1879.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 441 



lets having been added to the entries made last year. The cata- 

 logues of the hooks on helminthology, ichthyology, and herpetology 

 have also been finished, leaving onty those on anthropology and 

 mineralogy to be yet entered. In addition to the books catalogued, 

 there are in the library a large Dumber of literary, artistic, and 

 historical works to which I have before called attention for the 

 purpose of recommending that they be sold, and the funds applied 

 to the purchase of books more specially useful to the society. In 

 the hope that this disposition may be made of these works, it is 

 not the intention at present to extend the card entries to these 

 departments, so that the catalogue will probably he completed 

 early next year. 



Constant effort has been made to complete, as far as possible, 

 the sets of periodicals in the library, and to add those not yet in 

 the possession of the Academy. This work will be materially 

 forwarded by the issue of Mr. Scudder's invaluable Catalogue of 

 Scientific Serials, which furnishes a means not before at hand of 

 determining our deficiencies. 



For the amounts expended on the purchase of books reference 

 is made to the report of the Treasurer. The accompanying list 

 of additions made during the year indicates, as heretofore, that 

 for the most valuable items, apart from our exchanges, we are 

 dependent upon the I. V. Williamson Fund. 



All of which is respectful^ submitted, 



Edw. J. Nolan, 



Librarian. 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS. 



The Curators report that during the year all the various col- 

 lections of the Museum have been carefully inspected and cared 

 for, and that they are all in good condition. A violent storm, 

 which caused considerable destruction of glass and flooding of 

 rain, wetted some parts of the collections, but the objects were 

 speedil\ r dried, so that little serious damage resulted, except the 

 loss of several specimens of echinoderms. Mr. J. A. Ryder has 

 been continuously engaged in identifying, arranging, and label- 

 ing the collection of fishes. There have been identified upwards 

 of 700 species of 325 genera. The Bonaparte collection of fishes, 

 considering the time it has been preserved, is in excellent condition. 

 29 



