10 



The necessity of adding new departments, is a subject winch has 

 had the careful consideration of the Board, and it was decided 

 to give the first attention to that of a Department of Entomology 

 so soon as the requisite funds could be made available, because 

 illustrations of the life history of our common insects would have a 

 great educational value, and there is a wide interest in those that 

 are injurious to vegetation, particularly to our forest trees, inas- 

 much as they so seriously affect some of the most important eco- 

 nomical interests of our land. 



The plans for our new building, matured by the Trustees, 

 have received the approval of the Department of Public Parks, 

 and been concurred in by the Board of Estimate and Apportion- 

 ment, and all that portion for which money is now provided has 

 been placed, under contract. The mild winter has enabled the 

 architect to carry on the work so continuously that we are 

 promised that the new lecture hall, capable of seating at least 

 one thousand persons, will be ready for occupation next fall. 

 To properly place in repair the present building, equip this new 

 structure, and complete its western portion, thus making it a sym- 

 metrical whole, together with providing an imposing entrance and 

 grading the surrounding grounds, beside making suitable approaches, 

 the additional sum of four hundred thousand dollars will be required. 



A bill prepared by our Board, and approved by the city author- 

 ities, has already been introduced into both branches of the Legis- 

 lature, and will probably soon become a law. 



When this liberal sum shall have been supplied by our city, but 

 one thing more will be needed to place our Museum in the very 

 foremost rank of similar institutions in our land, and that require- 

 ment is a proper Endowment Fund, the interest of which may 

 be used to steadily add new collections, and to improve all oppor- 

 tunities of making favorable purchases of rare specimens. 



To assist the Trustees in creating such a fund, we confidently 

 appeal to the public-spirited citizens of our metropolis. 



Reference is made to the contract between the Museum and the 

 city, in order that the Members and Fellows of the Museum, and 

 the public, may understand the relations now existing beween the 

 two parties. 



In closing this report we deeply regret the loss the Museum has 

 sustained in the death of one of its most devoted Trustees and 



