20 Report of the President. 



Department of Geology and Associated Departments. — 

 The past year has been one of very little growth in the collections 

 of the Department of Geology, etc., except in the section of miner- 

 alogy. Two gifts to the geological section, however, are worthy 

 of mention here ; that from the Smithsonian Institution of a series 

 of specimens of Pre-Cambrian slates containing fragments of a 

 crustacean much more ancient than any organism discovered pre- 

 viously ; and that from H. Linden, secretary of the Zoological 

 Station at Naples, Italy, of an entire volcanic bomb of large size 

 from the summit of the volcano of Gran' Cratere on the island of 

 Vulcano, near Sicily. Eight specimens of the trilobite, Triarthrus 

 becki, which are remarkable for the preservation of the legs and 

 antennae, were added by purchase. 



The Curator of the department wrote and placed in position 

 about one thousand exhibition labels for specimens in the James 

 Hall collection, which nearly completes the labeling of that 

 collection. 



The work on the Catalogue of Types and Figured Specimens 

 in the collections of the department has advanced rapidly. Part 

 III, comprising pages 190-356 of the Catalogue and including the 

 Devonian forms, was issued in October. The preliminary cards 

 for the most of the remainder of the collection have been pre- 

 pared and the completion of this important work during the 

 coming year is assured. 



The collection of recent invertebrates has received no additions 

 of importance during the year. 



The mineral collection has been increased by a number of gifts, 

 the specimens added representing, in some part, obscure species, 

 and also very beautiful examples of more common groups. The 

 Department is again called upon in these additions to recognize 

 the generosity of Miss M. W. Bruce. 



At the close of the year a changed aspect was given to the 

 whole future of the Mineral Cabinet by the prospect of our acquir- 

 ing the Bement Collection of Minerals. 



The Gem Collection has received some valuable single additions, 

 embracing Quartz, Agate, Garnet, and Gold specimens, but its 

 character and extent have been, simultaneously with the mineral 

 cabinet, greatly changed through the generosity of Mr. Morgan, 



