8 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



procure animals, that he might find employment in preparing them. In February the 

 room in which the cabinet was kept being unsatisfactory, one was hired over Boylston 

 Hall, where the collection was placed, and where meetings were subsequently held. 

 The Museum of the Society was opened to the public every Saturday afternoon. 



In all the months of this year valuable donations of specimens were received. Among 

 others specified may be mentioned a living bear, presented by Commodore Chauncy of the 

 navy ; a miscellaneous collection of objects of natural history from Bowdoin College ; a 

 valuable collection of birds from Africa ; besides cases of insects, handsome minerals 

 and beautiful shells and corals, from other donors. 



The meetings were well attended, and there appeared throughout the year no loss of 

 interest on the part of the members. The annual meeting was held at Fresh Pond Hotel, 

 Cambridge, and the attendance was general on the part of the members. Judge Davis 

 presided, and the day being pleasant, all found great enjoyment in excursions and in 

 amusements until dinner, which they partook of together, returning to town in the 

 evening. 



In August Dr. Bigelow gave an interesting account of an expedition, undertaken 

 by himself, and the other members of the Society, for the purpose of visiting the White 

 Mountains in New Hampshire. Being equipped, as he states, with proper instruments, 

 the height of the mountains was ascertained more accurately than it ever had been. His 

 estimate of the height is not mentioned. Particular attention, the record states, was 

 given to the mineral, animal, and vegetable specimens that were found in the mountains, 

 and the whole paper abounded with curious facts and ingenious observations. All 

 who in subsequent years had the pleasure of intercourse with Dr. Bigelow, need 

 not be assured of the interesting character of the paper presented by him to those who 

 were favored by hearing it. It would, undoubtedly, be read with great interest now, 

 notwithstanding the general knowledge prevailing relative to the region mentioned. 



The Society increased in numbers during the year, and there appeared no loss 

 of interest on the part of the members. Save a few lines found in the report of 

 one of the meetings in September, everything denoted great prosperity. But these 

 few lines are enough to suggest to those of a later day, conversant with the 

 history of natural history societies, the probable decay at a not distant tune, of 

 that zeal and interest so marked at this period. They may be found in the report of a 

 committee appointed to obtain from the Legislature an act of incorporation. This report 

 declares it inexpedient to petition at present, provided our expenses can be defrayed 

 until we are united with the Athengeum. This is the first expression in the records 

 implying what, alas, the history of most natural history societies shows to be inevitable 

 when sustained only by the voluntary labors and assessments of members, and dependent 

 on the uncertain contributions of friends ; lack of adequate means for the care and 

 preservation of the rapidly augmenting collections and consequent disaffection. We 

 shall later see, that notwithstanding the strenuous exertions of the members, and 

 abundant success in collecting specimens, an increasing uneasiness manifested in a 

 disposition to unite with another society and thus sacrifice its own identity ; or, failing 

 this, to dispose of its collections in a way that would not have been considered for a 

 moment at an earlier period. 



