Miscellanies. 365 



and stalactites from Ohio ; but far more interesting than these, sev- 

 eral original specimens, together with a series of casts, of the newly 

 discovered ornithichnites or bird tracks of Professor Hitchcock, have 

 been added to our cabinet. 



The members of the society are well aware why so little attention 

 has been paid to enriching this portion of our collections. All the 

 cases appropriated to mineralogy, are filled with the valuable deposit 

 of Dr. C. T. Jackson. It is however very desirable that the cabinet 

 strictly belonging to the society, should be enlarged, that we may be 

 prepared to supply the vacancy which would be produced by the 

 remoi^al of the collection before us. 



Botany. — Although no addition of importance to the botanical 

 department has been made during the last year, save a suit of plants 

 collected in the neighborhood of Savannah, and presented by Mrs. 

 Thomas Say, perhaps no portion of our collection has received more 

 attention, or is becoming more rapidly, and at the same time, more 

 thoroughly arranged, than this. 



Zoology. — 1 . Mazology. — Previous to the last annual meeting, 

 the body of an elephant weighing upwards of six tons was purchased 

 by the subscription of several of our members. The time and labor 

 required to prepare it for exhibition, prevented its addition to our 

 collection many months since. Several gentlemen assisted in the 

 dissection of the body; to our cabinet keeper alone, however, we are 

 indebted for the completion of the perfect skeleton which ornaments 

 our hall. 



2. Ornithology. — The exceedingly curious and rare nest of the 

 Ploceus Phillipensis ; the eggs of a (ew of our birds ; and a valua- 

 ble collection of birds' skins, from India, from J. J. Dixwell, Esq.- 

 to whom the society have been previously greatly indebted, are the 

 principal additions to our ornithological department. This portion 

 of our collection now contains several hundred species, of carefully 

 preserved valuable foreign birds. Bui we are compelled to add, in 

 the species of our own state, the deficiency is very great. Singular 

 as it may appear, that department of our natural history, the means of 

 acquiring a knowledge of which are most ample, and within the reach 

 of all ; whose objects are most generally known, and all of which 

 have been accurately and scientifically described, which are interest- 

 ing not merely to the naturalist, but claiming alike the attention and 

 admiration of the cursory observer, this department which might be 

 made most beautiful, and as its species can each be procured, most 

 valuable, has been unpardonably neglected. 



