BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 147 



seven of the section of Entomolop^y with an average of ten. Thirty-seven written com- 

 munications had been made by thirty-six persons. Of these, thirteen were presented in 

 the section of Entomology and thirteen in the section of Microscopy. 



Of the publications, eleven signatures of the Proceedings, completing the thirteenth vol- 

 ume, had been issued, and of the Memoirs, one paper. Historical Notes on the Earth- 

 quakes of New England, by William T. Brigham, had appeared. 



The Library had received during the year by gift, pvu-chase or exchange, 215 volumes, 

 765 parts of volumes, 183 pamphlets and 22 maps and charts. The use of the Library had 

 been extended to members of the Institute of Technology and to others pursuing some 

 branch of natural science, who made application. 



Of the departments of the Museum, the Custodian reported as follows : 



That of Mineralogy had received a large accession by the purchase of a fine series of 

 specimens, and by the presentation of several, and the reception of others by exchange. 

 The whole collection was in perfect order, and every specimen labelled. 



The Geological collection was in good order, and fully arranged and labelled. There 

 had been no important additions. 



The Palaeontological collection had had much work done upon it in identifying and 

 labelling the specimens. 



The condition of the Botanical collection was stated to be good, being entirely free from 

 insects. It contained about 25,000 specimens labelled and glued to papers, and many 

 hundred duplicates for exchange. A considerable nnmber of plants from various expe- 

 ditions yet required much study and work for their identification and arrangement. 



The department of Comparative Anatomy had been enriched by the important addition 

 made to it of the skeleton of the whale before mentioned, of the reception and mounting 

 of which the particulars have been given. 



The corals and the sponges of the Radiata had been rearranged by Mr. Sanborn, and 

 placed on black tablets. The labelling was reported, however, as incorrect in many cases, 

 and it was recommended that measures should be taken to secure the services of Prof 

 A. E. Verrill for the naming of the species. 



Much work had been done on the Insects by Mr. P. S. Sprague, and it was stated that 

 the cases recently procured would obviate all danger of future damage from moths and 

 Anthreni. Valuable additions to the collection had been made by Messrs. Sanborn, Swan, 

 Trouvelot, Sprague, Dickenson, Minot, and Scudder. 



The department of the Mollusca required much attention from able conchologists. The 

 services of Dr. P. P. Carpenter were obtained for a short period on the general collection, 

 and Mr. L. Lincoln Thaxter continued work on the New England collection. 



The collection of Fishes was in good order and Mr. Putnam had been engaged in label- 

 ling the specimens, which work was reported as nearly completed. 



The Reptiles were stated to be in the same condition as the previous year. The col- 

 lection was reported as small, and needing many additions. 



The department of Ornithology had received many valuable additions of fresh eggs of 

 Arctic birds from the Smithsonian Institution, and some rare specimens of birds from 

 Mr. Thure Kumlein. 



The Custodian had adopted many expedients to stop the ravages of the Anthreni, but 



