206 



atioii. The Chair followed by some general remarks upon 

 the flowers whidi were spread before him on the table ; on 

 the habits of the Lepidoptera as elicited by the presence of a 

 fine ^pccies of Moth and its empty Cocoon ; on the pearl 

 oyster, of our muddy ponds and rivers {Unio piirpvrect) and 

 other kindred species ; and of the worthlessness of such 

 gems among the richer tinted ones of the ocean. A single 

 species of unio has been long known to produce them in 

 Europe since the earlier days of observers, and even they are 

 created artificially by inserting some irritating substance 

 between the substance and living mantle of the animal and 

 the interior surface of the shell. 



J. W. Proctor, Esq., of Danvers, being present, took oc- 

 casion to express his gratification and pleasure at the success 

 of the field meeting of the day, and congratulated the Insti- 

 tute at its happy and instructive mode of imparting 

 knowledge. 



A vote of thanks to Mr. Page aiid family was unanimously 

 passed ; after which the Institute adjourned, availing itself 

 of a few moments, time to visit the Institution and a very 

 creditable collection of curiosities made by the gentlemanly 

 Superintendent. On arrival of the evening train, the Com- 

 pany dispersed for their several homes well pleased with the 

 entertainment afforded by the first field meeting of 1857. 



Wednesday, June 24, 1857. 



Field Meeting at Mont Seeeat. The place of meeting 

 being agreed upon that it should be at the farm of Wm. H. 

 Foster, near Bald Hill, in Beverly, through an invitation 

 extended to the Institute by that gentleman, the company 

 were taken over the rail road to a point a mile or two beyond 

 that estate, where the surrounding woods afforded excellent 

 opportunity for rambling in quest of wild flowers, and other 

 objecte of interest to those, who sought them ; each one 



