Annual Reports 171 



meeting place for various civic activities. Among other organizations which 

 the Association has encouraged and with which it has cooperated, through the 

 work of the museum staff and by allowing the use of the assembly hall for 

 meetings, the Bird Lovers' Club should be specially noted, because of its active 

 work carried on during the year in feeding and protecting native and migratory 

 wild birds. Efforts are now being made by the club to obtain the necessary 

 legislative action making Staten Island a bird sanctuary. 



The increasing interest in the museum on the part of the public has been 

 very gratifying. The number of visitors to the Museum during the year was 

 14,452, and increase of 2,708 over the last fiscal year. Accessions to the col- 

 lections and to the library, from 82 donors, numbered 2,192. Some 01 these, 

 of greatest general interest, have been exhibited at the meetings of the Asso- 

 ciation or commented on from time to time in the Bulletin. It is to be re- 

 gretted that want of adequate floor and wall space precluded the possibility 

 ot displaying any but a few of these objects for the instruction of the public. 



In connection with work of special public benefit should be mentioned the 

 Friday afternoon lectures for school children, the attendance at which was 

 greater than during any previous season. The high character of the subjects 

 treated in these lectures, and their variety, may be judged from the schedule 

 appended to the report of the director, and it is interesting and gratifying to 

 note the many good friends of the museum who gave their services as lecturers 

 without compensation, and to whom, collectively and individually, the Board 

 takes advantage of this opportunity to record its formal appreciation and 

 thanks on behalf of the Association. 



Several pleasant excursions were participated in during .the year by the 

 Association, the first taking place on July 24, 1915, when the Torrey Botanical 

 Club held a field meeting at Great Kill, in celebration of the first anniversary 

 of Salt Water Day on Staten Island. On September 8, another excursion 

 was made to the same place in cooperation with the New York Botanical 

 Garden, this latter field day being Staten Island's contribution to the enter- 

 tainment of the botanists in attendance at the twentieth anniversary of the 

 founding of the Garden; and on the afternoon of November 20 Mr. Cornelius 

 G. Kolff entertained the Association at "Lake Sylvia," New Dorp, in his usual 

 hospitable fashion. 



On the evening of November 27 the Board gave a complimentary dinner to 

 Dr. and Mrs. N. L. Britton, in recognition of their gift of the Britton Cottage 

 at New Dorp. 



Activities in connection with the Britton Cottage will be reported upon by 

 the committee in charge. 



Submitted, for the Board of Trustees. 



Arthur Hollick, 



Secretary. 



