28 The Academy of Natural Sciences 



publication, exploration, discovery or research in the sciences of 

 geology and paleontology. The bronze medal was awarded 

 annually until 1899, when the deed of trust was modified so as 

 to provide for the conferring of a gold medal once every three 

 years. 26 



An appropriation of $50,000 for building purposes was received 

 from the Legislature in 1889, and plans for the extension of the 

 building, involving an outlay of $239,000, were considered. A 

 second appropriation for a like amount was secured in 1891. 



An invitation from the University of Pennsylvania to remove 

 the buildings to a plot of ground in West Philadelphia, immediately 

 adjoining those of the University, was received in 1889, and after 

 mature consideration was declined by a vote of 68 to 3. A second 

 proposition, with a like intent, was quite as decidedly rejected the 

 following year. 



The formation of an Ornithological Section was authorized 

 in May, 1891. 



The last meeting presided over by Dr. Leidy was that of March 

 10, 1891. His death, on April 30, inflicted on the Academy the 

 greatest loss it had ever sustained. He had served the society most 

 devotedly for forty-six years in almost every position within its gift. 

 The range of his scientific accomplishments was indicated at the 

 memorial meeting held May 12th, when his work in vertebrate 

 anatomy was considered by Dr. Harrison Allen, in invertebrate 

 anatomy by Dr. Henry C. Chapman, in paleontology and geology by 

 Professor Angelo Heilprin, in mineralogy by Joseph Willcox, and 

 in botany by Dr. James Darrach. An appreciative biographical 

 notice 27 was prepared by Dr. Chapman in which his claims to per- 

 manent recognition as one of the greatest naturalists of America, 

 and indeed of the world, were ably sustained. A bibliography 

 attached to the memoir credits him with 553 papers dealing with 

 topics in almost every department of natural history. A bronze 

 statue in commemoration of his standing in the scientific world 



26 The recipients of the award have been as follows: 1890, James 

 Hall; 1891, Edward D. Cope; 1892, Edward Suess; 1893, Thomas Henry 

 Huxley; 1894, Gabriel Auguste Daubree; 1895, Karl A. von Zittel; 1896, 

 Giovanni Capellini; 1897, A. Karpinski; 1898, Otto Torell; 1899, Gilles 

 Joseph Gustave Dewalque; 1902, Archibald Geikie; 1905, Charles Doolittle 

 Walcott; 1908, John Mason Clarice. 



27 Memoir of Joseph Leidy, M.D., LL.D., by Henry C. Chapman, M.D. 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1891, pp. 342-388. 



