Vol. VII] EVERMANN— DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR 1917 ;^;^'/ 



ing pictures of the animals shown in some one of the groups. 

 Steps are being taken to bring- about a closer co-operation be- 

 tween the Museum and the schools whereby the Museum will be 

 able to render even greater service to the public along educa- 

 tional lines. 



LECTURES 



A course of free popular lectures on scientific subjects has 

 been maintained throughout the year, on the third Wednesday 

 evening of each month. These have been given at the regular 

 monthly meetings of the Academy, usually held in the Board 

 room of the Mechanics Institute Library. The list of lecturers 

 and their subjects will be found in the President's repeort (pp 

 320 and 321). 



The Academy has also continued the Sunday afternoon 

 course of popular lectures which proved so successful last 

 year. These lectures are given in the auditorium of the Mu- 

 seum at 3 P. M. every Sunday. The attendance at the lectures 

 is limited only by the capacity of the hall. One of the urgent 

 needs of the Museum is a much larger hall to accommodate the 

 larger audiences who desire to attend these lectures. 



As heretofore the success of the Sunday afternoon lecture 

 course is due to the energy and resourcefulness of the lecture 

 committee, Messrs. Roy E. Dickerson, W. W. Sargeant and 

 E. P. Van Duzee. The list of the lectures given in 1917 will 

 be found in the President's report (pp. 321-323). 



There are certain expenses connected with the lectures v.hich. 

 though small, the Academy finds difficulty in meeting from its 

 present income. These expenses include pay of ushers, print- 

 ing of notices, preparation of illustrative material, travel ex- 

 penses of lecturers, operator of stereopticon. and other small 

 expenses. 



If the Academy could secure a modest endowment the in- 

 come from which to be used in meeting expenses incident to 

 lectures, it would be able to make the courses even more \alu- 

 able and popular than they have been in the past. An endow- 

 ment that would yield an annual income of $500 to $1000 

 would help greatly. 



