1873.] SENATE— No. 252. 31 



that the school shall furnish an opportunity for students of 

 Natural History, especially the teachers of our public schools, 

 who may be engaged in giving instruction in that branch, to 

 acquaint themselves with the methods of study which are 

 used in the Museum. The summer term of three months 

 will enable those who are earnest in such work, to acquire a 

 knowledge of facts and methods which cannot fail to have a 

 very important influence upon the ways of teaching in our 

 public schools. Some liberal citizens of Nantucket have 

 agreed to furnish a suitable buikling on the edge of the water, 

 which will give a larger amount of room for the work of 

 investigation and instruction than is afforded by any other 

 existing school. 



There are six rooms, each thirty by forty feet, and one of 

 twice this size, which can be used for the purposes of the 

 school. A number of the working naturalists have promised 

 to aid m the work of instruction. It now seems reasonable 

 to expect that there will be at least twenty-five investigators 

 of ability, and a considerable number of students in attend- 

 ance next summer. The U. S. Coast Survey and the com- 

 missioner of fisheries, have promised their cooperation in 

 this work. Although like the existing department of instruc- 

 tion in the Museum, in connection with Harvard University, 

 this school will be in fact the summer session in the educa- 

 tional department of the Museum. Under its general direc- 

 tion, it may prove a powerful means of extending the system 

 of instruction which has always been followed in the Museum. 

 It is to be hoped that the necessary arrangements may be 

 made to enable the teachers of the State Normal Schools to 

 attend this school during the summer vacation. 



Report on the PalcBontologicdl Collections generally, by John 



B. Perry. 



The following account of the present condition of the 

 paleeontological collections, and of the progress made in the 

 department during the past year, is respectfully submitted. 



As to the condition of the collections a few words will 



