368 



In order to suitiibly arrange this immense collection, the 

 two west rooms on the third story have been fitted up for 

 their reception under the superintendence of a committee, 

 consisting of Drs. J. C. White and H. Bryant. An entirely 

 new arrangement of this department is to be made, as the 

 previous collection is to be merged with that of Lafresnaye. 

 All the birds are to be removed from the eastern end of the 

 gallery, where they are at jDresent, and the space thus made 

 vacant by opening the new rooms, will be taken up by the 

 collection of fishes to be removed from the gallery above. 

 This arrangement will be soon completed, when the galleries, 

 now temj^orarily closed to the public, will be reopened. For 

 several months past, two taxidermists have been employed 

 uj^on the collection. 



The Acting Librarian i^resents the following summary of 

 additions by volume, parts of volumes and pami^hlets, stat- 

 ing that of the number of books now in the library — there 

 are 7,622 volumes, 2,097 parts of volumes, and 2,462 pam- 

 phlets : 



Books i^resented by individuals 



" purchased 



" deposited by the Eepublican Institu- 

 tion 



•' received in exchange for our publica- 

 tions 



Total . 



To'l 

 136 



46 



767 



In answer to the special requests sent out a year ago to 

 the Societies in Europe Avith whom we are in exchange, for 

 the back volumes of their j^ublications wanting in our series, 

 and also by the renewed application, both in person and by 

 letter, of the Librarian, a most valuable series has already 

 been received. Other important Societies promise to transmit 

 additional series of desiderata. 



All these parcels have been transmitted through the 

 Smithsonian Institution at Washington, to which the Society 

 is specially indebted for this unusual tax on its resources. 



