246 



The interchange of specimens with the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology has been continued with equal benefit to 

 both Institutions. 



A full series of our Foreign Serpents has been, sent to 

 Prof. Jan of Milan for identification. These he has exam- 

 ined and returned with the exception of two or three speci- 

 mens, types of new or imperfectly known species which he 

 has retained for a short time for the purpose of having them 

 figured in his forthcoming work on Serpents. 



One of our members, Caleb Cooke, for three years a resi- 

 dent at Zanzibar, has contributed many interesting botanical 

 specimens collected at that place. A curious growth of 

 wood found among some slabs at one of the wharves — from 

 Maine, by Benjamin Felt. 



The most prominent of the contributions to the collec- 

 tions of Mhieralogy are specimens of Green Feldspar (crys- 

 talized) and Quartz in variety from Rockport ; presented by 

 Rev. Stillman Barden. A plan has been adopted in the ar- 

 rangement of the specimens in this part of the collections, 

 similar to that of the Birds, in placing those found in Essex 

 County in separate cases. 



The Historical Department has been enriched by por- 

 traits of Capt. John Carnes one of the early navigators to 

 the East Indies from Salem, and, who is said to have com- 

 mand of the first vessel to the coast of Sumatra, — presented 

 by W. P. Goodhue ; also of Col. Benj. Pickman, the second 

 President of the Essex Historical Society, by the family ; — 

 a view of the Court House in Salem, removed in 1839, 

 painted upon an old fire -board — from C. W. Upham ; a pho-, 

 tograph of sybil Swinnerton, from Miss Aun Porter; also of 

 Washington, from David Nichols. 



From E. C. Brown, Bow and Arrows, from Fejee Isles, 



