gg HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



grace our new halls with an almost perfect collection of skeletons of the large cats of the 

 old and the new worlds." 



The specimens obtained were, one fine male lion from Delagoe Bay, Africa ; a very large 

 lioness, mate of above ; lioness from Cape of Good Hope, presented to Prof. Wyman ; one 

 male jaguar; female of same, presented to Prof. Agassiz; young Bengal tiger, female; 

 hunting leopard, female, from Asia ; young leopard, male, from Asia ; cougar, male, from 

 South America ; ocelot, female, from Central America ; civet cat, female, Asia ; spotted 

 or laughing hyena, male, Cape of Good Hope ; jackal, Cape of Good Hope, presented to 

 Prof. Wyman ; young black bear ; two raccoons, male and female ; llama, female, from 

 South America ; American opossum ; peccary, female, Brazil ; three monkeys, one baboon, 

 domestic goat, skull of gnu ; eagle and various other birds. 



1862. In January of this year, the Boston Marine Society presented to the Society a 

 valuable collection of objects in natural history, and of specimens of the workmanship of 

 different East India, and Pacific nations, such as models of canoes and junks, war clubs 

 and insignia of office, cutting weapons, bows and arrows, quivers and paddles, native 

 cloth and tanned skins, etc., etc. 



The presentation of so many objects of art, led the Council to recommend the establish- 

 ment of a department of Ethnology, and in accordance with this suggestion, the Society 

 formed such a department and elected Dr. Charles Pickering its Curator. 



In March of this year, Dr. Kneeland entered the Medical Corps of the Army, and at 

 his request a vote was passed that his family be allowed still to occupy rooms in the build- 

 ing as a residence. Dr. Kneeland was the third officer of the Society that the war had 

 called into active service. 



The Building Committee, now having in charge not only the construction of the pro- 

 posed new edifice, but the raising of additional means to meet the cost, omitted no effort 

 to accomplish the objects in view. They exhibited publicly the plan of the structure, 

 with detailed specifications prepared by Mr. Preston, and invited proposals from mechanics 

 for the execution of the work. No less than sixty-four were presented and considered, but 

 not until subscriptions had been received sufficient to cover the entire estimated cost, was 

 any contract made involving expenditure. To obtain subscribers they took most efficient 

 measures. They met together, they discussed plans, they consulted with others interested, 

 they decided what persons should be appealed to, and finally distributed among themselves 

 the names of such as each one would undertake to solicit, so that there might be no con- 

 flicting action. On account of the very great service rendered by Mr. M. D. Ross, for the 

 Society at this time, it is proper to state that though not upon the committee he offered 

 his valuable aid in furtherance of its objects, met with them, gave good advice, and finally 

 took an active part in appealing to such parties for money as he thought he could best 

 influence. To aid the committee in their work they issued a circular prepared by Drs. Jef- 

 fries and White giving the reasons for the appeal made to the public, accompanied by lith- 

 ographic views of the exterior of the proposed building, as well as some representation 

 of the plan for its interior arrangement. While thus engaged in preliminary movements 

 towards personal appeals, what was their joy and how great their encouragement, to have 

 the announcement made to them, as was done by President Wyman, that a gentleman, 



