1888 .] 
5 
[Annual Meeting. 
Mr. Brewster’s services have been of great value and the collec- 
tion has sensibly improved while under his charge. The Society 
owes him thanks for the interest he took in its work, and his vol- 
untary labor in their museum. 
After consultation with others the Curator nominated Mr. C. B. 
Cory of Boston, a well-known ornithologist, to the council of the 
Society, and the council empowered the Curator to invite this gen- 
tleman to become the assistant in charge of this department. Mr. 
Cory has accepted, but has not yet entered upon the duties of his 
office, having been prevented from doing so by absence at the south, 
and, since his return, by labors for the benefit of the Marine Bio- 
logical Laboratory. 
A leak in the roof, which had not previously been a source of 
danger, was developed during the winter and the birds in gallery 
room, R, sustained considerable damage from dampness. Mr. Hen- 
shaw was obliged to spend almost his whole time during the sum- 
mer and autumn in working over them. There are over three thou- 
sand birds in this gallery and each one required to be cleaned 
several times. The leak has been remedied, and we need no longer 
fear damage from this source. These birds have been relabelled 
by Miss Martin, the old labels having been rendered illegible by 
dampness and mould. 
This accident showed the need of securing the valuable type spec- 
imens in our collections, and, under Mr. Brewster’s direction, Mr. 
Henshaw removed 700 of the birds belonging to the Lafresnaye 
collection from the stands upon which they were mounted, reduced 
them to skins, and packed them away in trays. Our collection of 
Neotropical skins amounting to about 1240 specimens have been 
sorted out, and sent to Mr. Robert Ridgway in Washington for 
identification. The collection of nests and eggs has been brought 
together and arranged by Mr. Henshaw. 
The principal additions consist of a large albatross from Cape 
Horn received through the kindness of Mrs. E. D. Cheney, and a 
pair of Kiwis, Apteryx australis , presented by Messrs. W. C. 
Pope & Co. 
Microscopy. 
The collection bequeathed to the Society by Mr. R. C. Greenleaf 
has been received, sorted and catalogued by Mr. Henshaw. 
