BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATITRAL HISTORY. 73 



The Curator of Conchology reported that but few additions had been made to the col- 

 lection of shells. He complained of want of case-room to arrange species now ready for 

 exhibition. 



The Curator of Herpetology reported the condition of the collection good, and stated 

 that the most important additions to it had been some specimens from Lake Superior, pre- 

 sented by Dr. S. Kneeland, Jr. 



The Curator of Radiata reported that the collection had been increased during the 

 year by donations from Dr. A. A. Goidd, Prof Agassiz and Capt. N. E. Atwood. He 

 remarked that when he took charge of it the previous year, he found it in a state of con- 

 fusion and disorder, but that now it was properly arranged, and the specimens mostly 

 labelled. The collection embraced about one hundred species of Polypi, representing 

 thirty-nine genera, and about eighty-nine species of Echinodermata, representing about 

 forty genera. Besides these there Avere a few Medusae in alcohol. 



The Report upon the Entomological department was brief, being limited to a statement 

 of the means used to prevent injury to the specimens, by baking, and the free use of 

 camphor. 



The Curator of the Microscopical section dwelt at some length upon the great value of 

 the collection, and stated that from the duplicate material belonging to it, specimens had 

 been furnished to a large number of scientific persons in diffei'ent parts of the country, 

 ■who had applied for them. 



No reports were made by the Curators of the departments of Ichthyology and Crus- 

 tacea, by reason of absence from the city. 



At the choice of officers, the only changes made were in the election of Amos Binney 

 as Treasurer in the place of Dr. Nathaniel B. ShurtlefF, Alexander E. R. Agassiz, Curator 

 of Entomology, in place of Dr. Silas Durkee, who had been made Curator of the depart- 

 ment of Microscopy, and Dr. Samuel Kneeland, Jr., Curator, of Ichthyology instead of 

 Capt. N. E. Atwood. 



In July the death of Dr. James Deane of Greenfield, a Corresponding Member, 

 was announced. He had manifested great interest in the Society, and to him it was 

 indebted for much advice and assistance in procuring the magnificent slabs with impres- 

 sions of the foot marks of animals, which have since found place in the entrance hall of 

 the Museum. A full sketch of the life and labors of Dr. Deane, read at a meeting of the 

 Society, July 7, 1858, by the writer of these pages, may be found in the sixth voliune ol 

 the Proceedings. 



For the first time the Society took a recess in the summer. The members voted 

 July 7 to have no meeting until the first Wednesday in September. 



In September the death of another of the Corresponding Members was announced, that 

 of Dr. Francis W. Cragin, of Surinam. He well merits notice here, as having been for 

 many years one of the Society's generous benefixctors, from whom were received large 

 numbers of donations, of great zojlogical and anatomical interest. 



It will be borne in mind that as early as 1855, complaint was made that owing to want 

 of sunlight and proper ventilation, the collection of the department of Comparative Anat- 

 omy was suffering injury from the dampness of the cases in which the specimens 



