven animals). These will be completed as oppor- 

 tunity affords; but the enlistment of Sherman C. Bishop, zoologist, 

 in the U. S. Navy and of the taxidermist, Arthur Paladin, in the 

 New York State Guard, will of necessity delay the work. 



The George Lasher Taylor collection of fossils. The collection of 

 fossils from the various formations in the Schoharie valley, left by 

 the death of Mr Taylor, has been presented to the Museum by his 

 mother, Mrs Joseph Taylor of Schoharie. It consists of about 600 

 specimens from this classic region for Paleozoic fossils. 



Indian basketry. The museum has received from Mrs Frederick 

 F. Thompson a gift of forty-two Indian baskets from the western 

 tribes, which are very acceptable for illuminating comparatively the 

 basketry weave and motives among the Iroquois. These baskets 

 are listed as follows : 



1 Salish baby basket 



1 Havasupai water bottle 



2 Havasupai bowl baskets 

 1 Navaho sacred basket 



1 Poma conical basket 



4 Poma bowl baskets (one very modern) 



5 Pima large bowl baskets 



