MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. 3 



leaf from Keokuk, Iowa ; a choice specimen of millerite on calcite from 

 the same locality, hematite from Blandford, and fluorite and calcite from 

 Cornwall, England. Mr. Luman Andrews, of Southington, Conn., has 

 added to the botanical material 579 specimens, of which 141 are from Forest 

 Park. Mrs. J. Searle Hurlbut has given a desk case in which the J. Searle 

 Hurlbut collection of the woods of Nassau is now displayed to good advan- 

 tage. 



From the Henry S. Lee estate the museum has received a valuable 

 collection of coins. This gift — of interest as a memorial of a friend and 

 benefactor of the association — contains an unusually complete representa- 

 tion of American coinage. The Engfish coins date back to 958 A. D., 

 while China is represented by specimens dating to 2500 B.C. Besides the 

 coins the collection contains many medals and badges of great historical 

 interest. Two finely made cases for the proper display of the coins have 

 been given by the trustees of the Horace Smith estate. 



Mr. Robert O. Morris continues to give specimens in zoology. A not- 

 able addition is a wildcat taken in Blandford. 



Mr. George S. Lewis has given material to complete the collections in 

 botany already on hand and to provide a series of specimens for educa- 

 tional use. 



Loan Collections. 



During the year sets of material have been made up by the museum 

 staff as loan collections to be used as illustrations for special talks. Each 

 collection contains the substance, with full description and examples of 

 the products or articles made therefrom. A few of the topics thus illus- 

 trated are Cochineal, Opium, Vegetable Ivory, Cork, Peat, Gypsum, Cin- 

 nabar, Asbestus, and Emery. These collections may be had by applying 

 at the nmseum. 



Special Exhibits. 



As a means of interesting people in the museum and in the study of 

 plants and animals, increased attention is paid each year to the special ex- 

 hibits of specimens. On the flower table there have been displayed during 

 the past year three hundred and thirty- three species. A list of the time of 

 flowering of each plant is kept for the year and, as the data thus collected 

 accumulate, interesting comparisons and conclusions in regard to the rela- 

 I tions between the development of vegetation and the temperature condi- 



tions will be made possible. 



The following account of the zoological exhibit will show the value 

 of this department of the museum : 



