102 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



nimiber of roJumes contained in tlie Library at the present time 

 cannot be deKnitely stated, but it is estimated that there are over 



In the Museum, likewise, the increase of the collections in value 

 and extent is greater than during any previous year. A fine min- 

 eralogical collection, bequeathed by the late George W. Doe, of 

 Macjuoketa ; a collection of minerals made by our former Trustee, 

 Mr. D. S. True, and given by his widow, Mrs. J. T. Miner ; a fine 

 collection of shells from Dr. Wesley Nevvcomb, of Ithaca, X. Y. ; 

 a collection of 1000 species — 1000 specimens — of insects, from Mr. 

 L. Lethierry, of Lille, France, and smaller donations from more 

 tliau 100 persons, merit more than a passing allusion. For further 

 ])articulars, I must refer you to the detailed report of the Curator. 

 A fact worthy of notice is the number of valuable donations re- 

 ceived from abroad, another direct result of the publications of the 

 Academy. These collections have all been received and labeled, 

 and, as far as practicable, with our limited number of cases, ar- 

 ranged for exhibition by our Curator, Mr. W. H. Pratt. Such 

 large additions have necessarily devolved upon this efficient officer 

 much arduous labor, which, being so far gratuitously performed, 

 places the Academy under special obligations, which should be at 

 least acknowledged. The time appears to be rapidly approaching 

 when it will be impossible for one man, dependent upon his daily 

 labor for his support, to do all this work in his leisure hours. 

 Even were no question of right and justice involved, to continue 

 to depend upon such gratuitous labor would of necessity eventu- 

 ally require a suspension of this work of museum arrangement and 

 display, or its reasonable remuneration. I would suggest that in 

 the meantime we have among our members a volunteer corps to 

 assist the Curator by taking charge of one or more special depart- 

 ments of the collection, receiving, labeling and arranging the 

 specimens pertaining thereto. This has already l)een done with 

 the Botanical and Entomological collections, which have been un- 

 der the care of Dr. C. C. Parry and J. I). Putnam, respectively. 



Previous to .July 30th. the Museum and Lil)rary were open to 

 all visitors free of charge, every day except Sunday. At this date 

 it was decided to charge an admission fee of ten cents to adults 

 and five cents to children, so as to more fully meet the necessary 

 expenses of keej)ing the building open. The result of this move, 

 much to the surprise of the officers, was a perceptible increase in 



