150 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



specimens from the iron mine at Antwerp, New York, from Mr. R. S. 

 Hodge, of Antwerp; 86 specimens, mainly of German minerals, from 

 B. Stiirtz, of Bonn. By purchase — 74 specimens of Swedish minerals, 

 collected by L. Igelstrom. The total growth of the collection during 

 the year, though not remarkably rapid, has been satisfactory. 



Concerning the routine work of the department little need be said. 

 The usual amount of necessary cataloguing, labeling, mounting, etc., 

 has been done, and the exchange system has been kept up so as to leave 

 no outstanding obligations at the close of the year. In exchanges we 

 sent out 28 packages, containing 753 specimens, and two collections, 

 numbering 198 specimens, have been given to educational institutions. 

 Seventeen specimens have been transferred to the chemical laboratory 

 of the U. S. Geological Survey for use in current investigations. In 

 field-work, under the Geological Survey, I visited a number of localities 

 in Maine and Massachusetts, and sent in fair but not large collections. 



A little scientific work upon minerals belonging to the Museum has 

 been done by myself and my associates in the laboratory of the Geolog- 

 ical Survey. This is covered by three researches, namely : One by my- 

 self upon the micas ; one by Mr. J. E. Whitfield, on the natural borates; 

 and one by Mr. R. B. Biggs, upon the tourmalines. None of these were 

 published during the current year. 



During the year 1,938 specimens have been added to the collection 

 (comprising 875 entries in the catalogue). Of these, 1,283 have been 

 assigned to the reserve and 649 to the duplicate series. Six were re- 

 jected. Of the 1,938 specimens above mentioned, 1,428 are derived 

 from new accessions, 495 belonging to the old collection, and 15 being 

 re-entered on account of polishing. Of the 1,428 specimens, 175 were 

 acquired by gift, 589 through exchange, 241 by purchase, 12 were re- 

 ceived on deposit, and 411 were collected by Government parties and 

 transferred to the National Museum according to law. 



In the above enumeration the Shepard meteorites are not included. 



Number of specimens on exhibition, Museum series 3, 238 



Number of specimens on exhibition, study series, reserved 5,404 



Duplicates 8,530 



Total 17,172 



In Willcox collection 1, 229 



In Shepard collection, say 300 



Grand total 18,60L 



