80 Boston Society oj Natural History 



The introduction in the first volume states, "The Society under 

 whose direction the present publication is made, having been estab- 

 lished for the purpose of creating a taste for Natural History, and 

 of affording the means of acquiring and diffusing among their fel- 

 low-citizens a knowledge of this branch of Science, have, in pursu- 

 ance of the object of their institution, considered it advisable to pub- 

 lish such papers and communications as may come into their hands, 

 possessing sufficient interest to entitle them to be laid before the 

 public. Having but small claims to the character of Naturalists, they 

 are nevertheless desirous of contributing something to the common 

 stock of information, and they hope that the succeeding pages will 

 evince the sincerity of their wishes and the industry and zeal with 

 which they have pursued their attainment." And again, " While the 

 Society looks to its own members for the principal part of the ma- 

 terials of the work, its pages will be open to the use of scientific 

 men in every part of the country, and their countenance and aid is 

 respectfully solicited." Such is the present policy. 



The first volume of the Journal contained papers by Augustus 

 A. Gould, Charles T. Jackson, W.T. Harris, Thomas Say, D. Hum- 

 phreys Storer, Thomas M. Brewer. Later papers were written by such 

 men as Samuel Cabot, Edward Tuckerman, Samuel G. Morton, Jef- 

 fries Wyman, J. E. Teschemacher, Asa Gray, John Lewis Russell, 

 George Engelmann, Nicholas Marcellus Hentz, W. O. Ayres, John 

 Gundlach, Alexander Agassiz, and Samuel H. Scudder. 



About one-half of the articles relate to the Natural History of 

 New England, the rest of the papers dealing with many other re- 

 gions. 



In 1842, Augustus A. Gould reported, "It is by its publications 

 alone, that the Society can expect to be extensively useful, diffus- 



