REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 45 



siderable degree for the middle and southern portions of the New 

 World. All that is now required by the Institution for the presentation 

 of such a series is proper accommodations and the meaus necessary to 

 prepare and exhibit the same. 



With the vast number of duplicates on hand it is always easy to 

 secure, in the way of exchange with foreign collections, nearly all the 

 objects desired from other parts of the world, and it will probably never 

 be necessary to ask for funds, to any extent, to secure such articles by 

 purchase — an expense which constitutes the principal outlay of most 

 foreign museums. 



Mineralogical Collection. — The following is an account of the mineral- 

 ogical department, by Dr. F. M. Endlich, who has charge of this branch 

 of the museum: 



The mineralogical department of the United States National Museum 

 (placed by Congress under the charge of the Smithsonian Institution) 

 comprises four divisions : 



I. Mineralogy. III. Ores. 



II. Lithology. IV. Metallurgy. 



The collection of minerals occupies twelve cases, and numbers upwards 

 of 3,000 specimens, belonging to 230 species. These minerals are col- 

 lected from all parts of the globe, obtained to a considerable extent from 

 the United States Government expeditions, and by exchange and dona- 

 tions. Dana's system of mineralogy has been chosen to serve as a basis 

 for the arrangement of the different species and groups, and, in order to 

 render the collection of use to the visitor or student, a very elaborate 

 system of labelling lias been adopted. Every specimen, unless too large, 

 is placed in a paste-board tray, which contains, at the same time, a label 

 giving the name of the mineral, the chemical composition, crystalline 

 form, if any, locality, and the name of the donor. At the beginning of 

 each species in the continuous row is placed a printed "species-label," 

 giving the name and chemical composition, and distinguished from the 

 rest by a red border. To the front edge of its tray every specimen has 

 attached a printed label with black border, showing the name and lo- 

 cality. In case the mineral is not contained in a tray this label is placed 

 in some conspicuous position near it. The printed labels are so distrib- 

 uted as to be easily read by the visitor, at the same time disposed in 

 such a manner as not to obstruct the view of the specimen. Large 

 printed " division-labels" are placed at the head of each of the six divi- 

 sions adopted by Professor Dana. 



This system of labelling will enable the student to see at once the 

 name, composition, and locality of any mineral, and will show him its 

 position in the adopted system of classification. Besides these precau- 

 tionary measures, to preserve the history of every individual specimen, 

 a number is written on every specimen, corresponding to one in the 

 mineral record, in which the labels are entered. 



