Museum of Natural History 



Report of the Curator 



To the Members of the City Library Association the Curator respect- 

 fully presents the twenty-first annual report of the Museum of 

 Natural History: — 



Lectures 



Lecture courses which have been the conspicuous feature of 

 the year's work were first arranged for in response to requests for 

 them. Development of this phase of museum work is a result of 

 increasing demands for more and extended courses. In quality 

 nothing could be offered superior to the lectures given during the 

 year, but in number the courses which it is possible for the museum 

 to provide under the present conditions are far too limited. 



The subjects discussed in these courses, — astronomy, archae- 

 ology and psychology, and in the single lectures on botany and 

 zoology, are listed in the appendix of this report. The attendance 

 at these lectures, already referred to in the president's report, was 

 greater than that of any previous year. 



For interest and service far in excess of the slight compensa- 

 tion given, the museum is indebted to the lecturers. Prof. Jacob 

 T. Bowne, Mr. Clarence M. Hall, Dr. George E. Dawson, Mr. 

 John A. Viele and Mr. James H. Emerton. It is only by such dis- 

 interested service from many sources and in all departments that 

 the museum is able to report its exceptional opportunities and 

 results. 



For these general lectures material from the museum collec- 

 tions including specimens, lantern slides and reference books, have 

 been an indispensable part of the equipment, and for illustrating 

 natural history subjects taught in the public schools this equip- 

 ment is increasingly sought. 



Classes 



Practically every specimen in the botanical department relat- 

 ing to industries has been used once or many times to illustrate 



