40 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. [Apr. 



been indebted to various friends of the Museum for works of 

 interest and value. Such gifts are always received thankfully. 



The increase of the collection from January 1, to December 

 31, 1869, has been five hundred and fifty-one volumes and six 

 hundred and two pamphlets. The exact number of books 

 belonging to the library I am not prepared to give before the 

 full catalogue is ready for use. The last number on our list 

 of additions is three thousand nine hundred and seventy-five. 

 I estimate the full aggregate at somewhat over eight thousand 

 volumes and pamphlets. 



Desirous of knowing as accurately as possible the present 

 condition of the collection of Fishes, I directed Mr. Lockwood 

 to count the glass jars already put up with specimens in alcohol. 

 He reports that there are 2,842 in the Exhibition rooms, 7,203 

 in the work rooms, and 5,197 in the cellar, — altogether, 15,242 ; 

 say fifteen thousand two hundred and forty-two jars, of all sizes, 

 from the smallest, three inches high by one inch in diameter, to 

 the largest, three feet high by nine inches in diameter, con- 

 taining each from ^one to fifty and more specimens, and occa- 

 sionally even several hundreds. And yet this is by no means 

 half of the collection. The rest remains for the present piled 

 up in tanks, barrels, kegs, cans, earthen jars and other vessels. 



L. AGASSIZ. 



