112 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



Mr Muir then presented the 



REPORT OF THE CABINET KEEPER AND OF THE LIBRARY 



COMMITTEE. 



This report may be arranged under three divisions, 



1. — Work on the Building. 



2. — Work in the Museum. 



3. — Report of Library Committee. 



1st. Work on the Building. — On the left hand side of the 

 entrance hall, a convenient store-room has been added, the ceil- 

 ins of which oives a floor suitable for the accommodation of 

 several specimens formerly in the Museum. The side entrance 

 has been enclosed by a ceiling and partition, forming an inside 

 porch, adding greatly to the comfort of the place in winter ; and 

 the head of the rear stairway leading up to the gallery has been 

 floored over, increasing the accommodation ofl"ered by the gallery. 

 Eleven windows have been put in on three sides of the gallery, 

 givinir increased cheerfulness and light ; curtains have also been 



Co o ' 



placed on the sky-lights. The large wall cases, twenty-seven in 

 number, have been cleaned and painted, the shelves made nar- 

 rower and better adapted to show the specimens thereon. The 

 north and south sides of the gallery fronts have been raised, 

 levelled and supported. The benches in the Lecture Hall have 

 been repaired and strengthened by bolts. 



2nd. Work in the Museum. — The whole of the birds, (1194 

 in all), the mammals, reptiles and fishes have been thoroughly 

 dusted and cleaned ; the birds have been re-mounted on hand- 

 some black walnut stands and painted blocks and the old soiled 

 labels replaced by new ones; the fishes have been removed to the 

 aquarium room, and the mammals re-arranged and put in the 

 space thus left vacant. The whale, two of the alligators, and 

 the hirge seal have been removed to the floor covering the store- 

 room to the left of the main entrance hall, and the floor cases, 

 formerly in the aquarium room, have been brought into the 

 main room. Mr. John S. Brown having ofl"ered to stock and 

 take charge of the aquaria for the Society, two aquaria loaned 

 by Messrs. Wm. Muir and Jas. Ferrier, jr.. together with those 

 belonging to the Society, have been placed in position, and it is 

 hoped that before the season is over a good representation in this 

 department will be one of the attractions of the Museum. Mr. 



