1879.] 251 [Annual Meeting. 
to fill out the collection of New England species. Unfor- 
tunately this work could not be continued in succeeding 
seasons, and cannot now be resumed for want of means. 
The Reptiles were worked over in the early part of the 
year by Mr. Van Vleck, and also by Mr. Garman of the 
Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the latter has returned 
a number identified and named. 
The Mammalia remain in the same disgraceful condition 
as during former years. 
Through the exertions of Dr. Brewer, the New England 
collection of Birds has considerably increased, some thirty 
or forty species having been added, of which a detailed list 
will be published hereafter. The humming birds have been 
carefully worked over by this gentleman, and will be ready 
for publication after the appearance of the Elliott Synopsis 
which is to be issued by the Smithsonian Institution. 
During the summer of 1878, the Custodian, assisted by 
Mr. Van Vleck and Mr. Edw. G. Gardiner, collected at Annis- 
quam, Mass. Much work was done, but the boat used was 
found, when too late, to be too small for off shore work in 
this locality ; which fact, and the want of proper means oth- 
erwise, explain results inadequate to the amount of labor 
expended. Several fine anatomical preparations were, how- 
ever, made, and an experience gained which will doubtless 
be useful in the future. 
LABORATORY. 
The activity of this department continues to be a matter 
of congratulation. The collections have been greatly im- 
proved, and many preparations added to those on hand. The 
room and these collections have been used for the past year 
by a class in Zoology and Palaeontology, from the Mass. In- 
stitute of Technology, one in Zoology, from Boston Uni- 
versity, and one in Zoology, composed of the teachers of the 
Boston High Schools. A full account of this last class, and 
the prolonged course which it has now nearly completed, 
was given in the last Annual Report. 
