34 The Academy of Natural Sciences 



The old hand lists were replaced in 1885 by a regulation card 

 catalogue which has been kept up to date. An Assistant Librarian 

 was appointed in 1890. The library, exclusively for reference, now 

 contains about 60,000 volumes, almost entirely on the natural 

 sciences. In many respects it is the most important collection of 

 the kind in America. It is especially distinguished for its complete 

 sets of early Journals and Transactions and for finely illustrated 

 monographs in all departments of zoology and botany. Its sources 

 of growth are the incomes of the Wilson, the I. V. Williamson and 

 the Meigs Funds, supplemented within recent years by liberal 

 appropriations from the treasury. These sums provide the pro- 

 prietary journals and works on general science, while the publica- 

 tions of learned societies, perhaps the most important part of the 

 library, are secured by exchange of the Proceedings and Journal. 



The arrangement of the library has been considered a model 

 of convenience by all having occasion to consult the books. They 

 have been removed to the new building where they are placed in a 

 fireproof compartment fitted up with tiers of steel stacks. Much- 

 needed increase of room has thus been secured. 



THE MUSEUM 



Mr. Witmer Stone, one of the Curators, states that the 

 Academy's museum to-day, both for its historic value and the 

 extent of its collections, is one of the most important in existence. 

 As in the case of all the older scientific institutions its arrangement 

 has undergone material changes in the course of time. The old 

 idea of having all specimens displayed in show cases has been super- 

 seded by the establishment of two distinct collections : an exhibition 

 series selected and arranged primarily for the education of the public 

 and a study series compactly arranged in the laboratories and study 

 rooms, where the large suites of specimens required in the work of 

 modern specialists may be accumulated and preserved. Perishable 

 material which has but a comparatively short life in exhibition 

 cases is here preserved from the ravages of light, dust and insects. 

 One of the features of the museum is the large number of type 

 specimens which served as the basis of the work of the eminent 

 naturalists who have figured in the history of the Academy, access 

 to which is indispensable to the students of the present day. 



An idea of the extent of the collections may be gained from 

 recent examinations of the catalogues. The vertebrate animals 



