8 Report of Secretary. 



During 1886 the following papers were read: 



JANUARY. 



The Beginnings of Life, . Rev. Dr. Stidham, of New Britain. 



Review of " The New Theology," . Rev. J. H. Breckinridge. 



MARCH. 



Electric Motors, . . . Prof. Henry S. Pratt. 



Horology, .... Rev. J. G. Griswold. 



MAY. 



Beginnings of Life, with Stereopticon illus- 

 trations, . . Rev. Dr. Stidham, of New Britain. 



OCTOBER. 



A Plea for the Birds, . . . Franklin Platt. 



DECEMBER. 



The Niagara Gorge, .... Rev. J. H. Chapin. 

 India, ...... Mrs. G. H. McGrew. 



During the summer an excursion was made to the Portland 

 Quarries. 



The lecture course for 1886-7 was very successful and gave great 

 satisfaction. It comprised lectures by 



Rev. E. C. Bolles, Ph. D., on " First Letters of the Alphabet of Life." 

 Dr. Alfred Russell Wallace, LL. D., F. R. S., on "The Darwinian 



Theory." 

 Prof. Alexander Winchell, LL. D., on " Life History of the World." 

 Rev. J. H. Chapin, Ph. D., on "An Evening in the Land of the Mon- 



tezumas." 

 And a concert by the YouNG Apollo Club. 



The Association has a large collection of geological and other 

 specimens which are not unpacked, for want of sufficient room, 

 and it is to be hoped that before the summer vacation we shall 

 have rooms of our own, where our library and collections can be 

 made more available. 



CHAS. H. S. DAVIS, 



Secretary. 



