BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 23 



states that a vote was passed to allow those who purchased tickets to the lectures the 

 privilege of visiting the Society's cabinet one day each week. 



Early this year a committee was appointed to inspect the rock specimens and minerals 

 collected by Dr. Hitchcock in making the survey of the State, and, if thought best, to 

 petition the Legislature to allow them to be deposited with the collection of the Society. 

 This was done, and for many years following the whole State collection arranged in proper 

 order Wcis on exhibition with that of the Society. 



1834. In February, a very triumphant vindication, by the Rev. John Bachman, of the 

 accuracy of the observations and truthfulness of the statements of the honored and beloved 

 Audubon, written against attacks made upon his veracity which appeared in Loudon's 

 Maga/ine, \vas read before the Society, and subsequently published in the first volume of 

 the Journal. It excited great interest at the time and was regarded as fully conclusive. 



At the annual meeting in May, the Curators reported that the collection contained of 

 Mammalia, 14 perfect ligamentary skeletons, 34 crania, 15 pairs horns and many teeth ; 

 of Reptiles, 16 Chelonia, 60 Ophidia, 52 Saurians ; of Birds, 40 species; of Corals, 30 

 species ; of Fishes, about 100 species, well preserved ; of Insects, about 4000 species, of 

 which 2000 were numbered per catalogue; of Shells, 1600 to 2000 species; of Plants, 

 about 800 specimens, nearly all from the neighborhood. Of the Insects it stated that the 

 collection woiild soon surpass all in America. 



Before the election of officers, an alteration in the^Constitution and By-laws proposed 

 at a previous meeting was made, by which the office of Cabinet Keeper was created. 

 His duties were defined to be the general charge of the rooms of the Society, that the 

 contents be kept in the best order, that he should select a competent person as a porter, 

 who should be under his immediate control, and that when convenient he should attend 

 personally at the rooms upon days of public exhibition. 



Upon balloting, Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood was chosen Second Vice- President in place of 

 Francis C. Gray, resigned ; Dr. Amos Binney, Jr., Corresponding Secretary, in place of 

 Dr. Gamaliel Bradford ; Epes S. Dixwell, Treasurer, in place of Dr. A. Binney, Jr. ; Dr. J. 

 B. S. Jackson, Curator, in place of Francis Alger, resigned ; Estes Howe, Cabinet Keeper. 

 In October, the committee on lectures for the season reported that Professor Hitchcock 

 of Amhcrst, Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood, and Dr. Flint, had been chosen to deliver them, 

 and they advised that $20 be paid for each lecture. This programme was probably carried 

 out as there is no mention to the contrary. In November, Dr. Ware suggested applying 

 to the Legislature for a grant in aid of the objects of the Society, and a committee \\a< 

 appointed to ask it. The result of this was a subsidy of three hundred dollars per annum, 

 for five years, granted by the State, payment of which commenced in 1845. 



IS.'!"). At the first meeting of the Society in January, the members were cheered 

 by the announcement that one of their number who was in Europe, Mr. Ambrose S. 

 Courtis, had provided in a will made by him that the Society should receive certain sums 

 for specific purposes amounting in all to $15,000, and that to ensure the reception of a 

 part of it soon, he had forwarded an order for the immediate payment of $2000. This 

 amount was received by the Society. It is painful to add, considering the Society's financial 

 condition, that this whole sum was lost by the failure of a bank in which it was deposited. 

 There were conditions annexed to the benefaction of Mr. Courtis, which were not entirely" 



