8 
of this year. The latter gentleman is also responsible for most of 
the drawings made to illustrate the published papers. ‘The work of 
Mr. A. B. Seymour as botanical assistant has already been described, 
as has also that of Miss Rachel Fell, in the same capacity. Miss 
Fell has also finished off nearly all the microscope slides, of whatever” 
character, including the many hundreds made in the study of the 
food of insects and of young fishes. Mr. Cyrus Butler has been the 
taxidermist of the institution, although not engaged continuously. — 
Mr. A. K. McCormick has been the general assistant since July, ; 
1281, and has also done most of the field and Laboratory work on~ 
fishes and the other aquatic collections. The librarian of the insti-— 
tution is Miss A. V. Milner, and to her industry and accuracy we 
owe the admirable card catalogue just finished. Mr. C. A. Hart, my” 
efficient secretary, is responsible for the correspondence, for the pre- 
paration of papers for the press, the correction of proofs, and other 
clerical service. To this little corps of indefatigable workers my 
most grateful acknowledgments are due, not only for the difficult 
tasks accomplished, but for the admirable spirit of devotion to the- 
best interests of the Institution in which their studies and their 
labors have been carried forward. 
i 
} 
CONCLUSION. 
The practical completion of some parts of the work of the Labor-— 
atory, and the enlargement and growing importance of others, will 
make necessary a reconsideration of the plan of its operations, and~ 
a partial re-organization of some of them. ‘The most important 
part of the field work is finished, both in zodlogy and botany, with ~ 
the exception of the subject of entomology. It is not to be expected — 
that the Laboratory collections are absolutely complete in any depart-— 
ment, much less that complete sets have been sent to any of 
the institutions supplied by us, but it remains true that those still 
wanting can be secured with less expenditure for field work than 
has hitherto been necessary. When some parts of southern and 
southeastern Illinois, some of the western part of the State, and 
parts of the Rock River Valley have been more thoroughly exam-— 
ined, little general field work in zodlogy will remain to be done. 
The botanical field has not been so thoroughly explored, but the 
classification of the material already gathered will be a work of some 
years, and remaining collections necessary can be made to_ better ad- 
vantage after those now in hand have been worked up. In fact the 
time has fully arrived for an orderly summing up and generalization 
of results and for the publication of systematic reports, in order 
that the essential end of ali, the advancement of science and the 
education of the people, may be more directly and rapidly promoted. | 
It is proposed, therefore, to turn the operations of the Laboratory, 
during the coming two years, chiefly in this direction, to complete, 
if possible, the study of the food of all the most important birds, to. 
prepare a report on the destructive parasites of the domestic animals, — 
based principall yon the collection now making for the Laboratory, to— 
complete the determination of the great quantities of specimens now — 
in our possession, to set on foot a system of exchanges throughout — 
