270 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
REPORT OF THE CURATORS FOR 1858. 
The Curators, through their annual report, take the opportunity of express- 
ing their pleasure in announcing to the Academy, that the Museum, so long 
confided to the supervision and care of the same gentlemen, is in the best 
state of preservation, and is gradually and steadily advancing in its arrange- 
ment. They also take occasion to express regret at the resignation of one of 
their number, Mr. Ashmead, who has for seventeen years devoted attention to 
the increase and preservation of the collections of the Academy. 
In most of the departments of the Museum, for some years past, members 
have been actively engaged in the arrangement and labelling of specimens, 
but up to the present time, two important collections, those of recent Radiates 
and Invertebrate Fossils, have been entirely neglected. The collection of Fos- 
sils, just mentioned, is a very large and important one, but loses much of its 
value from the difficulty of applying to it in its present condition. We hope, 
before long, some of the members may be induced to give it the attention that 
has been devoted to other departments. 
During the past year Mr. Slack has given his aid in the labelling of the col- 
lection of Mammalia. Our collection of Birds, which has few parallels in the 
world, is in excellent condition, and is steadily advancing in its arrangement 
through Dr. Wilson ; who has also further enriched it, during the last year, 
with many rare specimens. The collection of Reptiles, well arranged and la- 
belled by Dr. Hallowell, has unfortunately lost the services of the latter, tem- 
porarily it is to be hoped, from illness, as many of the members are aware. 
The collection of Fishes continues to be|arranged by Drs. Bridges and Morris. 
Mr. Binney, who has been engaged for several years in arranging the collec- 
tion of Mollusks, has given us the following information. 
The collection of shells consists of about 9,000 species of many varieties. 
About one half are labelled. All the terrestrial and fluviatile species have been 
carefully studied ; and the names attached to them may be depended upon. 
The marine genera have been labelled from monographs, and through the as- 
sistance of friends familiar with them. A large part of them have the names 
attached by Sowerby, Cuming, and Verreaux, from whom they were purchased. 
In the arrangement of the collection. Jay's catalogue has been used, and the 
author's system followed. The Gasteropods commence in the western part of 
the hall : the Tropiopods in the eastern part ; and the labels are on cards adopt- 
ed in the other departments of the Museum — distinguishing the principal 
parts of the world by colors. A large portion of the Conchological collection is 
contained in the drawers beneath the cases in which the others are exposed to 
view. The Academy is indebted to Mr. J. G. Anthony, of Cincinnati, for the 
determination and labelling of the Naiades. The principal contributors to the 
cabinet of conchology have been Messrs. Say, Griffith, and Wilson. 
The collection contains many of the types of American authors, as follow : 
2 species Anculosa, Anthony; 4 Amnicola, Say, Anth., Lea ; 2 AmpuUaria Say ; 
2 Amphidesma Say ; 1 Astarte Say ; 1 Achatina Say ; 1 Cochlodesma Conrad ; 1 
Corbula Say ; 5 Cyclas Say ; 1 Crepidula Say ; 2 Cylindrella Gould ; 1 Cerithium 
Say ; 1 Donax Say ; 1 Dentalium Stimpson ; 2 Helicina Say ; 14 Helix Say, 6 
Binney, 4 Gould, 1 Green, 1 Lea ; 17 Limnea Say, 1 Adams ; 1 Mya Conrad ; 
1 Mactra Say, 1 Con. ; 1 Merodesma Con. ; 1 Modiola Say ; 1 Mytilus Say ; 8 
Melanin Say , 8 Con., 4 Anth., 2 Ravenel, 1 Lea ; 1 Melampus Say ; 1 Natica 
Couthouy ; 1 Nassa Say ; 2 Nucida Couth. ; 1 Patella Say ; 2 Physa Say ; 4 
Flanorhis Say ; 1 Porena Say ; 3 Papa Say ; 8 Paludina Say, 2 Lewis, 1 Con. ; 
1 Pandora Say ; 1 Sigaretus Say ; 2 Succinea Say, 2 Binney, 1 Gould ; 1 Sole- 
curtus Con. ; 2 Sanguinolaria Con., Say ; 1 Saxicava Say ; 2 Turbo Say, Couth. ; 
8 Unio Say, 1 Lea ; 2 Valvata Say. 
Mr. Durand informs us that the North American Herbarium of Phaenoga- 
mous plants and ferns, containing about 10,000 species, is now completed. 
The donations to the different departments of the Museum for 1858, are as 
follows : 
[ Dec. 
