120 The American Geologist. August, looi 
sizes in units of four inches width, which in their 
stecply inchncd position are prevented from falhng forward 
through sudden jar hy an overlapping edge of wood at the 
top. l'>y an actual trial, it has heen found that though an ap- 
parently wasteful method of installation, so far as space is 
concerned, more material can be j^ut into a case than when the 
ordinary horizontal or sloping shelf is used, and moreover, the 
view of one specimen is never obscured by one in front, or 
shadowed from above. The possibly objectionable features 
thus far discovered, are that it limits the size and weight of the 
specimen exhibited and necessitates the cementing of the sam- 
ples to the tiles. The first mentioned objection has proven of 
little moment, space for the larger forms being found at the 
bottom, or on the narrow shelves ; while the second is avoided 
by not including in the series materials- that would be injured, 
or whose value would be in any way impaired by the cement- 
ing process. These tiles are of a light buff color, non-fading, 
and as they never warp, as does wood, are found very satisfac- 
tory ; and when all sizes are taken into consideration, no more 
expensive than is the latter material. 
This method of installation, so far as we know, is unique 
among American museums, though, excepting in the matter of 
kind of tiles used, it resembles in a general way the custom fol- 
lowed with certain collections in the museums of Prague and 
Vienna. 
It need scarcely be said that a museum dependent so largely 
upon legacies from other departments of the government or 
gifts from private individuals as is the National Museum, has 
developed in a very unsymmetrical manner. Such a museum 
has been compared to a book, with here and there a word, line, 
or page, or perhaps whole chapters missing. It is for those 
in charge then to fill the gaps — to round out their collections, 
by field trips, by soliciting gifts, or by purchase. But, inas- 
much as the National Museum has no endowment and is de- 
pendent upon annual appropriations from congress, the admin- 
istration finds itself in the apparently somewhat inconsistent 
position of at the same time asking for funds to provide more 
space, and also for the purchase and care of more material. 
As appears from the reports, the functions of the officials 
are not limited to the care of the collections and the building 
