1853.] 



455 



During the past year the By-laws have been altered as follows : 



Art. III. of Chapter III., strike out the word fifty and insert ont hundred, 

 making the clause to read as follows : 



Art. III. But any member who shall pay into the hands of the Treasurer the 

 sum of one hundred dollars shall be exempt from all future semi-annual contribu- 

 tions. 



Art. I. of Chapter VIII, altered to read as follows : 



Any Specimen belonging to the Academy and not presented under restrictions, 

 may be loaned to members or correspondents for purposes of scientific investiga- 

 tion by the consent of three-fourths of the Curators, and for a period not exceed- 

 ing three months ; any person to whom specimens may be loaned shall first 

 deposit with the Curators a sum, not less than Fifty Dollars, in cash, which they 

 may deem necessary to ensure the safe return of the specimen, and he shall be 

 subject to a fine equal in amount to one-third of the security given, for each 

 month that the specimen may be retained beyond the time specified for its re- 

 turn. The specimen loaned, together with the date at which its return may be 

 due, shall be reported to the Academy by the Curators at the meetings for Busi- 

 ness in March, June, September and JDecember. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted by 



B. Howard Rand, 



Recording Secretary. 



The Librarian read the following : 



REPORT FOR 1853. 



The entire additions to the Library for the present year amount to 1011 ; of 

 which 436 are in volumes, 432 in parts or numbers, and the remaining 143 in 

 pamphlet form. They may be classified as follows : 



Natural Sciences, . 

 Anatomy and Physiology, 

 Physical Science and Chemistry, 

 Journals, Transactions, Proceed- 

 ings, &c. of Societies, . 

 Voyages and Travels, 

 Geography, .... 

 Biography, .... 

 Languages, .... 

 Agriculture, .... 

 Miscellaneous, f . 



Totals, 436 432 143 



Of the whole number, we have received from Authors 68, from Editors 39 ; 

 from Societies and Corporations 170; from Dr. Wilson 266; from Edward 

 Wilson, Esq. 407 ; from other Members, Correspondents, &c. ^^ ; and from the 

 United States Government 5. Total 1011. 



The number of volumes now in the Library may be estimated at nearly 16,000, 

 including tracts bound in volumes, or arranged for binding. Of these about 5000 

 are on subjects of Natural Science, nearly 3000 volumes of Trai^actions, and about 

 1500 volumes of Voyages and Travels, and Anatomy and Physiology. 



An opportunity for a correct enumeration will be afforded, it is hoped, during 

 the coming year, when the contemplated enlargement of the accommodations for 

 the Library will be completed. 



The increase in the number of additions this year from Foreign Societies is very 

 gratifying, most of them having been obtained by exchange of publications. 



