580 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1896. 



seum. Another, and one of the most valuable accessions, is a series 

 of mammals, birds, fishes and reptiles collected in Somali-laud by 

 Dr. A. Donaldson Smith on his expedition through that country. 



Valuable collections of birds, mollusks and plants were likewise 

 obtained for the Academy by Mr. George Russell in British Guiana. 

 Another important addition is the collection of marine invertebrates 

 prepared in formaline by our preparateur, Mr. F. W. Walmsley. 

 Many other donations have been received, special mention of which 

 will be found in the appended list of accessions, including a number 

 of rare specimens from the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. 



The various collections under the care of special conservators 

 have received careful attention during the year, and to the gentle- 

 men who have rendered this important service the Curators would 

 express their indebtedness — to Messrs. Thomas Meehan and Steward- 

 son Brown of the Botanical Section ; Dr. Henry Skinner of the 

 Entomological Section, and William W. Jefferis, Curator of the 

 Wm. S. Vaux Collections. 



Valuable assistance has also been rendered in various departments 

 of the museum by the students of the Jessup Fund : Miss Helen Hig- 

 gins, Miss Jennie Letson, Messrs. H. W. Fowler, William J. Ger- 

 hard, E. G. Vanatta and S. H. Hamilton. 



Henry C. Chapman, 



Chairman of the Curators. 



REPORT OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL 



SECTION. 



The Section has held the usual number of meetings during the 

 past year, and the attendance has been up to the average. 



Connuunications pertaining to the subject of the Section, have been 

 made at each meeting and usually specimens have been exhibited 

 under the microscope. The cabinet has been enriched by 158 botan- 

 ical slides, principally fungi, belonging to the late Dr. Rex and pre- 

 sented by his sister through Mr. Wingate. 



The microscope of the late Dr. Wm. Hunt, and forty slides, were 

 given by his widow. 



A room on the second floor of the Academy has been fitted up 

 by the Section and will soon be ready for occupancy. Aquariums 



