16 



The Committee on Field Meetings announced that the 

 next would be held at Groveland, Wednesday, June 27, if 

 favorable weather. 



The thanks of the Institute were then voted to the propri- 

 etors of the Methodist Church for their kindness in admitting 

 us to their commodious hall ; also to Messrs. Phillips, 

 Adams, Merriam, Holmes, Peabody, Leach and others, for 

 their polite and gratifying attentions to the members this 

 day. Adjourned. 



There were on exhibition outside the Hall, two beautiful 

 living specimens of ornithology ; one of the White Headed 

 Eagle belonging to Eleazer Lake of Topsfield, captured in 

 December, 1858; the other of the large White Owl, taken in 

 December last, and owned by G-eorge Killam of East Box- 

 ford. This did not appear to be the Snowy Owl, but rather 

 an albino of some other species. Both were healthy and 

 attracted much attention. 



Wednesday, June 27, 1860. 



Field Meeting at Groveland. — The Institute visited 

 this place in September last, and most of the local features 

 of interest may be found noticed in the account of that oc- 

 casion. To-day the rendezvous was at the same spot as 

 before, viz : Balch's Grove, whose owner, William Balch, is 

 still living, having reached the age of ninety-three, with 

 faculties almost unimpaired. On the walk from the station 

 to this place the party were led to notice a hill whose loose 

 soil, now overgrown with rye, anciently served for an Indian 

 burial ground. The bones of the red men are not yet 

 wholly wanting on the spot, being now and then disturbed 

 by the unthinking ploughman ; and more than once, it is 

 said, the frost has gradually lifted the remains till the skele- 



