264 Field Columiuan Museum — Reports, Vol. i. 



expended for collections and for new installations, expeditions, etc., 

 that brought the total to $111,940, the deficit being met by individual 

 contributions and by the sale of certain securities. An analysis of 

 the itemized financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report, 

 will convey the suggestion that a large proportion of the deficit, 

 including expenditure for new material, is accounted for in the cost 

 of guards, protection from fire, and repairs to the building. That the 

 total outlay, however, so nearly approaches the income from all 

 sources under the constant pressure for funds that the growth and 

 development of the institution creates, and the proper protection that 

 the building requires is, it would seem, rather satisfactory than other- 

 wise. The books of the Museum have been compared with the 

 Treasurer's statements, and a certificate of agreement issued. 



The Memberships. — The annual memberships have decreased dur- 

 ing the j'ear, owing to the fact that life memberships were taken by 

 a number of persons who were previously annual members. In 

 accordance with the instructions of the Executive Committee, no 

 effort was made to increase the annual membership, and the list 

 now of record comprises those who have voluntarily renewed their 

 annual subscriptions. The attendance of annual members has been 

 considerably larger than in any previous year. 



Lecture Courses. — The spring and autumn lecture courses, com- 

 prising Course Number Eight in October and November, 1897, nine 

 lectures, and Course Number Nine in March and April. 1898, nine 

 lectures, were attended more largely than had been the case thereto- 

 fore. In fact, with one or two exceptions, the capacity of the lecture 

 hall has been inadequate to the demands for admission, several hun- 

 dred people being ordinarily unable to gain admission, and the num- 

 ber of those disappointed, in one case at least, approximating one 

 thousand. With one exception, the eighteen lectures under consid- 

 eration were illustrated, and the lecturers, except in five instances, 

 were members of the staff of the Museum. A perusal of the sub- 

 jects presented will give an idea of the range and variety of the topics 

 and will account for the interest manifested by the public in their 

 delivery. Following is the Eighth Course, delivered in October and 

 November, 1897, with subjects and lecturers : 



Oct. 2. — The East African Expedition — "London to South of Toyo 



Plain." 

 D. G. Elliot, Curator Department of Zoology. 



