NEW HAVEN, Dec. 16, 1888.- The semi-annual examinations for the first half of the present college year close Wednesday, after which the campus will be entirely deserted for three weeks, the vacation having been increased a week to make up for the decrease in the Thanksgiving recess. The change was made this year for the first time, particularly in the interest of western men who are unable to put the extra days at Thanksgiving time to any use.

The University Glee and Banjo Clubs will make an unusually extensive western trip this year. Cleveland is the place to be honored with the first concert, and the event will surely be a pleasant one, on account of the large number of men in college who live in that city. The other concerts will be given at Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis.

The Apollo Glee and Banjo Club will take a Christmas trip also, and concerts will be given at Boston, Newton, Lynn, Bath, and several other places.

Yale University, according to the catalogue just issued, has 1,365 students, of whom 688 are in the Academic department, 308 in the Scientific, 133 in the Divinity School, 106 in the Law School, 47 in the Art School, and 35 in the Medical School. The increase in numbers during the past two years has been 231, of whom 120 were added this year. All the departments except the Art School showed a marked increase. One of the most encouraging signs is the large number of our own graduates who are pursuing their professional or special courses here rather than at other universities.

The circulation of the University library during the past year has been somewhat less than ten thousand volumes. This is exclusive of the special departmental libraries of the graduate schools and also of the Linonia and Brothers which has a circulation somewhat in excess of the University library. This is to be accounted for chiefly by the fact that this library contains works in general literature while the University library is limited to works of a heavier character. One rather surprising fact is that the scientific department withdraws only about 5 p. c. of the total circulation. The showing is a rather inexplicable one, unless it be that the work in the three years course is such as to make outside work an impossibility.

The different athletic teams will commence work immediately after Christmas. Candidates for the crew and the nine have already handed in their names and there seems to be a sufficiency of good material to send out very good teams. College commences next term January 8.

YALE NEWS.