FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



1882. 



The Trustees of the American Museum of Natural History 

 herewith present their Fourteenth Annual Report, to the Patrons, 

 Fellows and Members of the Museum. 



The improvements proposed by the plans prepared at the ex- 

 pense of the Trustees, and adopted by the Department of Public 

 Parks, for connecting Manhattan Square with Central Park at 77th 

 and 81st Streets, have been completed, and our building with its 

 costly and interesting collections is now accessible to our citizens 

 visiting the Park in carriages or on foot. The roadway connect- 

 ing Eighth Avenue at 81st Street with the Westerly Drive has been 

 finished, and the roadway and stone bridge at 77th Street were 

 opened last Thanksgiving Day ; and the very marked increase in 

 the number of our visitors proves the importance of this accessi- 

 bility in the estimation of the public. These improvements have 

 been completed for considerably less than the appropriation pro- 

 vided, so that it is hoped ample means remain for properly 

 improving the area of the Park between the two entrances and 

 the Eighth Avenue and the Westerly Drive. Plans have been 

 matured for the completion of the system of walks which these 

 roadways render necessary. Signs have been prepared for guiding 

 visitors by the most direct paths to the Museum, and during the 

 coming season it is expected this whole portion of the Park will 

 be finished in the same complete manner as other parts of our 

 public pleasure ground. 



On Manhattan Square all the filling has been brought in, and 

 the surface of the borders and the southern half has been covered 

 with mould, and partly planted. The work is now so far advanced 

 that it will be completed during the coming summer, with the sum 

 already appropriated by the Board of Apportionment. 



The purpose of the Trustees to add, if possible, every year new 

 and instructive specimens to the Museum, but more especially to 



