RECORDS. 53 



THIRD MEETING, AT WASHINGTON, D.C. 

 FIRST DAY, DECEMBER 29, 1SS4. 



Lecture Room, U.S. National Museum. 

 Mo 7-n ing Sessio n . 

 President Hyatt in the Chair. Thirt3'-t\vo members present. 

 The following- was read : — 



Report of the Secretary. 

 At the last meeting of the Society, in New York, in December, 

 18S3, fourteen new members were elected, making a total of one 

 hundred and twenty-five. Two members have offered their 

 resignations, and one resignation has been accepted, making the 

 total membership stand at one hundred and twenty-four. 



At the same meeting the attendance was large. Both the very 

 great interest expressed in the eighteen papers, and the activity 

 of the discussions, augur very well for the future of the Society, and 

 confirm the wisdom of the limitations which it has placed upon 

 itself. During the past year the adoption of By-Law ii., 

 definino- the meaning of the term " professional naturalist," has 

 accentuated the policy of the Society in regard to the standard of 

 its membership, and, it is hoped, will steadily contribute to 

 elevate the pursuit of Natural History in America. 



To better fulfil certain purposes of the Society it seems desira- 

 ble to establish a bureau of information. A plan for accomplish- 

 ing this will be announced later during the present meeting. 



In accordance with a vote of the Executive Committee, your 

 Secretary has published Part I. of the " Records," containing the 

 constitution, a list of members, and the records proper. The list 

 of members, if it meet with the approval of members, will be 

 continued annually, — as it is an authentic statement of data, 

 which are considered important and desirable to have recorded 

 and known. The " Records" have been sent to all the members 

 and to a few other persons and institutions. 



In conclusion, the Secretary can only congratulate the Society 

 upon its past prosperity and present prospects. 

 Respectfully submitted by 



CnARi.ES Sedgwick Mixot. 



