476 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP [1881. 



has printed on the i^remises and issued about 230 octavo pages of 

 its Proceedings and Transactions. 



These publications constitute reliable evidence of the activity 

 of tlie Society, as well as a measure of the extent of work done in 

 connection with it b}^ its members. 



The average number of persons present at the stated meetings 

 of the year is 30.44 ; the least number present at any meeting was 

 7, and the greatest, 363. 



The scientific activit}^ of the society may be estimated more 

 accurately by what it publishes than by the numbers present at 

 its stated meetings alone ; provided its publication fund be equal 

 to the demands made upon it. Original investigations are always 

 pursued in the privacy of the stud^' or laboratory. Discoveries, 

 when made, are announced at a stated meeting, which is the avenue 

 to publication, either in form of verbal communication or written 

 statement carefully prepared for the Journal or the Proceedings. 

 Such papers are read by title only: if read in full, technical or 

 precise systematic descriptions of new species or genera would 

 allure few not specially interested in their subjects, and a majority 

 would find little or no pleasure in listening to them. 



The progress of the society cannot be fairl}^ inferred by com- 

 paring the average number present at stated meetings through a 

 series of years. Careful examination of the minutes from 1850 to 

 1881, including both years, shows that the average number 

 present at tlie stated meetings of eacli year does not increase 

 regularly from year to jear, but varies. The average attendance 

 in 1850 was 12.28 — little more than the average number present 

 at the stated meetings of the Mineralogical and Geological 

 Sections for 1881, namely, 11 ; for 1855,19.26; for 1860,35.55; 

 for 1865, 18.28 ; for 1870, 22.34, Nor is there a uniform correspond- 

 ence between the number of pages of Proceedings issued and the 

 average number present at the stated meetings. A tabular state- 

 ment of the average numbers in attendance at the stated meetings, 

 the greatest and least number present at meetings in the 3'ear, 

 the number of members and correspondents elected, and the 

 number of pages of Proceedings published in the year, is herowith 

 presented : 



