to the best advantage of the collections. This is specially true of 

 the large alcoholic and dry collection of Marine Invertebrates. 

 Fortunately, thanks to Professor Faxon's interest in the collections 

 placed under his charge, this unsatisfactory state of things is fast 

 approaching an end. Mr. Faxon has also been indefatigable in 

 his care of the exhibition collections. They have been greatly 

 improved in their appearance since he has taken general charge 

 of the exhibition rooms. 



Our magnificent collections of Fossil Vertebrates and Inverte- 

 brates remain without a special custodian. Under these condi- 

 tions it is of course impossible for us to fill intelligently the 

 existing wants, and keep the collections up with the demands of 

 the day. Until the means are provided for two Assistants, one 

 for Vertebrate and one for Invertebrate Palaeontology, we can- 

 not hope to make any progress towards the arrangement of the 

 Palasontological Exhibition Rooms. 



The unfortunate condition of things existing in the Palaeonto- 

 logical Department is not wholly limited to those collections. It 

 exists in nearly all the other departments, but to a less degree, — 

 as in Conchology, in Entomology, in Marine Invertebrates, and in 

 Birds and Mammals. 



While it is not within the province of a University Museum to 

 compete with national, state, or municipal establishments, either 

 in this country or abroad, it should be possible for a University 

 Museum to provide not only for the maintenance of collections 

 necessary to promote original research among its Professors, but 

 it should be also possible to make appropriations to obtain such 

 additions to this material, either by purchase or by sending out 

 collectors, as will keep the Professors and Assistants in touch with 

 the progress of their departments. 



In the Entomological Department I have to note the increased 

 use of both Ihe collections and library by entomologists and 

 students. 



Comparatively little progress has been made with the arrange- 

 ment of the Geological and Geographical Exhibition Rooms, owing 

 to the want of money for obtaining the necessary cases. With a 

 very moderate expenditure a beginning might be made by using 

 temporarily the cases from the Chicago Exposition given to the 

 Geological Department by the Corporation, as a large number of 

 specimens, both large and small, have been brought together, so 



