62 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Feb. 



rate into the general collection the specimens belonging to his de- 

 partment. Now the amount of specimens thus far arranged and 

 ready for incorporation and exhibition is already so large that, upon a 

 rough estimate, I suppose it will require $12,000 to separate the du- 

 plicates from the specimens which ought to be retained for the collec- 

 tion, and to put up the latter. All these specimens are safe for the 

 moment in their present condition. Yet it would not be advisable to 

 allow them to remain in their crowded state for another year j it is 

 true they may stand such a delay, but it is also very probable that 

 they would suffer from it. But this is not the worst. There are 

 large numbers of packages which have not yet received even this first 

 care, and the condition of which I have not even been able to ascer- 

 tain from want of the necessary supplies. Upon an approximate 

 estimation I would say, that, to provide for these, an outlay of from 

 three thousand five hundred to four thousand dollars would be neces- 

 sary. I doubt whether any Museum has received in the same time 

 so large and such important accessions as ours, and if the means could 

 be obtained for a proper disposition of all these treasures, such a step 

 would have been made towards raising our Museum above the con 

 dition of others, that I have no doubt we could confidently look to 

 the consummation of all our hopes in making this Museum one of the 

 greatest in existence. 



I am perfectly aware that this is not the time to make an appeal 

 to the community for support. I will therefore not mention that, 

 when these specimens are taken care of, it will sooner or later be indis- 

 pensable to enlarge our building in order to exhibit them ; I will not 

 say that the amount of materials fit for publication which has been 

 accumulating in the Museum would make volumes equal in scientific 

 importance to any published by the learned societies or the govern- 

 ments of Europe. Time and the degree dl interest shown by the 

 whole community in our undertaking must decide the fate of these 

 matters. But the perilous condition of part of the collection, if it 

 should be allowed to remain for an indefinite time in its present state, 

 is the point to which I felt bound to call your attention on this occa- 

 sion. 



Additions to the Museum during the past Year. 



After these general remarks, allow me to submit to you more espe- 



