Oct.  1895. 
Annual  Report  of  the  Director. 
hall  and  case  numbers.  An  appendix  contained  a  list  of  the  donors, 
contributors  of  loan  collections,  and  collectors'  names.  The  numer- 
ous changes  and  arrangement  of  material  entailed  much  alteration  of 
the  proof,  so  that  the  edition  was  more  expensive  than  usual.  The 
edition  was  3,000.  The  second  edition  of  the  Guide  was  published 
as  soon  as  the  first  was  exhausted,  and  the  opportunity  was  taken 
advantage  of  to  make  the  numerous  changes  required  by  re-installa- 
tion. This  edition  was  also  of  3,000.  A  subsequent  edition  of  3,000 
was  issued  in  March  of  this  year. 
In  October,  1894,  a  plan  was  outlined  for  a  series  of  scien- 
tific and  historical  publications  which  should  be  the  medium  of 
presenting  to  the  world  the  results  of  the  research  and  investi- 
gation conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Museum.  The  pub- 
lications are  intended  primarily  to  convey  information  upon  the  col- 
lections and  expeditions  of  the  Museum.  There  is  no  restriction, 
however,  as  to  authorship  or  subject,  provided  the  papers  come 
within  the  scope  of  scientific  or  technical  discussion.  Each  number 
as  issued  is  treated  as  a  separate  monograph  on  the  subject,  so 
that  the  publication  series  includes  what  in  other  museums  and  scien- 
tific institutions  appear  under  the  title  of  transactions,  memoirs, 
bulletins  or  catalogues.  In  order  to  provide  for  volume  binding,  a 
sectional  plan  has  been  adopted,  and  the  following  series  have  thus 
far  been  established:  Historical,  Geographical,  Botanical,  Zoologi- 
cal and  Anthropological.  Each  series  has  its  own  volume  numbers 
and  consecutive  pagination.  This  plan  has  the  obvious  advantage 
that  the  publications  of  each  department  are  kept  distinct,  and  when 
bound  for  library  use  the  numbers  are  already  classified  according  to 
subjects.  Another  great  advantage  is  in  enabling  the  Museum  to 
enlarge  its  exchange  list;  instead  of  sending  an  entire  set  of  publi- 
cations in  each  case,  only  that  series  is  sent  to  an  institution  or  indi- 
vidual that  is  of  especial  interest  thereto.  The  following  publications 
have  been  issued: 
Pub.  1. — Hist.  Ser. ,  Vol.  1,  No.  1.  An  Historical  and  Descriptive 
Account  of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum. 
Pub.  2. — Hist.  Ser.,  Vol.  1,  No.  2.  The  Authentic  Letters  of  Colum- 
bus. 
William  Eleroy  Curtis,  Honorary  Curator  of  the  Colum- 
bus Memorial. 
Pub.  3. — Geoi.  Ser.,  Vol.  1,  No.  1.  Handbook  and  Catalogue  of  the 
Collection  of  Meteorites. 
Oliver  C.  Farrington,  Curator  of  Geology. 
Pub.  4. — Bot.  Ser.,  Vol.  1,  No  1.     Flora  of  Yucatan. 
Charles  Frederick  Millspaugh,  Curator  of  Botany. 
