New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-27
AGASSIZ'S MUSEUM.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES TO THE
STATE

ZOOLOG1 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE TLAR
PROGRESS IN SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT.
lFRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE ]
BosToN, March 25.-The second report of
the Trustees of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
since the death OF Prof of
Of natural history, as showing how the museum which
he established Is TO be maintained. The contributions
10 the Agassiz Memorial amount nearly $4,000 but
that fund was only made available after the report
issued. Much Of the valuable work done during
the year has been paid for, and many valuable
assistants could not afford to The Trustees
report 10 the L 9gisature IS a follows:
1t has been found necessary, notwithstanding the gen
Agassiz Memorial Fund.- TO curta for the present very
materially, the operations OF the Museum IL with
great regret that the curator found hmsef compeied
by circumstances beyond his control, dispense
the services Of many valuable assistants. The amount
OF work accomplished II, or course, essened in cOmpar
ison and the field OF activity considerably diminished
will be by the accompanying special reports OF
the assistants IN charge OF the different departments
The volunteer work accomplished has BEEN formerly
very great, and the Museum deeply indebted to Mr.
l. f. Pourtales u Baron Osen saclcn, ana TO ThOm1s
O. Cary for the supervisors they have taken OF their de-
partments. Mr.. POurtres having been appointed by
the Faculty OF the Museum keeper Of the col
lectlons, 1t is mainly due to him and to the
superintendent. Mr.. Cary that the executive
details OF the Museum have been carried on. Baron
Osten Sacken. TO whom the Museum the
of an Invaluable collection OF dptera. has very gener-
Ousy increased the scientific OF this collection by
spending the greater part or year Identifying the
materials already Ia the Museum collection. This col
lection OF dlptera viii be hereafter sim more valuable,
II will eventually include the whole collection OF DR..
Tue Museum ana contains Iuo pest collection OF Amer
can dlptera IN existence. The biological collection OF in
has also been increased by the purchase OF very
large collection OF Dr. Rusenhauer OF Erlangen The
late Mr. Crotch was engaged for part the past year
on the collection OF cOleOpt@ra important sccesslOns
had secured from his Californian collections but
his death has deprived tue Museum of this material
The alcoholic collections never In good con-
ditOn, accessible, at the present nom mt Tle
storage IN copper cans commenced tdree years ago
completed and, from experience, IL is evident tlt
nothing the end, VIII stand the test Of time well
for the preservation of bulky alcoholic cOlec ions
copper cans with metac screw tops. Thanks 10 the
happy suggestion OF ID. f. Becker, very important
progress mas been made in ultimately securing tue
safety OF the insect biological collections kept small
glass walls TO which reference Is made IN d. Hagens
report - - ......-.,..,,- .,...., &c.,,
system III use III libraries Tor the purpose OF shoWrS
the geOgra phca range, aad the material on hand Of
each species. These cards of species advantageOusly
replace the fauna and systematic sheets introduced by
Prof Agasslz, which, like all fixed Sheets were not
capable Of Indefinite expansion
The publications of the past year limited TO the
issue Part ~ ~ the Revision Of the E;ola Oy Alex
Hasser Expedition, by Messrs ,ssiz and P0urtales
Considerable progress has also been made 10 the pre-
tue Agassz Collection Of Fishes, by Mr. Putnam.
The Museum has made provisions for the room needed
geology The instruction IN zoology has been for tie
mast ear in charge of Professor McCrady, assisted ny
Mr. Walter Exon IN the laboratory WORK. Tue al
vaucrd students have worked at the Museum under
proIessor McCradys charge TAe present term the in
structlou in geology has been resumed By Professor
Saaler for whom convenient TorkoOm aud laboratory
have been fitted up iu the Museum.
IL was deemed advisable by the trustees o. the
Museum and the corporation of the college, Simplify
somewhat the organization Of the Museum. Tle Office
OF Director consequently abolished and the trustees
represented IN the care OF the AAlseuu ant us
property by the Museum Committee. a copy OF the
amendments To the Ou1ual articles OF agreement Is
added 10 report. To Messrs. " Tnayer ana Geo h.
