254 [T)ec. 



be commnnced foitliwitli, and will be compieted in a tew weeks. Tlie ImiKliiif;, 

 with the exception ol" one room, will then be perfectly (ire-proof. When this 

 improvement has been finished, and a new anansoment and distribution of the 

 Library made, the exact No. of vols. &c. in each department, with tlie a;;!irei;ate, 

 which it was intended to have appended to the present report, will be made 

 known to the Society. 



WiM. S. Zantzinger, 

 Hall of the Acadcnuj, Dec. Q."}, IS 19. Librarian. 



Dr. Leidy, Cliairman of the Curators, read the annual report as fol- 

 lows : 



REPORT 



OF THE C U R A T O K S 

 For 1849. 



It is with much pleasure the Curators, in presenting their Annual Report, can 

 say that the collections of the Academy, during the year 1819, have increased to 

 such an extent as to be indicative of a continuance of the extraordinary prosperity 

 which it enjoyed the two preceding years. Most of the departments have been 

 enriched, through donation and deposit, with many rare and valuable objects. 



Since the presentation of the last report of the Curators, there has been con- 

 structed a line of horizontal, centrally vertical, double cases, down the centre of 

 the Hall, for the further accommodation of the palanontological collection; a 

 large, deep, horizontal, double case at the east end of the same, for the reception 

 of the larger specimens of organic remains; aline of horizontal cases on the 

 outside of the railing of the lower gallery, on each side of the Hall, for containing 

 the Oological collection; and several vertical cases, occupying the landing of the 

 stair-case in the south-east corner, for the extension of the Ornithological col- 

 lection. 



A short account of the increase in the Museum during the past year we give 

 under the head of each department. 



Mammalogy. — In this department, during the past year, we hare received 22 

 species of Mammalia, among which may be particularly mentioned the original 

 specimen, described by 13r. Harlan, of Chlamyphorus truncatus, a magnificent 

 albino deer, Cervus virginianus, presenteil by Dr. Wilson, and a fine Ornitho- 

 rhynchus paradoxus, presented by Dr. Michael. 



Ornithology. — A special report upon this extensive department of our Museum 

 has been prepared by Mr. Cassin, on which account it is unnecessary for us to 

 make any remark upon it, except that during the past year there have been added 

 to it, from other sources than Dr. Wilson, 61 species, 70 specimens of birds. 



In Oology we have been enriched by the deposit from Dr. Wilson of two very 

 large and celebrated collections of birds' eggs. The first of these is a general 

 and very extensive collection, made through a long period of time, and at great 

 expense and trouble, by M. O. Des Murs, of Paris. This contains 1281 species, 

 3449 specimens, and 10 nests, of which 1011 species are determined. The 

 second is a collection of birds' eggs, exclusively of Australia, made by Mr. John 



