NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
507 
of the catalogue, and it has been thought well to avoid this as far 
as possible. The numbering and card register will be extended to 
the remaining sections of the library as rapidly as possible after 
the rearrangement of the books in the cases provided in the new 
building has been perfected. 
At the meeting of the Academy held February 16, The 
Treasurer announced the munificent donation by Isaiah Y. Wil¬ 
liamson, Esq., to the Academy of ground rents to the amount of 
$25,000.00 as a permanent fund for the use of the libraiy. It is 
confidently hoped that the interest on this sum, together with 
the portion of the interest derived from the legacy of the late Dr. 
Thos. B. Wilson devoted to the same use, and amounting together 
to $1800.00 per annum, will be sufficient, not only to keep the 
library supplied with the current scientific literature, but also to 
enable the Library Committee to secure from time to time the 
many very desirable books of an earlier date which are still want¬ 
ing in most of the departments. It will be perceived that 269 
additions to the library have been already derived from the I. Y. 
Williamson Fund. The most notable of these additions is a 
complete set of Curtis’ Botanical Magazine, which was long most 
earnestly desired by the society. It may be well said to consti¬ 
tute a comparatively complete botanical library in itself. 
A number of answers to the applications for deficiencies sent 
last year to corresponding societies have been received since my 
last report, and in many cases the volumes applied for have been 
sent to the Academy. I have great pleasure in acknowledging 
the obligations of the society to Mr. Wm. S. Yaux, who, during 
his recent visit to Europe, lost no opportunity of pressing our 
wants upon the attention of the officers of such societies as he 
had an opportunity of visiting. We have received, in conse¬ 
quence, valuable contributions from the Academy of Sciences of 
Bologna, of Naples, of Bruxelles, and from the Zoological Society 
of London. I have also been advised of the early sending of a 
valuable series of volumes of the Comptes Rendus of the French 
Academy, in which the library has been deficient since the death 
of our benefactor Dr. Thos. B. Wilson, and which, together with 
parts of the Annales des Mines, and other desiderata, have been 
secured directly through the agency of Mr. Yaux. 
The thanks of the Academy are also specially due to Mr. Rath- 
mell Wilson for the liberal donation of 170 volumes from the 
