52 Report of the President 



and Queens. Mammal cases, containing small models of a 

 camel, a giraffe, a hippopotamus, the regular bird sets, and a 

 special collection illustrating Chinese life were also sent out. 



In the autumn two lectures for the adult blind were given : 

 on November 19, " Bird Neighbors and Their Homes," by Dr. 

 G. Clyde Fisher, and on December 17, "Wild Animal Friends 

 of Mine," by Mr. Ernest Harold Baynes. Despite inclement 

 weather on both occasions, the total attendance was four hun- 

 dred and twenty-two blind and guides. The experiment of 

 giving the blind the opportunity of " seeing" before the lec- 

 ture the birds and mammals about which stories were to be 

 told was tried and proved helpful. Almost every member of 

 the audience responded to the invitation to come early and 

 discover what the animals were like about which they were to 

 hear. 



We are indebted to Mr. Lorillard Spencer, Jr., Scout Com- 

 missioner of Manhattan, and Mr. W. B. Holcombe, Scout 

 Commissioner of Brooklyn, and to the many Boy Scouts who 

 rendered voluntary service as guides for our blind guests at 

 the evening lectures. 



An important part of the work of the department is its 



docent service and other instruction in the Museum. Many 



times during the year classes of pupils are 

 Instruction Within , , f , , , „ , ! 1 m • 



the Museum conducted through the halls and the exhibits 



explained. Guides are also furnished by 



this department for Members of the Museum, whenever 



requested. 



Twice a year, during Regents' Week, several of the high 

 schools of the city bring their entire biological departments to 

 the Museum for definite laboratory work, especially in the 

 Hall of Habitat Bird Groups, Insect Hall, Darwin Hall, Hall 

 of Public Health and Forestry Hall. Also at this time one or 

 two lectures are given to each school by members of the 

 department. Each of the larger high schools usually comes 

 on two successive days, and the number of schools availing 

 themselves of this opportunity is increasing. 



