0(3 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



March 20th. 

 Mr. Lea, President, in the Chair. 



Forty-two members present. 



The following papers were presented for publication : 



"Descriptions of new species of Cretaceous Fossils from New Jersey, 

 by W. M. Gabb." 



" Description of four new species of Melanidae of the United States, 

 by Isaac Lea." 



" Description of five new species of Uniones from Alabama, by Isaac 

 Lea." 



And were referred to Committees. 



Dr. Leidy announced the presentation by Dr. T. B. Wilson of his 

 entire collection of birds, amounting to 26,000 mounted specimens, 

 and 2,000 skins. 



Mr. Cassin said, in relation to the presentation of the collection of 

 birds now in the Museum of this Academy, by Dr. T. B. Wilson : 



The collection of birds in the Museum of the Academy has been 

 regarded for some years as the collection of this Academy, and is ex- 

 tensively known and referred to as such by authors and naturalists. 

 The donation this evening, so liberally and characteristically made by 

 Dr. Wilson, involves only a change of ownership, or transfer of title, 

 with the further important consideration that it secures the collection 

 to the Academy, as intended by Dr. Wilson, in perpetuity and without 

 contingency. 



Previous to this donation the collection has been the private property 

 of Dr. Wilson, and has been accumulated from various sources, since 

 1845, with great judgment, and with constant and unremitted exertion 

 on his part and also on the part of his brother, Mr. Edward Wilson, 

 long resident in Europe. The latter named gentleman has most ably 

 and successfully seconded his brother in the greatest enterprises ever 

 entered upon in America, having for their object the promotion of the 

 Zoological Sciences and of general Natural History. The results mainly 

 have been, at this period, the formation of the Library of this Academy 

 and of its collections in all departments, but especially in Mineralogy, 

 Palaeontology, Conchology, Crustacea, Icthyology and Ornithology. 



The very extensive and comprehensive series now presented, with 

 the comparatively small collection previously owned by the Academy, 

 comprise one of the most complete Ornithological Museums extant. It 

 is, in fact, one of the four great collections of birds in the world, and, 

 so far as can be ascertained from published catalogues, is fairly entitled 

 to be considered as presenting facilities for study in this favorite 

 branch of Natural History equal to those of any other Institution. 



Mainly, the collection of Dr. Wilson was based on that of General 

 Massena, Duke of Rivoli, and his son, M. Victor Massena, Prince 

 D'Essling, which was regarded as the finest private collection in 

 Europe. This was acquired by purchase in 1846, and brought to this 

 country. Various other valuable and more or less extensive collections 



[Marchj 



