42 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



The Curator of Ornithology likewise reported that specimens in his department had 

 been attacked, but that by baking those infected, the collection was now in good condition. 



Thus it will be perceived that in three of the important departments of the Museum 

 the collections had been seriously attacked and much injury done. Up to this period no 

 harm had come to the Ichthyological collection, which the Curator reported in good order. 



The only reports that specified to what extent the collection had been increased, were 

 those of Ornithology and Geology. The mounted birds were given as 233, of which 195, 

 comprising 151 species, are found in Massachusetts. Of unmounted skins the number 

 given was 592, making in all 825 specimens. 



The niunber of specimens in the Geological Collection was given as upwards of 1000, 

 of which about one half were Tertiary, the remainder being of the older formations. 

 Quite a number of these were yet undetermined, and the Curator stated would have to 

 remain so, until the Library should be better furnished with works on the subject of 

 Palaeontology. 



The most important addition to the Cabinet of the Society, during the year, was that 

 made to the department of Herpetology by Dr. Cragin of Surinam. From him twenty- 

 three jars were received, containing nearly one hundred specimens of Saurian, Ophidian, 

 and Batrachian reptiles, all in an excellent state of pi'eservation. The Curator deplored 

 the necessity of storing these out of sight for want of room to put them on exhibition. 



The officers elected were the same as chosen the year previous, except that Dr. A. A. 

 Gould was made Curator of Conchology ; Dr. S. Cabot, Jr., of Ornithology ; and Dr. H. J. 

 Bigelow, Cabinet Keeper. 



The Annual Address was delivered by Professor Asa Gray, and gave an account of 

 the recent progress and present state of Vegetable Physiology. It was exceedingly inter- 

 esting and instructive, and was listened to by a numerous and highly cultivated audience 

 with marked attention. 



In June of this year, the first notice was taken of the bad condition of the Button- 

 woods in New England, which had always been, until within a short time, one of our 

 healthiest and most beautiful trees. At the suggestion of Dr. J. B. S. Jackson, the 

 Rev. John L. Russell was appointed a Committee to investigate the cause of the injury to 

 them. Mr. Russell, whose attention had already been given to the subject, commiinicated 

 the result of his observations at a meeting in August. His views appear in the Proceed- 

 ings of the Society of that date. He ascribed the evil to the young wood being winter- 

 killed, remarking that well ripened wood was always essential to vigorous health in peren- 

 nial vegetation, and that for several years no such young wood had been seen. He 

 thought that the great vigor in the larger limbs would eventually enable the trees to 

 survive until favorable circumstances facilitated the ripening of the young wood, though 

 doubtless some would perish. The views then given of the cause of the trouble have 

 been sustained by experience, and are here briefly expressed because the subject has by 

 no means lost its interest in the minds of those who admire stately and vigorous growth, 

 such as was exhibited in the Buttonwoods of our neighborhood forty years ago. 



1845. As showing the means sometimes adopted to obtain specimens for its collections, 

 it may be mentioned that early this year the Society appropriated $25, and various mem- 

 bers individually subscribed a considerable amount in aid of an expedition to Florida, for 

 such a purpose, to be undertaken by Mr. John Bartlett. 



