HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



There had been issued of the publications of the Society, the second and third parts of 

 the Memoirs, and the fourth and concluding part of the first volume was in press. The 

 eleventh volume of the Proceedings had been completed, and a new edition of six signa- 

 tures of the eighth volume printed. 



Great additions to the Museum had been made during the year, the most important 

 being a very fine series of humming birds, embracing over 700 specimens, com- 

 prising about 300 species, from Mrs. Henry Bryant ; a large collection of eggs, number- 

 ing 1500 specimens, comprising more than 350 species, from the same lady ; a collection 

 of more than 2000 Guatemalan birds purchased ; a large donation of several thousand 

 rock and fossil specimens from Dr. C. T. Jackson ; and a collection of skulls from Arizona* 

 given by Dr. J. W. Merriam. 



The collections of the several departments were reported generally to be in good con- 

 dition, though that of Entomology had suffered some injury from the ravages of Anthreni. 

 These pests, had however, been entirely eradicated, and it was hoped that by constant vigi- 

 lance they would be prevented from doing farther harm. Some remarks made by the 

 Custodian before closing his report, are worthy of notice. He said, in referring to the 

 growth of the Society : " The small collections received at first had a certain charm of 

 novelty which attracted the lovers of nature, and were undoubtedly a principal means of 

 sustaining the interest of its members ; but the times have greatly changed ; for Avhile the 

 number of members who give their personal attention to the care of the collections is 

 scarcely greater than in former years, the collections have increased an hundred fold, and 

 the ratio of increase does not seem to lessen. Now it is manifestly impossible for such a 

 state of things to continue, if the Museum is to maintain an appearance creditable to the 

 name and honor of the Society. On this account several years ago a regular Custodian 

 was appointed ; for the same reason the Council found it necessary, within a few months, to 

 engage the services of a regular assistant, whose labors have been already felt in every 

 department. On similar grounds, I believe that in a short time, the services of many 

 assistants will be indispensable ; indeed I am convinced that at least one or two more arc 

 needed at the present moment, and that from this time forward the greater part of the 

 work of the Museum should be done by regular salaried assistants, under the direction of 

 the officers." 



The report of the Treasurer showed, including all sources of income available for gen- 

 eral purposes, an excess of expenditures over receipts of $208.05. 



Dr. J. C. White, notwithstanding urgent solicitation that he would continue to hold the 

 position in which he had faithfully served the Society, positively declined reelection. He 

 had been Curator of the department of Mammals and Comparative Anatomy for nearly 

 ten years, devoting a considerable portion of his time to laborious work upon the collec- 

 tion, not a small part of which his wise and skilful management saved from destruction. 

 He was, moreover, very efficient in obtaining specimens for the department, thus contrib- 

 uting to its large increase. 



At the election, all the officers were re-chosen excepting Dr. White. No one was sub- 

 stituted in his place. 



It may be remembered by the reader that in 1837 permission had been given to mem- 

 bers to bring with them to the meetings ladies of their families and such others as they 



