O. MISCELLANEOUS. 655 



ties were placed in his hands for determination, with the 

 privilege of retaining a series of specimens for himself All 

 these, of course, now form part of the Columbia College Her- 

 barium, and tend to give it its great value. 



A special object of the Torrey Botanical Club is to prepare 

 a catalogue of the flora of New York and its vicinity to tlie 

 distance of thirty miles, an undertaking initiated in 1817 by 

 Dr. Torrey. 



In 1871 a charter was granted by the Legislature of the 

 state, incorporating the club ; and as an interesting illustra- 

 tion of the extent to which the Ring influence formerly per- 

 vaded every interest in New York, we are informed by Pro- 

 fessor Thurber that, among the names of the club, two were 

 introduced, of leading politicians Avho had no interest what- 

 ever in science, and who were unknown to the other mem- 

 bers. The charter thus granted allowed the club to hold 

 property to the amount of fifty thousand dollars ; and it is 

 supposed that the two extra names were inserted for the pur- 

 pose of securing the chance, should any be offered, of making 

 money. The club refused to accept the charter, and it was 

 not until the next year that the names of these objectionable 

 individuals were removed by an amendment. The present 

 charter was first accepted by the club on the 7th of January 

 last. Bulletin Torrey Bot. Club, IV., No. 7. 



MINNESOTA ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



A society has lately been organized at Minneapolis, under 

 the title of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 which makes its bow to the public in the form of a j^amphlet 

 containing its constitution and by-laws, and the address of 

 its president, Mr. A. E. Johnson. The objects of the society 

 are to investigate natural phenomena, and make and preserve 

 collections of specimens of various objects, and to discuss 

 scientific subjects at its meetings. 



AGASSIZ NATURAL -HISTORY CLUB AT PENIKESE. 



An Agassiz Natural-History Club was organized at Peni- 

 kese Island among the students of the summer school of nat- 

 ural history during its session, of which Mr. Solon F. Whit- 

 ney was chosen president, and Miss A. E. Johnson and Pro- 

 fessor J. Tingley vice-presidents. 



