1892.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 491 



which otherwise could not have been so promptly performed because 

 of the want of available clerical assistance. Author and subject 

 card catalogues of the collection have been completed, while an 

 author catalogue has been prepared for the pamphlets, which have 

 been arranged in 63 volumes ready for binding. 



Two hundred and thirty-five volumes have been bound, including 

 Andubon's elephant folio work on the Birds of North America, 

 the plates of which have been carefully cleaned and backed with 

 linen. A special case for the reception of this work has been 

 ordered and will be so constructed as to permit the volumes 

 to be placed flat, an arrangement which has been found by experi- 

 ence to be desirable for their preservation from injury. There is 

 still need of a much larger annual appropriation for binding than 

 the Academy has heretofore been in a position to make. 



In the current work of the library I have received satisfactory 

 assistance from Mr. William J. Fox, to Avhose usual duties has been 

 added that of promptly acknowledging gifts and exchanges from 

 societies and individuals. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Edw. J. Nolan, 



Librarian. 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS. 



The yearly reports of the Curators, (the late Professor Leidy being 

 their Chairman) during the last decade, state substantially that the 

 collections in the museum were properly arranged and cared for. 

 Mr. Charles F. Parker, then Curator-in-Charge, said in his report 

 for the year ending November 30, 1882, that "the various collec- 

 tions have been carefully examined, and are in good condition." 

 He died September 27, 1883. Professor Angelo Heilprin was 

 elected in his place October 2, 1883. 



In his report for the year ending November 30, 1883, he stated, 

 in substance, that the condition of the museum though not "abso- 

 lutely satisfactory, is yet fairly good when compared to the condi- 

 tion of similar collections in this country, or even of those pertain- 

 ing to foreign institutions." 



In all his subsequent reports, including that for the year ending 

 November 30, 1891, he states that all the collections are in " good," 

 or in " satisfactory " condition. 



