Jan., 19 1 8. Annual Report of the Director. 



177 



the minerals which are associated with the diamonds of the deposit 

 were placed in a series of trays. In addition, the exhibit as at present 

 displayed includes large samples of the Kimberley ''blue ground" and 

 a specimen of diamond in the matrix. The installation of the meteorite 

 collection has been somewhat rearranged during the year and a number 

 of improvements made. The pyramids of three of the cases containing 

 stone meteorites were remodeled, in order to better display the speci- 

 mens. For this purpose the specimens were first removed and then 

 reinstalled. A border left by etching on a large number of specimens 

 of the iron meteorites as they were received was found to be misleading 

 to visitors, as it appeared to represent a natural feature. Accordingly 

 fifty-two of these specimens have been repolished and reetched. 

 Exhibition labels have been provided for the entire meteorite collec- 

 tion, and about six hundred were installed during the year. Adjacent 

 to the meteorite collection, a series of terrestrial irons has been put 

 on exhibition, the series including a number of specimens of the Santa 

 Catharina and Greenland irons and awaruite from several localities. 

 Two terrestrial globes prepared by the Assistant Curator to show special 

 features, were added to the exhibition series of maps. One of these 

 globes is colored to show the geological age of the different portions of 

 the earth's surface about which the data are known, and upon the other 

 are indicated the areas of the earth which are subject to earthquakes. 

 The data for the geological globe were based largely on the well-known 

 map by Jules Marcou with some corrections and additions. The colors 

 chosen to represent the different periods were selected to give a pleasing 

 effect and provide contrast without harshness. On the earthquake globe 

 the land and water are shown in light colors and the earthquake regions 

 are represented in a strongly contrasting dark shade. The zonal dis- 

 tribution of regions subject to earthquakes is thus well brought out. 

 As the large skull of Triceratops in Hall 36 was found to be undergoing 

 injury on account of vibration caused by the passing of heavy objects, 

 it was removed to a less exposed location in Hall 33. Two floor cases of 

 Jurassic fossils were moved from Hall 33 to Hall 36 in order to occupy 

 the vacated space and some other adjustments of cases in this hall 

 were made so as to give better lighting. The skeleton of the fossil wolf 

 from the Los Angeles asphalt beds, which was mounted during the year, 

 was installed in a case in Hall 36 with other specimens from these beds. 

 The skeleton as mounted represents the animal stepping from an 

 apparently firm mixture of asphalt and soil into a soft asphalt from which 

 it was unable to escape. In a floor case in Hall 59 a skeleton of a saber- 

 tooth tiger from the same deposit was placed on exhibition in a dis- 

 articulated form, so that its osteological characters may be readily 



