Report of the President 41 



I. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 



Frederic A. Lucas, Director 



While the ever-increasing congestion, caused by the failure 

 to erect new buildings, is felt in both the exhibition halls and 

 the study series, the delay has not been without some small 

 compensation, as it has permitted or compelled special atten- 

 tion being given to the rearrangement and labeling of collec- 

 tions already on exhibition. The great drawback of lack of 

 room is felt most seriously in the exhibits of mammals, reptiles 

 and fishes : for example, there is absolutely no provision at 

 present for the mammals of Asia and Europe; the systematic 

 series of fishes is in the Hall of Birds, and the reptile groups 

 are installed in rooms whence they must ultimately be moved at 

 the expenditure of much time and trouble. 



The need for storage room is felt everywhere, but especially 

 in the departments of mammals, birds and insects. 



There has been again a steady increase in the use made of 

 the Museum and its collections by classes and students from 

 schools and colleges, from kindergarten to uni- 

 P fp t h , v^ Jse ver sity, the exhibits being studied from the view- 

 points of art, science, hygiene and technology. 

 Aside from these the Museum has been used by or has fur- 

 nished information for sculptors, painters and designers of tex- 

 tiles ; writers and illustrators of books, magazine and newspaper 

 articles ; actors and producers of motion pictures ; manufactur- 

 ers of toys and buttons, and by farmers, gardeners, foresters 

 and housekeepers in search of remedies for various "pests." 



The most accurate record of the attendance of students is 

 probably that kept in the Darwin Hall, and this shows that 

 during the year the collections in that one room have been used 

 by 273 classes, comprising 11,442 pupils and representing 122 

 institutions. This is an increase of 4,775 students over 1914. 

 Among those making regular use of the exhibits in the Dar- 

 win Hall are Columbia University, Barnard College, the Col- 

 lege of the City of New York, Hunter College, the Long Island 



