1841.] Asiatic Society. 929 



The skeleton of the Hoolock, or White-browed Gibbon, is prepared, and quite ready 

 for mounting, as also that of a Crow ( Cor vus splendens ) ; and skeletons of two species 

 of Barbet, of a Snipe ( Scolopax heterura) , and of Cinnyris Sola, are in course of pre- 

 paration. In addition to the sternal apparatus of most of the birds already mentioned, 

 as having been procured in the recent state, we are indebted to Mr. Bouchez, for that 

 of a Monaul (Lophophorus JmpeyanusJ, that of a rare Hawk (Hyptiopuslophotes,) 

 and of one of the Australian broad-tailed Parroquets (Platycercus eximius' 



In the Botanical Department of the Museum, I have nothing to report. 



The Librarian's Report. 



Sir, — The report I have the honour to submit to the Committee for the months 

 of September and October is as follows : — 



I received on the 27th September 23 gems from the Secretary, which were deposi- 

 ted in the medal cabinet. 



Almost all the books in bad condition, a list of which I sometime ago laid before the 

 Committee, have been rebound or repaired. 



.Though the expence incurred is great, the preservation of so many valuable works 

 for the use of the Members of the Society and the community at large, will be more 

 than adequate compensation. 



A great number of duplicates have been selected from the shelves. Should it ap- 

 pear desirable to the Committee, these might be sold or exchanged for others, and as 

 many of them are valuable books, perhaps the Members of the Society might wish to 

 take some of them and give others in their stead. 



The classification of the catalogue has been completed in the month of September, 

 a copy of which is nearly ready for the print, and the arrangement of the library has 

 been also finished. 



I add a paper containing a general view of the classification of the catalogue. 



The classification was, on the whole, made according to the plan 1 had the pleasure 

 of proposing to the Committee. Such deviations from it only were thought advisable 

 which bore a stricter coi-respondence with the principles according to which the classi- 

 fication was framed ; and I may here mention it generally, that in the progress of the 

 arrangement those principles were more and more rigidly adhered to, as this was 

 found not only in more accordance with the natural divisions of science, but likewise 

 better adapted to satisfy the demands of convenience. 



The alterations alluded to are chiefly the following : — 



There are at present only two main divisions, one containing the classic litera- 

 ture, the other that of the modern languages. 



The science of medicine has found its more congenial place at the end of the natural 

 sciences, instead of being connected with the three first divisions. 



An alphabetical list of the titles of the books and of the names of the authors will be 

 added to the catalogue, so that in finding the books every facility will be afforded to 

 those who wish to avail themselves of the advantages of the library. 



With regard to the collection I would remark, that, as it has been made mostly by 

 valuable donations from generous individuals desirous of advancing the interests of the 

 Society, no arrangement has been made to obtain all the standard works relating to 

 each branch of knowledge, so that there are necessarily many deficiencies in the libra- 



