THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



To the Trustees and Members of the American Museum of Natural 

 History : 



The President submits herewith a report of the affairs of the 

 Museum for the year 1905. 



Finances. — The financial transactions of the Museum are 

 divided into three separate accounts, and the details of the 

 receipts, expenditures and investments for the year just closed, 

 thus classified, will be found in the Treasurer's Report, pages 

 39 to 45 inclusive. These accounts and all books and vouch- 

 ers have been duly examined and certified to by the Audit Com- 

 pany of New York. A few statements may help in making the 

 details of this report clear. 



Perinanent Endowment. — This fund amounts to $1,013,000, 

 the same as noted in the last Report. The interest on this 

 sum provides the principal source of income of the Gen- 

 eral Account, upon which is dependent the purchase of new 

 collections, the maintenance of field parties, the publication of 

 the results of scientific investigations, in short, the general 

 growth of the collections and the continuation and extension 

 of scientific work. It is not sufficient to meet our present 

 needs and an increase of this fund is imperative. 



Special Funds. — From time to time friends of the Museum 

 have united their interest in some special researches, explora- 

 tions or installations, and have provided the means therefor 

 by subscribing to a "special fund." In such cases an officer 

 of the Museum has generally acted as treasurer, and the scien- 



