2G0 



[Dec. 



to the Society at the earliest possible period ; I should state, too, that several 

 thousand duplicates are not exhibited. 



The labelling and preparations for a catalogue of this imnnense collection are 

 constantly pro^frcssin;;. The necessary investitrations for those purposes have 

 been found to embrace the examination of the descriptions of all known si)ecies, 

 as far as practicable, and very frequently involve critical comparisons of both 

 descriptions and specimens, which require the most diligent and cautious research. 

 In fact, the proper study of the collection of the Academy will be found to demand 

 little short of a general survey of the whole Ornithological kingdom, as well as 

 the entire literature of Ornithology, which it is hoped will be regarded as suffi- 

 cient apology ^or any apparent tardiness on the part of those engaged in that 



department. 



Respectfully submitted by 



John Cassin, Curator. 

 Hall of the Academy, December 25th, 1849. 



The Society then wont into an 

 year, with the following result : — 



President., 

 Vice Presidents, 



Corresponding Secretary^ 



Recording Secretary, 



Librarian, 



Trensurer, 



Curators, 



jJuditors, 



Publication Committee, 



election for officers for the ensuing 



Samuel George IMorton, M. D. 



J. Price Wetherill, 



R. Eglesfeld Griffith, M. D. 



John Cassin. 



Samuel Powei. 



Wm. S. Zantzinger, M. D. 



George W. Carpenter. 



Joseph Leidy, M. D. 

 Samuel Ashinead, 

 Wm. S. Vaux, 

 John Cassin. 



Wm. S. Vaux, 

 Robert Pearsall. 

 Samuel Ashmead. 



Wm. S. Vaux> 

 R. E. Griffith, 

 S. G. Morton, 

 Thomas B, Wilson, 

 R. Bridges, iM. D. 



Election of Member and Correspondents. 



Wm. Robertson Grant, M. D., of Philadelphia, was elected a. l/emftcr; 

 and Mr. Wm. S. Sharpey, of London, and Mr. John D. Goodsir, of 

 Edinburgh, were elected Correspondents. 



