412 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP [1887. 



Entomological Section, likewise, acknowledgement is due for work 

 done in connection with the caring for the collection of insects. 



In the departments other than those here specified the work has 

 been done under the immediate superintendence of the Curator-in- 

 Charge and his assistant, Mr. J. E. Ives, whose services were secured 

 in the early part of the year. As in previous years, the entire col- 

 lection of alcoholics has been carefully overhauled, and specimens 

 no longer serviceable of which there were but few in number re- 

 moved from the bottles. 



Much the greater part of the Curator's attention has been given 

 to the collections of the main floor, which have been largely rear- 

 ranged to the end of rendering them more accessible and of securing 

 room for further collections. The large centre cases devoted to 

 osteology have been turned lengthwise with the building, and a 

 number removed to other parts of the hall, thereby necessitating an 

 almost complete rearrangement of the collections contained therein. 

 This has been accomplished with a nearer approach to system than 

 has been possible heretofore. The bird and reptile skeletons have 

 been removed to their respective departments on the first and second 

 galleries, while the mammalian skeletons retain their former positions 

 along the south wall. The greater number of these last have been 

 carefully compared and redetermined, and the errors of previous de- 

 terminations corrected and eliminated ; it is believed that, with a 

 few exceptions, concerning which there is no record, all the forms 

 are now authoritatively determined, and arranged in accordance 

 with the most approved system of classification. The nomenclature 

 of Prof. Flower, Director of the British Museum, has been largely 

 followed. 



One of the most important pieces of work of the year has been the 

 preparation of a complete catalogue of mammalian osteology, for 

 which the Academy is principally indebted to Mr. Ives, the assist- 

 ant to the Curator-in-Charge. The number of specimens therein re- 

 corded is 925, divided as follows among the several orders: 



Primates, 109 



Carnivoia, 297 



Ungulata and Proboscidea, . . 205 



Cheiroptera, 2 



Cetacea, . 62 



Sirenia, ........ 9 



Rodentia, 191 



Edentata, 13 



Insectivora, 17 



Didelphya, . 19 



Monotremata, 1 



It will thus be seen that while some of the orders are largely repre- 

 sented, others are very deficient, and require much in the way of addi- 



