BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 241 



In its publications the Society is doing a great work. The issues are of such character 

 as to constantly enhance its reputation at home ami abroad, and enable it through 

 exchano-e with foreign bodies to secure for the use of the members and others engaged in 

 the study of natural history, memoirs and journals indispensable to students, and which 

 the Society could not otherwise obtain. Exchanges are made at the present period with 

 three hundred and sixty societies and proprietors of scientific journals. To meet the call 

 for the various publications of the Society, its Memoirs, Proceedings, and Occasional 

 Papers, an edition of eight hundred of each issue is printed. 



In addition to all that has been mentioned, the Society is sustaining its Library, which 

 is not only open to meml)ers but to all engaged in scientific investigation, upon proper 

 application, and under reasonable restriction. By an agreement with the Institute of 

 Technology, its students are allowed the privilege of consulting the books and taking them 

 out for study. The use of the Library is now much greater than at any former period, and 

 is constantly increasing. 



Now what are the means at the present period upon which the Society can rely to go on 

 with its work ? They are manifestly not its ownership in Avhat is visible, its beautiful 

 building, its growing library, and its grand collections. These are of inestimable value, 

 but they are all of them sources of great expense, not of income. To sustain these, to con- 

 tinue publication, without which there can be but little progress, and to do such educa- 

 tional work as is now called for, a much larger funded property is required than that now 

 held by the Society. This amounts, as has been stated, to 1 154,405 at the par value of 

 the stocks held by it, and from this an income can scarcely be looked for exceeding eight 

 thousand to nine thousand dollars per annum. Assessments on members increase this from 

 one to two thousand dollai's more. 



Now when it is borne in mind that from this income it is incumbent upon the Society to 

 pay on an average about three hundred dollars yearly for prizes ; to have in its employ an 

 accomplished scientific man in general charge of its Museum, with several able assistants ; 

 a secretary and librarian, also of scientific attainments, with assistants in the library; and 

 a janitor to look after the building and contents ; to say nothing of the necessary repairs, 

 fuel, gas, etc., the question may well be asked how an income that will scarcely meet the 

 living expenses of many individual families in the community, can suffice for such 

 requirements. In truth it has only been by exceeding economy that these absolutely 

 necessary expenses have been kept within the income. All of extraordinary character 

 have been met by help from individual members and others. It has been found almost 

 impossible to spare any reasonable amount for additions to the cabinet, and consequently 

 the New England collections in the several departments which it is very important to 

 complete, are yet very far from being so. What was long since stated by the Custodian 

 of the New England collection of mammals yet remains true : " It is a disgrace to the 

 Society." This is the more unfortuuate from the fact that some of the larger animals 

 may ere long become extinct in our borders. 



Having now presented a statement of the possessions of the Society at this time, what 

 it is doing and the income upon which it depends to sustain its work, a few words upon its 

 requirements, its hopes and its aspirations, may be added. 



