392 Field Museum of Natural History — Reports, Vol. V. 



tube about nine feet long and an inch in diameter, with walls of about 

 the thickness and strength of an egg shell. This had been mounted on 

 hangers which held it about six inches from the back of its case. In order 

 to move this specimen with its supporting wooden rod it was placed in a 

 horizontal position in a special packing case. It was then well wrapped 

 with paraffined tissue paper and a thin fin of tow and plaster was built up 

 from an anchorage on the packing case floor to the specimen, supporting 

 it throughout its entire length. At intervals of perhaps a foot, a narrow 

 ring of tow and plaster was also passed around the specimen to connect 

 it securely to the fin. The parafiined tissue not only prevented staining 

 by the plaster but also checked any adhesion of the plaster or dovetailing 

 to any rough portions of the specimen. Protected in this manner the 

 specimen was safely transported to the new building and after unpacking 

 was readily mounted and installed. 



Besides the exhibition cases, the departmental material transported 

 to the new building was contained in 226 barrels, 1,086 large boxes and 

 crates and several thousand small boxes and cartons. Packing, trans- 

 portation and unpacking of this material was accomplished with prac- 

 tically no loss whatever from breakage or other injury, a fact which gives 

 proof of the care with which the packing and handling was done. The 

 large skeleton of the Northern Mammoth presented to the Museum some 

 years ago by Mr. George Manierre and temporarily housed at the Chi- 

 cago Academy of Sciences through the courtesy of that institution, was 

 also transferred to the new building. 



In order to facilitate placing of the exhibition cases in the new 

 building, installation mmabers were given to each hall of the portion of 

 the building assigned to the department and to each alcove in each 

 hall. The cases designated for these alcoves were then correspondingly 

 marked, so that on arrival at the new building each case was taken 

 directly to its assigned alcove. Before installation all the glass of all the 

 cases was cleaned, the wood-work of the exteriors was refinished and 

 that of the interiors repainted. Any injuries to the exterior wood-work 

 of the cases that were too deep to be rubbed out, were carefully chiseled 

 out and new wood inserted and the whole refinished in such a manner as 

 to restore the cases to their original appearance. The cases forming the 

 sides of the alcoves were carefully fitted to one another in such a manner 

 as to make the line of joining as narrow and inconspicuous as possible 

 and they were then securely fastened together. A greater rigidity and 

 stability of the cases was thus gained, and a pleasing appearance of the 

 cases as seen from the aisle was produced. The number of cases so joined 

 was 126. Twenty of the flat cases having shown in moving that the 

 method of attachment of the legs was not as secure as was desirable, 



