January, 1S43.] 239 



Menke, of Pyrmont, Germany, has been at length examined and arranged 

 by the Botanical Committee, 'whoso Report states that, as arranged, it con- 

 tains not less than 7000 species in excellent condition. On account of its 

 size and value they have decided upon keeping it in a separate case from 

 those containing the Academy's Herbarium, and to designate it the " Menke 

 Collection." 



Of Minerals, the donations have been chiefly from the following mem- 

 bers and others. 



P. A. Browne, J. Randolph Clay, George R. Gliddon, Wm, S. Vaux, 

 J. A. Clay, Esqs., Dr. Wm. T. Craige, &c. 



In the Entomological department we have had but a single donation to 

 record in the past year that made by Mr. Charles Twigg, of New 

 Harmony, Indiana, of insects from that region. The Secretary, however, 

 has the satisfaction to state, that it is the determination of several 

 members to exert themselves during the coming season, personally, and 

 throuo-h friends in the United States, in making collections of American 

 Insects for the Academy. He would respectfully suggest that the aid of 

 Foreign Correspondents be also solicited for this purpose. 



To the Museum there has also been added a number of fine Quadrupeds, 

 Reptiles, Fishes, Skeletons of Animals and Crania, by members and cor- 

 respondents. 



The donations made by the different contributors mentioned, are upwards 

 of eighty in number. It would be difficult to form a just estimate of the 

 number of specimens embraced by them ; it cannot, however, fall short of 

 from four to five hundred. Taken collectively, they form a mass of great 

 value to the lover of Natural Science, and for which the Academy has 

 every reason to return its thanks to those persons who have thus testified 

 their desire to promote the interests of the Institution. 



The Library has received an equal share of consideration. Many of 

 the works presented last year are of great value, and the additions are 

 equal in number to those of former years. The entire number of volumes, 

 pamphlets, works published in parts, &c, added to the Library in 1842, 

 has been one hundred and thirty-two; and of these, according to the report 

 of the Librarian, sixty-nine are new works. For some of these the Aca- 

 demy exchanges its own publications with other Institutions and indivi- 

 duals. A large proportion of them, however, have been voluntary contri- 

 butions from authors, members, and correspondents. 



A new set of cases, occupying the whole extent of the South Flying 

 Gallery, has been recently completed, which adds much to the appearance 

 of the Hall. One-half of these cases has been appropriated to the valuable 

 collection of crania belonging to Dr. Morton, and the remainder to the ac- 

 commodation of a very extensive series of volumes containing the debates 

 and proceedings of the different legislative bodies of France during the 

 period of the Revolution. Its great size, in fact, (upwards of 1600 volumes,) 

 has hitherto prevented its introduction into the Hall, lest it should encroach 

 too much on the space in the Library allotted to works of a strictly scien- 

 tific character. As a full record of the events of that epoch of history it 

 is highly valuable, and is believed to be possessed by no other Institution 



