32 



The collection of Cetacean skulls and bones have been loaned to Prof. 

 Cope for his investigations, and have just been safely returned. Prof. Cope 

 has found among the skulls types of three new species of this interesting 

 group of mammals. 



The collection of native Neruoptera has been studied by Mr. S. I. Smith, 

 of Yale College, and has been returned with his identifications. 



Our whole collection of Hymenoptera is now in the hands of Dr. A. S. 

 Packard, Jr., of the Boston Society of Natural History, and of Mr. E. T. 

 Cresson, Secretary of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, for study 

 and identification, and will be much enhanced in value by being labeled by 

 these gentlemen. Dr. Packard is engaged in preparing a paper, which will 

 be published in the Proceedings of the Institute, on the Larva; of this most 

 interesting order of insects, and he is much indebted to our collection for im- 

 portant material for his work. 



Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A., has identified the collection of North 

 American Birds, and is now preparing a catalogue of them for publication 

 in the Proceedings of the Institute. 



The Various and increased duties of the Superintendent in the care of 

 the Museum and the specimens which are daily received ; the editorship of the 

 Proceedings and the Naturalists' Directory ; and the large amount of corre- 

 spondence which devolves on him (527 letters having been written by him 

 during the year, besides the mailing of several hundred circulars, the various 

 numbers of the Proceedings, c.), makes it now no longer possible for the 

 Institute to continue its present activity without other regular assistants in 

 the Museum, and increased means for the care and arrangement of the col- 

 lection, now so grown that there is no longer room for it in the present cases ; 

 many thousand specimens being stored in boxes, drawers, cans and kegs, 

 awaiting case room, jars and alcohol. 



Under these circumstances, you will, therefore, permit the following, sug- 

 gestions, for the further development of the Museum and its scientific work : 



1st. Several permanent assistants are required in the Natural History 

 Department, who shall have charge of the several sub-departments. 



2d. A small building, about thirty feet square, should be erected in the 

 rear of the present building, and connected with it only by an iron door in 

 the place of one of the end windows of the Museum Hall. This building 

 should contain a room for the sole use of the persons in charge of the Mu- 

 seum and such students as might come to the Institute, with proper arrange- 

 ments in the basement for the preparation of skeletons, &c., and, in connec- 

 tion with its heating apparatus, a small still for the redistillation of the old 

 alcohol. 



3d. As many cases as possible should be put into the present hall, 

 which will allow of table cases, about eight feet by four, between the upright 

 cases, making twelve cases of this size ; a railing case on the gallery for the 



