O. MISCELLANEOUS. 587 



by donation or exchange, a few, however, having been pur- 

 chased. The announcement of additions to the museum is 

 very meagre compared with some previous years; showing 

 a condition of inactivity, due partly to the want of funds, and 

 still more, perhaps, to the overcrowded state of the building, 

 and the impracticability of properly providing for what is 

 already on hand. Of mammals some ten to fifteen specimens 

 are recorded, six skins of birds, about forty-five jars of reptiles 

 and fishes, fifteen skeletons, and six skulls of vertebrates, with 

 a corresponding proportion of other groups. The largest ad- 

 ditions in the zoological department have been of shells, as 

 might be expected from the special activity in this direction 

 on the part of certain members of the Academy. 



PHILADELPHIA NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



An association has been organized in Philadelphia under 

 the title of the National Museum, with a view of collecting 

 interestincr historical records for exhibition at the Centennial 

 of 1876. Among the recent additions is the original charter, 

 with its great seal, of the colony of Pennsylvania in 1701, 

 and signed by William Penn. 



KEPOET OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA. 



The second annual report of the Board of Managers of the 

 Zoological Society of Philadelphia presents a picture of ex- 

 traordinary success, by its founders, in the establishment of 

 a first-class zoological garden in that city, and we think it 

 should excite a healthy feeling of emulation on the part of 

 New York in a similar direction. The subject has been agi- 

 tated for some time in New York, and a commencement made 

 by the collection of a few animals in the Central Park. 

 These animals have furnished a constant source of interest 

 to visitors; but, so far, the number increases slowly, in the 

 absence of means for doino; more than to take care of the 

 specimens presented by those who have animals on hand 

 that they can not care for, or those who are induced to for- 

 ward an occasional contribution from a distance. 



At present 616 of the 750 members of the Philadelphia so- 

 ciety are annual, paying five dollars on election, and five dol- 

 lars a year thereafter; ninety-five are life members, who pay 

 fifty dollars on election in lieu of further dues. The Coin- 



