26 TRANSACTIONS 



cow ; Scientific Society of the Argentine Republic ; 

 Psyche. 



These added to the Smithsonian Institution, The De- 

 partment of the Interior, and The Department of Engi- 

 neers U.S. Army, secured by the Secretary and mentioned 

 in his annual report for 1882, give to the Institute sixteen 

 sources from which to receive publications. 



In order, however, to retain these benefits and secure 

 further help from many other sources, it is necessary 

 that the Institute itself issue a publication of its pro- 

 ceedings and papers, and it is hoped that the publishing 

 committee may be able to take action in this direction 

 without further delay. 



The Curator's report gives information relative to the 

 Museum of Natural History. The cases were but re- 

 cently finished, and hence it has been impossible to com- 

 plete the work proposed in this department, but rapid 

 progress is making. 



A collection of specimens in the various departments 

 of natural history — in numbers and value far surpassing 

 the collection of the late Society of Natural Science — is 

 already in our possession. In part this came by pur- 

 chase of nearly all that was valuable of the old society, 

 and the balance has been secured by donations from 

 members of the Scientific Section, citizens, and the 

 Smithsonian Institution. 



From the old society were received many specimens of 

 but little value for cabinet purposes * * * and all 

 useless material has been excluded from the Museum. 



The specimens have been carefully examined, named 

 and classified, and they are now being mounted and 

 labeled ; all specimens are being arranged in systematic 

 order, and the Museum should be useful to individuals 

 and schools for purposes of study. The flora of 

 Dutchess county and adjacent counties is nearly com- 

 plete in the extensive herbariums presented byMr.W. R 

 Gerard and Dr. Van Gieson. Marine invertebrata are 

 well represented by the 103 varieties received from the 

 Smithsonian Institution — through the application made 

 by your Secretary over a year ago. 



Over 3100 specimens in the various departments of 

 natural history and archaeology are now exhibited, and 

 the Society and the community may well feel gratified, 



