115 



mixed Avith black ; which, when it was still, could hai'dly 

 be found among the leaves. 



Another curious spider, of which three specimens were 

 found, had the abdomen i)rolongcd beyond the spinnerets, 

 much as in E. caudaia. Its color was brownish-yellow, 

 with darker marks, like dried grass, and it hung in the 

 web with its leifs laid close together, and bent in front of 

 the head, looking like a bit of straw accidentally dropped 

 in the web. 



Messrs. Abner S. Phipps, the agent of the State Board 

 of Education, and D. B. Hagau, principal of the State 

 Normal School in Salem, being invited, made short 

 addresses upon the utility of a knowledge of the natural 

 sciences, combining in good proportions wit and wisdom. 



Rev. S. C. Beane of Salem spoke of the system of 

 compulsory education as sometimes not effecting its object 

 if there were wanting in the towns a disposition to carry 

 out the spirit of the law, and mentioned some of the 

 advantages that accrued from the academies which were 

 in a flourishing condition some years since, and were 

 located in many of our rural towns. 



Rev. E. C. BoLLES of Salem described the various 

 mosses that were noticed in the rambles, illustrating the 

 subject on the blackboard, as had also Messrs. Morse and 

 Emerton. Mr. Bolles was quite eloquent in showing the 

 perfection of nature in all her works, manifesting the 

 absolute perfection of the Creator in all his attributes. 



Mr. La Roy F. Gkiffix, principal of the Phillips 

 Academy, Andover, spoke of the interest he had long 

 felt in the Institute, datinir back to the time when he was 