Emerson. The Museum IS ueepy Indebted Tor assistance
generously rendered III times OF need. ,.
For the Museum Committee THEODORE fIET L4 '1A
IA. Allen makes the report the mammals and
birds Since the report o: last year the large exhibition
room finished and the cases OF the lower part
flied with mammals and BIRDS the collection embracing
not only stuffed SKINS mounted skeletons and fossils
arranged together as nearly systematic order as
their size and the limtauods Of the Will allow
The bones Of the recent mammala have been wholly
cataogued marked, labeled and tystema tlcaIly ar
ranged 80 that this material is not only readily
accessible but safe for The collection already num-
beers 1000 specimens. large proportion OF which are
mammals birds have been much fewer than usual
The collections received from the Smithsonian lnsttu-
tn are the only worthy OF special mention these
consisting Of the first dup-serles or the North American
Scturdg and Lep0rtdG, and nests ana eggs OF North
ing types from recent critical revision OK THESE tani-
lies TarOugh the same Institution Is ais0 reCeIvea
iected by the writer on the Yellowstone Expedition Oh
Inbn G. Anthony for the Department OF C1nohologv,
renors that the Pease collection Of shells, which at the
close Of tue year had only Just come INTO tne poss
sOp and had been but partially examined ana tle spe
ces identified has since demanded ana receiver ther
utely necessary couple with 1t the entire revision OF
ali their previous collection, mas proved lon2 ana
most labOriOus undertaking. The mounting OF specl-
mans for the purpose properly presenting them TO the
view of visitors. aud especially OF students OF TINS
branch of natural history nas been steady carried on
during year by his daupnter who his Only asss
for that purpose ana mucn progress has oeen
made in that direction. Tho collections prepared Tor tue
use OF the schools have been remdnded TO them
Tne exchanges curing the year were MS numerous as
usnal and having been manly restricted 70 such s~-
cIes as were really needed 10 increase the collection
have resulted the receiving OF fewer duplicates than
usual but sill enough to keep up the stObk for such
nurposes and to furnish the large and ncrealn s OF
correspondents with all that they require Inc receipts
from ali sources IN this during he current year
Vere 27 boxes Shells containing LAT species ana w.
72l specimens and among the specimens receI'eu nave
been some OF rare beauty ana excellence.
one of the interesting reports is tDat or Baron
& r. Ostensacker the Diptera. The collection con
sists OF three groups: l. North American dlptrra =
European diptera 8. Dptera whlcn are neither -u-
ronean nor North American and which he calls eXOtlcs
He says: Ia pursuance or my intention 10 present my
collection OF diptera 10 the Museum, my WORK idst
Winter consisted Incorporating the a0ove-descrDeu
materials wit n collection ia naming 40 Tar as pos
unnamed epcclmcnsj III !aOcLug ana classify
ing inc whole aud putting up general collection IN
the cabinets reserved for that purpose Tue COLLECTION
OF North diptera thus formed 10 now drrdh1eu
in cabinets o. 10 drawers eaen; All Tue Lnde
are classified with exception OF the group M1SedD
ra,DLsTQ Ine total OF the named species Is very
nearly 900 Ii he number Of undetermined species eau
moi be estimated with any degree or probability. Inc
North America, north OF Mexico, Is ABOUT Zo1O th
number Of those from NJ xlcO, central AncIlea un.
the West indies 10 aDout oJJ' us "OiA 10 ~ ~ "
finished. - $500 . a.. -
alcoholic collection Is now sysematcay arIhntou ~
the exhiinuon assigned TO H. tue duplcaes Delng
safely slowed In copper ia tue cellar Inc large
collections made during the voyage OF inc hassIe.
have sorted according TO species, DuJ are hept
anarl from Inc general collection. FOR convenience
until the species shall be determined Inc dfy coi9c
tOn-anOng which are Vauape types Oh i,aih ai ~
Coute-aas oyerbauled ana removed from lts
perons place in the attic to drawers IN thc alIeuae
rcOm