410 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1887. 



Special acknowledgments are also due to Mr. John H. Redfield 

 for thirty-seven volumes of botanical works not before possessed by 

 the Academy and treating for the most part of ferns ; to the execu- 

 tors of Dr. Geo. Martin for nine volumes on cryptogamic botany 

 and to Her Britannic Majesty's Government for the continuation of 

 the invaluable reports of the Challenger Expedition, thirty-two 

 volumes of which have been received. 



The accompanying list of accessions indicates our continued in- 

 debtedness to the Isaiah V. Williamson Fund, which, after our 

 exchanges, continues to be the most important source of the library's 

 growth. 



I am happy to be able to report that the crowded condition of the 

 cases devoted to the journals has been in a measure relieved by the 

 erection of about one thousand feet of additional shelving. Advan- 

 tage has been taken of the increased accommodation to again revise 

 the catalogue of periodicals. The Avork progresses very slowly in 

 consequence of the absence of assistance and the limited time that 

 can be given to other than current work. It is intended, however, 

 as the revision progresses, to again apply to corresponding societies 

 for such deficiencies as may still exist, repeated applications being 

 sometimes necessary before a satisfactory return can be obtained. 

 Although the applications sent out during the last two or three 

 years have been productive of encouraging results, many societies 

 have not been heard from either negatively or affirmatively, and 

 these will receive special attention. 



I have been again indebted to friends of the Academy for the 

 means of securing the services of Signore E. Fronani during the 

 , summer months. His entire time has been devoted to the work of 

 transcribing my original card entries, and the new catalogue has 

 progressed so far as to be in fit condition for use. The case for its 

 reception was designed and its construction supervised by Mr. Jacob 

 Binder, to whom the Academy is also indebted for the satisfactory 

 completion of the additional library cases. The few cards remaining 

 to be copied (next year, it is hoped) have been placed temporarily 

 with the others and, as now arranged, the catalogue supercedes 

 entirely the hand-lists of the special departments of the library for- 

 merly in use, one defect of which, among many, was that the 

 alphabetical arrangement could not be maintained for any length of 

 time. In as much as it is easier to glance down a printed or written 

 list than to turn over a number of cards it may be that there are 



