THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 21 



To supplement the school nature study work, stories for the winter 

 and spring were about insects. The life histories of three groups — Ants 

 Bees and Wasps — were woven into Saturday morning talks that attracted 

 an average of 50 youngsters weekly. Miss Lois Hirst did the work and 

 did it well. It would be an untold advantage to have such a worker with 

 the children regularly. 



Work with Scouts. 



Scout work has required more attention than in previous years. Scout 

 captains have served to demonstrate ways in which the Museum can be 

 used in connection with Scout work. Outlined exercises preparatory to 

 examinations for merit badges have led to study of native birds, mam- 

 mals and plants by as many as 43 Scouts in a single day. 



Special Exhibits have supplemented these and other activities and are 

 useful for keeping a museum alive and attracting fresh sections of the 

 public. Following Dr. Kirkham's course on the history of the human 

 body an evolution exhibit was installed to show by charts, models and 

 casts the latest scientific beliefs regarding the origin and evolution of man. 



Miss Harriet Harris's Collection of about 200 dolls indicates the dress 

 of people of many countries. 



Gifts. 



A very recent gift is from Mrs. Waterman S. C. Russell of three full 

 Icelandic costumes with interesting accessories. To the same depart- 

 ment Bishop Thomas F. Davies has given an important collection of 550 

 ornaments and implements of the stone age from this and other countries. 



Dr. William B. Kirkham's gift of models, casts and specimens makes 

 the evolution exhibit permanent. 



To the department of geology Mr. John D. Colton has added much 

 fine material. 



Mr. Walter S. Barr has donated a collection of 109 Australian bird 

 skins, and the beginning of a collection of models to illustrate local 

 reptilian forms is the gift of Mr. Robert 0. Morris. 



To the botanical department Mr. A. B. Copeland has given 246 her- 

 barium specimens. 



Luman Andrews. 



This is the first report in many years that has not a record of gifts 

 from Luman Andrews. Mr. Andrews' death occured in August, 1921 

 and removed one of the Museum's most valued friends and donors. Mr. 

 Andrews was a well known member of the New England Botanical 

 Society and an important contributor to botanical records published by 

 the Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey. He became 

 interested in the Springfield Museum, and in 1898 made his first gift to 

 its collections. This consisted of fossils, minerals and Indian relics, 

 approximately 1000 specimens. 



Interested in science generally, botany was his particular subject; and 

 subsequent donations to the Museum resulted in the present splendid 

 Luman Andrews Herbarium of about 15,000 specimens. Mr. Andrews 

 was an extensive collector, exact as to data and identification, and his 

 material was beautifully mounted. 



