1881.] 



NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 



477 



An estimate of the activity of the Academy from the numbers 

 in attendance at its meetings alone, should include tliose in 

 attendance at the meetings of the several sections. To specialize 

 is the order of the da}'. All the great meetings of men interested 

 in the advancement of the different departments of knowledge are 

 splitting into sections and special societies. Many who habitually 

 attend the meetings of the sections are seldom present at the 

 stated meetings of the Academy, but their presence and work in 

 tlie sections make part of the common or general activity of the 

 society. 



The Department of Recent Conchology now contains 139,592 

 specimens, mounted and ai'ranged in 39,501 traj^s. The species 

 are named throughout, and all, with rare exceptions, are accessible 

 to students. The space allotted to this branch of natural histor}' 

 in the museum is insufficient. Lack of room for the Mineral- 

 ogical and Geological Cabinets is also manifest. 



Extension and completion of the building is very desirable. At 

 this time, the building fund amounts to $3689.20. Attention of 

 members and friends of the Academy is respectfully invited to 

 this important matter. The finished part of the building is not 

 now large enough to properly arrange all the materials in it in the 

 most convenient manner for their study, and is certainly not 

 sufficiently extensive to display them to the public in a way to 



