84 SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS. 



FOURTH MEETING, AT BOSTON, MASS. 



first day, december 29, 1ss5. 



Physiological Lecture-Room, Harvard jNIedical School. 



Morning Session. 



President Gilbert in the chair. Forty members present. 

 The following was read : — 



Report of the Secretary. 



The Society now has one hundred and thirty-six members ; 

 there has been a loss of four members by resignation, and a gain 

 of fifteen b}' election at the last meeting. 



There were thirty-two papers presented at the last meeting, 

 which fully occupied the whole of the two days. For the present 

 meeting a considerable number of important communications are 

 expected. 



Of tiie " Records," Part II. has been printed, and is now ready 

 for distribution to the members. It contains the revised constitu- 

 tion and by-laws, and the revised list of members, and also the 

 proceedings proper of the last meeting. 



It is pleasant to be able to felicitate the Society on tlie remark- 

 able immunity of loss from death of its members it has enjoyed. 

 It is certainly verv remarkable that in so large a body there 

 should have occurred not a single death during three years. 

 Does the very fact of membership secure us immortality.'' It 

 may be noted that election to the Society has become more val- 

 uable and sought for since the more stringent rule in regard to 

 admission has been adopted, and there appears to be no question 

 that a rigid enforcement of the strict definition of the term "pro- 

 fessional naturalist" will be advantageous for us and will give 

 election to the Society the prestige and significance of a well- 

 earned scientific degree. 



It has been suggested that the Society might undertake to 

 publish a series of semi-popular monographs on the Natural 

 History of the North Atlantic Region. It is deemed probable 

 that a publisher could be found wilHng to undertake such a series 

 of volumes, of moderate si/c and cost ; perhaps iluodecimos t)f some 



