20 Field Columbian Museum — Reports, Vol. II. 



the limit of South American fishes which are found in Central 

 America and which go north into Southern Mexico, that has been 

 collected in that country. A large amount of duplicate material, 

 valuable for exchange, was also secured. Six hundred and eight 

 specimens of reptiles were added to the collections during the past 

 year, nearly all of which were procured in the field. 



Installation, Rearrangement and Permanent Improvement. — More 

 repairs and alterations to and around the building have been made 

 during the past year than any in the history of the institution. The 

 renewal of the building foundations has been continued and is com- 

 plete with the exception of those in the east annex, which will be fin- 

 ished by the end of December. The floors of the east and west 

 entrances to the main building have been entirely taken up and 

 rebuilt with brick, iron and concrete. The exterior of the building 

 still demands constant attention and the plastering done a year ago 

 had to be entirely renewed. The repairs to the roof are maintained 

 and this year the entire area was given a coat of paint. The 

 alterations in the building have been more extensive than in any 

 previous year. The photographic gallery has been enlarged, as also 

 the printing office, and a new office provided for the Curator of 

 Botany on the first gallery. The Librarian's office was completely 

 renovated, the walls calcimined, and a hardwood floor laid. More 

 light was demanded and a window was opened' in the west wall. 

 Additional light and ventilation were also provided in the sleeping 

 room of the firemen. An unusually large number of cases have been 

 built and several old cases ebonized and mahoganized, so that there 

 are now comparatively few of what might be termed "World's Fair" 

 cases in the building. 



The removal of the textile collections, formerly occupying Halls 30 

 and 31, was completed during the year, the halls repainted and col- 

 lections illustrating the Ethnology of South America installed therein. 

 Halls 14 and 15, which contained the latter collections, were utilized 

 to exhibit newly acquired material. The complete reorganization of 

 Ayer Hall and the removal of all collections which did not pertain to 

 the Plains Indians was a noteworthy feature of the year. The entire 

 hall was painted and forty new cases provided in which were installed 

 collections illustrating the tribes of the Siouan, Algonquin, and allied 

 stocks. The series of Catlin paintings were reframed and placed on 

 the north wall, thus further augmenting the attractiveness of the hall. 

 The Ayer collection from the northwest coast was installed in six new 

 cases in Hall 11, thus completing the installation of the halls devoted 

 to this region. Hall O, formerly the office of the curator of the 



