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operation of all graduates and friends of the College. 

 He stated that during the past ten weeks he had 

 obtained and mounted as a beginning, three hundred 

 and forty-three specimens of birds, fifty birds' nests 

 with eggs fresh from the forest and field, twenty 

 reptiles, and quite a miscellaneous collection, includ- 

 ing Indian relics, and a few specimens of minerals 

 and shells that he had found stored away in the base- 

 ment. His remarks were received with applause. 

 President Caswell in his opening speech at the Com- 

 mencement dinner invited the guests before leaving 

 the grounds to visit the Hall, and see the beginning 

 that had been made in what he hoped might prove 

 an important means of culture. In his annual report 

 to the Corporation he referred to the subject again, 

 and spoke of the valuable labors of Professor Jenks, 

 whom he designated as a "well informed naturalist 

 and a most skillful taxidermist/' 



But though a favorable beginning had thus been 

 made, the Corporation was not yet prepared to 

 appropriate a dollar towards the continuance of the 

 work, much less to appoint a permanent Curator with 

 a salary. A special arrangement was therefore made 

 with President Caswell, he guaranteeing to furnish 

 funds through private subscriptions. In this he hap- 

 pily succeeded, securing during the year upwards of 

 six thousand dollars. The enterprise was now fairly 

 inaugurated. About this time the United States Fish 

 Commission received its first appropriation from Con- 

 gress, Professor Baird being the Commissioner and 



