ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. I 3 



In pursuing this work, I find a vast number of duplicates, and of works 

 not strictly of a scientific character. A great many of these books are valu- 

 able, and I would respectfully suggest that authority be given to dispose of 

 them, either by sale or exchange. 



I also beg to call the attention of the Academy to the fact, that a consider- 

 able number of very valuable works require binding, and that by neglecting 

 this important duty heretofore, a great many of these works have become 

 defective. 



I enclose a list of such literature as, in my opinion, should receive this 

 attention at once, and hope that a sufficient sum will be appropriated for this 

 purpose without delay. 



A great mass of new material received by the Academy is left undescribed, 

 for want of the proper literature, compelling us to leave to other Societies, 

 better supplied in this respect, the honor of describing and publishing in 

 their Proceedings, articles which otherwise would have found a space in our 

 own Proceedings. 



The following standard works, carefully selected, ought to be added to the 

 Library as soon as possible, viz : 



Ichthyology and Herpetology . 



Gunther's Catalogue of Fishes; Catalogue of Apodal Fishes; Catalogue of 

 Shield Eeptiles. 



Zoology . 



Catalogues of Mammalia. 

 Crusticea. 



Milne Edward's Histoire Nationelle des Crustacea; Dana's Crustacea; Bate 

 and Westwood's Brit. Sessile-eyed Crustacea; Bell's Brit. Stalk-eyed Crus- 

 tacea. 

 Radiates. 



Forbes' Brit. Star Fishes; Johnson's Brit. Zoophytes. 

 Protozoans. 



Bowerbank's Brit. Sponges. f 



Osteology. 



Huxley's Elementary Atlas of Comparative Osteology. 

 Ornithology. 



Baird, Brewer and Ridgeway's History of N. A. Birds. 

 Botavy. 



De Candolles' Prodromus. 



Our Ethnological department is at present very meagre, comprising only a 

 few pamphlets and proceedings of foreign Ethnological Societies. I would 

 suggest that the work lately issued by our fellow townsman, Mr. H. H. 

 Bancroft, on "The Native Races of the Pacific States," which has been 

 very highly commended, as well by scientific men here as abroad, be secured 

 for this department. 



Very respectfully, 



WM. J. FISHER, 



Librarian. 



