ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 23 



lections is 4,425 ; and of species, deducting duplicates, 1,526, of 

 which number 1,278 are determined. 



The total number of birds' nests in the Academy is 214 ; the 

 number of specimens of birds' eggs 5,056, of which 1,368 species 

 are determined. 



The cases contain at this time 4,450 specimens. 



This collection of birds' eggs is not equalled by any one in 

 Europe. 



3. ICHTHYOLOGY. 



The collection of fishes is placed in the east basement-room. 



In his "Notice of the Academy," in 1837, Dr. Morton says: 

 " The collection of fishes is as yet comparatively inconsiderable. 

 A series of those inhabiting the waters of Guiana has been pre- 

 sented by Dr. Hering. Dr. Burrough has deposited an inte- 

 resting collection from some of the remoter provinces of India, 

 and the American species have of late received considerable ac- 

 cessions." 



There are 750 glass jars or bottles, each containing several 

 fishes in alcohol ; and 372 dry preparations, of which 170 are 

 the original specimens described by C. L. Bonaparte, in his 

 "Fauna Italica," and presented by Dr. T. B. Wilson. The num- 

 ber of species has not yet been ascertained. It is estimated 

 that the aggregate number of specimens is at least 1,500, of about 

 700 species. 



This department has received donations from Dr. J. Carson, 

 Messrs. W. B. Maul, Philip Lowry, and others. 



4. HERPETOLOGY. 



The collection of reptiles is placed on the galleries of the east 

 and north-east basement-rooms. 



From Dr. Morton's "Notice," in 1837, we learn that this de- 

 partment is especially indebted to the exertions of Dr. Harlan, 

 Dr. Burrough, Dr. Blanding, and Dr. Hering. During the year 

 1830, the latter gentleman presented upwards of 200 species of 

 the serpents, and other reptiles of the north-eastern regions of 

 South America. 



Professor Holbrook has presented the specimens originally de- 



