36 PENIKESE. 



day on which it was advertised to begin., July 8. Incred- 

 ible dispatch! Provident accomplishment! 



The same day that the timber for the buildings 

 reached New Bedford, the following circular was is- 

 sued: 



"MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, 



"Cambridge, Mass., May 28, 1873. 



"MY DEARM 



"In attempting to organize a School of Natural 

 History upon an entirely new plan, I assume a grave 

 responsibility which must, in a measure, be shared by 

 those who may seek instruction there. To avoid dis- 

 appointment, I feel it my duty to say what I propose 

 to do, that those who may not like my course should 

 be able in time to give up their intention of placing 

 themselves under my direction. It is proper, also, to 

 add, that the applications for admission are very nu- 

 merous, and exceed so much the accommodations of 

 the place as to embarrass me greatly. I must make 

 hard work a condition of a continuous connection 

 with the School, and I desire particularly to impress 

 it upon the applicants for admission, that Penikese 

 Island is not to be regarded as a place of summer re- 

 sort for relaxation. I do not propose to give much 

 instruction in matters which may be learned in books; 

 nor do I wish books to be read during the summer 

 session of the School on Penikese Island. I want, on 

 the contrary, to prepare those who shall attend to ob- 

 serve for themselves, that they may hereafter be able to 

 make the most of their opportunities for study in na- 

 ture, in whatever part of the country they may reside, 

 as there are hardly two adjoining school-districts in 

 which the same objects may be collected for examina- 

 tion. 



"It will no doubt appear, to many, a \vearisome 

 process to sit for hours before a specimen without 

 any but a very general direction what to do with it. 

 I would, therefore, advise all those who wish only to 



