The Museum as it stands To-day 69 



complete and thoroughly representative of the whole New England 

 field. We will let the following descriptions of our different Sections 

 speak for themselves. 



The Library 



OUR Library is the second oldest of its kind in America and 

 without seeking to draw invidious comparisons we may say 

 that its growth during the one hundred years of its existence has 

 been characterized by a high standard in the quality of its contents. 



Our Library contains 52,110 volumes and 47,149 pamphlets, be- 

 sides a large number of incomplete volumes of serials. We are so 

 fortunate as to possess works which are not to be found in any other 

 library in New England, and which are eagerly sought by students 

 in different lines of scientific research. 



The founders of the Society recognized at once the importance 

 of having a library of reference works ready at hand for consultation, 

 and voted in January, 1831, to appropriate funds for a "library of 

 works," consisting of the best elementary books in various branches 

 of Natural History. At that time there were comparatively few deal- 

 ing with American Natural History, so that it was not always easy 

 to find literature concerning the native animals and plants. In 1834 

 was issued the first number of the Society's Journal which became 

 a medium for the publication of original researches by its members. 

 At once an exchange list was established, and many other scien- 

 tific bodies sent their publications in return for the Journal. Thus 

 began an ever-increasing list of scientific transactions until, with 

 the addition of new exchanges as other institutions for the study 

 of Natural History arose, the total number has now reached about 

 five hundred and continues to be not only a means of diffusing the 

 latest results of study, but also a large factor in the steady growth of 



