The Academy of Natural Sciences 13 



tion until, to the community at large, the names of Leidy and the 

 Academy were inseparably associated. 



At the stated meeting of June 30, 1846, Dr. Morton announced 

 that Dr. Thomas B. Wilson, having purchased the famous collection 

 of birds of the Due de Eivoli, embracing 10,000 specimens mounted 

 and named, was desirous of arranging them in the museum. In 

 furtherance of Dr. Wilson's wishes the building was extended thirty 

 feet westward covering all the ground then at the disposal of the 

 society. The library was moved from the second floor to the new 

 room at the west end of the basement and the first meeting was held 

 in it May 4, 1847. Vice- President Morton made a brief address of 

 welcome and congratulation on taking the chair. He alluded feel- 

 ingly to the services of those who had sustained the burden during 

 the days of struggle and uncertainty and gave credit to those who 

 were then devoted to the interests of the Academy, alluding 

 especially to Dr. Wilson who had paid the entire cost of the extension 

 to the building but, in deference to his modesty, without mentioning 

 hfe name. Dr. Wilson's entire collection of birds, amounting to 

 26,000 mounted specimens and 2,000 skins, until then on deposit, 

 was presented outright in 1860. The ornithological collection 

 formed the most attractive feature of the museum, and for years 

 gave it distinction in the appreciation of the public. 



While the collection of birds was Dr. Wilson's most striking 

 gift, every department of the museum and library received important 

 additions from him. No other benefactor of the Academy has 

 demonstrated his interest in its welfare with such active personal 

 exertion or with such self-sacrificing labor. His name, therefore, 

 should be among the first of those who deserve the gratitude of the 

 society. 7 



A second series of the Journal in quarto was begun in Decem- 

 ber, 1847, mainly through the influence and on the urging of Dr. 

 Wilson who subsequently contributed liberally to the expenses of 

 illustration, especially of the fine colored plates of Cassin's descrip- 

 tions of new species of birds. 



In 1848, there were on the lists of the society 245 members and 

 520 correspondents. The most active workers were Samuel George 

 Morton, John Cassin, Joseph Leidy, William S. Vaux, Eobert 



7 A Memoir of Thomas Bellerby Wilson, M.D. Proc. Ent. Soc. of 

 Phila., v., 1865. 



