No. 5.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 307 



PLANTS. 



A collection filling 21 portfolios of North American plants, 

 arranged according to the Natural System. Although corrosive 

 sublimate was mixed with the paste with which the plants are 

 fastened to the papers, it has been recently noticed that a small 

 beetle has been and is still making burrows through some of the 

 fasciculi, and the matter requires immediate attention. 



INSECTS. 



Some additional species, mostly scarce Coleoptera, have been 

 added during the year, which were collected by Mr. Passmore 

 and myself. My reports for the past two years give a detailed 

 account of the work done in this department. It was found 

 during the summer that the larvae of Dermestes lardarius had 

 done some damage to a few Lepidoptera in one of the drawers, 

 and the specimens affeeted were destroyed, and measures were 

 taken to prevent further injuries from this source, but the cabi- 

 net will always require periodic inspection. 



MOLLTJSCA AND MARINE INVERTEBRATA. 



This part of the collection is in tolerable order, but the nomen- 

 clature of the species requires some revision. 



FISHES AND REPTILES. 



The stuffed specimens are in fair condition, though some im- 

 provement can be made in the labelling of the Canadian fishes, 

 which were identified only in a provisional kind of way several 

 years ago. A commencement has been made of a new collection 

 of alcoholic preparations, which are temporarily placed in the 

 vestibule, but this part of the work was stopped for want of a 

 supply of good glass stoppered bottles and of alcohol. 



BIRDS AND MAMMALS. 



The series, especially of native species, badly wants replenish- 

 ing with new and fresh specimens ; but those we have, though 

 though mostly old and often in very poor condition, are all care- 

 fully named. The Society's collection of the eggs of North 

 American birds, is very good, and could be made of much value 

 to students at a very trifling expense. 



