O. MISCELLANEOUS. 603 



quarters it is expected that ample room will be had for the 

 arrangement of all the collections now owned by the Museum, 

 and for additions for many years to come, while the opportu- 

 nity of displaying the number on hand will enable the author- 

 ities to take measures for eliminating the duplicates and dis- 

 tributing them to other establishments, and, at the same time, 

 greatly increasing the available space in the cases. It is 

 stated that the use of methylated spirit for the preservation 

 of reptiles and fishes has produced injurious effects to some 

 of the specimens, and that for the future pure alcohol will be 

 used. This fact has long been known in the United States, 

 where substitutes like that in question have never found fa- 

 vor. 12-4, June 13, 1872, 119. 



APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



The estimates lately voted by the British House of Com- 

 mons embrace the sum of $480,000 for the various objects 

 connected with the British Museum for the year 1873. In 

 addition to this there was a special vote of $60,000 for pur- 

 chases for the Museum; $15,000 to be expended in comple- 

 ting the excavations of the Temple of Diana at Ephesus ; 

 $50,000 for the purchase of coins and medals, etc. The Sci- 

 ence and Art Department at South Kensington receives 

 $580,000.-22 A, August 10, 1872, 131. 



NEW BUILDING OF THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY OF NATURAL 



SCIENCES. 



A very interesting event in the history of American science 

 took place on the 30th of October last, in Philadelphia, on the 

 occasion of laying the corner-stone of the new building of the 

 Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. This institution, 

 which has for many years occupied the foremost rank among 

 natural-history establishments in America, was started in 

 1812, and numbered among its earliest active members "Wil- 

 liam M'Clure, Thomas Say, C. A. Lesueur, etc. ; and in later 

 years such men as Samuel George Morton, Joseph Leidy, 

 John Cassin, Dr. Gamble, Edward Hallo well, E. D. Cope, and 

 many others who have made their mark upon the history of 

 science. 



The academy since its establishment has been the recipient 

 of many benefactions. Among those who have been most 



