182 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Altogether, the Custodian remarked, this collection must be considered one of the most 

 attractive and instructive in the Museum. 



The Bailey IVIicroscopical collection had had much labor devoted to it by Miss Wash- 

 burn, who had spent the greater part of the winter in cataloguing it. Dr. Henry Codman 

 had continued his work upon the Burnett collection of moimted parasites. In the Com- 

 parative Anatomy department, Dr. Thomas Dwight had finished the incorporation of the 

 Wyman Anatomical collection with that of the Society, and had prepared many sections 

 showing the structure of bones for the cabinet. There had been an accession of the 

 skeletons of a large sea-lion and of two fur seals, through the liberality of Captain 

 Charles Bryant, the superintendent in charge of the Fur Seal Islands. 



A collection of sponges had been acquired by purchase and would form the beginning of 

 a collection of Protozoa. Very valuable though small collections of Australian sponges had 

 been received from Dr. W. G. Farlow and others, making the dried collection of these ani- 

 mals the finest in this country. 



The collection of New England Fishes had been considerably enlarged through the fiicil- 

 ities afforded the Custodian by the kindness of Prof S. F. Baird of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission. 



In the department of Mollusca, considerable work had been done upon models by the 

 assistants in the Museum, and Dr. Brooks had begun the preparation of an accompanying 

 suite of anatomical preparations for each model. An important addition had been made 

 in the shape of suites of models showing the principal stages in the development of the 

 characteristic types of the Mollusca. Dr. P. P. Carpenter had continued the work of class- 

 ifymg and labelling the shells. 



All the Annelids had been reviewed, sorted, and the Entozoa named by the Custodian. 



The Insects had received much attention from Mr. Henshaw, who reported that the en- 

 tire collection was free from Anthreni. To the collection of the Mammalia, a fine Polar 

 bear had been presented by Bishop Williams, the skin of a fine grayhound by Mr. Addison 

 Child and a specimen of the celebrated breed of Ancon sheep by Mr. George William 

 Bond. 



The Custodian mentioned that considerable assistance had been received during the 

 year from the voluntary labors of Mr. Edward G. Gardner. 



During the year another room had been fitted up with improved cases for the reception 

 of New England fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals, and much had been done in provid- 

 ing for the protection of the Museum against fire. A large service pipe had been intro- 

 duced, which would give an ample supply of water, and every workroom was provided with 

 screw faucets. One large faucet with hose attached would be always ready in the cellar, 

 and three sets of hose had been distributed about the building for use in any emergency in 

 the work-rooms. On the roof two flxucets, one on each wing, had been placed, to which 

 hose could be attached. Buckets of water, with a Johnson pump had also been placed 

 in each workroom, and three patent gas machines in different parts of the l)uilding. 



The Cvistodian spoke of continued improvement in the condition and work of the Lab- 

 oratory under the management of Mr. Crosby. There had been four female students, 

 besides the usual number of students from the Technological Institute. 



