Letters , Extracts , and Notes. 
375 
few small groups for exhibition. The storage-cases are air¬ 
tight zinc-lined cabinets of sliding trays in which dry 
specimens can be kept safe from moisture and from insect 
pests, and can be fumigated when necessary. These rows of 
cases, known as “ zincs,” are a characteristic feature of the 
new museum’s equipment, there being already thirty-seven 
of them in use. 
The research-room faces the north and east. Wide tables 
are built along the north end of the room under the windows, 
to hold trays taken from the storage-cases for purposes of 
study. On the other side of the building, facing north and 
west, is the library and study, which is also the office of the 
Director and of the Curators. The book-shelves in this room 
contain a number of necessary reference books and the 
bound files of collectors’ field-notes. There is also a map- 
rack for records of research in distribution of species and its 
causes. 
The collections in the museum contain notably a large 
series of bears, including skins, skulls, and complete skeletons, 
chiefly from Alaska, gathered from various sources by 
Miss Alexander and donated to the museum. There is also 
a complete representation of the two Californian species of 
sea-lions, about twelve specimens of each, and an example of 
the Alaskan moose, which, as regards size, is among the 
record specimens of a species normally much larger than that 
found in Maine and the British provinces. 
Of birds over twelve thousand specimens belonging to the 
museum have already been catalogued. Of small mammals 
over nine thousand have been catalogued. There are about 
two thousand reptiles and batrachians catalogued. In 
addition to the specimens which are the property of the 
museum, there are several private collections on deposit, 
notably the Grinnell collection of eight thousand birds, and 
the Swarth and Morcom bird-collections, of about four 
thousand specimens each. The University’s collections are 
chiefly the result of Miss Alexander’s expeditions; only 
about 1300 specimens belonged to the University previously. 
