218 [DecempBEr, 
The Report of the Curators was then read, as follows: 
REPORT OF THE CURATORS FOR 1852. 
Since the last annual report of the Curators was presented to the Academy, 
very considerable additions have been made to its Museum, which, we are happy 
to state, continues in a good state of preservation. Latterly the Cabinet has 
sustained several losses by the abstraction of valnable specimens, but the circum- 
stance having excited the attention of the Curators, means have been resorted 
to, which we hope will prevent further depredation. 
During the year, the different departments of the Museum have received the 
following donations : 
Mammalia.—Of this class there have been presented the skins of 35 specimens 
of 25 species, principally from Mr. D. Leasure, Drs. A. L. Heermann, FE. K. Kane, 
J. L. Le Conte, S. W. Woodhouse, Mr. J. D. Sergeant and Col. G. A. McCall. 
Aves.—Of bird-skins 94 specimens of about 60 species have been received. 
The principal donors are Drs. H. G. Dalton, E. K. Kane, A. A. Henderson, T. 
Carlton Henry, W.S. W. Ruschenberger, Messrs. E. H. Kern, J. D. Sergeant, G. 
N. Lawrence, J. Lambert,G. A. McCall. Part of the number formed the collec- 
tion made in Lieut. Lynch? s Expedition to the Dead Sea, and were presented by 
order of the Secretary of the Navy. 
Besides the above, numerous species have been deposited by Dr. Wilson, of 
which no official record has been given to the Curators. 
Of birds’ eggs, a large number of specimens of about 40 species, have been 
presented by Messrs. John Krider, E. Wilson, and A. L. Heermann. 
Reptitia.—Of this class 100 specimens have been presented, chiefly by Messrs. 
H. A. Ford, A. L. Heermann, G. Watson, B. F. Shumard, J. Le Conte, G. W. 
Fahnestock, G. A. M’Call, J. Krider and E. Harris. The species are from 
different parts of the world, and a number of them from Africa and the 
western part of North America, are new, and have been recently described in 
the Proceedings of the Academy by Dr. Hallowell. 
Pisces.—Of fishes 58 specimens of 33 species have been presented by Messrs. 
G. W. Fahnestock, Edw. Wilson, A. A. Henderson, E. Harris, J. Le Conte and 
T. Conrad. Among the number are several specimens of the curious Branchi- 
osfoma. 
Molliusca.—in this department the Cabinet has received an addition of 
numerous specimens of 80 ances of shells, chiefly from Messrs. Edw. Wilson, 
S. Hanly, J. Krider and J. L. Burtt. 
Crustacea.—In this enon, we have reaped a rich harvest. 
198 specimens of 54 species of Boush Crustacea were presented by Edward 
Wilson, Esq. 
282 species of 136 genera, from the collection of M. Guerin Meneville, have 
been received from Dr. T. B. Wilson. ‘This collection is particularly valuable, 
on account of the great number of minute and rare species from all parts of the 
globe, which it contains. 
Besides jthe above, M. J. Verreaux, of Paris, has presented 36 specimens 
of 14 species, and 112 specimens of about 50 species, were received from 
Messrs. Edw. Wilson, 8. Ashmead, J. Le Conte, and others. 
Insecta. —600 specimens of the various orders of insects have been presented 
principally by Messrs. A. L. Heermann, H. G. Dalton, S. 8. Haldeman. 
Arachnida, Annelida and Myriapoda.—Of these 49 species have been 
received from Messrs. Edward Wilson, R. H. Kern, R. E. Peterson, and others. 
Zoophyta.—178 specimens have been presented by Messrs. Edward Wilson, 
T. B. Wilson, W. S. W. Ruschenberger, F. S. Holmes, and others. 
Comparative Anatomy.—A magnificent skeleton of the Troglodytes Gorilla, 
Savage, was presented by Dr. Henry A. Ford, of Liberia, and a specimen 
