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MUSEUM BULLETIN !X£ 



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OF THE 



Staten Hsland Association of Arts and Sciences 



EDITED FOR THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE 



BY CHARLES LOUIS POLLARD. CUR ATOR- I N-CH I EF 



No. 25. Published Monthly at New Brighton, N. Y AUGUST, 1910. 



As stated in our last issue, the removal of the museum and library of the 

 Association into its proposed new quarters is still undecided, pending action by 

 the Board of Estimate on the resolution of the Board of Alderman providing: 

 for a revenue bond issue to meet the necessary expenses. As the Board of 

 Estimate has adjourned until September, the matter remains, for the present, 

 in statu quo. We make this explanation in order that members of the Associ- 

 may not be misled by an article that recently appeared in one of the Staten 

 Island newspapers stating that the removal was definitely settled. Authorized 

 announcements concerning; the matter will appear in the Bulletin after action 

 has been taken by the proper city authorities. 



Parts 3 and 4 of Volume II of the Proceeding's, together with index and 

 title page for the entire volume, are now in press, and may be expected for dis- 

 tribution shortly. The first two parts of Volume III, bringing the publication 

 down to the end of the last fiscal year (May, 1910) will be ready for issuance 

 during the fall months. The parts already in press contain many papers of 

 general biologic and historic interest, and one paper, on Lowestoft ware, of im- 

 portance to connoisseurs of ceramics. The various reports of officers show 

 clearly the progress of the Museum and its condition at the close of the fiscal 

 year 1908-g. 



The Museum has been most unfortunate during the summer in the fate that 

 has overtaken various live animals collec ed for exhibition at the suggestion of 

 the Museum Committee. A fine specimen of bullfrog, named "Ramapo," after 

 the New Jersey mountains from which he came, was the first victim. He was 

 fed upon green frogs, and apparently thrived for a week, when he was found 

 dead in the jar in which he was confined. The green frogs, of which there were 

 about ten specimens, survived awhile longer, but one day, after being fed a 

 number of oil beetles ( ' Epicauta) , all succumbed to batrachian indigestion. 

 This reduced our menagerie to the terrapin given by Mr. Davis some months 

 ago; a single crawfish, from one of the Staten Island brooks; and a specimen of 

 the northern toad, Bufo americanus, brought with the bullfrog from the Ramapo 

 mountains. A large cage, containing a pool of water and a mossy bank was 

 prepared, and the terrapin and the toad were placed in it. During the following 

 night the terrapin managed to consume the toad, so that not a vestige of the 

 latter remained. He is now doomed to solitary confinement and fasting until he 

 recovers from this meal, which is a most unusual one for a turtle of this kind. 



Ente.-ed as second-class matter in the Postoffice at New Brighton. N.Y., under Act of Congress of July 16, iSq 4 



