xxxvi Trans. Acad. Set. of St. Louis. 



REPORTS OF OFFICERS. 



President 's Addeess. 



Fellow Members: 



It is my privilege again to report a year of well-being and progress 

 in the Academy. 



Fifteen meetings have been held, with an average registration of 

 twenty-three, but an attendance fully doubling this number. On an 

 invitation in which we participated, the National Academy of Sciences 

 held its autumn meeting in St. Louis, in the early part of November, 

 thereby honoring the community and encouraging and stimulating its 

 scientific activities. This meeting afforded us an opportunity to tender 

 to the public, on behalf of our guests, a lecture by the dean of Ameri- 

 can geologists — Professor Chamberlin — presenting impressions derived 

 by him during an extensive educational mission to that little-known 

 land, China; and indirectly brought us a masterly address by one of 

 America's most distinguished zoologists — Professor Wilson — arranged 

 by the Washington University chapter of the honorary scientific 

 society of Sigma Xi, attendance on which was made possible by action 

 of the Council suspending our own session of November seventh. The 

 officers of the National Academy have been pleased to speak of the 

 St. Louis meeting as a satisfactory one, and its sessions were given 

 an unusual and pleasing touch of reminiscence by the presence on the 

 walls of the meeting-room of portraits of Chauvenet, Eads and Engel- 

 mann, — all, in their day, honored and valued members of the National 

 Academy, as of our own organization. 



Perhaps in no single respect has the real scientific activity of our 

 body been so gratifyingly manifested as in its Entomological Section, 

 which has held eight meetings through the year and has brought 

 together the nucleus of a general collection of insects, supplementing 

 the beautiful butterflies which, through Mrs. Bouton's interest and 

 effort, were presented to the Academy some years since. Though 

 little enlarged, otherwise, the museum has been maintained, in the 

 customary manner and made accessible to the public; and the practice 

 of opening it after our evening meeting has been continued through 

 the year. The librarian reports the usual increase in our library, bet- 

 terments in its condition, and maintenance and suitable extension of 

 our scientific affiliations. 



Toward the end of the season the Academy, helpful in every 

 effort to better the community in the line of our own activities, gave 

 approval to a movement Jooking to the establishment of a zoological 

 garden in St. Louis, and a committee has been appointed for suitable 

 , co-operation, chosen from members of the Academy who at the same 

 time are representative of the most important civic interests to which 

 such a movement should appeal. 



The publications of the Academy have been carried through the 

 year in the usual manner, — gratifying as to quantity and quality, and, 



