138 DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN MUSEUMS 



ADMINISTRATION. By a curator, responsible to the directors of 

 the association through its committee on the museum. 



SCOPE. The principal work of the museum in its earlier years was 

 the maintenance of local collections; it now devotes special attention 

 to cooperation in public school work, especially by seasonal exhibits 

 of birds. It has recently extended its work to research and publica- 

 tion. 



LIBRARY. A reference library of natural history including 533 

 titles, serials being given title once. 



PUBLICATIONS. Annual reports from 1898 to date; 2 special pub- 

 lications; and a series of Bulletins of which i has been issued. 



ATTENDANCE. Open free to the public daily from 2 to 6. The 

 attendance is estimated at 30,000 annually. 



CONNECTICUT VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



The society has a small historical collection, and a library of about 

 1000 volumes and pamphlets, now in storage awaiting the construc- 

 tion of the new city library building, in which the society will have a 

 room. The curator is William C. Stone. 



ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



The city maintains a zoological park of 10 acres, established in 

 1885, containing 21 reptiles, 988 birds, and 201 mammals. 



TAUNTON: 



BRISTOL COUNTY ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



This institution was organized and incorporated in 1909 to pro- 

 mote and encourage public interest in all branches of natural history, 

 in the liberal and useful arts, and in the conservation of our natural 

 resources. It proposes to maintain a museum, a research and experi- 

 mental laboratory, a bureau of information, a library, lectures, and 

 publications. The museum will devote special attention to local collec- 

 tions and educational school work. The secretary of the society is 

 A. Cleveland Bent, and the curator of the museum is Frederic H. Car- 

 penter. 



TOPSFIELD: 



TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



The society reports that it has no museum, but it is understood 

 that plans are being matured for the acquisition of the historic Capen 

 house and its maintenance as a museum of local antiquities. 



