1896.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 579 



tological collections to much better advantage, while the vacant 

 space under the south gallery has been partitioned off uniform with 

 the Entomological room, to furnish apartments for the Biological 

 and Geological Sections. Two additional commodious rooms have 

 been fitted up for the Botanical Section on the library floor. 



During the year the cataloguing of the mineral collection has 

 been continued, and a series of minerals from Pennsylvania and 

 New Jersey selected from the general exhibit, has been arranged in 

 the department of local natural history. 



Work on the invertebrate fossils has been mainly confined to the 

 Lea Eocene Collection. Through the liberality of the Rev. L. T. 

 Chamberlain, D. D. a third fine case has been procured for 

 the display of the collection, and Mr. C. W. Johnson has been 

 enabled to spend much time in arranging and labelling the speci- 

 mens and in carrying on valuable exchanges, besides making a short 

 trip to the« Potomac Valley, where a large collection was made. 



In the Department of Vertebrate Palaeontology a valuable addi- 

 tion has been made to the museum by the final arrangement and 

 labelling of the Port Kennedy Collection. Work at the cave has 

 been actively and successfully pushed forward during the year by 

 Dr. Dixon and Mr. H. C. Mercer. 



Great progress has also been made in cataloguing and renovating 

 the collection of birds, so that this work is rapidly nearing comple- 

 tion. Many valuable additions have also been received, especially 

 to the Delaware Valley Ornithological Collection of local birds, the 

 increase of which has necessitated the addition of a new plate-glass 

 case for its accommodation. Further particulars of Avork in this 

 department will be found in the report of the Ornithological Section. 



In other departments the work has been mainly restricted to cata- 

 loguing and arranging the large additions received during the year, 

 and looking after the general condition of the specimens, which is 

 now excellent. 



The additions to the museum during the year have been note- 

 worthy. One of the most important of these is the archseolog- 

 ical and zoological material obtained by Dr. Benjamin Sharp dur- 

 ing a cruise along the coast and among the islands of Alaska and 

 Siberia in the U. S. Revenue Cutter " Bear," during the year 

 1895. Besides fine series of native implements, there are valuable col- 

 lections of mollusks and birds, and a Pacific walrus ; also three fur 

 seals, which now make one of the most attractive groups in the mu- 



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