DEPAETMENT OF MINERALOGY. 157 



Arrangements. 



Re-arrangements have been made in the rock-species 

 collection at present exhibited in the window-cases on the 

 south side of the gallery, and many additional explanatory 

 labels have been prepared. 



Work by the carpenter on the insides of the table-cases, 

 to render them dust-proof, has been continued, and the 

 fittings of many of the glazed ends of the table-cases have 

 been re -distempered : this has involved much temporary 

 displacement and much re-arrangement of the specimens. 



As a precaution, the mineral specimens of evident intrinsic 

 value (such as precious stones and metals) throughout the 

 collection have been arranged in the safest parts of the 

 exhibition-cases. 



Miscellaneous. 



A topographical index of the locality-labels in use in the 

 collection has been compiled. 



The collection of meteorite-casts has been re-labelled. 



Numerous specimens sent, or brought by visitors, to the 

 Museum have been examined and named. 



Assistance has been given in the revision of the proofs 

 of the Catalogue of the Museum Library. 



Ninety-seven boxes of mineral specimens have been re- 

 ceived, unpacked, and examined : 59 boxes have been packed 

 and despatched. 



The preparation of a copy of the Register of the specimens 

 in the collection has been in progress. 



De'partmental Library. 



To the Departmental Library have been added continua- 

 tions of 36 periodicals (in 568 parts), 43 volumes of separate 

 works, 60 pamphlets and parts of works, and 8 sheets of 

 maps : of these 9 periodicals, 30 pamphlets and 8 sheets of 

 maps were acquired by presentation or transfer. 



All of them, including 440 plates, have been registered 

 and stamped. 



Students. 



The number of visits recorded as made to the Department 

 for the purposes of consultation or study is 1,314. 



The Gallery is no longer reserved on particular days of the 

 week for the exclusive use of Students ; further, study-series 

 have been arranged in the public gallery where they are 

 directly accessible to the public, and have been so labelled 

 as to render reference to the staff for information thereon 

 almost unnecessary : it has thus become difficult to distinguish 

 " Students" of minerals from ordinary " Visitors," and stress 

 can be no longer laid on the distinction. 



