1856.] 



325 



The following Report of the Librarian was read and adopted . 

 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT FOR 1856. 



The additions to the Library of the Academy during the current year amount 

 to 1,449, of which number 295 are complete volumes, and 1,154 are pamphlets, 

 scientific periodicals, &c. The sources whence these books hare been obtained, 

 and the general subjects upon which they treat, are presented in the following 

 table : 



By referring to the last Report of the late Librarian, Dr. W. S. Zantzinger, it 

 will be seen that the total increase for the present year exceeds that for 1855 

 by 592. In December last, Dr. Z. estimated that the Library contained about 

 15,500 volumes, tracts, periodicals, serials, &c. By the additions for 1856, this 

 number has been swelled to 16,949. 



Respectfully submitted by 



J. AiTKEN Meigs, Librarian. 

 Dec. 30th, 1856. 



The Curators presented their Annual Report which was read, adopted 

 and referred to the Committee on Proceedings. 



REPORT OF THE CURATORS FOR 1856. 



The Curators take pleasure in reporting that the Museum of the Academy is 

 in an excellent condition of preservation, and that it has received valuable ac- 

 cessions to all its departments during the year just about closing. 



Since the last annual report was presented to the Academy, the arrangement 

 of the Ichthyological collection has been undertaken by Drs. R. E. Bridges and 

 J. Cheston Morris ; and W. J. Binney, Esq. has commenced the arrangement of 

 the Cenchological collection. The collection of Birds continues to be arranged 

 by Dr. T. B. Wilson. The collections of Minerals, Crustacea, Insects, and Fos- 

 sil plants have been arranged prior to this year as stated in previous reports. 

 No department is perhaps better arranged than that of the Herpetological col- 

 lection, for which the Academy is indebted to the information and zeal of Dr. 

 E. Hallowell The collection of Vertebrate Remains has been recentlj'' arranged 

 by Dr. J. Leidy. Mr. E. Durand has made considerable progress in the forma- 

 tion of an American Herbarium, which he informs us will be of a very complete 

 character. In several departments, the Academy yet needs some assistance be- 

 fore the Museum shall be completely arranged, more especially in the depart- 

 ments of Mammalogy, Invertebrate Palaeontology, and Geology. 



During the year 1856, the donations to the different departments of the Mu- 

 seum have been as follows : 



Mammals. Of these 33 specimens of 14 species have been added to the collec- 

 tion ; and among them is a fine specimen of the Musk Ox, deposited by Dr. E. 

 K. Kane, and one of the Walrus, presented by Sandwith Drinker, Esq. 



