CONCLUSION 



The first year of the Conchological Club's history was one of great 

 success. Under the guidance of Professor Parker, meetings were held 

 every two weeks, at which, papers were read by the members and speci- 

 mens were brought for identification. At several of the meetings, the 

 Professor gave popular lectures on familiar branches of the subject. 

 These were not only attended by the members of the club, but by many 

 other people who were interested in the study of Nature. For these 

 lectures, a large hall was secured in one of the University buildings, and 

 so great was the interest that the room was frequently crowded. 



At the end of the year, the secretary's annual report (Howard being 

 the secretary) gave the membership as twenty-five, showing that the 

 club had increased its membership sixfold during this period. The 

 library was also growing rapidly, and it was found, when the reports 

 of several of the members were read, that two members, Howard and 

 Harry, had accumulated over twelve hundred species of mollusks. 

 "This is very encouraging," said Professor Parker, when, as the first 

 president of the club, he rose to make a few remarks; "and I am sure 

 your enthusiasm will not lag, and that you will continue to make a 

 study of the subject rather than to make a mere collection for the sake 

 of possessing a large variety of shells. I have thought that we could 

 commence this year a small magazine of several pages, devoted to the 

 interests of conchologists. This would help to stimulate interest in the 

 subject, and be a means of exchanging notes with conchologists in other 

 cities. If you will appoint a publication committee, I will be very 

 happy to talk the matter over, and determine when we shall start the 

 magazine, and of what size and character it shall be. I would suggest 

 that for a title, such names as 'The Argonaut,' ' The Nautilus,' or " The 

 Conchologist ' might be appropriate. 



u ln closing my remarks," continued Professor Parker, "I wish 

 to say that it has given me much pleasure to be your president for the 

 past year, and to be able to aid you in your studies. But above 

 all, I have been gratified to note that the study of these lowly creatures 

 has made you better and broader men. You have not onlv UTOWII more 



\J 



observing, but have cultivated a willingness to receive the ideas and 



104 



