I . 



The Museum has, during the past year as in pn 

 ora the following boui c 



(a) By gift from correspondents. 



(b) By exchange with institutions al home and abroad. 



(c) l'>\ the deposit of the collections of the various surveys and <'<>\ 

 ernmenl departments which here iin<l their legal repository. 



(d) From the work in connection with the several expeditions. 



{<■) Asa result of the explorations carried on under the patronage or 

 with the co-operation of the Smithsonian Institution and Museum. 



Mr. John Durand has rendered efficient service in negotiating ex- 

 changes with European museums. 



Every important accession is fully described in the reports of the sev- 

 eral scientific departments. 



PROGRESS IN CLASSIFICATION AM) ARRANGEMENT. 

 [a) Laboratory work and catalogue entries. 



By "laboratory work" is meant the work of the curators upon the col- 

 mis in their special apartments, which are not open to the public. 

 Here the collections are received, unpacked, classified, identified, and 

 catalogued ; here also it is determined whether specimens should be 

 placed in the exhibition series; or, it* not thus assigned, whether or not, 

 they are sufficiently important as material for investigation in the study 

 series, or should be called "duplicates" and distributed to other insti- 

 tutions. 



The efficiency of the Museum work depends, in a large degree, upon 

 the facilities which are afforded to curators for careful and thorough work 

 in the laboratories. It is here that the specimens are indelibly marked 

 with the catalogue number, upon which all future authentications de- 

 pend. Here also must be prepared the labels, upon which the value 

 of the exhibition series to a great extent depends; and here are prose- 

 cuted the scientific investigations, which, through the publications of 

 the Museum, establish the reputation of its scientific staff for thorough 

 and accurate work. The laboratory accommodations are being im- 

 proved, but still there is much to be desired in respect to space, number 

 of clerical assistants, and facilities for the use of books and instru- 

 ments and other appliances. 



In a museum, as in a temporary exposition, the efficiency of each 

 department depends also upon the energy and constant presence of* a 

 thoroughly competent head, and consequently upon the opportunities 

 afforded him for good work in his laboratory. 



The present organization of the Museum is of such recent date that 

 nearly all the curators are still embarrassed by the accumulations of 

 past years, and the greater portion of their time is necessarily devoted 



to unpacking and overhauling the unclassified material which they 



found already on hand when they assumed the duties of l heir pre>ent 



offices. These heritages from the past will soon be under control, and 



