342 [Dec. 1847. 



magnificent Coleoptera from Western Africa, many of which are new spe- 

 cies. 



Crustacea. Our collection of Crustacea, numbers 162 species, and was 

 carefully arranged during the past summer by Dr. Lewis R. Gibbes, of 

 South Carolina, and catalogued by Dr. R. Bridges. Twelve species have 

 been presented the past year by several of the members. 



Zoophytes Eighty-nine specimens of fifty-nine species of corallines and 



sponges, and three species of Echinodermata have been presented in the 

 course of the last year. 



Comparative Anatomy. Additions still continue to be made to Dr. S. 

 G. Morton's large and magnificent series of human crania, which now con- 

 tains upwards of seven hundred specimens of many nations and of various 

 epochs. 



At present there appears to be a strong disposition amongst the members 

 to attend more particularly to the heretofore rather neglected department of 

 Comparatve Anatomy. During the past year 3S5 crania, comprising 260 

 species of animals, have been presented, principally by Drs. Wilson, Morton, 

 and HufTnagle. Among the number may be particularly mentioned the 

 very large and perfect specimens of crania of Crocodilus vulgaris and 

 Gavialis gangeticus. Eight mounted skeletons have also been presented, 

 among which are a fine and large skeleton of Felis tigris from Dr. HufTnagle, 

 and a beautiful skeleton 12 feet long of Boa Constrictor from several of the 

 members. 



Botany. The botanical collection comprises upwards of 40,000 species 

 of dried plants, and about 1000 species of dried fruits. It has been kept in 

 a good state of preservation up to the present time, but has lately been 

 slightly injured by insects; the further ravages of which, will however, be 

 prevented. 



Talaontology. The collection of organic remains which occupied the 

 range of cases on the upper gallery of the south side of the hall, has been 

 removed to the cases prepared for its reception on the floor of the hall, and 

 is in progress of arrangement by Dr. Wilson. It has received very exten- 

 sive and invaluable accessions during the past year, and when completely 

 arranged will contain in the neighbourhood of 20,000 specimens. In it are 

 the valuable collections of Mr. R. C. Taylor, J. Price Wetherill, Esq., Dr. 

 Morton, Mr. T. A. Conrad, Dr. Dickeson, Miss Benett, &c. The last year 

 Dr. Wilson deposited in the Academy five very nearly perfect skeletons of 

 large fossil Saurians. One of these is the Plesiosaurus Hawkinsii, three are 

 species of Ichthyosauri, and the fifth is the Telosaurus, or Gavial de Boll of 

 Cuvier. 



Mr. Conrad presented 2000 specimens from the Miocene of France, the 

 Eocene, Cretaceous, Oolitic, mountain limestone, and Salurian formations of 

 England and France. Mr. R. C. Taylor has presented an extensive collec- 

 tion of very large and beautiful specimens of coal plants of Pennsylvania, be- 

 sides numerous other fossils, which have not yet been examined. Numerous 



