40 Report of the President 



dark days, and the stereotyped — and correct — reply is that 

 we simply cannot light the building without an appropriation 

 for changing the fixtures and adding somewhat to the coal 

 bill. The first floor is now completely tungstenized and 

 much has been done on the second and third floors. As a 

 part of the work of improving the lights, the Gem Hall has 

 been equipped with new fixtures which add much to its 

 appearance. New cases are much needed for this collection, 

 of lighter construction and more in keeping as to form and 

 size with the objects displayed. 



The most important work in exhibition is the installation 



of the collection of mollusks and the opening of the Hall of 



__ _ , ... . Shells after having been closed for four 

 New Exhibits T ,. , , , 



years. It would be pleasant to write that 



all the exhibition halls are open, but this cannot take place 

 until there is a new wing and room for the work of prepara- 

 tion now being carried on in the Southeast Pavilion, second 

 floor. 



The most noteworthy single piece placed on exhibition 

 during the year was the Model of the Copper Queen Mine 

 which had been in course of preparation for three years and is 

 one of the most accurate, if not the most accurate model of 

 the kind ever made. 



The award for the most beautiful piece should undoubtedly 

 go to the group depicting the awakening spring life of the 

 New England ponds and pools. This is not only the most 

 beautiful of the groups showing the home life of amphibians 

 and reptiles, but has no superiors in this respect among the 

 many that have been made. 



A most desirable addition to the Hall of North American 

 Mammals is a group of Beavers, and many of our visitors 

 have doubtless justly wondered why this, in some ways the 

 most important of all our mammals, as the Pronghorn is the 

 most characteristic, has so long been missing. 



Material has been secured for a group of Mountain Sheep 

 and for one or two groups of small mammals, and in the 

 meantime the Fur Seals are being made into a habitat group. 

 Thus, although the animals destined ultimately for the Boreal 



