112 



to $917.51, and some 8200 to $300 worth stiU remain unsold; 

 this money is still on hand for the purchase of new books, 

 an insignificant portion of it only having been expended ; 

 the sum of money thus placed at our disposal being more 

 considerable than has been in our hands for this purpose for 

 some time past, the Librarian suggests that it be used mainly 

 in the purchase of larger works, such as the scientific reports 

 of expeditions sent out by foreign governments, of which 

 the Library lacks a great many; it would however be un- 

 doubtedly advantageous to delay any direct action until their 

 cost in our national currency shall not be so great as at pres- 

 ent. Besides the Library duplicates which have been sold, 

 others, particularly the publications of Foreign Societies, 

 have been exchanged with the American Academy of Ai*ts 

 and Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution ; the total num- 

 ber received from this source, as seen by the table, is 169. 



During the year, the work of cataloguing and arranging 

 the Library has progressed steadily; book j^lates have been 

 placed in every volume to which they had not already been 

 fastened, and to every book in the front room excejDt some 

 of the publications of Societies, has been attached a digest 

 of the new Library regulations, a process requiring consid- 

 erable time. The books in the back room are now under- 

 going the same process ; every work as soon as received has 

 been entered on the books, catalogued and placed upon the 

 table and shelves, generally with a detention of but a few 

 hours. 



There has also been prepared a List, in extenso^ of the de- 

 siderata among the publications of Scientific Institutions, 

 with a view of taking active means to remedy the deficiencies 

 of this part of the Library. 



All this work in the Library would not have been possible 

 Tvdthout assistance, the expense of which has been defrayed 

 partly by the Society's funds, partly by subscription among 

 the members of the Council, and partly from money given 

 to the Society for this special purpose. 



There is now no catalogue of the Library except the Card 

 Catalogue, which, in its present condition, the cards being 

 kept loosely in a partitioned box, is not suitable for examin- 



