BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 39 



it, or more important accessions made. Six hundred and fifty species had been added and 

 entered in the catalogue, and nearly a thousand names had been ascertained, and the 

 labels applied. There were now in all 3900 species, not including duplicates, all of which 

 had come into the possession of the Society by donation. Of the whole number, 1722 

 species had been contributed by Dr. Binney, 1197 by Captain Joseph P. Couthouy, 104 

 by Commodore Downes of the Navy, 95 by Mr. Dixwell, 54 by Mr. George B. Emerson, 

 85 by Mr. T. J. Whittemore, 43 by Mr. George Brown, 44 by the Rev. Dr. Greenwood, 29 

 by Mr. John Warren, 33 by Mr. Stephen Emmons, 41 by Dr. Storer, 155 by Dr. Gould, 

 and many had come from the bequest of Simon E. Greene. The want of room and the 

 want of books on the subject were complained of, the members being almost wholly 

 dependent upon the splendid library of Dr. Binney for information. This, however, was 

 liberally open to the use of all who sought knowledge. 



The Curator of the State Collection of Geology reported the addition to it of 1100 

 specimens collected by Professor Hitchcock on his resurvey of the State, making, with the 

 previous collection, 2646, besides the series of soils numbering 227. 



The Curator of Botany reported the addition of 1194 species, mostly foreign, to the 

 department under his charge. No account of the whole collection was given. 



The Curator of Ornithology reported the whole number of birds in the collection as 

 540, very few being duplicates ; 120 of these were mounted, of which 106, including 75 

 species, were of Massachusetts. Forty-three specimens were received during the year, the 

 donors being Capt. Joseph P. Couthouy, Judge Amos of Bengal, Messrs. Teschemacher, 

 II. Bryant, Lewis Ashmun. Charles Mayo, and Dr. J. P. Kirtland. 



The Curator of Comparative Anatomy reported some additions to his department, but 

 stated that the large skeletons were in bad condition from exposure to dust. 



The Librarian reported the condition of the library as prosperous ; 140 volumes, 

 including 38 pamphlets, having been added during the year, presented by various indi- 

 viduals. 



The Treasurer reported the whole receipts during the year, including balance at com- 

 mencement, $1350.29 ; whole amount expended, $1213.36, leaving a balance of $136.93. 



The changes among the officers this year were, that Dr. Martin Gay was chosen Curator 

 of Minerals, Mr. T. T. Bouve of Geology, Mr. T. Bulfinch, Recording Secretary, and Dr. 

 Henry Bryant, Cabinet Keeper. 



In May of this year the Diploma now in use by the Society was first adopted. 



In June, it is recorded that Dr. Jeffries Wyman was made a delegate to represent the 

 Society at a meeting of the British Association, soon to be held at Manchester, England. 



In September, there appears to have been some apprehension as to the safety of por- 

 tions of the collection, as Dr. Wyman was requested to devote such of his leisure as he 

 could command for the ensuing year, to its preservation and increase, and $200 were 

 appropriated for the purpose. 



In December, the Council of the Society having learned " that a proposal had been 

 made to take from their authors the notes, journals, and observations made by some of 

 the corps of the late Exploring Expedition, and to place them in the hands of others for 

 publication," and recognizing the injustice of such proceeding as well as the many other 

 objections thereto, thought fit to remonstrate against it, which they emphatically did, by 



