beginning of a Study Collection, to remain unmounted and 

 be reserved for the use of specialists in that department. It is 

 hoped that this gift may be followed by others from those inter- 

 ested in the formation of such a Collection. Dr. Mearns has 

 also been employed to identify, label and catalogue all our 

 European birds, a work now satisfactorily completed. 



Through the liberality and cooperation of Mr. Jos. W. Drexel, 

 an entire change has been made in the Insect Department. Suit- 

 able cases have been constructed, and the entire collection, except 

 types and specially rare specimens, has been placed on exhibition, 

 and now forms one of the attractive features of the main hall. 

 A Study Collection has also been begun in this department. 



The Department of Archaeology has received a large and valu- 

 able gift from Mrs. Robert L. Stuart, being an extensive series of 

 the stone implements of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods of 

 France and Switzerland. 



To the Powell Collection Mr. Heber R. Bishop has added the 

 large Canoe suspended in the main hall, and the four heraldic 

 posts in the hallway. 



In the Geological Department the Curator, Professor Whitfield, 

 has carried forward the preliminary labelling, and has begun to 

 place the permanent labels. The labelling of the Collection of 

 Minerals has also been completed. 



By the liberality of Miss C. L. Wolfe, the Museum has been 

 enabled to employ a specialist to properly arrange and label the 

 Wolfe Memorial Collection of Shells, and that work is still in 

 progress. 



The attendance by the teachers of the public schools upon the 

 lectures given by the Superintendent, Prof. A. S. Bickmore, has 

 been well maintained, and this instruction has received the atten- 

 tion it so justly merits. 



To the Museum Library has been added, during the year, 440 

 volumes, 444 numbers and parts, and 300 pamphlets. To accom- 

 modate these and the large additions made to the library of the 

 New York Academy of Sciences, we have been obliged to con- 

 struct additional temporary cases in the corridor, our library-room 

 being already overcrowded. 



Bulletin No. 4, on the Atlantic Whales, was issued during the 



