230 



the Rev. Mr. Mason of Burmah, and to Dr. F. W. Cragin of Su- 

 rinam ; especially to the latter gentleman, who has continued to 

 be, as for several years past, one of our most liberal benefactors. 



The Curator of Mineralogy reports that the Cabinet of Mine- 

 rals has been increased by only a few specimens. There are 

 some specimens of Copper, that have not been particularly noticed 

 before, and a beautiful specimen of Oxide of Tin. A donation 

 of two hundred specimens has been promised by Mr. F. Alger, 

 and they will be selected by the Curator as soon as a place shall 

 be ready for them in the new building. Other donations have 

 been promised to be made to the Society at the same time. 



The Curator of Ornithology reports. That the present state of 

 the Collection belonging to his department is one of safety at 

 least, if not of usefulness ; that is to say, with the exception of 

 about one-third, displayed in the glass cases, our Collection of 

 Birds is, after having been thoroughly baked and poisoned, care- 

 fully sealed up and stowed away in the garret, for want of more 

 fitting accommodations. To preserve them from the Dermestes, 

 which were making most fearful ravages in spite of all previous 

 precautions, including the immersion of each specimen in a strong 

 tincture of corrosive sublimate, as recommended by Waterton ; 

 the Curator resorted to this measure as a temporary expedient. 

 The addition of twenty-seven or twenty-eight specimens from 

 our indefatigable friend. Dr. Cragin of Surinam, has been receiv- 

 ed the last year. The purchase of eighteen specimens of Cay- 

 enne Birds, which are wanting to the Collection, and are now to 

 be procured on reasonable terms, is recommended. 



The Librarian reports, That he has received, since the last 

 Annual Meeting, twenty-six volumes and seventy-five pamphlets 

 or parts of volumes. Among the most valuable acquisitions, are 

 Gray's Genera of Birds, Milne Edward,s's Histoire des Crusta- 

 cees, Gould's Monograph of the Odontophorinse, and Owen's 

 History of British Fossil Mammals and Birds. The number of 

 Books received the past year is not so great as that of the pre- 

 ceding year; the value of them, however, is fully equal. 



Dr. Storer, Vice President, remarked as follows : 



"No one must infer, from these Reports of the Curators, that 



