34 



The additions to tliis department, during the past year, are of great im- 

 portance. 520 specimens, containing 143 species, have been received from 

 14 donors, as follows : Henry F. Shepard, Col. Albert Ordway, Caleb Cooke, 

 Edward L. Larrabee, Benj. Webb, Miss Eunice Congdon, Rev. H. W. 

 Foote, J. H. Emerton, C. F. Nichols, Capt. E. Haskell, Capt. W. H. A. Put- 

 nam, and Capt. Joseph Hammond. The two last named donations are very 

 valuable. That of Capt. Putnam, from the East Indies, contains 478 

 specimens, representing 83 species, of which 73 species, embracing 400 speci- 

 mens, are Corals, many of which are new to the collection. Capt. Ham- 

 mond's collection, though not so large, contains 43 specimens, exhibiting 15 

 species, from the Sandwich Islands, Kingsmills Group, and the Atlantic 

 Ocean, all of which, with one or two exceptions, are new to the museum. 

 During the past year a large number of specimens have been sent, as dona- 

 tions, to several societies and individuals. 



The Curator begs to impress upon the members that much is still to be 

 done in collecting specimens from our own shores, and requests their coop- 

 eration in the work. No matter how many or how common the specimens 

 may be, they will all be used to good advantage, either in our own collection 

 or in supplying the deficiencies in othei's. 



Mr. Emerton, Curator of Articulata, reported that the specimens 

 which were in the collection last year, remain, with few exceptions, as they 

 were at the time of the last report. It is impossible to make any better ar- 

 rangements for the exhibition of the specimens until our accommodations 

 and pecuniary means are much increased. 



As new specimens come in, more care is being taken in labelling and 

 preserving them, so that the collection is gradually improving in usefulness, 

 as well as in size. 



The collection of cocoons and nests of insects has increased greatly 

 during the last year, and when cases are obtained for their proper exhibition, 

 they will make an interesting addition to the cabinet. 



A large number of the moths have recently been named by Mr. F. G. 

 Sanborn, of Boston, without removing them from the building. The native 

 Neuroptera, sent to Mr. S. I. Smith, of Yale College, last winter, were 

 recently returned, with several additions to their number, and labelled with 

 their systematic names. The collection of Hymenoptera is now in the hands 

 of E. T. Cresson, Secretary of the Philadelphia Entomological Society ; and 

 Dr. A. S. Packard, Jr., of Boston. Dr. Wood, of Philadelphia, has the 

 Centipedes and Scorpions for identification. 



Particular attention has been paid to collecting the Spiders of Essex 

 County, of which about 150 species are now preserved in alcohol. Every 

 effort will be made to make a speciality of this group of insects, and speci- 

 mens from any locality will be most welcome. 



