4 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



Another section, that of birds, is to be vastly enriched by the 

 addition of selected series of North American birds from the famous 

 bird-skin collection of Dr. Jonathan Dwight, of New York, one of the 

 leading ornithologists of this country, whose collection contains about 

 30,000 specimens. Additions from this authoritative source, with the 

 well-mounted birds and bird groups that have previously been sup- 

 plied by Mr. Gurdon Bill, Mr. Robert 0. Morris, Mr. Robert M. Wal- 

 lace, and others, establishes a bird collection far beyond what is 

 ordinarily possessed by the smaller museums, and furnishes abundant 

 material of the best quality for study purposes. 



Donors. 



Glancing at the list of donors one is impressed with the generosity 

 of benefactors from various parts of the country, who are volun- 

 tarily building up our collections. In the past year alone are recorded 

 gifts that represent extensive scientific investigations of eminent 

 workers. 



Lectures, Class Work, and Excursions. 



Present limitations are the only regrettable features connected 

 with this work. It is the unfailing appreciation of courses provided, 

 and the earnestness with which they are pursued, that brings con- 

 viction of what should go hand in hand with the possession of such 

 superior equipment so generously supplied. 



The excellent course in botany by Prof. A. Vincent Osmun of the 

 Amherst Agricultural College was followed by requests for con- 

 tinuation of the same subject another year. A course in astronomy 

 has several times been suggested. 



The bird talks by Miss Fannie Stebbins and the lecture by Prof. 



C. F. Hodge of Worcester gave much satisfaction to good-sized 

 audiences of bird lovers. 



A theater full of delighted children heard the illustrated lecture 

 on "Wild Life in Action," so generously provided by Mr. Nathan 



D. Bill and Mr. Richard E. Follette, the lecturer. 



Class Room. 



A larger class room equipped with a good stereopticon lantern 

 has recently been made available. This is progress in the right 

 direction, and in a measure supplies what has been much needed. 

 Another room in the Blake house has made possible the establish- 



