SCIENCE IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 465 



year displayed on that occasion, and proved to be a very interesting 

 feature. 



The Academy of Sciences is formed from the scientific faculty of 

 the National University at Cordoba, with the addition of other men 

 of science in various parts of the country. The eminent zoologist, 

 Dr. Burmeister, of Buenos Ayres, is at the head of the Academy, and 

 the members of the scientific faculty of the university are in the 

 anomalous relation of being under the direction of the Academy 

 rather than the university in their duties to the latter. 



The secretary of the Academy is at Cordoba, his office being in the 

 buildings of the university, where are also located the scientific col- 

 lections of the Academy. These consist of: 



1. The Mineralogical Museum, containing a rich and very well ar- 

 ranged collection of minerals, altogether the best in the country. The 

 Argentine minerals are particularly well represented and classified 

 according to provinces. There are microscopic preparations accom- 

 panying many of the respective minerals and rocks. The collection 

 occupies two rooms. 



2. The Botanical Collection is crowded into a room about thirty- 

 six by twelve feet, and entirely too small to admit of appropriately 

 arranging the numerous and interesting specimens. 



3. The Zoological Collection, which in condition of specimens and 

 lack of arrangement is a disgrace to the curator of this department. 



4. The Physical Cabinet occupies three rooms and is a large and 

 quite well arranged collection of apparatus. 



5. The Chemical Laboratory is in two of the basement-rooms, one 

 of which is very large. It is well equipped, but the apparatus is not 

 kept in the best order, nor the library which appertains to this de- 

 partment. 



6. The Library of the Academy is separated into sections, and the 

 books distributed in the various rooms, where are located the various 

 collections appertaining to the sciences of which they severally treat. 



It is proposed soon to rearrange the collections of the Academy, 

 put them in order so far as they are in need of it, and, where requisite, 

 move them into more desirable and commodious apartments. They 

 will, however, remain as now, the material for scientific illustration 

 of the National University courses of instruction. 



The glory of the Argentine Republic in the direction of work ac- 

 complished for science, and, as far as I am informed, of South America 

 as well, is the National Museum at Buenos Ayres, of which the dis- 

 tinguished zoologist, Dr. Burmeister, whose reputation is European 

 as well as American, is the director. To a man of science this museum 

 offers as great attractions as any of the leading ones in Europe, and 

 there are many specimens found here, particularly in the department 

 of paleontology, that are entirely unique. Remains of the huge ani- 

 mals of the sloth and armadillo families have nowhere been found so 



VOL. IX. 30 



