MKS. M. L. D. PUTXAM. PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 101 



enthusiasm and held out a promise of continued interest, which, on 

 account of unavoidal>le interruptions, was only partly realized. 

 The familiar lectures and classes have been established with a 

 view to secure the interest and co5peration of the teachers and 

 pupils of our city schools. If the results in this direction have not 

 as yet proved all that could be desired, or reasonalily expected, it 

 is still a matter of congratulatiou that at least some earnest eft'orts 

 have been made to place the Academy on its legitimate basis as an 

 educational institution. 



By far the most important means of diffusing- a knowledge of the 

 natural sciences is the pvdjlication of the Proceedings of the Acad- 

 emy. During the year, 64 pages of Vol. Ill, containing the re- 

 ports presented at the annual meeting Jan. 1st, 1879, have been 

 printed and partly distributed. By a number of unforeseen hin- 

 drances, mainly in the matter of necessary illustrations and the loss 

 of engraved plates by the inexperience of the printer, the publica- 

 tion of Vol. II has been delayed beyond expectation, but it is now 

 hoped that it will be finally completed and issued soon after the 

 present annual meeting. The enlarged scope given to this volume 

 has exposed its editor, Mr. J. D. Putnam, to much extra labor and 

 expense, which it is no more than simple Justice should be reason- 

 al)ly shared by other members of the Academy who are equally in- 

 terested in an enterprise which has given character and rejiutation 

 to the Acadeni}^ abroad, as well as adding to the library in the way 

 of exchanges, what in a pecuniary point of view is worth at least 

 double its actual cost. 



(Jther important instruments, both in the increase and in the dif- 

 fusion of knowledge, are the Library and Museum. The increase 

 of the Library has been greater than in any previous year, the 

 records of the Corresponding Secretary showing a total of 2,818 

 additions of all kinds, all either donated or received in exchange. 

 The Academy is in regular receipt of many of the more important 

 scientific serial publications of both America and Europe, being in 

 active correspondence with nearly 400 of the principal scientific 

 institutions throughout the world, which send their publications in 

 exchange. During the year, the books have been moved into the 

 room formerly occupied by the Art Association, which forms an 

 excellent library and reading room. A large proportion of the 

 books are still in their original ])aper covers. These could be ren- 

 dered much more useful for study by being properly bound. The 



