316 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP [1886. 



Pennsylvania Geological Survey, contained in upwards of 200 

 cases, still remain in the cellar, boxed, for want of exhibition 

 space. The types of the greater number of the fossil plants 

 described by Lesquereux in his Coal Flora of the United States, 

 probably one of the most valuable collections of fossil plants in 

 the world, have been added to this collection during the year, 

 but, for similar reasons, still remain boxed. The report of the 

 Professor of Ethnology and Archaeology indicates that accessions 

 to this department of the Academy's Museum could readily be 

 had were proper exhibition space provided, but that under present 

 conditions the same is impossible. In view of these facts the 

 necessity for an extension to the Academy's building cannot be 

 too strongly insisted upon. 



Of equal importance to the future welfare of the institution is 

 a fund designed for the purposes of zoogeographical exploration. 

 As suggested in our last report, the interest derived from a princi- 

 pal fund of $50,000 would fairly equip an annual expedition to any 

 of the largely unexplored regions lying about our domain, such 

 as Mexico, Central America, the Bahamas, Labrador, etc. Only 

 through this method of research can it be hoped to bring in large 

 accessions of new material to the working naturalist, and thereby 

 place him in direct relation with the problems of nature. The 

 success attending the Florida Expedition of the Wagner Free 

 Institute of Science of this city, which was organized with the 

 co-operation of the Academy in the winter of the present year, 

 fully demonstrates the wisdom of such a plan of explorations, at 

 the same time that it proves its ready feasibility and possible 

 economic character. 



Specimens have been loaned for study during the year to Profs. 

 Whitfield and Britton,of New York, to Profs. Osborn and Scott, 

 of Princeton, and to Messrs. Ridgeway and Yasey, of Washing- 

 ton, all of whom have rendered service to the institution in the 

 determination and description of its specimens. The Academy 

 has also profited through the studies of three Jessup Fund bene- 

 ficiaries, who have at various times rendered service to the 

 Curator-in-Charge; to these persons the Curator-in-Charge begs 



to tender his thanks. 



Very respectfully, 



Angelo Heilprin, 



Curator-in- Charge. 



