Watej-ston.l 284 [J'lue 19, 



ciated with the first President of the Society (Benjamin D. Greene) ! 

 The books he loved, and so faithfully studied, generously left to this 

 Institution, have become his most fitting monument; — they are more 

 than a memento, they are a living bond of perpetual union. The 

 collections in Conchology, how do they speak to us of that noble woman 

 (Miss Sarah P. Pratt) lately called hence, who has bequeathed to this 

 Society her magnificent collection, the accumulated labors of a life 

 enthusiastically devoted to that study; — while the superb and almost 

 unequalled department of Ornitliology brings ever before us in most 

 grateful and affectionate remembrance our generous benefactor, Dr. 

 Bryant. So, also, may these volumes of precious Records, embodying 

 the history and progress of the Society, keep freshly in our thought 

 our departed friend, Thomas Bulfinch. Thus this very building, while 

 it stands a treasure-house of the manifold wonders of nature, becomes 

 also consecrated with hallowed and inspiring memories, so that here 

 those who have departed linger yet with us in pleasant companionship. 



Mr. B. P. Mann read the following extract from a letter 

 written by Mr. W. Hoxie, of Bridge water, Mass.: — 



I made an interesting observation on blue jays about the 16th of 

 May. I found a nest, and was going towards the tree it was in, when 

 one of the old birds skulked up to it and broke an egg and then flew 

 screaming away. I climbed up into the tree, and when I was more 

 than half way to the nest the same bird came back and broke another. 

 When I reached the nest, there was one whole egg, and the remains 

 of two others in it. The blue jay was a female, and I doubt whether 

 the nest and eggs belonged to her. 



Section I, Article 1, of the By-Laws was altered so as to 

 read : — 



Any person of respectable character and attainments, residing in 

 the City of Boston, or its immediate neighborhood, shall be eligible as 

 a Resident Member of this Society. Elections shall be held at the 

 first meeting in the months of January, April, July and October. 

 Nominations must be made in writing, by three members, at least one 

 month previous to the time of elections ; such nominations shall be 

 made to a Committee consisting of the President, Recording Secretary 

 and Treasurer, who shall report upon the same at the meeting pre- 

 vious to that upon which elections are to be held. Every person 

 elected shall, within six months from the date of his election, pay into 

 the Treasury an initiation fee of five dollars, and subscribe an obliga- 



