1887.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 411 



certain inconveniences in the use of a card catalogue by specialists 

 who, for the most part, desire to consult only the books belonging 

 to their own department, but the accuracy of the alphabetical ar- 

 rangement and the certainty of finding the entry in its proper place 

 with an indication of the position of the book in the library, more 

 than counterbalance the disadvantages. 



Two hundred and thirty-four volumes have been bound during the 

 year. They were mostly special works received in numbers and 

 some I. V. Williamson journals. Hundreds of volumes of periodicals 

 yet remain to be bound. An effort is being made to lessen the in- 

 convenience of consulting these by glueing the numbers of each 

 volume firmly together, but this cannot be considered more than a 

 temporary expedient and it is earnestly hoped that means may be 

 soon provided for their permanent arrangement. 



An interesting portrait in oil of Thomas Say, formerly one of the 

 series belonging to Peale's Museum, has been received from Mrs. 

 Joseph E. Mitchell. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Edw. J. Nolan. 



Librarian. 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS. 



The Curators present the following statement of the Curator-in- 

 Charge as their report for the year 1887 : 



The Curator-in-Charge respectfully reports that the collections of 

 the Academy are, generally speaking, in good condition, and that there 

 has been but insignificant loss to the Museum through either care- 

 lessness or unintentional neglect. The various departments of the 

 institution have been more or less dependent for their development 

 upon the volunteer labors of specialists in their several sections, 

 and for the valuable assistance thus rendered the Curator-in-Charge 

 desires to express his grateful acknowledgements. The thanks of 

 the Academy are especially due to Mr. George W. Tryon, Jr., Conser- 

 vator of the Conchological Section, to Mr. J. H. Redfield, Conserva- 

 tor of the Herbarium, and to Mr. Jacob Binder, Conservator of the 

 collection of minerals bequeathed to the Academy by the late 

 Mr. Wm. S. Vaux, who have severally devoted much time and la- 

 bor to the interests of the collections under their charge. To the 



