810 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Dec. , 
the Gallinacece, or approximately half of the mounted collection, so 
far as space occupied is coucerned. 
The specimens transferred during the year have all been labelled 
and have been carefully examined by the taxidermist, while the 
entire series has been rearranged to bring it into systematic 
sequence. 
Several old horizontal cases have been renovated and placed on 
the ornithological floor for the accommodation of a special collec- 
tion, prepared for exhibition by the Conservator, illustrating the 
structure and molt of birds. 
The opening of this department to the public, unavoidably post- 
poned, will take place early in the coming year. 
Two additional large wooden storage cases and sixteen tin cases 
were provided for the accommodation of the rapidly increasing 
study collection of skins, and much important work has been 
accomplished in transferring the specimens to the new cases and in 
properly labelling the trays to aid iu their examination. For this, 
as well as aid in cataloguing the collection, the Conservator is 
much indebted to Mr. J. A. G. Relin. 
Several valuable additions have been made to the collection of 
birds during the year, notably the beautiful series of specimens 
from Sumatra, collected and presented by Mr. Alfred C. Harri- 
son, Jr., and Dr. H. M. Hiller, containing many forms new to 
the collection. 
A collection of the birds of the Galapagos Islands was pur- 
chased through subscriptions by members of the Academy. This 
material fills an important gap in our collection, as the Academy 
previously possessed no specimens from this region. An interesting 
series of New Mexican birds was collected by Mr. Relin while on 
the expedition sent out by the Academy in the spring, and many 
other specimens were received through gift or purchase. 
The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club aud the Pennsylvania 
Audubou Society have continued to hold their meetings iu the 
Academy, and have done much to stimulate ornithological study. 
By invitation the American Ornithologists’ Union has arranged to 
hold its twenty-first Congress at the Academy in November, 1903. 
Many visiting ornithologists have made use of the collections 
during the year, and considerable aid has been given to workers in 
other institutions. 
