102 
Field  Columbian  Museum — Reports,  Vol.  i. 
They  expected  then  to  go  on  to  San  Moretta,  Loog.  42.25  and 
Lat.  6.50 — the  giraffe  country.  A  cable  dated  September  29th, 
reported  the  party  safely  at  Aden  on  their  return  with  a  splendid 
collection.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  if  the  material  reaches  the 
Museum  in  good  condition,  the  results  will  exceed  all  expectations. 
No  detailed  information  as  to  the  number  or  variety  of  skins  obtained 
has  been  received.  But  that  the  quantity  is  ample  may  be  gathered 
from  Mr.  Elliot's  statement  in  June  that  it  seemed  "simply  a  ques- 
tion of  transportation."  The  expedition  has  attracted  a  great  deal  of 
attention,  and  both  the  official  and  scientific  reports  and- the  popular 
narrative  of  its  chief  will  be  awaited  with  much  interest.  He 
will  reach  Chicago  about  December  1st,  remaining  probably  in  Lon- 
don several  weeks  to  work  over  the  material  and  identify  species. 
C.  F.  Millspaugh,  Curator  of  the  Department  of  Botany,  began 
his  work  this  year  on  the  Forestry  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  His 
work  so  far  has  been  confined  to  the  State  of  Mississippi  and  South- 
ern Illinois,  procuring  photographs  from  species  in  leaf,  timber  speci- 
mens from  the  living  trees,  and  leafing  and  flowering  branches  from 
the  same  individual.  The  trip  will  be  repeated  over  the  same  terri- 
tory this  winter  for  trunk  specimens,  planks,  boards  and  fruits.  When 
this  work  is  completed,  as  provided  by  the  appropriation,  the  Museum 
will  possess  a  very  valuable  collection  of  the  timber-producing  trees 
of  the  country,  that,  added  to  its  foreign  material,  will  constitute  a 
notable  forestry  collection.  The  officials  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
way are  lending  every  possible  aid.  The  work  of  the  Department  on 
the  Flora  of  Yucatan  commenced  by  the  Curator  in  the  winter  of 
1894-95  is  being  continued,  in  the  field  under  instructions,  by  G.  F. 
Gaumer,  a  resident  of  that  State,  and  two  consignments  of 
very  interesting  and  valuable  plants  have  already  been  received. 
The  Curator  of  Geology  went  on  expedition  to  the  Republic  of 
Mexico  in  the  winter  of  1895-96.  It  was  fruitful  in  results.  The 
object  of  the  trip  was  to  obtain  specimens  illustrating  volcanic  and 
glacial  phenomena,  and  the  economic  deposits.  The  expedition  was 
largely  made  possible  through  the  courtesy  of  the  officials  of  the 
Mexican  Central  and  A.  T.  &  S.  F.  Railways.  The  Curator  made  a 
complete  ascent  of  Popocatepetl  and  explored  the  crater  and  ascended 
Ixtaccihuatl  far  enough  to  permit  a  study  of  its  glacier.  A  great 
many  mineral  specimens  and  ores  were  obtained  and  exchanges  of 
material  arranged  for  with  institutions  and  individuals,  resulting 
finally  in  the  possession  of  an  excellent  representation  of  the  minerals 
and  ores  of  the  Republic.  Professor  Farrington  has  prepared 
several    lectures    for   the    Museum    course    based    on    this  expe- 
