35 



REPORT ON OSTEOLOGY. 



By Daniel Denison Slade. 



Since my last report, the osteological collections have received 

 no important additions. They remain in good condition. 



In the collection of disarticulated skeletons, many of the orders, 

 notably the Chiroptera, Insectivora, and Rodentia, are deficient in 

 several of the families. This lack of material is a serious draw- 

 back, not only to the instructor, but to the scientific student, and 

 it is hoped that it may be supplied in the near future by means now 

 unforeseen. 



Specimens from various sources have been received for identifi- 

 cation, and have been duly returned after determination. 



In accordance with my own previous ideas, and in unison with 

 the suggestions made by the Curator in his last Annual Report, 

 in regard to the original aim of the Museum, to the effect that its 

 highest usefulness may be made available for the purposes of 

 science, and for the more advanced studies, the course of compara- 

 tive osteology during the last academical year, was devoted more 

 especially to research. This plan, although it does not debar 

 those students who desire to gain merely a general acquaintance 

 with the subject, allows those more advanced to pursue the inves- 

 tigations in which they may be especially interested. 



Instead of a final examination, as formerly required, written 

 theses have been adopted, and the results have been very satisfac- 

 tory. Lectures, as also oral examinations, have been given at the 

 option of the instructor. The important subject of Dentition also 

 received more attention than it has been possible to give to it dur- 

 ing the few past years. Four students, three Graduates and one 

 Senior, availed themselves of the opportunities offered by the ex- 

 tensive collections of the University in this department during the 

 last year, — opportunities not to be obtained in any other institu- 

 tion in the country. 1 



1 This small number of students, as is the case in other departments, must be at- 

 tributed to the increased number of elective studies. 



