1897.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 545 



rangement of a considerable portion of the bivalves has been made 

 possible by the removal of part of the minerals from this gallery. 



Besides those already mentioned, there have been numerous large 

 and valuable additions to the museum during the year, as will be 

 seen in the appended list. 



Among them we would call attention to the valuable collection of 

 marine specimens from California, presented by Mr. Harold Heath ; 

 a collection of rocks and birds from South Africa, presented by Dr. 

 Emil Holub, through Mr. H. G. Bryant ; a collection of Coleoptera 

 from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, presented by the Feldman 

 Collecting Social, a collection of African insects and mollusks 

 from Dr. A. Donaldson Smith ; a collection of alcoholic mammals 

 of North America from S. N. Rhoads, as well as the numerous 

 valuable specimens received through the year from the Zoological 

 Society of Philadelphia. The collection of marine invertebrates 

 preserved in formaline has also been increased through the liberal- 

 ity of Mr. F. W. Walmsley. 



Several important improvements in the museum building are also 

 noteworthy, particularly the fitting up of the receiving room at the 

 east end, as an addition to the library and the renovation of the 

 Council Room. 



The Curators have also, during the year, vacated one of the small 

 rooms on the library floor, and have allotted a large space on the 

 basement floor of the new museum for the storage of publications. 



The Curators take this occasion to express their indebtedness to 

 various members and to the Conservators of the Sections, for valu- 

 able assistance in caring for the special collections, particulars of 

 which will be found in their several reports. 



Important assistance has also been rendered by the students of 

 the Jessup Fund. Much assistance has been given to specialists by 

 placing the collections at their disposal, and in addition to the 

 many who have made use of material at the Academy, specimens 

 have been loaned to representatives of various scientific institutions 

 throughout the country, including Anthony Woodward, Henry C. 

 Mercer, T. Wayland Vaughau, Fred'k. A. Lucas, L. M. Under- 

 wood, H. M. Smith, Walter Faxon, C. F. Millspaugh, H. C. Ober- 

 holser, B. L. Robinson, T. W. Stanton, Robert Ridgway and others. 



Henry C. Chapman, M. D., 



Chairman of the Curators. 



