1855.] 451 



in twelve double rows, and accommodating the conchological collection, now 

 under arrangement. 



The edge of the first and second galleries supports 62 horizontal cases, which 

 with four upright ones at the east end of the first gallery, contain the collection 

 of minerals, newly arranged by Messrs. Vaux and Ashmead. 



The edge of the third gallery supports 27 horizontal cases, containing Crusta- 

 cea, and 13 cases of the same kind, containing echinodermata. 



The lower museum saloon is of the same length and breadth as the upper one, 

 but is 11 feet less in height ; and it has two galleries extending entirely round, 

 except at the east end of the first range. A stair case for the admission of the 

 public, communicates with the hall in the south east corner, and in the same 

 position ascends to the second gallery. At the back third of the same gallery, 

 a stairway communicates with the saloon above ; and on the opposite side a 

 stairway ascends from the floor to the hall above, and communicates with the 

 library rooms below. 



The north-east corner of the lower museum saloon, on the floor and at the 

 termination of the first gallery, is occupied by two small rooms, appropriated to 

 the service of the mammalogical and herpetological committees. 



At the back third of the saloon, on the third floor, the side wall cases are 

 brought out on a line with the edge of the gallery, leaving behind the cases two 

 small room3, appropriated to the use of the committees on palaeontology and 

 ornithology. 



In advance of the two rooms just mentioned, large glass cases extend nearly 

 two-thirds the length of the saloon, for the accommodation of the larger mam- 

 malia and skeletons. The floor in the interspace of these cases, is occupied 

 by three longitudinal double rows of partly horizontal and upright cases, 66 in 

 number, appropriated to the collection of extinct invertebrata, and of geological 

 specimens of rocks, yet unarranged. 



In the east end of the saloon, there is one large, horizontal, transverse case, 

 and three upright wall cases, containing large specimens of extinct vertebrate 

 remains, the bulk of which collection, however, is now contained in three trans- 

 verse double rows, of partly horizontal and upright cases, 18 in number, and i^: 

 four wall cases to the north side of the latter, in the back third of the saloon. 

 The four upright cases opposite to those just indicated, together with four others 

 in the west end are appropriated to skeletons. 



The wall cases on the northern side of the first gallery, 19 in number, ac- 

 commodate the collection of reptiles, and the corresponding cases on the oppo- 

 site side, 20 in number, contain the collection of human crania. 



The edge of the first galiery supports 44 horizontal cases, containing the col- 

 lection of extinct vegetable remains, arranged by Mr. W. F. Rogers. 



In the upper gallery, in advance of the stairways, there are 30 wall cases and 

 12 long foot cases at the edge of the galleries, appropriated to the mammalogical 

 collection ; and back of the stairways there are 14 wall cases and 6 foot cases, 

 to be appropriated to the collection of fishes. 



On the two galleries at the west end, there are 8 vertical cases, and three 

 others at the side of the first landing of the stairway, in the south east corner, 

 to be used for the collection of sponges and corals. 



The furnishing of the upper museum saloon and committee rooms, important 

 alterations in the lower museum saloon, and the construction of new cases in the 

 front basement room of the building, now appropriated to the use of the library, 

 have been effected without cost to the Academy ; the expense, amounting to 

 $10,850, having been defrayed by our liberal fellow member, Dr. T. B. Wilson. 

 In the alterations the old material was used wherever it could be done with ad- 

 vantage, so that they appear to be of greater magnitude than the expense 

 would allow. 



During the year just about closing, the donations to the different departments 

 of the museum and the labors therein have been as follows : 



Mammals. Of these animals there were presented 26 specimens of 18 species, 

 among which were a reindeer from Greenland, presented by Col. G. A. McCall ; 



