1896.] NATUEAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, 591 



REPORT OF THE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT 



OF INSECTA. 



Having been elected to the Professorship of the Department of 

 Insecta on the thirtieth day of March, 1895, I have the honor to 

 submit this, my first report. Some idea of the field covered in this 

 department may be derived from the fact that we have about 



ded as follows : — 



33,600 specimens. 



43,800 specimens. 



36,240 specimens. 



2,400 specimens. 



126,000 specimens in the collection, div 



Lepidoptera, .... 



Coleoptera, .... 



Hymenoptera, 



Neuroptera, .... 



Diptera, ~\ 



Hemiptera, |- 10,000 specimens. 



Orthoptera, 3 

 These collections are believed to be in a better state of arrange- 

 ment and preservation than ever before, and museum pests have been 

 almost annihilated. The Conservator of the Entomological Sec- 

 tion has been greatly aided by members interested in the several 

 orders, and much valuable work has been done by them in the de- 

 partments in which they make special studies. It is hoped that the 

 fine collection of local insects will soon be completed by the aid of 

 the Feldman Collecting Social of Philadelphia and individual mem- 

 bers. The department needs new cases to replace the older ones 

 that are not absolutely safe, and, in the future, metal cases, which 

 can be practically hermetically sealed against dust and pests, should 

 be secured. 



A course of five lectures has been delivered covering the general 

 subject, including the classification, anatomy, orders, technic, and 

 economic or practical entomology. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Henry Skinner. 



REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE WM. S. VAUX 



COLLECTIONS. 



The Curator of the William S. Vaux Collections reports that dur- 

 ing the year there have been added to the mineralogical cabinet, by 

 purchase, 185 specimens. A nugget of native gold from Alaska 

 was presented by C. B. Moore, bringing the number of specimens 



