46 



net under his charge was in good condition, and as well arranged 

 as the present contracted space allotted to it would admit. This 

 department had been enriched, during the past year, by the addi- 

 tion of a splendid collection of the Footmarks of Birds and other 

 animals upon the Red Sandstone of the Connecticut Valley, and 

 by a series of Silurian fossils from the State of New York ; also, 

 by the presentation of several fossils from various persons, as 

 reported at the meetings of the Society. 



The Curator of Botany reported, that the Herbarium was in 

 good order. About 800 specimens had been added to the col- 

 lection during the past year, obtained mostly by exchange from 

 Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Jamaica. A portion of these 

 were presented by the Curator, a portion by Prof. Asa Gray, of 

 Cambridge, and a valuable collection of Swiss Mountain Plants 

 was received from Mr. B. F. Kendall. 



The Herbarium now contains a large proportion of the New 

 England plants ; still there are many of the rarer species yet 

 wanting, as well as some of those belonging to our Western bor- 

 der. The Curator is particularly desirous of obtaining a full 

 suite of New England specimens, and he solicits the aid of 

 those interested in Botanical pursuits. 



The Curator of Icthyology reported, that the collection of 

 Fishes remained nearly the same as at the last report, only a 

 few specimens having been added. 



The Curator of Herpetology reported, that in this department 

 are contained, at the present time, about 480 specimens, classi- 

 fied as follows, viz. : Chelonians 50 ; Serpents 227 ; Saurians 

 122 ; Batrachians 81. Under the Curatorship of Dr. H. R. 

 Storer, much progress was made in identifying and labelling the 

 different species ; the tortoises and batrachians having been 

 nearly all labelled, and a large portion of the saurians. It is to 

 be regretted that little progress has as yet been made in classify- 

 ing the serpents, in consequence of the deficiency of the requi- 

 site books and plates. There are many valuable specimens be- 

 longing to the Society, from South America ; some of which, 

 in all probability, are undescribed species. 



The Curator of Conchology reported, tliat during the past 

 year, the principal donations to this department have been from 



