DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 
GEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 
(including the mineralogical and conchological 
collections.) 
PaljEontological Collections. — Owing to the condition of 
the Museum building during the year, less time was devoted to 
work on these collections than was desirable. Still all that was 
not fully taken up by changes and work made necessary by the 
repairs being made was devoted to it. Up to the first of January, 
1 89 1, the work of labeling has been carried forward on the east 
side of the room to within the Upper Helderberg Group, or into 
section 13 of Case G, having advanced from the beginning of the 
Lower Helderberg Group, in section 10, Case F. Within this 
area there were 1217 complete labels placed during the year, 477 
of which are those pertaining to " type " or " figured " speci- 
mens, requiring citations and references. In addition to this 
there were 137 complete labels made for a collection of fossils 
from Palestine, which are not on exhibition for want of space, 
and about three hundred others replaced in the collection where 
the damage by water from roof-leakage had destroyed those pre- 
viously made. There were also 665 labels reprinted by Mr. 
Gratacap to replace those first used, printed in red ink and now 
so faded as to be illegible. About 400 more of these yet remain 
on the east side of the room, and about 200 on the west side. 
The aggregate of new permanent labels added to the Palseonto- 
logical collections during the year is 2319. The labels for the 
Palestine fossils all had to be determined and obtained from books 
published on this Syrian region, and are not yet complete, as the 
literature necessary for that purpose is not in our library. 
But few of the labels furnished during the year have been 
mounted on blocks, as the carpenter employed by the Museum 
has not had time to make them. This necessarily leaves the 
cases in much confusion, as the collections have to be removed 
again to insert the blocks, and it makes an unsightly and dis- 
agreeable feature which we cannot help, but which ought to be 
remedied as early as possible, so that it may not interfere with the 
progress of work. 
Cataloguing. — The Palaeontological Collection catalogue has 
progressed in the hands of Mr. L. P. Gratacap to near the middle 
of Case D on the east side of the room, including two alcove 
desk cases. 
