LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



sted among them were curators. William McClure, 

 one of the earliest investigators of American geology, 

 sent to the society, from Mexico, a generous gift of five 

 hundred dollars, and Mr. Buck, of New York, the like 

 amount, for the purchase of books. After his return from 

 sea, Dana took his part in the proceedings. 



A copy of the constitution of this society, sent by 

 Herrick to Dana, is worth reprinting, for the very exist- 

 ence of the association is almost forgotten. 



"ARTICLE I. This association shall be called the Yale Institute of 

 Natural Science. 



"ART. II. The object of this association shall be to promote the pur- 

 suit and critical investigation of Natural Science, in its various branches. 



"ART. III. Any member of any of the departments of Yale College 

 may be admitted to this association by a vote of the majority, and any 

 other person by a vote of three-fourths. 



"ART. IV. Every member of this association shall pledge himself to 

 engage in the pursuit of some particular branch or branches of Natural 

 Science, in which he shall make investigations and collections, and transmit 

 them to the association free of expense. And any person who suffers a 

 period of three years to elapse, without making any communication to the 

 association on the branch or branches to which he is thus pledged, shall be 

 considered as having withdrawn himself from membership, until such 

 communication be made. 



"ART. V. The Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology; of 

 Materia Medica and Therapeutics ; of Anatomy and Physiology ; and of 

 Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, shall constitute a permanent board 

 of Curators, and to their trust and disposal shall be committed the collec- 

 tions in the various branches of Natural History, which may be formed by 

 the contribution of the members, to be held by the Curators as the property 

 of the association. They shall also receive and dispose of, according to 

 their judgment, the written communications of the members. 



" ART. VI. The association shall appoint a Secretary, whose duty shall 

 be to report the proceedings of the association, keep a list of all the com- 

 munications and specimens transmitted, and preserve all documents, and do 

 such other writings as the board of Curators may think necessary. If the 

 Secretary be obliged by any circumstance to resign in the intermission of 

 the Medical term, the board may appoint a Secretary pro tempore, until the 

 next meeting of the association. 



" ART. VII. The senior member present of the board of Curators shall 

 preside at the meetings, and in the absence of all the Curators the associa- 

 tion shall appoint a Chairman pro temfore. 



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