1887.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 415 



Ethnology and Archaeology, who deplores that for want of room he 

 should be compelled to decline donations to this section of his de- 

 partment. The condition of overcrowding is, unfortunately, only 

 too true for almost airithe other dejDartments, and the necessity for 

 an extension to the jDresent building becomes more pressing every 

 day. Unless assistance is rendered in this direction the collections 

 of the Academy, which are of their kind probably still the most ex- 

 tensive and important in the country, must cease to grow. An 

 appeal to the Legislature of the State, made in the early part of the 

 year, for aid in constructing an annex in which to exhibit the 

 natural history resources of the State of Pennsylvania and the ex- 

 tensive collection of the State Geological Survey deposited in the 

 cellar of the Academy was favorably reported upon in Committee, 

 but failed of its purpose by reason of a design to construct a Survey 

 Museum in the State Capital. The encouragement and endorsement 

 which the Academy's petition met from many of the most 

 influential citizens of Pennsylvania Congressional representatives, 

 merchants, manufacturers, and those most interested in the develop- 

 ment of the natural history resources of the State lead to the hope 

 that at no very distaut day that assistance may be obtained which has 

 so long been needed. In the meantime it is earnestly to be hoped that 

 lie patriotic instincts of the citizens of Philadelphia will generously 

 assert themselves, and not allow that institution to go in want which 

 has cast so much lustre, not only upon the science of the city, but 

 upon the science of the whole country. 



In its educational workings the Academy is doing much good. 

 The museum has been thrown open free to the classes of all institu- 

 tions of learning, and the collections are largely made use of by 

 schools both in and out of the city. The attendance at the class 

 lectures, as well as participation in the field-excursions in connection 

 with these, is also considerable, and shows that the facilities for 

 study and work afforded by the Academy are largely appreciated. 

 The course of popular evening lectures which, on the recommenda- 

 tion of the professors, and with the approval of the Council, was 

 inaugurated in the spring of last year, has proved successful beyond 

 expectation, and has led to the preparation of a more extended 

 course, now in process of execution. Unfortunately, the hall of the 

 Academy is not well suited to the delivery of lectures to large 

 audiences, and hence no absolute satisfaction can be given to a large 

 proportion of the listeners. But the character of the attendance 

 speaks well for the interest in the work. 



