RECORDS. 27 



SECOND MEETING, AT NEW YORK, N.Y. 



first day, dece.nrber 27, 18s3. 



School of Mines, Columbia College. 



Morning Session. 



President Alplieus Hyatt in the chair. The minutes of the 

 preceding meeting were read and accepted. The resignation of 

 the secretaryship by Prof. S. F. Clarke was announced by the 

 Secretary pi-o tern. 



It was moved by Prof. Wilder, and carried^ that his resignation 

 be accepted, and that the Chair and Secretary be instructed to ex- 

 press to Professor Clarke the gratitude of the society for his in- 

 valuable services in organizing the society, and acting as Secretary. 



Dr. C. S. Alinot was elected Secretary. 



The Secretary communicated the informal report of the Ex- 

 ecutive Committee. Owing to the unorganized condition of the 

 society, only questions of a preliminary nature could be considered 

 by the committee. Their principal work has been in securing 

 the adherence of as many as possible of the leading naturalists to 

 the society, and this duty has devolved chiefly upon the President 

 and the Secietary, at first Professor Clarke, subsequently Dr. 

 Minot, who was appointed Secretary pi'o tern, upon Professor 

 Clarke's departure to Europe. No efforts have been spared to 

 secure as large an attendance and as valuable communications as 

 possible for this meeting. Your committee believe that their 

 success has exceeded the most sanguine expectations, and feel 

 that the future usefulness and prosperity of the society is assured. 

 Further information as to the work of the society will be given 

 you by the President in his address. Your committee recom- 

 mend that this be declared an annual meeting, and that hereafter 

 the annual meetings be held during the week from Christmas to 

 New Year's. Your committee further recommend that two 

 members elected from the society at large be added to the Ex- 

 ecutive Committee.' 



The report of the committee was accepted. 



Professor Wm. B. Scott presented the following 



^ It is intended hereafter to present each year a formal written 

 report by the Executive Committee. — Secretary. 



