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PUBLICATION OF BULLETINS, 
4 
_ Since my last report, two Bulletins (8 and 4) have been issued 
from the Laboratory. and Nos. 5 and 6 are now in press. No. 3, of 
160 pages, was devoted entirely to the food relations of birds, fishes 
and insects, and to’ certain general subjects growing out of these; 
and No. 4 contains a complete list of the birds of Illinois, with notes 
of migrations, distribution ana abundance. The numbers now in 
process of publication will contain. additional papers on the food of 
‘birds, fishes and insects; papers on the fungi of the State, and the 
first of a series on our aquatic fauna, giving an elaborate account 
of the species occurring in our lakes, and of the conditions of life 
prevailing there. 
IMPROVEMENT OF THE LIBRARY. 
In purchasing books, the policy constantly kept in view has been 
that of providing a working library for actual use. Only such books 
and papers have been obtained as were positively necessary to the 
work of the Laboratory, and these have been supplied usually upon 
one subject at a time, as the demands of the original research in 
progress required. For similar reasons particular attention has been 
paid to cataloguing, and this has been kept fully abreast of the 
additions. <A card catalogue of authors is now absolutely complete 
to date, and a subject catalogue is well under way. ‘The additions 
to the library made since my last report number 360 volumes and 
209 pamphlets. Many of these are rare and costly works—the 
foundation stones of zodlogical and botanical literature. The most 
Important accessions have been made in the botanical department, 
and these alone number over 100 volumes. ‘T'he accommodations of 
‘the library has compelled us to empty all the wall cases of speci- 
mens, with which they have hitherto been filled, and to place the 
‘books in these. The specimens removed we could only store until such 
time as suitable provision may be made for them. 
FINANCIAL. 
The financial statement of my last report, terminated with June 
80, 1080, and that hereto appended covers the two succeeding years, 
namely, the last year of the appropriation made to the Laboratory 
‘by the Legislature of 1878, and 1879, and the first year of the appro- 
‘priation made by that of 1881 and 1882. As the terms of the first 
appropriation differ somewhat from those of the second, the finan- 
cial statements for the two years are made separately. 
ASSISTANCE. 
So much of the gratifying progress and conspicuous success of the 
work of the Laboratory, is due to the active and devoted labors of 
my assistants, that it would be inexcusable to omit a more definite 
‘Mention of their names. Upon Mr. F. M. Webster has fallen the 
principal part of the entomological work, both in the field and in 
‘the Laboratory, since February, 1882, although Mr .W. H. Garman 
as divided these labors with him since his re-engagement in August 
