244 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



nor had the other non-metallic substances mentioned. This collection 

 occupied two flattop table cases and fourteen floor-upright cases on 

 the western side of the hall. 



The second exhibition-series was comprised under the head of the 

 geographical series, and was arranged, by States, in the cases extend- 

 ing entirely around the court, and also in twelve floor-upright cases 

 occupying the east side of the hall. The center of the court was occu- 

 pied by eight table-cases filled with duplicate and unassorted matter, 

 and carrying flat-top exhibition cases, filled with materials illustrating 

 the Krupp metallurgical works, the mineral resources of Austria, and 

 portions of the Washoe collections of ores. This geographical series 

 comprised some 5,000 specimens, and was but partially arranged. The 

 samples, although mostly identified, were of all shapes, sizes, and 

 quality, nearly all in need of washing and judicious trimming, and 

 many of them suitable only for rejection as soon as better material can 

 be obtained to replace them. It is on this collection, and the material 

 stored in the work-rooms and table-cases, that a very hirge share of our 

 energies have been expended since November 1. During this time, 

 copy for 3,350 labels has been prepared and sent to the Government 

 Printer. 



It was scarcely to be expected that office and laboratory arrange- 

 ments satisfactory to one curator should be equally so to another, even 

 were it proposed to carry out the same line of work ; hence, one of the 

 first tasks undertaken on my assuming charge was that of remodeling 

 the chemical laboratory and offices of the department this beiug the 

 more necessary from the fact that Mr. Dewey's work was largely of a 

 metallurgical character. The changes in the laboratory arrangements 

 have been made with a view to restoring it to its original condition at 

 the time it was in charge of Mr. F. W. Taylor. It should be stated 

 here that at the time of assuming charge there was but a meager sup- 

 ply of chemicals and apparatus, and such of the latter as there was, 

 had suffered from long use. Up to date something over $200 has been 

 expended for chemicals and apparatus, the more important additions 

 being a "domestic still" for distilling water, and a small air-pump. 

 The department has also been enriched by the receipt of a Grand Model 

 Petrographic Microscope, made by Nachet of Paris. 



NOTES UPON THE MORE IMPORTANT ACCESSIONS. 



The accessions of the year which are of especial interest, are enu- 

 merated below : 



(1) A series of twenty-one transparencies, large size, for windows on south side of 

 west-south range. Gift of the U. S. Geological Survey. 



(2) A small series of rocks and ores from the Australian Museum at Sydney, Aus- 

 tralia. 



(3) A large slah of Potsdam quartzite with tracks of Protichmites lofjanus (Marsh). 

 Gift of C. D. Walcott. 



