618 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Dec, 



deplorable condition of affairs, so that if transmissions be lost, the 

 deficiencies in sets can probably never be supplied. 



The British Trade Adviser has recently required all institutions 

 to make their own applications. If this rule be insisted upon it will 

 enormously increase the labor and uncertainties of importation. Our 

 own importers make application for ninety-two institutions. The 

 British official will, it is to be hoped, acknowledge the disadvantage 

 of increasing the required documents in that instance alone from 

 one to ninety-two, so that the representations of the Librarian of 

 Congress may secure a modification of this order, but in the mean- 

 time we must cultivate such patience as we can until the world is 

 providentially restored to its normal condition. 



I am glad to again acknowledge, officially and personally, the 



zeal and efficiency of my assistants, William J. Fox and Furman 



Sheppard Wilde. 



Edward J. Nolan, Librarian. 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS. 



The year just completed finds the Academy's collections and 

 buildings in better condition than ever before. The members of 

 the museum staff have devoted their time to the care and study of 

 the material in the several departments. Large numbers of specimens 

 have been labelled, catalogued and rearranged, while many groups 

 have been critically studied and specimens redetermined. The 

 accessions to the museum have been numerous and of great value, 

 as shown by the accompanying list of additions. 



Much has been done to render the exhibits more accessible and 

 more attractive. Through the appropriation of $10,000, made at 

 the last session of the State Legislature, it was possible to secure 

 52 plate-glass and mahogany or oak exhibition cases, while four 

 others were purchased from the E. D. Cope Fund and ten from the 

 William S. Vaux Fund. 



With these it is possible to complete the furnishing of the 

 Archaeological and Mammal floors and the first floor of the north 

 wing, and to transfer to new cases the William S. Vaux Collection 

 of minerals and a large part of the exhibition series of mollusks. 

 Part of the transfer to the new cases has already been accomplished, 

 and the work will be finished during the coming year. 



For the study collections 105 metal-covered cases, 420 glass- 

 covered boxes and 1,300 trays were secured for the accommodation 



