Proceedings of the Society. g 



Mr. Chas. Dury, of the Committee on a Memorial Volume to 

 Dr. Dun, reported that an engraved portrait for an edition of 500 

 would cost about $50; an elegant photogravure by Gutekunst, of 

 Philadelphia, would cost about $23. Mr. Jame.s thought that $500 

 would cover the entire cost of one edition of 500 copies. 



The Committee was granted further time. 



The President suggested that as an educational work, Messrs. 

 Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. would perhaps undertake the publi- 

 cation. 



Mr. xMonteith promised all the aid in his power. 



Mr. Bullock begged to announce that it had been determined 

 to raise $3,000 to dedicate a bed in the Episcopal Hospital for 

 Children to the memory of Dr. Dun, and that they needed further 

 subscriptions to complete the sum. He stated further that the 

 photographic section was making an enlargement of the photograph 

 of Dr. Dun for the Society. 



Mr, Smith then read, as by announcement, his paper on For- 

 eign Must urns. 



MUSEUMS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



{Abstract.) ' - ■ 



H. P. Smith. 



Little is known of the origin or early collections of natural 

 history specimens. Professor Beckmann expressed the opinion 

 that in the custom of preserving curious and remarkable objects in 

 temples, we find the origin of such collections. 



During the first twelve centuries of the Christian era scarcely 

 anything was done in the study of Nature, and the work of early 

 naturalists, such as Aristotle, was all but lost. 



The awakening which came to all departments of knowledge 

 and investigation in the middle of the fifteenth century, brought 

 life to the study of natural history, and as collections are necessary 

 to the naturalist, we find the work of collecting taken up with great 

 zeal, but little knowledge. 



The discovery of alcohol and the resumption of the use of 

 paper were factors of inestimable value in the growth of natural 

 history. 



Among the early collectors may be mentioned Gesner, of 

 Switzerland, and Besler, a prominent physician of Nuremburg. 



