337 



President ; AVilllam S. Shaw, Vice-President ; Jacob Bigelow, Corre- 

 sponding Secretary; George Hayward, Recording Secretary; Octavius 

 Pickering, Treasurer; John W. Webster, Cabinet-keeper. A room 

 was obtained in Joy's Buildings, and members wei'e invited to bring in 

 specimens. At the meeting on Dec. 29, a considei-able collection 

 was reported; and it was provided that those who gave specimens 

 should accompany them with a written account of them. A common- 

 place-book, in which to note down facts and observations relating to 

 natural history, was also decreed. A recoveiy of this volume would 

 be a most desirable curiosity. 



1815. — The name of the Society not proving satisfactory, it was 

 changed, Jan. 21, to " Linn jean Society of New England." The 

 first paper offered was by Mr. J. Freeman Dana (Jan. 28), and 

 was entitled "An Analysis of the Incrustation formed upon the Basket 

 of Eggs from Derbyshire, Eng., presented by Judge Davis." Feb. 4, 

 it was agreed that each member should prepare some animal for the 

 collection; and, Feb. 15, "a considerable number of animals was 

 presented, all prepared during the week." A committee appointed 

 to report on the best methods of preserving specimens, another to 

 have popular directions prepared and pi'inted for masters of vessels, 

 another to report on the expediency of becoming incorporated. Dr. 

 Bigelow to prepare a newspaper account of the objects and wants of 

 the Society, were among the active measures adopted for advancing 

 its interests. March 4, a second paper was read by Mr. John Lowell, 

 " On the Resemblance between certain Customs of the Modern Italians 

 and Ancient Romans." A quarterly meeting was enacted, to which 

 all classes of members should be invited ; and a paper on some subject 

 connected with the pursuits of the Society was to be read by a person 

 appointed at a previous meeting. The first of these addresses was 

 given by the President, Judge Davis, June 21, 1815; which is recorded 

 as " an elegant address on the advantages of natural history and 

 the objects of the institution." 



Among the pleasant features of the Society was that of holding the 

 annual meeting at some place out of town, whei-e the day was spent 

 in collecting specimens : the officers were elected, and the occasion 

 was crowned by a convivial dinner. One of these took place at Rich- 

 ards', in Brookline, at which it is recorded that the Hon. John Lowell 

 and Hon. Josiah Quincy were present ; another, at Fresh Pond ; 

 another, down the harbor ; and another, up the Middlesex Canal by 

 invitation of Mr. Sullivan, dining at Woburn. Thus the Society went 

 onward, literally rejoicing. The room soon became too small, and a 

 larger one was procured in Boylston Hall. M. Duchesne, " an inge- 

 nious Frenchman, was engaged to prepare animals, and take care of 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H.— VOL. IX. 22 MAECH, 1865. 



