NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 283 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS. 



The Museum of the Academy continues in its usual condition, 

 and the more perishable departments are in a fair state of preser- 

 vation. While several remain in a state of comparative confusion, 

 others are in an advanced condition of arrangement. The con- 

 chological cabinet, which now numbers upwards of 21,000 species, 

 is reported to have nearly one-half of the collection systematically 

 arranged and properly labelled. 



Mr. James A. Ogden, one of the members of the ornithological 

 committee, informs us that during the past year, the entire collec- 

 tion of birds has been carefully examined, and those which were 

 found infested were submitted to the heating process. He also 

 assures us that the collection is now in good order. Further, 

 several families have been arranged, and about 1400 specimens 

 labelled. 



Several hundred duplicate bird skins were presented to the 

 Chicago Academy of Sciences, according to a special vote of our 

 Academy. 



The donations and additions to the collections and Museum of 

 the Academy during the year are as follows: 



Mammals. The skeleton of a Whale, Megaptera be.llicosa, Cope, 

 from St. Barts, W. I., was presented by Wm. S. Vaux, and I. Lea. 

 Dr. Ruschenberger presented a skull, a skeleton, and a mounted 

 skin of a Japan Dog. Dr. II. Rand presented four skulls of 

 Monkeys, and Dr. H. C. Chapman, the skull of a very old Horse. 

 Several mammal skins from the West Coast were presented by 

 George Davidson. 



Birds. Mr. James A. Ogden, of the ornithological committee, 

 submits to us the following list of donations: 



Skins of Haliaet'us leucocephalus. two Mormon cirrJiata, two 

 Hsematopus niger, H. palliatus, and Mergulus Cassinii, from the 

 West Coast of North America, presented by George Davidson. 



Ardea ludoviciana, Larus argentatas, and Mergulus alle, from 

 North Carolina, presented by Dr. II. C. Yarrow, U.S.A. 



Pelecanus fuscus and two Querquedula discors, from St. Martins, 

 W. I., presented by Dr. R. E. Van Riggersma. 



Eight species of birds, from San Domingo, presented by Wm. 

 M. Gabb. 



