550 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1897. 



An active interest has shown itself at the meetings, communica- 

 tions having been made by many of the members and by visitors. 

 Of these may be mentioned several on geology, especially of the 

 vicinity, on the composition of soils, on a new mineral called Tri- 

 saltite by Mr. Goldsmith, on glacial striae and rubbings made from 

 them, and on a large deposit of corundum, in gneissoid or granitic 

 rocks in Ontario. 



Two successful excursions were enjoyed by the Section : one on 

 May 27th to Media, Mineral Hill, and the Sharpless quarry and the 

 other on October 23rd to the quarries, etc. near Avondale, Chester Co. 



The Officers of the Section are as follows : — 



Director, ...... Theodore D. Rand. 



Vice-Director and Conservator, . . Wm. W. Jefferis. 



Recorder, ...... Charles Schaffer. 



Treasurer, . John Ford. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Theo. D. Rand, 



Director. 



REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SECTION. 



It is gratifying to be able to report the completion of the work of 

 renovating the mounted collection of birds in the museum of the 

 Academy. This work was begun in 1892 and has progressed steadily 

 ever since, though press of other museum work has often occasioned 

 delay. As finally catalogued the collection, of practically the same 

 extent as at the time of the death of Dr. Thomas B. Wilson, numbers 

 24,492 specimens. 



Of this number 15,000 duplicates, including the types, have been 

 unmounted and placed in tight cabinets, while the remaining series 

 of 10,000 specimens has been arranged systematically in the large 

 exhibition cases on the old Ornithological Gallery. The improve- 

 ment in the appearance of the collection is marked and the reduc- 

 tion in the number of the specimens exhibited makes it possible to 

 dispense entirely with the old wall cases in which the specimens 

 were so much in danger from mold and dampness. 



The labelling, except in the case of some of the larger birds, has 

 been restricted to group or family labels. The cards are so quickly 

 spoiled by dust in the old cases that it has been considered best to 

 defer the general labelling until new cases are provided and the col- 

 lection is removed to the new Museum building. 



