Ornithology. Many additions, some of wliicli are of the 

 greatest importance — from 17 donors. The number of 

 specimens in this department is as follows : of North Ameri- 

 can Birds (mounted) 300 speaies; in alcohol, 50 species; 

 of foreign Birds 200 species, mounted ; embryos of 25 spe- 

 cies of native Birds. Of Nests, we have 82 species of Ameri- 

 can and 12 specimens of Foreign ; Eggs 113 species, 800 

 specimens of North American, of which 87 species are known, 

 77 species 160 specimens of Foreign. 



Herpetology. Sixteen donors have contributed 282 speci- 

 mens, among which are 51 species new to the collection, and 

 several that are a;j yet undescribed. 



Ichthyology. Forty-two donors have presented more than 

 1200 specimens of North American Fishes during the year, 

 and of these, 89 species were new to the collection, and 62 

 species of Foreign Fishes also new to us. Many species of 

 Fishes have been found in the waters of Massachusetts, that 

 heretofore were not known as inhabitants of the state. 



The collections of Insects and Crustacea have increased 

 very rapidly since our removal to the new rooms in October 

 1857 — thanks to the generosity of 35 donors who have sent 

 US specimens from different localities in North America, 

 Africa, South America, and the East and West Indies. The 

 alcoholic portion of these collections have been formed prin- 

 cipally since our removal to these rooms, and is now one of 

 the most valuable departments. The dried Insects are in 

 good condition, but owing to the want of proper cases they 

 have not yet been arranged. The additions during the year 

 are as follows : 



Dried Insects, 5000 specimens, 

 Alcholic " 560 " 



Dried Crustacea, 221 " 



Alcohohc " 474 " 



