1896.] NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 585 



Island plants, collected in 1895 by Mr, A. A. Heller, and purchased 

 for the herbarium ; 209 species of Mexican Plants, collected by 

 Prof. G. C. Pringle, and purchased for the herbarium ; and 241 

 species of Asia Minor Plants, collected by Prof. Bornmiiller, and 

 purchased for the herbarium. 



The attention of the Academy is respectfully called to the fact that 

 the 825 species purchased during the past year, were paid for, not 

 from the funds of the Section, but entirely by two of its members. 

 Many very desirable collections were declined on account of the 

 lack of funds ; this is particularly to be regretted as regards the 

 plants of our own country, in which we are in many cases very defi- 

 cient. 



The creation of a fund for the purchase of such collections is im- 

 mediately desirable. 



Since the last report the Academy has placed at the disposal of 

 the Section two rooms formerly occupied by the Department of 

 Entomology. The one on the gallery floor has been partially fitted 

 up as a work-room. 



The room on the library floor, which it is designed to use for addi- 

 tional herbarium space, has not as yet been occupied to any extent, 

 owing to the lack of funds for furnishing. Additional cases for the 

 accommodation of the herbarium are, however, an absolute neces- 

 sity, as the present cases are crowded to an extent that is damaging 

 to the specimens ; it is therefore earnestly hoped, that before the 

 close of the next year, this most pressing need will have been 

 supplied. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Stewardson Brown, 



Conservator. 



REPORT OF THE MINERALOGICAL AND GEOLOG- 

 ICAL SECTION. 



Ten meetings of the Section have been held during the year, with 

 an average attendance of ten members. A notable addition to the 

 facilities of the Section has been the laboratory erected on the first 

 floor of the Museum by contributions from the Section and its indi- 

 vidual members and from the Academy. This removes a serious 

 difficulty under which we have labored, and cannot fail to facilitate 

 its work. 



