11 



and species, of Avliicii, it is to be lioped, tlie Institute Avill soon 

 possess specimens. Our collection of American monkeys is 

 less incomplete than our collection of any other family, but 

 even this is sadly meagre, — and this is true of the rodentia 

 felidse and canidse, even with regard to the native genera and 

 species. It is hoped that the members will aid in supplying 

 the deficiency. 



The following are the only donations which this department 

 has received since the last report : — From Miss Lee, Salem, 

 Vespertilio subulatus ; Miss Gardner, Danvers, Pteromys vo- 

 lucella; John S. Ives, Salem, Cavia cobaya, three specimens; 

 Geo. F. Read, Salem, Condylura cristata. 



The Library of the Essex Institute is wanting in proper 

 books of reference on this subject. Wagner's work on the 

 Mammalia, now in course of publication, would be very usefuL 

 and there are many valuable monographs which we want. 



The following Report on the Herbarium, by John L. Rus- 

 sell, was read and accepted : 



According to custom and usage, as well as the rules of the 

 Institute, some Report on the condition of the Herbarium 

 may be expected. 



The importance of this department in the pursuits of Nat- 

 ural History, is being felt more and more from year to year. 



"Vegetation lies at the very foundation of all organized na- 

 ture. The records of all past time, equally with the daily 

 lessons of the passing epoch, testify to the exalted rank, which 

 the Creator has imposed on the vegetable kingdom. The first 

 trace of a divine hand upon this planet was in the calling into 

 activity the plants of the ocean, and then of the bared rock 

 and the upheaved earth-surface. Before any animal could 

 subsist, the plant must first grow. Then followed geological 

 forms, in proportion as vegetables were presented. The grada- 

 tion of alga, moss, fern, grass, palm, tree, are impressed on the 

 strata for the geologist's study — and he who finds " sermons in 

 stones" reads the same lesson in them that he can read else- 

 where in the living w^orld. 



The attention to Botany demands an herbarium to render it 



