14 



specimens in several of the classes are, however, arranged and iden- 

 tified, and catalogues of these will soon he published. In order to 

 do as much good as possible with the duplicate specimens a large 

 number^have been sent, as donations, to other Institutions, during 

 the past year and several other collections are now being made up 

 for transmission. In consequence of this liberal use of its rich sup- 

 ply of duplicates, the Institute has been the recipient of large and 

 valuable collections from Scientific Institutions and men, both in this 

 country and abroad, and the specimens are now arriving in such 

 numbers" as to tax its resources to their utmost in order that the 

 proper care be taken or these treasures. 



The following estimate of the number of specimens (exclusive of 

 a large number of duplicates) in the various departments of the 

 Museum presents a general view of the character of the collection 

 at the present time. 



HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT. 



The section of Ethnology contains about 1400 specimens, illustra- 

 ting _the habits, costumes, war and domestic implements of the va- 

 rious races and nations. 



In the section of Manuscripts there are a very large number of 

 Manuscripts relating to our early civil and ecclesiastical history. 



In the section of -Fine Arts there are several hundred Portraits, 

 Paintings and Engravings, many of which are of great historical 

 value. 



DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



Specimens. 



Geological specimens, ahout .... 220 



Minerals, about 2200 specimens, of which 196 are from 

 Essex County, ...... 2200 



FOSSILS. 



Radiates, 200 species, 270 specimens. 



Mollusks. 1200 " 2300 

 Articulates, 24 li 56 " 



Vertebrates, 90 " 120 " 



Plants, 135 " 200 " Fossils, . 2926 



RECENT. 



Plants, about 5000 species, native and foreign, among 

 which are nearly all the species found- in Essex County, 

 a number of specimens of wood, and a large number of 

 seeds &c., in all about 6500. Plants, . C5CO 



Sponges, 42 species, 100 specimens, Sponges, . 100 



Acalephs, ) 



Polyps, > 456 species, 1500 specimens. 



Echinoderms, ) Radiates, . 1500 



