NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 283 



tent person to attend to it at the earliest possible moment. This can be 

 done at the rate of one hundred dollars monthly, and would, in the course 

 of a year, ensure the temporary preservation of the collection. The matter 

 is so important, that we hope the Academy may feel disposed to take some 

 immediate action on it, even with the apprehension of future pecuniary 

 embarrassment. 



In relation to other perishable departments of our Museum, the Curators 

 have recently taken steps by which they expect to be temporarily enabled to 

 ensure their safety ; but we feel it to be of the greatest necessity that, at an 

 early period, the Academy should attempt to make permanent arrangements 

 by which all departments of the Museum may be properly arranged and 

 preserved. 



We would further urge upon the Academy the importance of looking for- 

 ward to procure more ample accommodation for its ever-growing Museum 

 and Library; and, indeed, we now feel greatly the want of at least double 

 our present space. A new building, two or three times the size of the one 

 we now occupy, together with a lecture-room capable of seating about five 

 hundred persons, and several minor conveniences, would greatly aid the views 

 of the Academy, and render it far more useful to the interests of science, 

 and of the community in which we live. 



The accompanying list exhibits the contributions to the Museum of the 

 Academy in its various departments during the year 1865. 



Mammals and Birds. Three species of the former and ten species of the 

 latter, together with fifty species of birds' eggs, were presented by the Chi- 

 cago Academy of Sciences. 



Reptiles and Fishes. Of the former, Prof. E D. Cope presented 30 speci- 

 mens of 7 species of batrachians, and of the latter, 319 specimens of 70 

 species. Three reptiles and ten fishes were presented by Messrs. C. Guillou, 

 T. Norris, W. M. Cauley, and Dr. J. M. Corse. 



Mollusks. Four hundred species of shells of Mazatlan and Cape St. Lucas 

 were purchased. Eight hundred species of shells, of which abont 300 were 

 new to the Cabinet of the Academy, chiefly from the collection of the 

 Wilkes' Exploring Expedition, were presented by the Smithsonian Institution. 

 Mr. G. W. Tryon, Jr., presented 164 species of shells, mostly new to our 

 < Cabinet; Dr. Isaac Lea, 24 species; and J. H. Thomson, 32 species. Six 

 other species were presented by Messrs. H. F. Picking, B. Oman, and Dr. 

 Semple. * 



Articulates. Twenty-seven species of myriapods and spiders were pre- 

 sented by the Smithsonian Institution, H. C. Wood, E. D. Cope, and M. Miles. 



Fossils. A small collection of New Jersey Cretaceous Fossils, a collection 

 of 93 species from the Upper Missouri, and a collection from the Wilkes' 

 Exploring Expedition, were presented by the Smithsonian Institution. Col. 

 H. Romanowsky presented 36 species from Russia, and small collections and 

 specimens were presented by Dr. J. Letterman, U. S. A., W. S. Vaux P. 

 Tarbe, J. P. Lesley, F. Klett, Dr. J. L. Burtt, W. Anderson, J. G. Thayer,'w. 

 L. Mactier, R. Glover, J. H. Slack, A. Du Bois, G. J. Scattergood, and J. 

 Da Costa. 



Minerals. Forty-two specimens were presented by Dr. I. Lea, W. S. Vaux 

 J. C. Trautwine, P. W. Sheafer, A. Du Bois, B. A. Hoopes, E. A. Souder, f! 

 Klett, W. J. Vinal, J. B. Ware, Dr. Semple, and H. S. Stellwagen. 



Botany. John Warner presented 200 species of Alpine plants, and several 

 species were presented by Messrs. Garnett and T. E. Ridgway. 



Comparative Anatomy. Two mounted skeletons were presented by G. E. 

 Manigault, of Charleston, and three by Dr. J. M. Corse. Miscellaneous 

 specimens were presented by F. Klett and Dr. Leidy. 



Respectfully submitted by 



JOSEPH LEIDY, 

 Chairman of the Curators. 

 1865.] 



