Of this collection it may be said that the prominent mammals of 

 North America are here well represented. Of birds we have speci- 

 mens of all the orders but the ostrich, and of most of the families of 

 North American birds. We have a fair representation of the fresh- 

 water fishes of the country, also a good collection of shells, and a 

 very nearly complete collection of Florida corals. 



In this connection we gratefully recognize, and not for the first 

 time, the valuable services of our faithful life member, Dr. J. W. 

 VELIE. In the winter of 1871 and 1872 Dr. VELIE accompanied 

 our lamented STIMPSON to the Gulf, and such time as could be 

 secured from his constant and kindly ministrations to the invalid in 

 his feeble and rapidly declining condition, was devoted to collecting 

 and preserving specimens, principally from the strait between Cuba 

 and Yucatan. Dredgings were also made off the Florida Keys, 

 from Key-West to Sombrero, which were sent to Prof. AGASSIZ, at 

 the Cambridge Museum. Dr. VELIE made a second trip to the 

 Gulf in January, 1875, when collections were made from the Gulf 

 Stream, from the Tortugas to Key Vaccas ; and upon the main- 

 land of Florida, from Cape Sable as far north as Charlotte's Har- 

 bor. The third trip was made in the winter of 1876 and 1877, when 

 the Florida coast was examined from Cedar Keys to Key- West, and 

 most of the rivers ascended, some as high as thirty miles. These 

 expeditions have been productive of rich results, and have added 

 largely to our collections of mammals, birds, eggs, shells, corals and 

 fish. Justice to Dr. VELIE'S work demands this statement in addi- 

 tion to the acknowledgements voted by the Academy and the grace- 

 ful tribute in our Secretary's report. 



Our Museum secured valuable additions of shells through one 

 of our resident members, W. W. CALKINS, Esq., during his two 

 expeditions to Florida, in which both the eastern and the western 

 coasts were partially examined. The value of these services have 

 been previously recognized by the Academy. 



THE LIBRARY. 



The monthly statements presented to us by the Librarian have 

 prepared us for the favorable results detailed in the full annual 

 ivj... rt. \vhirh has heen made this evening. The present good con- 

 dition of the Library is due to the patient labor of our Librarian 



