370 liLLD Museum or Natural History — Reports, Vol. V. 



Building; Fund. The Board of Trustees in accepting this very generous 

 gift, expressed their appreciation with more than ordinary emphasis. 



It is a plca.<auT also to announce that a contribution of $50,000.00 

 in the form of 500 shares of 7% preferred stock has l)ccn made by 

 Mr. Edward E. Aver, the income of which after the death of Mrs. Ayer 

 and the donor is to be expended for the purchase o£ scientific books, 

 pampl)!'*' '."'1 publications for the ^ji-ncral Library of the Mtiseum. 

 Tliis pri . :i for the future dcvelot>ment of the Mu.scum Library is 

 only anoUuT instance of Mr. Ayer's life-long devotion and g en erosity 

 to the Museum. In view of the continued interest manifested by 

 Mr. Ayer in the expansion of the Library- and especially on account of 

 his contributions in money and books to the ornithological section, it 

 has been decided to name the ornithological Library of the Musetmi the 

 ''Edward E. Ayer Ornithological Librar>'." 



Grateful acknowledgment is made of the contribution of the sum 

 of lio.ooo.oo from the Honorable Charles R. Crane, or so much thereof 

 as may be necessary to complete the publication of the work being 

 prepared by the Curator of 2k>0logy on "The Birds of the Americas." 



The additions to the scientific staff and maintenance forces during 

 the latter part of the year, ha\*ing caused a deficit in the available fimds 

 for the operation of the Museum, amounting to $19,755.32, at the 

 December meeting of the Board, the President announced that Mr. 

 Marshall Field had volunteered to assume this deficit. 



P' ' --u Field has further contributed the sum of $1 ,000.00 toward 

 thepv.. ..v.ttion of a "Record of the Life of the North American Indian," 

 which is to consist of twenty volumes of text and illustrations and 

 twenty accompanying portfolios of copper plates and photogravures, 

 with the understanding that the Museum Library is to receive a set of 

 the work when completed. 



The Corporate Members at a meeting held in May, decided to 

 •mend the Articles of Incorporation, so as to provide for an increase 

 in the Board of Trustees of the Museum from fifteen to twenty-one 

 members. At this date four of the created vacancies have been filled by 

 the election of Mr. John Borden, Mr. Albert W. Harris, Mr. Solomon A. 

 Smith and Mr. James Simpson. 



Through the further efforts of President Field to increase the Life 

 Memberships <rf the Institution, the following were elected during the 

 y-ear: J. B. Lord, Thomas W. Hinde, Adolph Nathan, George D. 

 McLaughlin, Lawrence M. Viles. D. W. Buchanan, Frank O. Wetmore, 

 Alexander J^mith, Da\-id M. Yates, Clifford M. Leonard, Frank W. 

 Porter, Charles H. Schweppc, William Wnplcy, Jr., Charles Piex, 

 James B. Forgan, John McKinlay, Potter Palmer, Francis S. Peabody, 



