8 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



the first-hand material and exact data obtained. Obviously, such 

 undertakings are not possible for our museum at present, but to an 

 unusual extent has it reaped benefits from personal expeditions and 

 investigations by patrons. The history of the museum for the fifty 

 years tells of such advantages, and the past year has materially 

 increased such records. 



Mr. Clarence B. Moore of Philadelphia, who has for many years 

 made special studies of aboriginal mounds of the southern United 

 States, has added to his previous gifts a collection of 38 rare pieces 

 of pottery from mounds and burial places in Arkansas. The entire 

 collection now constitutes one of the choicest sections in the depart- 

 ment of archaeology and ethnology. 



Mr. Waterman S. C. Russell of this city brought back from 

 Iceland last summer a valuable collection of minerals, rocks, and 

 volcanic specimens. These added to Mr. RusselFs gift of a year 

 earlier make a fine Icelandic display. 



The Springfield Volcanic Research Society's collection made by 

 Mr. Frank A. Ferret is another received directly from the investi- 

 gator. 



Mr. Luman Andrews is doing the museum a splendid service by 

 providing a personally collected and prepared herbarium, most of 

 which represents the flora of Springfield and vicinity. A total of 

 5,863 specimens have already been donated by this zealous worker, 

 1,245 coming in this year. With the herbarium is a card catalogue 

 which furnishes data for "A Preliminary List of the Flora of Spring- 

 field, Massachusetts," which will soon be published by the museum. 



From Mr. Gilbert H. Montague, formerly of Springfield, a good 

 series of local geological specimens have been received. 



To the display of Philippine woods, interest has been added by 

 Mr. Frank C. Rice's gift of a collection of canes made from selected 

 woods that grow on the Philippine Islands. 



Mr. Walter H. Wesson opens a new department, that of fresh- 

 water food and game fishes of New England, with a gift of 23 extra 

 fine specimens. To complete this group about as many more species 

 will be added, and all will be displayed in a 12-foot wall case, which 

 is also the gift of Mr. Wesson. Through Mr. George H. Graliam's 

 interest in the subject, Mr. Wesson permitted Denton Brothers of 

 Wellesley, Mass., to collect and prepare this series, which proves to 

 be one of the most attractive in the building. A great improvement 

 over the old-time fishes in alcohol are these lifelike objects, being in 

 form and color particularly accurate. 



