DEPARTMENT OF LITHOLOGY AND PHYSICAL GEOLOGY. 241 



fully occupied in identifying and arranging the materials comprising 

 the various collections intended to form a part of the reserve series. 

 Particular attention has been given to the preparation of the exhibition 

 series, but owing to lack of some very essential materials and an insuffi- 

 cient number of proper cases, the collections of rock-forming materials, 

 the structural series, lithological series, and the building and orna- 

 mental stones only are in conditions approximating completion. In 

 Part III of this report will be found a catalogue or the building stone col- 

 lection, so annotated and arranged as to constitute a provisional hand- 

 book. There are now in process of preparation the three exhibition 

 series classed under the heads of Dynamical, Structural, and Historical 

 Geology. A portion of the materials belonging to these series are 

 already on exhibition, being of themselves sufficiently striking in appear- 

 auce to excite interest, though not occupying their proper places in the 

 systematic collection. 



Some two hundred thin sections of rocks have been added to the Mu- 

 seum collections during the year, being prepared in large part by Mr. 

 L. H. Merrill. 



I regret being obliged to state that no progress has been made in 

 the matter of labeling during the entire period covered by this report. 

 Labels have been written but if printed at all the work has been done 

 in such a manner as to render the results valueless, and to necessitate 

 what will amount practically to rewriting the entire copy. It is need- 

 less to say, that so far as this department is concerned, the present 

 methods of printing (whereby the curator receives no proof sheets) are 

 extremely unsatisfactory. 



Eight series of duplicates, comprising 292 specimens, have been sent 

 out during the year in the way of exchanges. To this list should also 

 be added the building-stone collection already noted, which although 

 not as yet shipped is in complete readiness. 



The working force of the department was largest during the early 

 part of the year, owing to the extra work entailed in the preparation of 

 the Jessup collection of building stone. It has been as follows: 



For the three months ending October 1, two stone-cutters and one 

 stone-polisher ; for the four months ending October 31, one laborer ; 

 for the six months ending December 31, one section-cutter and general 

 assistant, Mr. L. H. Merrill ; for the entire year one lady clerk, Miss B. 

 Frankland. Since March, Mr. E. S. Lewis has satisfactorily filled the 

 position of volunteer assistant, and one laborer has been detailed to 

 work in the department when not required for special duties elsewhere. 



The total number of entries upon the department catalogue during 

 the year has been 1,021, comprising some 1,270 specimens of various 

 kinds. 



Pressure of routine work in the past, as in preceding years, has pre- 

 cluded the devotion of much time to original work with a view to pub- 

 lication. This together with the fact that such of my time as could be 

 H. Mis. 170, pt. 2 16 



