HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils, including series of the Vertebrae of the Zeuglodon and 



of the Mosasaurus. 



Mr. Hale upon a visit to Boston, many years ago, visited the rooms of the Society, then 

 in Mason street, and was so much gratified with what he saw of the arrangement of the 

 cabinet, and of the care taken to exhibit the specimens to the best advantage, that he 

 proffered to send bones of the Zeuglodon which he had obtained himself in Alabama, and 

 place them in the Society's collection, intimating that they might afterwards be presented. 

 They being received were properly placed for examination, duly labelled, and designated 

 as deposited by him. These were the vertebrae mentioned as included in the bequest. 

 The specimens received numbered about two thousand, of which over one thousand were 

 catalogued and placed in the Cabinet. The others were put aside for exchange. Besides 

 the fossils there were several books upon natural history received, also bequeathed to 

 the Society. 



The painting of Prof. Agassiz by Mrs. C. V. Hamilton, which has since been conspicuous 

 among the portraits possessed by the Society, was purchased by the subscription of several 

 of the members. 



1876. The writer of these pages has not found it consistent with his feelings to often 

 make personal reference to his own part in the proceedings of the Society. To avoid 

 doing so altogether would be manifestly unjust to those who have been his supporters 

 during his long service as chief executive officer, and to the reader who asks for truth and 

 not its obscuration. An event occurred at the meeting prior to that of the annual elec- 

 tion which can not be passed over in silence with due regard to others than himself, and 

 it may be added with justice to his own feelings of gratitude for some of the happiest 

 moments of his official life. He had determined to resign the position he held, really 

 desiring relief from responsibility, and fully satisfied that the Society would suffer no det- 

 riment from a change. To his surprise he was called upon at his house prior to the meet- 

 ing by one of the most honored members, the President of another institution, who, 

 speaking for himself and others, urged that the resignation should not be tendered. The 

 writer had, however, too long considered the matter to readily yield, and went to the 

 meeting firm in purpose to do as he had proposed. To his greater surprise he found 

 there not only a very unusual number of members, but many who had not been in the 

 habit of attending. What was read as a valedictory was listened to with great attention, 

 after which a call to proceed to the business of the meeting was made. Instead of res- 

 ponding to this call, one after another of those whom the writer most respected, addressed 

 him in such terms of affectionate remonstrance against his resignation, as to induce him 

 not only to withdraw it, but to feel that henceforth what had been regarded as a burden 

 would be a joy, that the performance of the duties of his office would be sweetened as 

 never before by the recognition that the respect and regard which he felt towards all the 

 members were fully reciprocated by them. 



The very laudatory remarks made by the Custodian upon this matter the writer cannot 

 present here. He does not feel at liberty to refrain from giving one paragraph from his 

 Report. 



" An event, which in its results was very satisfactory to the officers of this Society, 

 occurred at the meeting when the President offered his resignation. I allude to the 



