THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 



At the November meetings of the Natural History Society, 

 the revised constitution was formally adopted, and by-laws were 

 enacted dividing the Society into two sections, A and B respect- 

 ively. The former includes all honorary members, and active 

 members sixteen years of age or over; the latter, all active 

 members fifteen years of age or under. 



The following general officers have been elected. President, 

 Miss Laura M. Bragg; vice-president, Miss Annie Sloan; treas- 

 urer, Miss Laura L. Weeks. A general secretary will be elected 

 at the December meeting. The following additional officers for 

 Section B were elected: vice-president. Master Rhett Chamber- 

 lain; secretary, Miss Isabelle O'Neill. 



The Society has undertaken, as a part of its tree study, a sur- 

 vey of the trees of the City, beginning with those on the streets 

 and public grounds, and extending to private gardens as oppor- 

 tunities offer. A general committee has been appointed to or- 

 ganize this work, and it is desired that as much progress as pos- 

 sible be made while leaves are still to be found on the trees. 



The plans for tree work include both the identification of spe- 

 cies and varieties, and the study of the structure and life of 

 trees in general. The November meetings were accordingly 

 taken as the occasion for a talk by Prof. Rea on " Autumn Fo- 

 liage," in which the function of chlorophyll and the life history 

 of the leaf were discussed, and for an introduction to the com- 

 mon species of oaks, by Miss Bragg. At the meeting of Section 

 B, Mr. F. M. Weston, Jr., demonstrated a number of species of 

 birds likely to be seen on the field trip. 



Both sections of the Society have taken field trips during the 

 month. Section B went to Hampton Park on November 12, and 

 studied birds, butterflies, and trees. Section A visited the site 

 of Old Charles Town on Thanksgiving day, spending the morn- 

 ing in the study of trees, especially the oaks and pines, and uniting 

 at noon with the Children of the American Revolution in the dedi- 

 cation of a marker which they have placed on this site. 



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