1888.] XATURAL SCIENCES OF rillLADELPHIA. 441 



ant. Through the kindness of Dr. H. C. Chapman the Academy has 

 received a fine selection of marine invertebrates from Bar Harbor, 

 Maine, many species of which had not hitherto been represented in the 

 general collection. The Zoological Society of Philadelphia has also 

 contributed largely in material from their gardens, and thereby filled 

 in many gaps that c6uld not otherwise be readily closed. 



The trip to the Bermuda Islands which was planned by the Cura- 

 tor-in-Charge, and toward which the Academy generously contrib- 

 uted its assistance, proved successful beyond anticipation, and 

 has resulted in placing in the Academy's museum a large and im- 

 portant collection of sub-tropical marine forms, the greater number 

 •of which are now for the first time represented, and many of 

 which are new to science. The results of the expedition, which 

 are now in course of publication in the Academy's Proceedings, 

 prove what benefits may be derived from zoo-geographical research 

 •of this kind, undertaken with only moderate expense, and with 

 110 special preparation. The value of this form of scientific re- 

 search has been indicated in previous reports, and attention is once 

 more directed to the advisability of endowing a moderate zoo-geo- 

 gra|)hical research fund, the interest from which should be expended 

 annually in the exploration of the numerous regions which still 

 await investigation. It is believed that no other method could be 

 suggested which would yield such important scientific results, and at 

 the same time render the Academy a virtual centre of scientific ac- 

 tivity in the country. 



The Curator-in-Charge again desires to call attention to the ab- 

 solute need of an extension to the i)resent accommodations ; the exist- 

 ing conditions are becoming more serious every year, and render a 

 change, if the efficiency of the institution is not to be lessened, im- 

 perative. The collections can no longer be advantageously increased, 

 nor can they be satisfactorily cared for in their restricted quarters. 

 Portions of the library are being gradually encroached upon, and 

 the work-rooms are all filled. The need for a suitable lecture-hall 

 or amphitheatre is pressing, and the same is true of special students' 

 rooms and laboratories. It is earnestly hoped that the generous 

 public of this city, who have so kindly lent their assistance before, 

 will not allow the most important institution of the kind in the 

 country to go in want. The attempts to obtain aid from the State, 

 although often repeated, have thus far proved abortive ; but an ef- 

 fort will again be made during the coming session of the Legisla- 

 ture. 



