476 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



Its first President was Professor T. C. Porter, D. D. Tlie present officers of the 

 Society are President, Hon. J. P. Wickersliani ; Vice Presidents, Charles A. Heinitsli, H. 

 G. Bruckart; Recording Secretary, Jacob Stauff'er; Assistant Secretary, H. A. Rocka- 

 field; Corresponding Secretary, C\\?iv\Qii'^-A\\vam\; I'reusurer,^. S. Rathvon; Librarian, 

 Jno. B. Kevinski; Curators, J. Stauffer, S. S. Rathvon, Jno. B. Kevinski, H. G. 

 Bruckart. The Society has been in successful operation since its beginning and earned 

 a good report. An account of its labors, extracted from an Essay by Mr. S. S. Rath- 

 von, read before the Society on its 4tli anniversary, February 24, 18GG, speaks for itself : 



"Before concluding this essay, allow nre for a moment to advert to the fact, that four 

 years ago, we had not a single animal, a plant, a shell, a fossil, a mineral or a Ijook in 

 our possession, nor yet a case of any kind, not even a box, to put anything in, if we 

 had had it. But at the present day we have a comparatively large collection in our 

 possession, or under our control. Our Library, contrary to the expectations of many 

 of us, consists of about one hundred and sixty-live books and pamphlets. Our Botan- 

 ical collection, although not immediately accessible, is large and comprises nearly, or 

 quite, all of the plants and mosses known to Lancaster County. As soon as proper 

 receptacles are provided, the Society will have a large and rare collection of botanical 

 specimens under its immediate control, numbering some five hundred species. 



^'■Mammalogy seems to be the only order that does not exhibit signs of healthy progress; 

 no special laborer in that field having yet volunteered his service. Yet, there are ten 

 or twelve mammals, and twenty-five craniological specimens now in possession of the 

 Society. It is hoped that some practical student will take up this department of natu- 

 ral history, and give it a thorough exploration during the present year. Should such a 

 one be found, there is not a doubt he would find the subject sufficiently prolific and 

 interesting to remunerate him for his trouble, and would also confer a benefit on the 

 Society. 



"In Ornithology owv collection numbers two hundred specimens, part of that number 

 being birds of exceeding beauty and variety, still found as occasional visitors in this 

 locality and latitude. In Jc/ii/tj^ofo^ry the number of specimens is about two hundred and 

 fifty, most of which have been found in our immediate waters. In Ilerpetology we 

 number some twenty specimens, comprising nearly all of that order of animals found with- 

 in the limits of Lancaster county. The siiecimens in Reptilia are about fifty in number. 

 Perhaps the largest collection of any class of animals in the custody of the Society, is 

 that included in Entomology, the specimens of Coleoptera alone being not far below 

 twelve thousand; besides, nearly one-fourth of that number, belonging to other orders, 

 will be placed in the possession of the Society during the present year. In Conchology 

 the collection numbers over fourteen hundred specimens, including most of the species 

 known to the county of Lancaster. In Oology there is a small but beautiful collection, 

 numbering one hundred and twenty-five specimens. The Mineralogical collection 

 includes nearly all of the varieties known to this locality, besides many from other local- 

 ities, numbering about fifteen hundred specimens. In Paleontology and Fossilology in 

 general, the collection is very respectable, and numbers about five hundred specimens. 

 There are about four hundred specimens for which no department has yet been organ- 

 ized, and therefore these objects are, for the present, referred to Scientific Miscellany. 

 The collateral branch of Archeology is growing interesting, and numbers not less than 

 two hundred and fifty specimens. This is but a partial eiunneration of the specimens 

 of various kinds in possession of the Society, and yet it ' foots up ' the incredible num- 

 ber of more than thirty-two thousand, not including the library." 



—Concerning the literary activity and zeal of the members of this Society, this volume 

 bears ample testimony, for almost all the contributions to the Natural History of the 

 County, constituting Division IX, have been furnished by them, and the fidelity and 

 care with which they have executed their work, entitles them to well-merited 

 praise. 



