186 HISTORICAL SKETCH- OF THE 



necessity of action on the part of the United States Government to prevent accidents by 

 reason of color blindness in the army, navy and merchant service, and the need of the 

 State governments also taking measures to prevent casualties on the railroads from the 

 same cause. Whilst the possible danger arising from color blindness had been mentioned 

 before, this was the first time in this country that the necessity of control on the part of 

 the authorities was brought forward and urged. The action of the government, State and 

 National, and of the railroad corporations since, has proved Dr. Jeffries' position correct. 



In April, the Legislature of the State having authorized the licensing of such persons to 

 shoot birds for scientific purposes as the Society might designate, a committee was ap- 

 pointed, consisting of the Custodian, Mr. Hyatt, Dr. Thomas M. Brewer and Mr. J. A. Al- 

 len, to issue certificates to such persons as they deemed, upon due enquiry, proper to 

 receive such license. 



Many persons desiring admission to the Museum on other days than public days, the 

 Council voted to admit such as the Custodian judged proper, upon the payment of a small 

 entrance fee, to cover such additional expense as might be incurred thereby. 



At the annual meeting in May, the reports of the Custodian, and of the Secretary, made 

 in accordance with a new provision in the By-laws, were presented. An abstract from 

 these follows. 



During the year one additional room had been fitted up with new cases and brackets, for 

 the reception especially of the birds and mammals of the systematic collection. For fur- 

 ther protection against loss by fire, telegraphic communication had been established with 

 the fire engine house on Dartmouth Street by which, in case of necessity, engines could 

 be had for service at the building within a few minutes after giving an alarm. 



The Teacers' School of Science was continued, as in previous years, by the liberality of 

 Mr. Cummings. The only course of lessons given, was by Prof. Goodale of Harvard Col- 

 lege, but this was a very comprehensive one, comprising twenty-one lectures on Morpho- 

 logical, Physiological and Systematic Botany. The lessons were, as usual, illustrated by 

 specimens which were distributed to the pupils. By the use of blank forms, which were 

 given with the flowers, each teacher was enabled to analyse the specimens independently 

 and record his observations, thus preventing confusion and allowing the instructor to 

 cover more ground than would otherwise have been possible. The analysis of the 

 flowers for the determination of the peculiarities of the floral structure by each teacher, 

 was regarded by Prof. Goodale as an important element in the instruction given. The 

 attendance was large, averaging one hundred. 



In the Laboratory much work had been done of a satisfactory character. The collec- 

 tions for the use of students had been largely increased, and it was hoped they might be 

 made complete before another year. The room and the collections had been profitably 

 used by students of the Institute of Technology and of the Boston University. 



The condition of the collections was reported to be good, and the progress made in 

 arrangement, labelling, etc., quite satisfactory. 



In the Mineral department the only change made was by the addition of new specimens, 

 the greater portion of which had been presented by the President. 



In the Palaeontological department under the charge of Mr. Crosby, much had been 

 done by Miss Carter and Miss Washburn, for whose very valuable services the So- 

 ciety was indebted to the generosity of Mr. John Cummings. The former had mounted, 



