BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 45 



This report did honor to the Society, and added much to the reputation of Dr. Wyman. 

 It soon became well known that the bones were not those of a Reptile, but of a Cetacean 

 belonging to a genus to which Prof. Owen had given the name of Zeuglodon. They were 

 found in the Tertiary deposits of Alabama and belonged undoubtedly to many individuals. 

 Vertebrae and other bones of this animal may be now seen in the collection of the So- 

 ciety. 



It may be well to state, as the annual reports of the Curators do not always give par- 

 ticulars desired relative to the collections, that during this year the Museum was visited 

 by Prof. Lewis R. Gibbes of South Carolina, and that he carefully studied the Crustaceans 

 in its cabinet and made a full catalogue of them. This represents that there were 58 gen- 

 era and 91 species, some of them rare and until recently undescribed. 



1846. But little happened during this year that would interest the general reader. 

 From the reports of the Curators it appeared that a gratifying increase was made to the 

 several departments of the Museum, and from that of the Librarian that there had been 

 added 143 volumes to the Library, mostly obtained by purchase. No very considerable 

 donations were mentioned. Great complaints of lack of room for useful exhibition of the 

 specimens in the Museum were made. 



The Treasurer reported a balance in his hands belonging to general fund of $20.72 

 and a balance of income from permanent fund of $148.01. The permanent fund now 

 amounted to $12,000. 



The only change in officers was the election of Dr. John Bacon, Jr., to succeed Edward 

 Tuckerman, Esq., as Curator of Conchology. 



1847. The advent of Agassiz among us, was, as Mr. George B. Emerson afterwards char- 

 acterized it, a most important event to all engaged in the study of natural history in our 

 country. It was not alone that he possessed information most desirable for our education 

 in science, and great ability to impart it, but largely because of a personal influence that 

 he extended over all who came in contact with him. His noble mien, his personal beauty, 

 his genial manner and expressive features, the earnestness with which he spoke when- 

 ever he sought to interest others in the pursuits he loved ; all conspired to impress every 

 one who approached him not only with admiration for himself, but with the great im- 

 portance of the science he taught. It is to show what were the feelings of the members 

 of the Society regarding him and his teaching, that this notice of him is given in this 

 place, together with the action of the Society at a meeting held Feb. 3, 1847. He had 

 but recently arrived, and had just completed his first course of lectures before the Lowell 

 Institute. At the meeting referred to, Dr. D. Humphreys Storer submitted the following 

 resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : 



" Resolved, That this Society present to Professor Agassiz their heartfelt thanks for the 

 gratification and instruction received by its members during his late course of lectures on 

 the Plan of Creation. 



'"'They would assure him that his lectures have given an impetus to the study of natural 

 history such as has never before been felt in this community ; and which, while they have 

 excited the curiosity and called forth the admiration of the public, have more than realized 

 the most sanguine expectations of this Scientific Society. 



