tory will doubtless some day record hig^h up on the tablets reserved for 

 those deeds which are not to fade from the memory of man. Some 

 one has said that he most benefits his fellow man who discovers truth. 

 During- all these longf years, in loving: studiousness, members of this 

 body have been g-athering^ and storing;- up the truths of nature for the 

 knowledge and welfare of their fellow men. The catalog-ue of what they 

 have accomplished may be found, to some extent at least, in the publi- 

 cations issued by the Association from the year 1883. These papers, 

 serially numbered from that date, have g-one forth, with their human 

 message, to all parts of this country and to many parts of the workL 

 Scientific bodies at home and abroad have g-ladly welcomed them. 

 Libraries and institutions of learning, by their steadfast subscriptions, 

 testify to their appreciation of the value of these publications, while 

 frequent requests for back numbers, and a constantly growing exchange 

 list, apprize us more and more that a prophet is not without honor save 

 in his own country and among his own people. These publications 

 have completed 9 volumes, and a new series is beginning with volume 

 I to commemorate the reorganization of the Association on June 3rd. 

 1905. 



Twenty-five years of study of nature on Staten Island have accumu- 

 lated by insensible degrees specimens of local botany, mineralogy, ge- 

 ology, and zoology in great number, range, and value. In the herbarium 

 there are about 1500 local plants. In the geological collection every 

 feature of interest is represented. Among the specimens of local fauna, 

 members of the Association have made quite complete collections of 

 fresh and salt water shells, moths, butterflies, beetles, and other insects, 

 birds' eggs, snakes and other reptiles. Local antiquities are repre- 

 sented by specimens of Indian life and by Revolutionary and later 

 relics, implements of war. coins, and documents of many kinds and of 

 varied historical interest. 



It is said by those competent to judge that the museum of this Asso- 

 ciation is in certain departments probably one of the most complete and 

 comprehensive local collections known. 



It is with deep regret that I have to admit that this unique collection 

 is without a home, and is and for years has been practically on storage 

 in different places, unavailable to the members of the Association or 

 to the public at large. The mass of it is stored in one of the rooms 

 of the Staten Island Academy — thanks to the courtesy of that institu- 

 tion. 



During all these twenty-five years we have also been gathering 

 scientific publications by exchange, purchase, and donation, until w^ 



