Annual Report.] 8 [May 6, 



visited Boston last summer, and, aided by Mr. Emerton, 

 packed and unpacked specimens, arranging and cataloguing 

 a large number of them. During the winter Dr. Carpenter 

 has worked up ninety sets of duplicate bivalves and large 

 shells, his assistant being now engaged upon the last tray. 

 The whole of the land shells and fresh water univalves are 

 yet to be arranged. 



Dr. Thomas Dwight, chairman of the Committee on Com- 

 parative Anatomy, reports that the cases have been improved 

 by the introduction of glass partitions, and the locks changed, 

 but that considerable alteration in the cases is still necessary. 



A prepared skeleton of a horse mackerel has been added 

 to the collection, and some valuable exchanges have been 

 negotiated. 



"Work upon the fishes has been begun by Mr. Putnam, 

 Chairman of the Ichthyological Committee, and he is now 

 engaged in arranging and classifying the Lake Erie collec- 

 tion. 



The Reptiles remain in the same condition as in former 

 years. 



The Ornithological collection has been frequently in- 

 spected during the year by Mr. Emerton, and is entirely 

 free from insects. The collection of Mammalia is represented 

 by a few wretched looking skins, and it would be better for 

 the reputation of the Society to close the room in which they 

 are, if they cannot be added to or improved. 



Considerable work has been done in the Botanical Depart- 

 ment by Miss Carter, a young lady employed by Mr. Cum- 

 mings to inspect and arrange the duplicates. Mr. Brigham, 

 chairman of the Botanical Committee, has removed the col- 

 lections in great part to the new work room designed for this 

 department, and reports that they are all in excellent condi- 

 tion. 



Work has also been done upon the Mineral ogical collec- 

 tions by Mr. Bouve, chairman of the Mineralogical Commit- 



