BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 145 



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In October of this year, a large fin-back whale was exhibited in one of the docks 

 of the harbor, exciting much interest in the community, and attracting a large con- 

 course of visitoi's. The matter was brought before the Council by a motion being made 

 that Dr. Thos. Dwight, Jr. and the Custodian be a committee to procure if possible the 

 skeleton of this huge animal for the Museum. At the next meeting Dr. Dwight reported 

 that the carcass had been presented to the Society by Mr. Harvey T. Litchfield, had been 

 accepted by the committee, and had been towed to and stranded upon Spectacle Island. 

 Upon the suggestion of Dr. Dwight, three hundred dollars were voted to cover expenses 

 of transportation, cleaning, and delivering the skeleton at the Museum. 



This fine specimen now adorns the main hall of the Museum, being suspended from the 

 roof of the building. Dr. Dwight gave a large part of a year of scientific labor in the 

 preparation and final arrangement of the skeleton in the position it now occupies, and to 

 him the Society is mainly indebted for such an important acquisition to its collection. 

 The skeleton is undoubtedly the finest in the country, and its perfection is largely due 

 to his personal care and watchfulness over the carcass until all the bones were safely 

 removed. 



The lack of means at this time necessary to accomplish all the objects the Society had 

 in view for the instruction of the public in science, weighed upon the m'inds of the active 

 members, as indeed it has ever since. They were, therefore, much gratified to learn from 

 the President that he had had an interview with Mr. John Amory Lowell, the Trustee of 

 the Lowell Institute, who had kindly expressed a willingness to pi-ovide for several courses 

 of lectures from the Lowell fund, to be given in our building under the auspices of the 

 Society ; the lectures to be selected by the Council, and the subjects to be such as per- 

 tained to natural history. 



In accordance with this fixvorable provision for continued instruction by lectures, seven 

 courses were given during the season of 1870-71. The first six lectures were by the 

 Rev. J. L. Russell, on Cryptogamic Botany, the second course of two lectures by 

 Prof J. S. Newberry, on the Caiions of the Colorado and Ancient Civilization of America, 

 the third course of six lectures by Dr. Thos. Dwight, Jr., on the Comparative Anat- 

 omy of the Mannnalia, the fourth course of four lectures by Dr. P. P. Carpenter, on 

 a General Sketch of Mollusca, the fifth course of two lectures was by the Rev. R. C. 

 Water.'3ton, on some of the remarkable natural features of California ; the sixth course of 

 twelve lectures by Prof W. H. Niles on the Principles of Geology, and the seventh 

 course of six lectures by the Rev. E. C. Bolles, on the Revelations of the Microscope. 

 These lectures were generally attended by large numbers and were of a very interesting 

 and instructive character. 



In December, 1870, Miss Blaikie, whose services as assistant in the Library had been 

 very valuable, and whose presence had always diffused cheerfulness, resigned on account 

 of her approaching marriage. The tlianks of the Council were presented to her for the 

 very efficient manner in which she had discharged the duties of her oflice. 



1871. By vote of the Council in January of this year, as one of the precautions against 

 fire, smoking in every part of the building was prohibited. On Feb. 7th, Mr. John Cum- 

 mings presented to the Society five hundred dollars to be applied for educational lectures 

 to teachers during the next winter, that of 1871-72. Mr. John Cummings, the President, 

 Mr. Bouv^, the Custodian, Mr. Hyatt, and Mr. Wm. H. Niles, were appointed a Committee 

 to employ the gift in accordance with the wishes of the donor. This was the first open 



