196 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



palaeontological and geological collections, already sufficiently perfect for the ordinary 

 purposes of general instruction. 



" The room and the collections have been used by the Institute of Technology for a class 

 in Palaeontology ; by the Boston University for a class in Zoology and another in Botany ; 

 and by the Teachers of Boston, for a class in Zoology. This last was composed of the 

 teachers of natural history in the High Schools of Boston, and other teachers, numbering 

 about thirty in all. 



" The lessons are necessarily given on Saturday, and are limited to two hours, though 

 the laboratory is open throughout the day for those who wish to remain. 



" This course was instituted in order to support the movement made by the School Com- 

 mittee to introduce the teaching of Zoology into the High Schools. Miss Crocker, the 

 supervisor having this branch under her charge, applied to the Custodian for assistance, 

 and the Council of the Society assenting, the laboratory and its facilities were placed at 

 her disposal. The course will no.t be finished until the spring of 1879, and will comprise 

 nearly one hundred lessons, illustrated in the usual way by the study and dissection of 

 specimens. The instruction so far, has consisted of a series of practical lessons, given by 

 Messrs. Crosby and Van Vleck, interspersed with lectures of a more general character, by 

 the Custodian." 



The Teachers' School of Science was continued, as in previous years, through the liber- 

 ality of Mr. John Cummings. One course of twenty lectures was given by Professor 

 Goodale of Harvard University. The teachers were provided with printed synopses of the 

 lectures as aids in taking notes, and with dried and named specimens of native plants. 

 About one hundred and fifty sets of these were distributed during the course. The aver- 

 age attendance was about one hundred and twenty. 



From the report of the Secretary, Mr. Edward Burgess, it was shown that the condition 

 of the departments under his charge was satisfactory. 



Of the Library, he stated that the increase was very constant. The additions during 

 the year had been in slight excess of the previous year, and were as follows : volumes 255, 

 parts of volumes 966, pamphlets 236, maps and charts 1999. From lack of the necessary 

 means, no binding had been done. 



Of the Publications, two parts of the Proceedings of the Society had been issued and a 

 third was nearly ready. The second volume of the Memoirs had also been concluded. 



Of the meetings, there had been sixteen general ones of the Society, at which the aver- 

 age attendance had been forty persons ; nine of the section of Entomology and eleven of 

 the section of Botany, at each of which the average attendance had been about ten. 

 Nearly forty papers read at these several meetings had been published. 



From lack of means, the Society was not enabled to give any public lectures during the 

 winter. 



Of members, four Honorary, seven Corresponding, and twenty-two Associate, had been 

 elected during the year. 



The Report of the Treasurer showed an excess of receipts over expenditures of 

 $1336.73, a considerable portion of which could only be used for specific purposes. 

 The receipts available for general purposes had been $9098.75, and the expenditures for 

 general purposes, $8903.82 ; leaving a balance of $194.93, showing that the Society 



