Report of the President. 2 7 



their safety from destructive influences. About 1,000 specimens 

 have been obtained through work in the field. The entomo- 

 logical collections will shortly be installed in more permanent 

 quarters. 



Library. — The librarian reports accessions during the year 

 equal to 1,841 volumes. This is only about a third of what was 

 received last year. The total number of volumes now in the 

 Library is 43, 53 2 - 



A partial list of the numbers wanted to complete the serial 

 publications of the various geological surveys and scientific socie- 

 ties has been distributed to the State libraries and geological 

 surveys. The results obtained have been very satisfactory. 



The work of incorporating the Marcou library with the rest of 

 the library is now well advanced. Besides its great value as a 

 whole, this accession fills many existing gaps in serial publications 

 which we already have. 



Department of Public Instruction. — Under the auspices 

 of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Prof. A. S. 

 Bickmore, the Curator in charge of this department, has delivered 

 to the teachers of the public schools of the greater city of New 

 York the usual courses of lectures. Professor Bickmore has also 

 given lectures on holidays, as provided in the contract between 

 the Museum and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 

 Hon. Charles R. Skinner. 



Two courses of four lectures each were delivered by Professor 

 Bickmore to the members of the Museum. The free public lec- 

 tures given under the auspices of the Board of Education have 

 been attended by crowded audiences. Several hundred persons 

 were unable to gain admission at each lecture. The new lecture 

 hall, now nearing completion, will provide much additional space, 

 and will obviate the discomfort of crowded audiences. 



Several other courses of lectures were delivered under the 

 auspices of Columbia University and other institutions. These 

 are noted in the appended list. 



