1887-1888 - American Museum of Natural History

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR I887.
To the Patrons, Fellows and Members of the Museum:
The Treasurer's account shows the receipts of the year to
have been $63,890.7I, and the expenditures $61,434.64, of which
$31,128.75 was for necessary expenses, which include salaries,
fixtures, repairs, labor, etc. The sum of $30,305.88 was for
additions to the collections. Of the total receipts, the city has
contributed the sum of $14,989.20.
Many large and important additions have been made during
the past year, which include the Lawrence Collection of American
birds, numbering 1 2,000 specimens; a collection of 4,ooo Brazilian
birds; the Elliot Ornithological Library (of about i,ooo volumes),
accompanied by his celebrated collection of hummingbirds, which
is next to the largest known in the world.
There has been placed in the Geological department a skeleton
of a Mastodon, which forms one of the most striking and attractive
features in this department of the Museum.
Towards securing the above-mentioned, striking and valuable
collections, the Museum is especially indebted to Mrs. Robert L.
Stuart, Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mr. Percy R. Pyne, Mr. James
M. Constable and Mr. Joseph W. Drexel, for their generous
contributions.
Especial mention should be made of the addition to the Collection
of Bird Groups, mounted in characteristic attitudes, and
surrounded by natural accessories, the gift of our devoted friend,
Mrs. R. L. Stuart.
The annexed abstracts from the Curators' reports show other
important additions, both by purchase and donation.