ii8 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Section 1. It shall have for its object the promotion of science: it shall 

 embrace zoology, botany, geology, mineralogy, paleontology, ethnology (espe- 

 cially that of the aboriginal tribes of North America), chemistry, physics, 

 mathematics, meteorology and comparative anatomy and physiology. 



Section 2. It shall furthermore be the object of this academy to collect 

 and treasure specimens illustrative of the various departments of science above 

 enumerated ; to procure a library of works relating to the same, with the instru- 

 ments necessary to facilitate their study, and to procure original papers on them. 



Section 3. It shall also be the object of this academy to establish corre- 

 spondence with scientific men, both in America and other parts of the world. 



Membersliip was divided into associate and corresponding classes, 

 the former, constituting the main body of the academy and ex- 

 clusively entrusted with the conduct of its affairs, to include 'men 

 desirous of cultivating one or more branches of science above enumer- 

 ated,' while corresponding membership, as is usual in such cases, was 

 intended for eminent men of science and other persons not residing 

 in or near the city, but disposed to further the objects of the academy 

 by original researches, contributions of specimens or otherwise. The 

 customary provisions were made for election, lapsing of membership 

 and expulsion for cause, no person expelled being under any circum- 

 stances admissible to reelection. The provisions referring to officers, 

 meetings and constitutional amendments are such as are usually 

 adopted. 



The original by-laws likewise contained six articles, referring re- 

 spectively to committees, library, museum, communications, meetings, 

 and authority. Apparently provision for amendments was not 

 thought of, or was considered unnecessary. 



The scope of live interest of the original members may be inferred 

 from the section providing for standing committees, which were to 

 represent ethnology, comparative anatomy, mammalogy, ornithology, 

 herpetology and ichthyology, malacology and chemical geology, ento- 

 mology, botany, paleontology and geology, mineralogy, chemistry, 

 physics, embryology and monstrosities — in addition to library and pub- 

 lication committees. These standing appointive committees, in con- 

 junction with a board of curators provided for in the constitution as 

 elective officers, were charged with the care of their respective depart- 

 ments and expected to make exchanges of duplicates, to arrange, label, 

 catalogue and keep in order all donations and deposits, and to report 

 in writing at a specified meeting each year. The somewhat quaint 

 by-laws referring to the library and museum contain such provisions 

 as were thought desirable to ensure the greatest good to the greatest 

 number in their use. The article on communications provides for the 

 reference of those designed for publication to special committees, for 

 the preservation in the archives of all, whether published or not, and 

 for discussion of original papers on the subjects before enumerated. 

 Fortnightly meetings were arranged for, with an adequate order of 

 business, and current rules of order under the heading 'authority.' 



