20 Forty-fourth Annual Report on the 



but are stored in drawers beneath the west case. As yet none 

 of the land shells are mounted. 



In order to economize space and improve the appearance of the 

 floor devoted to zoology, the wall case at the head of the stairs 

 on the south side of the room has been altered to admit of the 

 ratchet system of adjustable shelving. The case contained the 

 larger part of the collection of mounted fishes. The specimens 

 were placed irregularly and were very uninviting. At present 

 the work of fitting the pedestals of the fishes with convenient 

 label-holders is in progress and upon its completion new 

 labels giving more recent nomenclature will be substituted 

 for the old labels. There are now four wall cases which have 

 been fitted with adjustable shelving, viz : — the cases containing 

 the mounted reptiles, the mounted fishes, the alcoholic fishes and 

 the sponges. There remain four cases T^th immovable shelves 

 which are unsuited to the exhibition of specimens both as regards 

 attractiveness and economy of space. 



The collections of mammals and birds have been carefully 

 examined and thoroughly cleaned. So far as could be determined 

 the specimens are free from insect ravages. Owing to the supe- 

 rior construction of the cases containing them the birds and 

 smaller mammals gather little dust. The larger mammals, owing 

 to the fact that the cases containing them, inclose two or more 

 windows and are of rude construction, require much attention to 

 keep them clean. 



Bulletin No. 9 of Volume 2, " Beaks of Unionidse Inhabiting 

 the Yicinity of Albany, New York," has been printed during the 

 year. It consists of twenty-three printed pages (pp. 167-189) 

 and one plate containing eighteen lithographic figures. The 

 bulletin contains descriptions and comparisons of the beak char- 

 acters of the sixteen species of Unionidae inhabiting the vicinity 

 of Albany, an account of the value of umbonal characters in 

 making specific discriminations, and general notes upon the 

 species under discussion. 



Catalogues in manuscript of the principal portions of the 

 Zoological collections have been prepared. The Mammals, Birds 

 and Birds' eggs, and the Serpents, Turtles, Annelids and Corals, 

 have been catalogued fully, the more recent names now in use 

 being substituted in the catalogue for the older and antiquated 

 names on the labels. The limited time at disposal did not permit 



