BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTOEY. 179 



There had been eighteen general meetings with an average attendance of fifty-four per- 

 sons, five of the section of Microscopy witli an average attendance of eight persons 

 and six of the section of Entomology, with an average of seven persons. On two occas- 

 ions one hundred and fourteen persons had been present at the general meetings. One 

 Honorary, four Corresponding and thirty-seven Resident Members, had been elected; 

 seventy-five communications had been presented. 



Of the Publications, two quarterly parts each of volumes sixteen and seventeen of the 

 Proceedings, and four articles of the Memoirs had been published. 



The additions to the Library had been 297 volumes, 820 parts of volumes, 261 pam- 

 phlets, and 19 maps and charts. 



The Treasurer's Report showed an excess of receipts over ordinary expenditures of 

 f 248.81. There had been besides extraordinary expenses, viz. : for alterations in Museum 

 and cases, $10,689.01, and for the Wyman Collection, $5,000, making a total of $15,689.01. 



The .changes made in the officers, consisted in the resignations of William H. Niles from 

 the Committee of Palaeontology, J. H. Emerton from the Committee on Mammals, A. 

 S. Packard, Jr., and A. E. Verrill from the Committee on Radiates, Crustacea and Worms, 

 and the election of Dr. H. A. Hagen on the last mentioned Committee. 



WalTcer Prizes. The subject proposed for competitive essays for this year was " Pro- 

 tective coloration in any class or classes of animals." No article was presented in 

 response, or none deemed worthy of a prize . 



In May, the Council of the Society, recognizing th e importance of the zoological and 

 botanical observations made by the U. S. Signal Service Bureau, passed resolutions 

 expressing its interest in the continuance of such observations and their extension, as 

 being of great value, affording as they do, data for important generaHzations respecting 

 not only the migrations of birds and the relation of their movements to atmospheric 

 changes ; but also respecting the influence of great extremes of temperature, the lateness 

 or forwardness of the season, etc., upon tlie development and maturation of useful and 

 other plants and the increase or decrease of insect pests ; thus possessing not only scien- 

 tific importance but as likely to lead to valuable practical results, especially in relation to 

 aa'riculture. 



In view of these considerations and of the foct that such observations are beyond the 

 power of private individuals to make, the Council deemed a special appropriation a wise 

 expenditure of the public money. 



Resolutions expressing the above were transmitted to General Albert J. Meyer, Chief of 

 the Signal Service Bureau. 



A little incident in May was too expressive of the feelings existing on the part of the 

 members towards one of their number to be passed over without mention. Prof WUliam 

 B. Rogers, who had not for a long period, by reason of illness, been able to attend the 

 meetings of the .Society, was present, prepared to offer a communication. Upon the Presi- 

 dent's introducing him with a few appropriate words of welcome, there immediately fol- 

 lowed such hearty plaudits from all the members as could not fail to testify how great the 

 respect and warm the love felt hy them for their distinguished associate. 



In October of this year, through the bequests of Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Hale of Burling- 

 ton, New Jersey, the Society came into the possession of a considerable collection of 



