76 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



were made by Prof. Rogers, Messrs. Emerson, Ross, Waterston and Binney in behalf of 

 the project through addresses before the Committees of both branches of the Legislature. 

 Considerable opposition however on the part of many Senators prevented favorable action 

 at that time, though it did not cause defeat. The petition was finally referred to the next 

 General Court. 



1860. To awaken interest in the work of the Society, and to justify its claims in the minds 

 of the public, it was thought best to have an address delivered at the time of the annual 

 meeting in May, and Prof. Rogers was invited to prepare one for the occasion. It was 

 read before a very large audience at the new hall of the Mechanic's Charitable Associa- 

 tion in Bedford Street. The record states that he " Delivered a most eloquent and pertinent 

 address on the progress of natural science for the last thirty years, dating from 1830, the 

 year in which the Society was organized. A large, highly intelligent and enthusiastic 

 audience honored the occasion with their presence, and the Society had great reason to be 

 proud of this successful and brilliant revival of their annual address." 



The Reports of the Treasurer, Librarian, and Curators at the annual meeting, furnish 

 information which is presented as follows : 



The Treasurer exhibited an account showing receipts for the year, including the balance 

 on hand at its commencement, and also the proceeds of sales of bank stock held by the 

 Society to be $3559.13 ; and expenditures, including an amount paid to Dr. N. B. Shurt- 

 leff, the former Treasurer, in settlement, $3,399.48, showing a balance of $159.65 on hand 

 in cash, and no debt. The Society having disposed of its bank stock, held at this 

 time no other property available for its future requirements. 



The Librarian reported the accession to the library of 540 volumes and pamphlets 

 during the year; about 300 volumes of these were very valuable works on entomology, 

 from the library of the late Dr. Thaddeus W. Harris, which were purchased by J. P. Gush- 

 ing, Esq., of Watertown, and generously presented by him to the Society. 



There was nothing in the reports of the Curators of Mineralogy, Geology, Herpetology, 

 Oology or Microscopy, calling for notice here, and none was made upon Ornithology. 



The Curator of Entomology mentioned but few additions, but stated that much work 

 had been done by him towards checking the further ravages of destructive insects. 



The Curator of Radiata stated that the department had been indebted to Drs. Bryant 

 and Winslow for several additions to it. 



The Curator of Ichthyology reported an accession of about 200 specimens. The donors 

 had been Dr. Henry Bryant, who presented a very valuable collection from the Bahamas, 

 Dr. C. F. Winslow, a valuable collection from the Island of Maui, and the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology. 



The Curator of Comparative Anatomy, Dr. James C. White, reported as might have been 

 expected, considering his indefatigable labor upon the collection of his department, that 

 this was now in good condition and systematically arranged. He stated that the means 

 adopted by him mentioned in the report of the previous year, to free the specimens from 

 the ravages of insects, had been completely successful, and that even the growth of the 

 destructive fungi had been prevented by the applications made. Every specimen too, had 

 been numbered, and had had attached to it a label giving its name, locality and donor. 

 A new catalogue had also been prepared for the whole collection. 



