1896.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 577 



Six hundred and forty-nine volumes have been bound and sixty- 

 nine are now in the hands of the binders. This does not half com- 

 plete the work on the accumulation of unbound journals, and a 

 much more liberal appropriation than the Academy is at present 

 able to make is necessary to place the remainder of this most im- 

 portant section of the library in good working condition. 



Renewed effort has been made, as the several sets of journals have 

 been prepared for the bindery, to obtain a supply of deficiencies. In 

 many cases the replies to applications have been gratifyingly liberal, 

 special acknowledgment being due, in this connection, to the Im- 

 perial Academy of Science of St. Petersburg, from which 170 vol- 

 umes, extending back to 1726, and not heretofore in the library of 

 the Academy, have been received. 



Important additions have been made to the collection of lantern 

 slides, the formation of which was noted last year. Dr. Charles 

 Schaeffer has given 163 ; Dr. Benjamin Sharp, 36 ; Wm. Stevenson, 

 12 ; Silas L. Schumo, 3 ; while 26 were purchased, making the en- 

 tire collection 566. 



We are indebted to Mr. William E. Haydock for a fine crayon 

 portrait of Mr. John G. Meigs, whose legacy to the Academy was 

 recorded in my last annual report. 



On retiring from the Presidency at the expiration of his four 

 years of office. General Isaac J. Wistar contributed his portrait in 

 oil, by Vonnah, to the gallery of Presidents, thus completing a col- 

 lection of much value and interest. 



I am glad to again acknowledge the efficient services of my as- 

 sistant, Mr. William J. Fox. 



Edw. J. Nolan, 



Librarian. 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS. 



The year just passed is especially noteworthy in the history of the 

 Academy on account of the opening of the new museum building to 

 the public. It has been impossible to prepare the entire building 

 for exhibition this year ; yet it was considered desirable to open a 

 portion of it to the public without further delay, and, in accordance 

 with this plan, the first and second floors, comprising the depart- 

 ments of Mineralogy, Archaeology and Mammalogy, were formally 

 opened October 20th with appropriate ceremony. 



