Annual Koport.] 172 [May 1, 



.1 considerable expansion is highly desirable. During the feAV 

 weeks that Dr. Bryant spent here, just before his death, he 

 transferred some of the families to cases in the main hall 

 emptied for their reception ; this somewhat impaired the 

 unity of arrangement, but the birds presented a more at- 

 tractive aspect, they could be more readily examined and 

 were rendered safer from the depredations of insects. Every 

 reasonable precaution has now been taken to protect them 

 from the exposure to light complained of in the Curator's 

 former reports. 



The donations to the collection have not been very impor- 

 tant ; eighty-three specimens have been presented, one spec- 

 imen has been purchased. Our thanks are due to Drs. S. A. 

 Bemis, 11. Bryant and S. Cabot, Maj. Lewis Cabot, Capt. 

 Taylor and Messrs. W. T. Brigham, N. P. Hamlen, H. L. 

 Lawrence, H. Mann and F. G. Sanborn. 



Messrs. Luther Hills, Thomas J. Lee and E. L. Sturtevant 

 have made small donations to the department of Oology, and 

 Mr. B. P. Maun has presented his whole collection of birds' 

 nests and eggs. The Curator has taken measures to secure 

 large additions durmg the coming year. 



The excessive price of alcohol has prevented the Curator 

 of Herpetology from doing much beyond actually preserving 

 the collection under his care. A short time ago, all the spec- 

 imens on exhibition were removed to one of the unfinished 

 apartments, to make room for the expansion of the collection 

 of birds ; the Committee of Construction are now making 

 contracts for furnishing a new room ; the gallery will be de- 

 voted to this department, and the specimens placed on ex- 

 hibition as soon as the cases are completed. 



Dr. A. C. Garratt, and Messrs. F. W. Andrews, R. C. 

 Greenleaf, F. G. Sanborn and C. A. Stearns, have made 

 slight additions to the collection. 



The cost of alcohol has also prevented the Curator of Ich- 

 thyology from paying such attention to his department as 

 would have been desirable. He has endeavored to preserve 



