Dr. Wislizenus reported the mean temperature for December 

 at 27. 9 ; lowest, n° below zero; average for 33 years, 33. 8°. 

 For 24 days in December, the thermometer had stood below the 

 freezing point. Rainfall, 3.09 inches. 



Dr. Wislizenus also presented his annual report of Atmos- 

 pheric Electricity observed at St. Louis, accompanied with dia- 

 grams. Referred to the Committee on Publication. 



The annual address of the President, Dr. B. F. Shumard, was 

 then read, as follows : 



ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 



Gentlemen : We have just entered upon the thirteenth year of the 

 existence of our Academy, and as your President it devolves upon me to 

 lay before you some account of its progress during the year that has just 

 passed, and its prospect in the future. 



There is much cause for congratulation that our institution, notwithstand- 

 ing the_ serious pecuniary embarrassments under which it has labored almost 

 from its commencement, has gone steadily onward, contributing its share to 

 the great fund of scientific knowledge, until it now occupies an exalted position 

 among learned societies throughout the world, and its memoirs and trans- 

 actions are eagerly sought for and prized wherever science is cultivated. 

 " What has the Academy of Science done ?" has not unfrequently been asked 

 by some paying members who do not attend our meetings, but cheer- 

 fully contribute their annual dues. I propose to answer that question, this 

 evening, bv giving some account of the present condition of its Museum 

 and Library, and of its system of exchanges with scientific bodies in all 

 parts of the world. 



I hope to be able to demonstrate that ouk Academy, though working very 

 quietly, has accomplished a great deal, and that its object and aims are 

 eminently worthy of support and encouragment, not only from its mem- 

 bers, but from the intelligent citizens of St. Louis. It will be seen that our 

 Collections and Library, if properly classified and displayed, would prove 

 not only an ornament to the city, but a most useful Museum of reference 

 to the manufacturer, the miner, and the man of science. And who can 

 doubt that such a Museum would be in the highest degree attractive to 

 strangers, and an object of honest pride to" every citizen ? 



Mammalogy. The collection of mammals, though not large, contains 

 some rare and valuable specimens, in a remarkably fine state of preserva- 

 tion. Among them we may mention the stuffed skins of a full grown 

 Grizzly Bear, a cub of the same, several Rocky Mountain Sheep and Goats, 

 the head of a Buffalo, several specimens of Deer and various smaller ani- 

 mals from the Rocky Mountain region. For these rare objects the Academy 



