450 [Decejibej 



Natural Sciences, ------ 



Anatomy and Physiology, - 



Journals, Trans., Mem., &c, - 



Dictionaries of Arts and Sciences, - 



Voyages and Travels, - 



Antiquities and the Fine Arts, - 



Historical Documents (estimated), - 



Chemistry and Physical Science, - 



History and Geography, - 



Miscellaneous, ------ 



Maps in volumes, ------ 



15006 

 There is also a very large collection of tracts, periodicals, serials, &c, which, 

 when bound into volumes, will doubtless swell the aggregate to 15500. The 

 first enumeration was made in December 1850. At that date the number in 

 the Library was 11,557, exclusive of 500 estimated volumes of tracts, &c. The 

 increase therefore in five years, has been about 3500, or an average annual in- 

 crease of nearly 700 volumes. By comparing the corresponding items in the two 

 statements for 1850 and 1855, it will be found that a very large proportion of the 

 whole increase is made up of works in the various departments of Natural 

 Science, in Anatomy and Physiology, and in the Journals or Periodicals, viz., 

 1554 volumes on the Natural Sciences, 319 on Anatomy and Physiology, and 

 1029 Journals, or a total increase of upwards of 2900 volumes in these three 

 most valued and most frequently consulted departments of the Library. 



In conclusion, we may add, that during the present year, as in many others, 

 the Library owes all that it has received to the relations the Academy has formed 

 with other scientific bodies, or to the generosity and liberality of its friends and 

 supporters. Respectfully submitted by 



Wm. S. Zantzinger, Librarian. 

 December 25, 1855. 



The Report of the Treasurer for 1855 was read and referred to the 

 Auditors. 



Dr. Leidy read the following Report : 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS FOR 1855. 



Since the last annual Report of the Curators was presented to the Academy, 

 the alterations and enlargement of the building, commenced in 1853, have been 

 completed. The character of the alterations it is unnecessary to give in this 

 place, as it is done in an especial report of the committee, which was appointed 

 to superintend the changes, and it is proposed here, merely to give a general 

 view of the present arrangement of the museum, now contained in two saloons ; 

 the one above the other. 



The upper saloon of the museum is 110 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 34 feet 

 high; and it has three ranges of galleries extending completely round. Two 

 stairways communicate with this saloon, one on each side of the back or western 

 third, and they ascend in the same position to the upper gallery. On the floor 

 the side cases are brought out upon a line with the edge of the first galleiy, leav- 

 ing behind the cases, in advance and back of the stairways, four rooms, of which 

 the two longer are appropriated to the entomological and oological cabinets, and 

 the herbarium, and the others are appropriated to the services of the conchologi- 

 cal and mineralogical committees. 



All the upright or wall cases of the upper museum saloon, with the exception 

 of four at the east end of the first gallery, numbering 169, are appropriated to 

 the ornithological collection, now in process of arrangement by Dr; Wilson. 



The middle of the floor is occupied with 48 large, horizontal cases, arranged 



