216 



[December, 



In addition to the above, in accordance with a Resolution, adopted September 

 30th, 1851, Dr. Ruschenberger read on the evenings of February 3d and 10th, 

 an exceedingly interesting, accurate and elaborate " Notice of the Origin, Pro- 

 gress and present condition of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- 

 phia," which was subsequently published by the Society. 



In conclusion, the Recording Secretary congratulates his fellow members 

 upon the continued harmony, activity and prosperity of the Society. In no 

 former year has so large a number of communications been presented, the 

 number of members has been greatly increased, and the attendance at the 

 meetings full, while there has been displayed by those present, every evidence 

 of zealous desire to forward the cause of science, cherish the interests and 

 sustain the reputation of the Academy. 



All of which is respectfully submitted by 



B. Howard Rand, Recording Secretary. 



Fkiladelphia, Dec. 28th, 1852. 



The Librarian presented the following 



REPORT FOR 1852. 



Since the 1st of January last, 1Y06 volumes, 889 periodicals, and 291 pam- 

 phlets have been added to the Library. The character and variety of the ad- 

 ditions, with the number of each under their respective heads, are shown in the 

 annexed table : 



Subject. 



Gen. Nat. History and Mam' 

 malogy .... 



Ornithology 



Herpetology 



Ichthylogy .... 



Entomology and Helminthology 



Conchology 



Botany .... 



Geology and Mineralogy 



Anatomy and Physiology . 



Proceedings, Journals, Annals 

 Memoirs, &c. of Societies 



Carried over . 





> 



346 

 41 

 14 

 33 



167 

 29 

 46 



169 



158 



377 



1380 



3 

 .2 



Oh 



84 

 51 



154 

 33 

 25 

 46 

 24 



470 



887 



B 



38 

 15 



4 

 13 

 31 

 16 



6 

 73 

 48 



244 



Subject. 



Brought over . . . . 

 Voyages and Travels 

 History and Geography . 

 Phys. Science and Chemistry . 

 Agriculture . . . . 



Medicine 



Languages and Bibhography . 

 Biography . . - . . 

 Dictionaries of Arts and Sci- 

 ences 



Miscellaneous . . . . 



Charts 



Total 



Of the above, 57 have been received from Authors, 34 from Editors, 90 from 

 Societies, Corporations, &c., 834 from D. T. B. Wilson, 1767 from Edward 

 Wilson, Esq., 98 from other Members and Correspondents, and from miscella- 

 neous sources, and 6 from the U. S. Government ; making a total of 2886 addi- 

 tions to the Library in 1852. 



From our fellow-member, Mr. Elias Durand, we have also received 109 auto- 

 graphs of distinguished scientific and literary men. 



The excess in the increase of volumes this year over that of the last is 631. 

 In 1851, the Library was increased 1075 volumes; in 1850, 1719 volumes; in 

 1849, 789 volumes ; in 1848, 652 volumes ; and in 1847, 630 volumes ; making a 

 total increase in six years of 6571. Many periodicals, also, in course of publi- 

 tion during these years, and recorded as such in our lists of donations to the 

 Library, have since been bound into volumes, the number of which may be esti- 

 mated at about 700 ; and added to the above give a total of nearly 7300 volumes 

 contributed to the Society's Library in that short period. 



In the report submitted to the Academy in December, 1850, the number ot 

 volumes in the Library at that time, as ascertained by actual enumeration, was 

 12,057. If to these be added those since received, with the proportion of 



