BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 7 



in the several branches of natural history." Towards evening it is further said: "they 

 returned to town after having passed a delightful day." 



Presentations of objects of natural history are frequently mentioned as having been 

 made to the Society during the year, and sometimes those of other character, as 

 for instance a likeness of Mr. Roscoe, of Liverpool, presented by Mr. Francis Boott. 

 In June, the Society was the recipient of two living tigers, presented by Capt. Stewart, 

 of the United States frigate Constitution. Whether it was more fortunate in receiving or 

 losing them, it is now impossible to say ; certain it is, they were by some means lost, 

 and a Mr. Savage was held accountable ; for in February, 1818, the record states that 

 " a settlement was effected with Mr. Savage for the loss of the Brazilian tigers, which 

 were presented to the Society by Capt. Stewart of the Navy," and it subsequently 

 appears that the treasurer was authorized to pay out of the money received from 

 Mr. Savage, rent due by the Society. 



At the second Quarterly Meeting of the year, held in September, Dr, Randall read an 

 interesting paper on the history and medical properties of the native plant Triosteum 

 perfoliatum. 



In October, the Museum was arranged into several departments, and members were 

 allotted to take charge of them, as follows : 



First division of Minerals. . Dr. Randall. Amphibia .... Mr. Gould. 



Second " " " . Dr. Channing. First division of Insects . Mr. Pickering. 



Third " . Mr. Dana, Sen. Second " " ' . Mr. Dana, Jr. 



Plants Mr. Tucker. Third " " " Mr. Codman. 



Mammalia .... Dr. Bigelow. Shells Mr. Gray. 



Birds Dr. Cashing. Zoophytes, &c. . . . Dr. Hay ward. 



Fishes Dr. Ware. 



In November, a paper was read by Dr. Goodwin of Sandwich, on tadpoles found there 



In December, Dr. Channing was requested to make up, from the duplicates, a box 

 of minerals, and send to France, for exchange, and the Vice President was requested to 

 use his exertions to procure a moose for the Society. Professor Cleaveland of Bowdoin 

 College, a distinguished mineralogist, had been invited to deliver the quarterly 

 address in December, but unable to visit Boston, was obliged to decline, and no address 

 was delivered. 



It has been thought well in view of the lesson to be derived from the experience of 

 this Society, to give at some length an account of the proceedings of this first year of its 

 existence with the intention of being more brief in mention of subsequent proceedings. 

 Enough is known of the character and ability of the members of the Society, and enough 

 has been shown of their devoted zeal in its service, to satisfy all that if ultimate success 

 did not crown their efforts, the fault was not so much in them, as in the fact, that more 

 was undertaken for accomplishment through voluntary labor, than can ever be expected 

 from men however zealous, who are engaged in professional or business life. 



The second year of the Linnsean Society was marked by the same manifestation of zeal 

 on the part of the members as was shown during the first. From the assessment of the 

 members enough was raised to pay for some professional labor, and an artist, so called, was 

 hired, who probably could mount specimens ; as in January, a committee was appointed to 



