88 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



ship has increased in the last year from 127 to 150. We have 

 lost no members l)y death, and but fifteen by resignation. 



Our annual excursion, given on Decoration Day, May 30th, 

 of last year, was attended by about 100 members of this sec- 

 tion, and was greatly enjoyed, both socially and photograph- 

 ically, and proved a financial success. 



The exhibition of lantern slides, which has been given 

 annually by this section, was given this year by a few mem- 

 bers in their individual capacity, so there could be no ques- 

 tion raised as to whether there was a violation of the consti- 

 tution of the Society, in charging an admission fee, although 

 such charge was made solely to raise a fund for the purpose 

 of defraying part of the expense incurred by this section in 

 fitting up their quarters. This meeting was very largely 

 attended, although the weather was most inclement, and was 

 very gratifying to the members, as showing, beyond doubt, 

 that there was no lack of interest by the public in the work 

 of the members. 



In the same line with this, is the series of lectures now in 

 progress, one of which was given in this building a week ago 

 last Thursday evening, to be followed on ne.xt Thursday 

 evening by another, and again in two weeks from that date 

 by the final lecture. 



Our equipment, which a year ago was very incomplete and 

 in a primitive condition, so far as apparatus for practicing 

 photography was concerned, has been replaced with new and 

 modern appliances; four dark-rooms added, which, with our 

 studio, reception and reading-rooms, are the equal of those 

 owned by any society in this country. All this has been done 

 without any assistance from the Society at large, except for 

 those additions which form a part of the permanent addition 

 to the Society building. Such furniture as the chandeliers in 

 both the reception and reading-rooms, the carpets, curtains 

 and photographic apparatus of all kinds, including the gas 

 fixtures in the auditorium, have been paid for by members of 

 this section alone. In addition thereto, this .section has fur- 

 ni.shed the auditorium with 200 very handsome and comfort- 

 able chairs, and has assumed the payment for same. This 

 latter is not really a debt which should have been iucurred by 

 the section, for it benefits the Society at large (juite as much, 



