1892.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 485 



The following annual reports were read and referred to the Pub- 

 lication Committee : — 



REPORT OF RECORDING SECRETARY. 



The Recording Secretary respectfully reports that the meetings 

 of the Academy have been held Avithout intermission throughout 

 the year, a sufficient number of members being present every 

 Tuesday evening, even through the mid-summer months, for the 

 transaction of scientific business. 



The average attendance has steadily increased, amounting during 

 the twelve months from Dec. 1, 1891, to Nov. 30, 1892, to 64 as 

 compared with 52 in 1891, and 30 in 1889. This satisfactory 

 result has been due in part to the interest felt in the ordinary 

 verbal communications made at the meetings, but in a measure to 

 the extraordinary attendance secured by issuing postal card notices 

 of events somewhat distinct from the routine work of the Academy. 

 Among these may be mentioned an illustrated address on the 

 exploration of Labrador by Mr. Henry G. Bryant, a paper by the 

 President on the extent of the coal supply of the world and the 

 possible consequences of its exhaustion, an account by the Rev. Mr. 

 Nassau of the character, habits and mode of capture of the gorilla, 

 and the report by Lieutenant R. E. Peary of the results of his 

 Greenland exploration. 



The attendance on these occasions varied from 137, who listened 

 to Mr. Nassau's paper, to 922, who were present when Lieutenant 

 Peary made his report. In addition to these, and in many cases 

 not of less importance, communications have been made by Messrs 

 Allen, A. P. Brown, Calvert, Chapman, Cope, Dixon, Foote, 

 Goldsmith, Hay, Heilprin, Holman, Ives, Koenig, McCahey, 

 McCook, Martindale, Pilsbry, Rand, Rex, Ryder, Sharp, Willcox 

 and Wool man. 



Ninety-seven pages of the Proceedings for 1891, illustrated by 

 3 plates, and 325 pages for 1892, illustrated by 13 plates, have 

 been issued. The third part of the ninth volume of the quarto 

 journal, consisting of 159 pages and 8 plates, has also been published 

 and distributed to subscribers and exchanges. The Conchological 

 Section has continued the publication of the Manual of Conchology, 



