4,38 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP [1879. 



prosperous. It is free from debt. It has a substantial home and 

 land enough upon which to extend it. It has a large and excel- 

 lent library adapted to its purposes, and large collections of natu- 

 ral objects, many of which have not been studied. It is conjec- 

 tured that the library and museum cannot be duplicated at this 

 time by the expenditure of half a million of dollars. 



Among its members are some who are conspicuous for attain- 

 ments, and for the discoveries they have made ; many who ai*e 

 skilful specialists, and very many more who are availing them- 

 selves so diligently of the facilities which the Academy affords 

 that there is ground to hope that when those who are now held in 

 the highest estimation shall have passed away, their places will 

 be filled by men as great or even greater than they are now be- 

 lieved to be. 



Notwithstanding the general character of its membership, and 

 the unpretentious methods and policy which it has followed in the 

 past, there are associated with the Academy some among those 

 who have died, whose names are widely known and respected on 

 account of the positions they attained in science. We may name 

 for examples, Charles L. Bonaparte, John Cassin, Edward Hal- 

 lowell, Wm. M. Gabb, Richard Harlan, Charles A. Leseur, James 

 Aitken Meigs, Samuel George Morton, Thomas Nuttall, George 

 Ord, Charles Pickering, Thomas Say, and Gerard Troost ; and 

 others might be added who in their.day were worthy and respected 

 on account of their attainments, and their contributions to scien- 

 tific progress. 



There is no substantial reason to mourn now on account of the 

 present condition or the future prospects of the Academy. 



The whole is submitted, 



W. S. W. R.USCHENBERGER. 



REPORT OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY. 



The Recording Secretary respectfully reports that during the 

 .year ending Nov. 30, 1879, twenty-three members and eight cor- 

 respondents have been elected. 



The resignations of the following members have been received: 

 Wm. Thompson, R. H. Day, C. P. Nancrede, J. S. Alexander, 

 Frank Woodbury, Jos. Neumann, Thos. Stewardson, S. W. Penny- 

 packer, and S. H. Guildford. 



