Report of the President 



21 



Geographic Hall. — For many years the Museum has 

 been carrying on independent explorations, especially in boreal 

 and arctic regions, in which geography has been an important 

 feature. It is now proposed to cooperate with the American 

 Geographical Society in all such work, referring all purely 

 geographical results to the Society and all zoological and 

 other natural history results to the Museum, with a corre- 

 sponding division of expenditures. The American Geographical 

 Society has entered on a new period of activity through the 

 generosity of Mr. Archer M. Huntington, and plans for impor- 

 tant cooperative work in the year 191 2 are now under consid- 

 eration. For two years past, at joint expense, a large standard 

 map of the world in low relief has been in joint preparation, 

 which will be a great credit to the Geographical Society and 

 of much service in the exhibition halls of the Museum. 



African Hall. — Since 1907 the Museum has been carry- 

 ing on very active exploration in Africa to secure the fast- 

 vanishing forms of that continent before it becomes too late. 

 All together $55,000 have been contributed by Trustees and 

 friends for this purpose, the chief expeditions being: 

 The Tjader Expedition, supported by Mr. Samuel Thome. 

 The Fayum Expedition, supported by Mr. Jesup and 



Professor Osborn. 

 The Congo Expedition, under Messrs. Lang and Chapin, 

 supported by a group of the Trustees, together with a 

 generous contribution from the Belgian Government. 

 The Elephant Group Expedition, under Mr. Carl E. 

 Akeley, supported by several Trustees. 



Several valuable ethnological and zoological collections 

 from Africa have also been purchased or are under considera- 

 tion. The time has now arrived when the chief aim of the 

 Museum will be the preparation and exhibition of these col- 

 lections for the new African Hall, the architectural plans of 

 which will be especially prepared for this purpose. 



Oceanographic Hall. — A sudden and unexpected im- 

 pulse was given to the proposed oceanographic work of the 

 Museum through the generous cooperation of the United 

 States Fish Commission in detailing the famous vessel 



