94 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my great indebtedness to 

 the ladies of the committee on exhibits of the Section of Art, who have so 

 earnestly worked to make these loan exhibits attractive, and have assumed 

 the entire responsibility of packing, transporting, and arranging the ma- 

 terial. There is no doubt that such objects possess an educational value 

 even to those who are unconscious of the fact ; and they are of still 

 greater importance in fostering the recollection of many arts and crafts 

 that have deteriorated or fallen into disuse. 



Mention should be made of the special biological exhibit commemora- 

 tive of the Darwin anniversary in November, consisting of cases of 

 insects illustrating variation, protective mimicry, protective resemblance 

 and tautopsis. A portion of this has been continued as a permanent 

 exhibit. 



The reptiles of the Myers collection, purchased by the Association two 

 years ago, are now being placed on view as rapidly as they can be trans- 

 ferred to exhibition jars. The collection of exotic butterflies has also 

 been considerably augmented during the year. A number of new exhibits, 

 which had been planned and for which we have material on hand, must 

 await additional case room. 



Accessions 



In the Department of Zoology the most extensive contributions have 

 been to the insect collections, chiefly as a result of the exchanges effected 

 from time to time with my colleagues in other museums. The Dow 

 patronship gift of exotic Lepidoptera, the North Carolina specimens col- 

 lected by myself for the museum, and the Noctuidae presented by Profes- 

 sor John B. Smith are the most notable among this class of accessions. 



Our collection of shells, already a large and valuable one, has been 

 further increased by the gift of Mrs. Charles Townsend of a number of 

 tropical species. Dr. Dowell has contributed some interesting local mam- 

 mals and batrachians. 



In the Department of Botany the general herbarium has been enriched 

 by the gift of an extensive collection of violets from the eastern and 

 southern United States by Professor H. D. House, while the local herba- 

 rium has received a number of Staten Island specimens, some of these 

 representing additions to the flora. 



Dr. Arthur HoUick, the honorary curator of geology, has continued 

 his contributions of local geological material. In tlie Department of An- 

 thropology the principal acquisition during the year was a collection of 

 Indian implements from Ohio, presented by Mr. F. M. Ho-glen. 



The Department of Arts and Antiquities has received among other 

 accessions, another series of Mr. Tuttle's photographs of historic maps, 

 including the famous Verrazano map. 



The library accessions have been largely books and pamphlets received 

 in exchange for our Proceedings, but a number of valuable state publica- 

 tions have been sent to us through the good offices of Senator Bayne. 



