1885.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 419 



fund to be used for the prosecution of zoo-geographical explora- 

 tions. The interest derived from a principal fund of some 

 $50,000 to $60,000 would fairly equip annual expeditions to 

 regions that have been thus far little, or not at all, investigated 

 — Florida, the West Indies. Mexico, Central America, or Lab- 

 rador, for example — and permit of a large amount of material 

 to be collected for the use of naturalists generally. 



The special curatorial work during the past year has been 

 mainly in connection with the departments of Vertebrate and 

 Invertebrate Palaeontology and Osteology. The entire collections 

 of fossil fishes, reptiles and mammals have been brought together, 

 properly arranged and classified, and constituted into distinct 

 sections or departments. The specimens of osteology have been 

 largely identified and classified, and are now in a condition to be 

 advantageously used by the student and specialist. A special 

 collection, intended to illustrate the t^-pe forms of animal life, 

 from the highest to very nearly the lowest, designed to facilitate 

 the work of the zoological student, is rapidly approaching com- 

 pletion, although still requiring a s3 T stem of improved explana- 

 tory labeling. 



The routine work connected with the curatorial office has been 

 accomplished as heretofore, and requires no special enumeration 

 of details. The institution has benefitted during the year 

 through the services of five Jessup Fund beneficiaries, covering 

 as many distinct departments. 



Very respectfully, 



Angelo Heilprin, 



Curator-in-charge. 

 Jos. Leidy, 



Chairman Curators. 



REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE WILLIAM S. 

 VAUX COLLECTIONS. 



The Curator of the William S. Vaux collections respectfully 

 reports : — 



The collections are in good condition, no change having been 

 made in the arrangement except that which was rendered neces- 

 sary by the addition of one hundred and four mineral specimens, 



