BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 65 



Prof. Wyman in presenting the resolutions, referred to Dr. Harris's wide reputation as 

 a naturalist at home and abroad, and to his scieutiiic labors. He spoke of his reseai'ches 

 as chiefly confined to entomology, though he had an extensive knowledge of other 

 departments of natural history, especially botany. As an entomologist he ranked 

 among those, comparatively few in number, who with a strong knowledge of classification, 

 combined the faculty of correctly observing and accurately recording the habits of 

 insects. His very valuable report to the Legislature of Massachusetts on Insects injuri- 

 ous to Vegetation, is an admirable testimonial of his industry and patience, his powers of 

 observation, and his happy manner of portraying the sul)ject of his thoughts. At the 

 time of his death he was engaged in an investigation of the origin of some of the culti- 

 vated plants, and their subsequent distribution by human agency over the world. 



In relation to the Eev. Zadock Thompson, Prof Wm. B. Kogers addressed the meeting, 

 speaking of him as a thorough and persevering worker in geology, and as possessing a 

 large amount of accurate practical knowledge on the subject. 



Dr. Samuel Kneeland read a sketch of Mr. Thompson's life, of which the following is 

 an abstract. He was born in Bridgewater, Vt., in 1796, and at an earlj^ period showed a 

 strong propensity for observing facts in natural science, and for mathematical applications. 

 He graduated at the University of Vermont in 1823, and afterwards was occasionally 

 occupied as a teacher. His chief labors were those of independent investigations into the 

 resources of his native state. He wrote the History of Vermont, and thereby became 

 extensively and honorably known. In 1853 he was apjiointed State Naturalist, making it 

 his duty to study its physical geography, geology, mineralogy, botany and zoology. 

 On this work he entered with zeal, and had far advanced towards its completion, when 

 his labors were closed by death. 



Mr. Thompson delivered the annual address before the Boston Society of Natural 

 History, in June, 1850, on the Geology of Vermont. He made several communications 

 to the Society, and through his instrumentality many specimens were added to the Cab- 

 inet. 



In view of these facts it seemed proper that the Society should take special notice of 

 his death. Dr. Kneeland, therefore after his remarks, moved the following resolution, 

 which was unanimously adopted : 



" Resolved : That in the death of the Rev. Zadock Thompson, the Boston Society of 

 Natural History has lost a valued friend, a distinguished member, and a sincere and truth- 

 ful co-worker in the various departments of natural science." 



It is certainly not a little singular that the next event to be dwelt upon here is the 

 death of the venerable President of the Society, which occurred on the 4th of May. 

 Upon the 5th, a special meeting of the Society was called to take measures appropriate to 

 the occasion, and a committee was appointed to prepare resolutions. It was also voted to 

 attend the funeral of the late President, and to meet at the rooms of the Society for that 

 purpose, on the morning of the 7th inst. 



At the annual meeting. May 7th, Dr. Chas. T. Jackson, Vice-President, in the Chair, 

 Dr. D. H. Storer, on behalf of the committee appointed to prejDare a series of resolutions 

 expressive of the deep sense of regret which the Society experienced in its recent bereave- 

 ment, read the following report, which together with the resolutions, was adopted. 



