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able extent, of the collection of Ecliinodenns, both dry and 

 alcoholic. The first object, therefore, was to trace the origin 

 of as many of the specimens as possible, and not only iden- 

 tify the species, but to endeavor to ascertain their localities, 

 and render such accidents in the future impossible, by at- 

 taching securely to each specimen a number corresponding 

 to that of the label, and to a systematic catalogue. Many 

 localities have been found by searching the records and 

 Proceedings of the Society, and others by direct comparison 

 with authentic specimens from other collections. Particular 

 attention has been paid to identifying the types of new spe- 

 cies described from the Society's specimens by Mr. Desor, Mr. 

 Girard, and others. Many of these original specimens have been 

 found without labels, but others, and especially the types of the 

 Echini, described by Girard, have not been found. Possibly 

 these have been lent to some other institution by some for- 

 mer Curator and not yet returned. The alcohoUc collection 

 of Echinoderms, which is a valuable one, has not been ar- 

 ranged for want of alcohol and bottles, but the specimens 

 have all been put into a condition of safety, and a part of 

 them have been catalogued. The collection of dried Echin- 

 oderms have all been catalogued and arranged upon the 

 shelves, and nearly all of them authentically identified. This 

 collection is quite large and valuable, but is still quite de- 

 ficient in star-fishes and Ophiurans. The corals have been 

 mostly identified, and partially catalogued, and all of them 

 placed on the shelves of the gallery. Their systematic arrange- 

 ment has been deferred until the cases destined for them are 

 made ready by the new arrangement of the birds. The final 

 labels have not yet been written, this having been deferred 

 as of less importance, until the cataloguing is completed. 

 The following additions have been received ; from the Essex 

 Institute, ten spechnens, ten species, East India corals; from 

 Dr. A. S. Packard, Jr., two hundred and fifty specimens, forty 

 species, mostly from Labrador ; from 'N. Appleton, six speci- 

 mens, three species, corals ; from the Museum of Yale College, 

 ten specimens, five species, Echinoderms of United States; and 

 forty-nine specimens, twenty-nine species, corals and Echin- 

 oderms, mostly from Panama, all of which are new to the 



