12 g HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



The collection of Nests and Eggs of birds had been entirely rearranged. A statement 

 was made showing the collection at this time to consist of the eggs of seven hundred birds, 

 of which four hundred were American. A large number of duplicates, valuable for ex- 

 change, had been presented by Mrs. Bryant, and about two hundred and fifty nests and 

 eggs by the Smithsonian Institution. 



The Curators of the departments of Reptiles and Fishes mentioned great deficiences in 

 the representation of Massachusetts species, and in the latter the need of help in order 

 to identify and label the specimens. 



The Entomological collection was stated to be in better condition than it had been a 

 year previous, much attention having been given, to its improvement and preservation. 



In referring to the condition of the department of Mollusks, the Custodian made some 

 remarks of more than temporary value. With the exception, he stated, of work done by 

 the last Curator, there is no evidence of any attention having been bestowed upon the 

 specimens for fifteen years. It was now in a worse condition than it had been years before, 

 showing that gratuitous aid had proved a failure. The Curator's entire attention had been 

 given to the Pratt collection, the arrangement of which would be completed before other 

 work was done in the department. 



Of the other collections nothing was said of sufficient importance to repeat here. 



The report of the Treasurer was startling. It showed an excess of expenditures over 

 receipts of more than $6,000, and a diminution in the value of the Society's property of 

 over $13,000. Much of this latter was accounted for by the reduction in the estimated 

 value of the stocks which had been received under the Walker bequest, but it was only 

 too evident that there had not been a due economy exercised in the administration of the 

 business of the Society. Well might the Trustees protest as they did, and well it was, too, 

 that the Council heeded their warning. The lesson taught was not lost upon the members, 

 and finally led to measures tending to prevent, under any ordinary circumstances, more 

 expense of means than income warranted. Among these was that of requiring from the 

 Trustees at the commencement of each year an estimate of the probable receipts from the 

 various sources tabulated, and also one showing what expenditures might be incurred in 

 the different departments based upon such receipts ; there being a clear understanding 

 that under no avoidable circumstances should there be expended more than the income. 

 This met the hearty approval of all, and the policy adopted has been faithfully adhered to 

 ever since. It was not, however, intended that the expenditure yet necessary in finishing 

 the rooms of the Museum and in supplying cases should be paid for from the ordinary 

 income. Whatever was done in this way it was expected would necessarily be paid for in 

 part, at least, from the principal of the Society's property. At the meetings of the Coun- 

 cil following the general meeting, there was much discussion concerning retrenchment, a 

 strong disposition being manifested to reduce expenses within the probable income. 



At a regular meeting in June the Rev. Robert C. Waterston reminded the members of 

 the approaching centennial anniversary of the birthday of Humboldt, and suggested the 

 public celebration of it by the Society. He remarked that it was wholly unnecessary in 

 such a presence to speak of Alexander Von Humboldt in order to impart information con- 

 cerning one whose illustrious reputation in so many departments of knowledge had made 

 his name familiar over the civilized world. Yet in view of what he had done for science 



