1886.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 3tt 



REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE WILLIAM S. 

 YAUX COLLECTIONS. 



The Curator of the William S, Yaux collections respectfully 

 submits his fourth annual report to the Council of the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences : 



The collections are in good order and condition, no change 

 having been made since the report of 1885, except the introduc- 

 tion of one hundred and fourteen mineral specimens, purchased 

 by the approval of the Curators of the Academy, during the year 

 ending November 30, 1886. 



No. of mineral specimens as by report of Nov. 30, 1885, 6,516 

 Purchased between Nov. 30, 1885, and Nov. 30, 1886, . 114 



Total, ........ 6,630 



Archaeological specimens (same as noted in report of 



1885), no additions, 2,940 



The growth of the collection since it came into possession of 

 the Academy is as follows : 



Nov. 30, 1884, specimens purchased, .... 60 



Nov. 30, 1885, specimens purchased, .... 104 



Nov. 30, 1886, specimens purchased, . . . . 114 



In all, ........ 2*18 



These 278 specimens have been purchased at an aggregate cost 

 of $1448.70. 



It will be conceded that the new material added to the mineral- 

 ogical collection since 1883 has very materially improved its 

 character, not only in beauty, but for scientific study. 



Among the specimens most worthy of special note which 

 have been added are a number of fine transparent crystals of 

 Topaz from Siberia. One of these is a crystal 1^ inches square, 

 2^ inches in height, on a matrix of Feldspar, coated with Albite; 

 it is a well terminated rhombic prism, showing the basal cleavage 

 planes with great beauty. Also worthy of mention are a fine 

 specimen of Zircon from Canada, weighing 12^ pounds, made 

 up of a group of square prismatic crystals, measuring 3^x4 

 inches and 9^ inches in height ; a specimen of Stibnite from 

 Japan, a cluster of long, well terminated crystals, with interesting 



