PP 
NATURE 
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1871 


SCIENCE IN AMERICA 
Proceedings of the Essex Institute. Vols. 1.-V. Pro- 
ceedings and Communications of the Essex Institute. 
Vol. VI. Bulletin of the Essex Institute. Vols. 1. 
and II. (Salem, Massachusetts. Published by the 
Essex Institute, 1856-1871.) 
E have, on various occasions, alluded to the large 
amount of encouragement to the pursuit of 
science afforded by the governing powers of the United 
States, both by the Central Federal Government at 
Washington, and by those of the individual States. The 
sums of money voted for such purposes by our American 
relations would make the hair of our economical Govern- 
ment officials in this country stand on end, and would be 
certain to provoke angry comment in our House of 
Commons ; while the number of scientific men paid for 
carrying on investigations and preparing reports on 
various subjects of great practical value for the welfare of 
the country, would almost bear comparison with the 
number we pay for doing nothing or for obstructing all 
rational improvements. 
When men of culture and science in this country 
attempt to advocate the claims of Science to national 
support from the Government, one of the arguments 
most relied on by their opponents is that such a course 
would have the effect of checking all scientific enterprise 
and research that was not paid for by the State. We 
should like these objectors to look over the publications 
now lying before us ; and we think, if they were able to 
derive any lesson from it, it might have a tendency to 
modify their opinion. 
New England is acknowledged to be the most highly 
educated portion of the United States, and among the 
New England States none occupies a more honourable 
position than Massachusetts for its high standard of culti- 
vation, and for the public-spirited manner in which its 
citizens tax themselves for the support of education and 
the spread of knowledge, scientific and otherwise. The 
early New England settlers had a loving habit of per- 
petuating in their new settlements the names of familiar 
places in the old country, and thus we find one of its 
counties called Essex, with an area about equal to 
that of our Middiesex, possessing a scientific institute 
located in the thriving town of Salem. A sketch of the 
history of-the Essex Institute since its foundation may 
convey some idea of the manner in which voluntary 
scientific effort is carried on in Massachusetts. 
The Essex Institute was formed in 1847 by the union of 
the Essex Historical and the Essex County Natural 
History Societies ; and the Institute, thus organised, con- 
sisted of three departments—the historical, having for its 
object the collection and preservation of whatever relates 
to the topography, antiquities, and civil and ecclesiastical 
history of Essex County ; the natural history, for the 
formation of a cabinet of natural productions in general, 
and more particularly of those in the county, and for a 
library of standard works on the natural sciences ; and 
the horticultural, for promoting a taste for the cultivation 
of choice fruits and flowers, and for collecting works on 
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501 

horticulture and agriculture in connection with the general 
library. 
From 1848 to 1866 the Essex Institute published five 
volumes of “‘ Proceedings,” containing reports of papers 
read before the Institute on the various subjects included 
in the programme. Among the more important papers 
contained in these volumes may be mentioned the follow- 
ing :—List of Infusoria found chiefly in the neighbour- 
hood of Salem, by Thomas Cole (1853) ; Catalogue of the 
Birds of Essex County, by F. W. Putnam, 235 species 
(1856) ; Account of the life, character, &c., of the Rev. 
Samuel Parris, of Salem Village, and of his connection 
with the Witchcraft delusion of 1692, by Samuel P. 
Fowler (1856), reminding one exceedingly of a history 
that will probably one day be written of certain similar 
delusions not unknown in our own day; On Indian 
Relics from Marbleshead (1857) ; Noticeable traits of the 
Flora of Nahant, by C.M. Tracy (1858) ; Onthe changes 
produced by Civilisation in the habits of our common 
Birds, by S. D. Fowler (1860); Catalogue of the Birds 
found at Norway, Oxford County, Maine, by A. P. Verrill 
(1862) ; Report of the Army Worm (Leucania unipuncta, 
Ham.), by Carleton A. Shurtleff (1862) ; Catalogue of 
Birds found at Springfield, Mass., with Notes on their 
migrations, habits, &c., by J. A. Allen (1864) ; The Humble 
Bees of New England and their Parasites, by A. S. 
Packard, jun. (1864) ; A classification of Mollusca, based 
on the principle of Cephalisation, by Edward S. Morse 
(1865); Synopsis of the Polyps and Corals of the North 
Pacific Exploring Expedition under Commodore C. 
Ringgold and Captain John Rodgers, U.S.N., from 1853 
to 1856, by A. P. Verrill (1805-06) ; Flora of the Hawaian 
Islands, by Horace Mann (1866). 
From 1867 the Transactions of the Institute have been 
published in a slightly different form, under the title of 
“Proceedings and Communications of the Essex In- 
stitute,” its contents consisting to a considerable extent of 
continuations of some of the elaborate and important 
papers commenced in the earlier volumes, especially of 
Prof. Verrill’s ‘‘ Synopsis of the Corals and Polyps of the 
North Pacific Explozing Expedition,” and of the “ Flora 
Hawaii,” by Mr. Horace Mann, whose early death was an 
irreparable loss to American botanists. There are also a 
number of papers by Mr. A. S. Packard, whose services to 
embryology are so well known, and the very valuable 
contribution by Dr. Elliott Coues, “ Catalogue of Birds of 
North America contained in the Museum of the Essex 
Institute ; with which is incorporated a list of the Birds 
of New England, with brief critical and field notes.” The 
following quotation from this paper will interest ornitho- 
logical readers :—‘‘ Within the area of New England are 
represented portions of two faunz, the Canadian and 
Alleghanian, which differ in many respects from each 
other. There seems to be a natural dividing line between 
the birds of Massachusetts and Southern New England 
generally, and those of the more northern portions of the 
Eastern States. Numerous species which enter New 
England in spring, to breed there, do not proceed, as a 
general rule, farther north than Massachusetts, and many 
others, properly to be regarded as stragglers from the 
south in summer and early autumn, are rarely, if ever, 
found beyond the latitude of this State. In like manner, 
many of the regular winter visitants of Maine are of rare 
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