Both the library and the museum have been steadily growing through 

 gift and exchange, and the recent purchase of the adjoining church 

 property will temporarily supply the urgent need for more room. 



Since the establishment of the Putnam memorial fund it has been 

 possible to publish to better advantage than formerly. Already work 

 has been commenced on Vol. VIII. of the Proceedings. A valuable 

 paper by Samuel H. Scudder on the Orthoptera of the United States 

 and Canada is now in the hands of the printer. This will be followed 

 by an entomological paper by Frederick Starr. With these articles and 

 others that have been promised the value of the volume is assured. 



Davenport, December 30, 1899. 



