224 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



may be briefly stated as follows : A specimen, when received and cata- 

 logued, is assigned to either the exhibition or study series or placed 

 among the duplicates. The latter are kept in drawers in the work-room 

 on the third floor of the southwest pavilion, and need no further men- 

 tion here. The exhibition series is displayed in sloping-top cases of 

 three shelves each, and these are placed upon cases of drawers contain- 

 ing the study series. The classification is essentially according to 

 Dana's system, slightly modified ; and the purpose is to have the same 

 case, above and below, coutain the same group of minerals. For ex- 

 ample, our finest micas or calcites would be shown in the exhibition 

 series, while immediately below them, in unit case drawers, would 

 be as wide a range of the same species as possible for exhaustive 

 monographic study. Under this policy the bulk of our collection, hav- 

 ing scientific interest mainly, will not be exposed to public view • while 

 every effort will be made to have every mineral represented by all known 

 varieties and from many localities, in order that whoever visits the 

 Museum for mineralogical research may find the broadest opportunities. 

 Full educational series will, however, be publicly displayed, together 

 with all such specimens as are popularly attractive by consequence of 

 their size or beauty. Very large specimens, of course, are shown on 

 pedestals or in independent cases. At the date of writing, as nearly as 

 may be estimated, the collection numbers 15,288 specimens, distributed 

 as follows : — 



On exhibition in t lie Museum 1 , 655 



On exhibition in New Orleans "500 



Total *2, 155 



In reserve series 5, 881 



Duplicates 5,883 



The exact numbers cannot be absolutely given, for many of the 

 specimens now on exhibition at New Orleans were received too late for 

 full cataloguing and entry. As the work of installing the collection 

 goes on, the distribution of specimens in the several series may be ma- 

 terially changed. In addition to cataloguing many minerals belonging 

 to the old collection, accessions amounting to 3,145 specimens were en- 

 tered upon the register during the year. 



When I assumed the care of this department in December, 1883, the 

 chemical laboratory of the Museum was also placed in my charge. In 

 that laboratory I have conducted, with the aid of Messrs. T. M. Cha- 

 tard, F. A. Gooch and Edward Whitfield, the chemical work of the 

 IT. S. Geological Survey, and whatever researches have been prose- 

 cuted upon the mineral material have been carried forward in that 

 connection. Jointly with Dr. Ghatard, I published a paper in the 

 American Journal of Science for July, entitled "Mineralogical Notes 

 from the Laboratory of the U. S. Geological Survey," which notes, to- 

 gether with many w r ater, rock and ore analyses, have also appeared 



"Approximate. 



