134 SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS, 



SIXTH MEETING, AT NEW HAVEN, CONN. 



December 27, 1887. 

 Lecture Room of the Peabody Museum. 



MORNING SESSION. 



President Allen in the Chair. Thirty-four members pi'esent. 

 The Secretary's report was called for and I'ead, as follows : — 



Report of the Secretary. 



To the Society : — 



Gentlemen, — It is a matter of congratulation that our number 

 varies but slightly, notwithstanding that this year, for the first time, 

 Section 2 of Article II. of the Constitution has been enforced. 

 Our number is now nearly one hundred and fift}'. The standard 

 of admission was raised by the Executive Committee at the last 

 meeting, and that committee, in their desire to keep the standard 

 of admission at the highest, fairly reflect, I believe, the general 

 opinion and wish of the Society. 



The change in the length of the meeting last year from two to 

 three days met with such a degree of success as evidenced by the 

 large attendance, and the twenty-eight papers read, that the same 

 arrangement has been adopted this year, and will probably be 

 continued. 



It is thought that the assignment of the geological and bio- 

 logical papers to the first and last days, respectively, with the 

 special topic on the second day, will prove satisfactory ; for, in 

 the first place, it gives each member an opportunity to hear just 

 what may be of interest to him, and that alone, and, in the second 

 place, it necessitates but two days' attendance to all interested in 

 but Geology or Biology. That some specialization of this kind 

 is essential is shown, among other things, by the fact that a new 

 society is soon to be organized for Physiologists solely. 



I would call your attention to the ftct that the Secretary has 



