Brigham.] D 



modestly entitled " Alger's Phillips' Mineralogy." This book was in- 

 tended for schools and for beginners in the science of Mneralogy, but 

 its merits were such as to secure it a place in the libraries of expert 

 mineralogists, and the edition was soon sold. It was the intention of 

 ;Mr. Alger to have published another edition of his book greatly en- 

 larged and improved by the addition of new matter, and especially 

 the in edited descriptions of species sent to him by the heirs of the 

 late William Phillips. 



Several manuscript volumes of such arranged matter remain among 

 Mr. Alger's papere. In these volumes he had collected the informa- 

 tion which had been obtained from time to time since the publication 

 of his first edition, this work being done in the night time, after the 

 close of his active business engagements. 



In conclusion Dr. Jackson offered the following Resolutions, which 

 were passed : 



Resolved, That the Boston Society of Natural History has learned, 

 with profound sorrow, the death of their late associate and friend, 

 Francis Alger, one of the founders of this Society and for years an 

 efficient Curator in the department of Mneralogy. 



Resolved, That this Society recognized in Mr. Alger a true lover of 

 Science, and an active and earnest collaborator, animated with a 

 kindly spirit calculated to win the friendship of all who knew him, 

 and to excite an interest in the branches of science to which he was 

 devoted. 



Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to his be- 

 reaved family, with expressions of condolence with them in their 

 irreparable loss. 



Mr. W. T. Brigham read the following communication : 



On the adaptation ©f Wardian Cases to Scientific Ob- 

 servation. 



Partly at the suggestion of our Curator of Botany, and partly by 

 the desire to remove from the sphere of a parlor ornament, however 

 beautiful, an instrument of great convenience to the botanist, the fol- 

 lowing suggestions are offered. 



Every one who is known to be interested in such matters, has 

 doubtless been questioned again and again by persons whose love for 

 floral beauties has survived the stifling effects of coal gas and furnace 

 heat, as to the best manner of constructing, of stocking and maintain- 

 ing the little glazed case which should preserve flowers from these two 

 very dangerous enemies. The references to English books on the sub- 

 ject are generally useless, both from the fact that the authors are pro- 



