108 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



the alcoholic specimens, which required bottles and fresh spirit before they could be put on 

 exhibition. 



To the collection of Crustacea a large number of specimens had been added during the 

 year. 



The collection of the Microscopical department remained about as before reported, but 

 few additions having been made to it. 



It was sad to learn what indeed had been partially known before, that a large part of 

 the Entomological collection was well nigh ruined by the Anthreni, which, from want of 

 secure cases and continuous care, had been able to attack the -specimens and accomplish 

 their destruction. The magnificent collection of Professor Hentz, purchased at considerable 

 cost many years since through private subscription, and being then altogether the finest in 

 country, might be said to be entirely destroyed, inasmuch as not one-fiftieth part of the 

 whole remained fit to serve the student for purposes of comparison and identification, 

 much less to place on exhibition. The same could be said of all the old collections pre- 

 sented to the Society by Dr. Gould, Dr. Harris and others. 



How forcibly in this statement is brought to mind the truth often alluded to in these 

 pages, that it is worse than useless to form large collections of perishable objects unless the 

 means are at hand to command the accommodation and the unremitting care and watchful- 

 ness necessary for their preservation. 



The late collection of Dr. Harris, purchased and presented to the Society by several 

 gentlemen after his death, and that of the late C. A. Shurtleff, which came to the Society 

 by bequest, were reported to be in fair condition. These were receiving proper attention, 

 and a large number had been put upon exhibition. 



The whole number of specimens of every kind added to the cabinet during the year, 

 the Curator stated to be 21,155, of which half were insects, the bequest of Mr. C. A. 

 Shurtleff. 



The very efficient Curator of Botany, Mr. Charles J. Sprague, much to the regret of 

 every member of the Society, resigned his office at the annual meeting, after a long ser- 

 vice of twelve years, during which time, he had brought order out of disorder, so far as 

 the herbarium of the department was concerned, and accomplished an amount of work in 

 identifying, arranging and poisoning the plants, of incalculable value to the Society, and 

 such as few persons in active business could have found time to do. 



The thanks of the Society were unanimously voted to him, and also to the retiring 

 Treasurer for their services in its behalf. 



At the election of officers, Edward Pickering was chosen Treasurer, in place of Thomas 

 T. Bouve ; Thomas T. Bouve Curator of Mineralogy in place of William T. Brigham ; and 

 Horace Mann Curator of Botany in place of Charles J. Sprague. The office of Custodian 

 was left vacant, Mr. Scudder declining to act longer as such. In the August following, 

 Dr. A. S. Packard, Jr., was appointed by the Council Acting Custodian. 



In October of this year, Dr. Henry Bryant announced his intention of presenting to the 

 Society a large collection of birds recently purchased by him when in Europe, and asked 

 that an appropriation of $4,000 be made, for the purpose of fitting up two of the rooms in 

 the second story for their reception. This was voted, and a committee consisting of Dr. 



