1848.] 135 



Culbertson, we are indebted for the deposit of the unique specinnens of the new 

 genus of fossil mannnnalia Merycoidodon. The professors of the Jardin des 

 Plantes have presented to us several of their beautifully made casts of Anoplo- 

 tnerium and Paleotherium. Besides the foregoing we have received 128 speci- 

 mens from various members and others. 



In Entomology, it affords us pleasure to say, that the collection is in an ex- 

 cellent state of preservation, and is in steady progress of arrangement by Dr. 

 Zantzinger, and from the many donations in the past two years already numbers 

 several thousand specimens of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. 'i'he impression which 

 unfortunately exists, that this department of natural science is not sufficiently 

 cared for in this institution, we hope will be henceforward removed. Members 

 and friends of the Academy need not now hesitate before preseming or depositing 

 collections of insects in the institution, as the danger of their destruction from neg- 

 lect or other causes no longer exists. At present, this like the other departments, is 

 under the constant supervision of two officers, whose duty it is not to permit any 

 portion of the property of the Society which is placed in their charge to suffer from 

 neglect or depredation. In the course of the last year Dr. Wilson presented 200 

 specimens of American and foreign Lepidoptera to the cabinet. We also acknow- 

 ledge our indebtedness to Mr. Wm. Hobson, of Kingsessing, for the donation of 

 500 determined specimens of British Coleoptera ; to Mr. Edward Doubleday, of 

 the British Museum, for a very fine collection of about 900 determined and ar- 

 ranged species of British Coleoptera; and to Dr. A. L. Heerman, our fellow mem- 

 ber, for numerous specimens of American Lepidoptera, chiefly from Key West, 

 Florida, many of which are rare. 



The Cabinet of Mineralosy and Geology during the past summer has been 

 carefully .and almost completely' arranged by our fellow members Messrs 

 Vaux, Ashmead and Hambel. It has received snme rich additions during the 

 last year, among which should be particularly mentioned a very large and 

 valuable donation from Dr. Wilson, numbering in all 2039 specimens, almost 

 exclusively European, many of them of the rarest and choicest character. 

 Our cabinet of European minerals is now one of the best in the country, although 

 still very deficient in American specimens. The example which has been set 

 by Dr. Wilson we hope may induce others to supply this deficiency. 



To M. Boucier of France, through Dr. Wilson, we have become indebted for 

 the donation of 70 very fine specimens of blue and green carbonate, and red oxide 

 of copper, among which are many and r ir^, modifications of the primitive crystal- 

 line form. Nor should we fail to mention the deposit by Mr. Vaux, of an enormous 

 crystal of Beryl, weighing 185 lbs., from Acworth, New Hampshire. Besides 

 these there were presented 40 specimens of minerals by several of the members 

 and others. Among them, are some of the more lately discovered minerals, pre- 

 sented by Mr. Markoe of Washington, and some fine specimens of Elba iron 

 ore from Dr. Carson. 



The unrestricted admission of persons to the museum of the Academy upon the 

 afternoons of Tuesdays and Saturdays, having been found to be attended with 

 some injury and even destruction of its furniture, caused the Society, 

 last year, to change one of the days of exhibition, viz. Saturday, to Friday, and 

 to issue gratuitous tickets of admission, to be obtained from members upon ap- 

 plication. This arrangement has been followed by the most beneficial effects ; 



