Oct.  1899.  Annual  Report  of  the  Director. 
37i 
other  groups  are  well  on  their  way  towards  completion.  Besides 
these,  sundry  single  specimens,  including  a  wild  sheep,  an  ibex,  and 
a  deer  have  been  mounted.  The  new  building  has  proven  very  satis- 
factory and  work  can  now  be  accomplished  with  comfort  and  without 
the  risks  and  inconvenience  that  obtained  in  the  previous  confined 
space.  The  groups  executed  by  Mr.  Akeley  keep  fully  up  to  the  high 
standard  of  excellence  exhibited  by  those  previously  produced  by 
him,  and  place  the  Museum's  possessions  in  this  class  of  work  not 
equalled  by  any  other  institution  in  this  country.  In  pursuance  of 
the  authority  of  the  Executive  Committee,  needed  assistance  has 
been  given  the  taxidermist,  and  work  is  constantly  proceeding  with 
much  more  satisfaction  with  regard  to  its  quantity.  A  large  number 
of  birds  have  been  mounted. 
Attendance. — The  total  attendance  of  the  year  shows  a  decrease 
of  942.  This,  in  view  of  the  notably  large  attendance  on  several 
free  days,  is  a  surprise,  except  when  it  is  understood  that  there  was 
one  less  Sunday  in  September,  1899,  than  there  was  in  1898,  with 
which  the  comparison  is  naturalky  made.  There  was  an  increase  in 
paid  attendance  over  1898,  and  a  very  large  increase  in  attendance 
of  school  children  as  well  as  of  students  and  of  teachers  appeared 
from  the  records  of  the  days  when  an  admission  fee  was  charged. 
On  other  days  no  discrimination  could  be  made.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  school  classes  of  30  pupils  or  more  that  visited  the  Museum 
during  the  year  just  closed  : 
Schools. 
Chicago—                                                                           Teachers.  Pupils. 
Normal,   2  42 
Carter,   1  33 
Farragut,   2  45 
Normal,   4  194 
Normal,   2  38 
S.  D.  Wentworth,  ."    .  3  95 
Normal,                                                               .  7  112 
Normal,   2  49 
Normal,  ..."   72 
Normal,   2  67 
Smith  Branch,  Hyde  Park  High,   2  128 
Greenwood  Avenue,   1  31 
Hyde  Park  High,   1  105 
Normal,   3  150 
Sherwood,   2  34 
Forestville,   1  35 
Hull  House  Kindergarten,   4  35 
Hyde  Park  High,   1  43 
