1895.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 573 



One of- the most important accessions of the year is a series of 

 specimens obtained by Dr. Benj. Sharp during a summer expedi- 

 tion on board the U. S. Revenue Cutter "Bear." These collections, 

 however, have just been received, and have not yet been studied or 

 prepared for presentation. . 



Dr. S. G. Dixon and Mr. H. 0. Mercer obtained, during the 

 year, additional collections of fossil remains from the Port Kennedy 

 limestone cave. These have been properly prepared, presented 

 and added to the valuable series obtained last year. 



During May and June, Mr. S. N. Rhoads made a journey through 

 the State of Tennessee in the interest of the Academy, and obtained 

 valuable collections of the reptiles, birds, mammals and mollusks of 

 this interesting region, all of which have been placed in the museum, 

 and reported upon in the Proceedings of the Academy. 



Other valuable accessions during the year have been a collection 

 of Pennsylvania and New Jersey birds, received from Samuel N. 

 Rhoads, with other small collections of birds from T. H. Mont- 

 gomery, Jr. and A. Sydney Logan. 



The Delaware Valley Ornithology Club has continued to add 

 liberally to its interesting collection of local birds. Under the ef- 

 ficient management of Mr. Jefferis, the Wm. S. Vaux Collections 

 have been largely increased and kept in most satisfactory condition. 



The botanical collection, during the past year, has been under the 

 care of Messrs. Thos. Meehan and Stewardson Brown, while the 

 Entomological Department has continued under Dr. Skinner's super- 

 vision. To all these gentlemen, the Curators desire to express thanks 

 for their valuable assistance, and also to Messrs. Schulze, Boyer, 

 Woolman and Keely, who have devoted much time to the cata- 

 loguing and arrangement of the microscopical collections. 



The Curators would also acknowledge the efficient work of their 

 assistants, Messrs. Witmer Stone and Samuel N. Rhoads, to whose 

 earnestness and fidelity the successful progress of the museum work 

 is largely due ; and they also express their appreciation of the work 

 of the taxidermist, Mr. D. N. McCadden, and the valuable assist- 

 ance of the students of the Jessup Fund, Miss Helen M. Higgins, 

 Messrs. Henry W. Fowler, H. C. Borden, Wm. J. Gerhard and 

 E. G. Vanatta. 



The interest of the general public in the museum is shown by the 

 large attendance of visitors during the year, while specialists in 



