BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 63 



1855. In the doings of the annnal meeting this year, we find some evidence to show 

 that the lack of proper accommodation for specimens was already felt in the building so 

 joyously taken possession of scarcely eight years before. It was not entirely from want of 

 sufficient room, but partly from the fact that there was more need of air and sunlight for 

 the best good of the Museum. The Curator of Comparative Anatomy mentioned that the 

 collections in his department had been injured by dampness in the cases. This evil he 

 ascribed to the external circumstances of the building, for which there seemed no remedy 

 so long as it should be screened from the light and heat of the sun, and from free ventila- 

 tion. 



The Curator of Ornithology reported some donations to his department, the principal of 

 which were 41 specimens from Dr. F. J. Bumstead, 11 from Mr. C. J. F. Binney, 10 from 

 Mr. E. Samuels and 8 from Mr. Thure Kumlein. He mentioned that he had commenced a 

 catalogue of the specimens, but from the limited number of the books of I'eference feared 

 he would not be able to perfect it. 



The Curator of Oology reported that the collection now contained 209 ascertained spe- 

 cies, 16 of which had been added during the year. 



The Curator of Botany stated that the collection under his charge was in excellent con- 

 dition and that several hundred species of native and foreign plants had been added to the 

 collection during the year, some of the most valuable of which came from I. A. Lapham, 

 Esq., of Wisconsin, and from Prof Gray. 



Several of the Curators made no reports. 



The Librarian gave the whole number of books now possessed by the Society, as about 

 3500. He complained that books were frequently taken away from the library in his 

 absence, sometimes without entering them in the record book, and though these were 

 generally returned, there had been some loss. He did not know where to look for the 

 property. He also stated that since the erection of the new theatre next to our building, 

 the room had become dark and damp, uncomfortable to those occupying it, and injurious 

 to the books. He thought if there was no prospect of having a new building, the inter- 

 ests of the Society would require better accommodations for its books, and for those using 

 them. Some alterations were subsequently made by placing windows where none were 

 before, which considerably improved the room. 



The Treasurer reported receipts from all sources, $1,950.39; expenditures $1,6oL;. 18, 

 leaving a cash balance in his hands of $298.21. 



At the election of officers. Dr. Jeffries Wyman was chosen Curator of Comparative An- 

 atomy and Mammals, in place of Dr. Samuel Kneeland, Jr.; Dr. J. P. Reynolds, Curator 

 of Crustacea and Radiata, in place of Dr. J. B. S. Jackson; Dr. J. Nelson Borland, Cura- 

 tor of Herpetology, in place of Dr. Jeffries Wyman; and Dr. H. K. Oliver, Jr., Curator of 

 Entomology, in place of Dr. Waldo I. Burnett, deceased. 



At a meeting of the Council there was an appropriation made of $100 for a Card Cata- 

 logue of the books and pamphlets, none having been provided previously. 



In the death of Mr. James Brown, which occurred in March of this year, the So- 

 ciety lost one of its best friends and patrons, one to wliose memory is due some notice 

 of his life and character. He was born in Acton, Mass., in 1800, and when a young man 

 was poor, but highly respected for his industry and fidelity. He began business as a pub- 



