63 



Vice President Fowler in the chair. 



After the reading of the records of the last meeting, letters were 

 announced as received from : — 



Capt. A. Hyatt, Boston Society of Nat. History (Aug. 6) ; Prof. 

 D. S. Sheldon, Burlington, Iowa; Dr. A. Kellogg, San Francisco, Cal. ; 

 S. L. Boardman, Augusta, Me.; A. C. Goodell, Jr., Salem (Aug. 8); 

 Prof. J. D. Dana, Yale College; Matthews and Eobiuson, Boston; 

 Capt. N. E. Atwood, Provincetown ; John Best, Utica, N. Y. ,• T> A. 

 Cheney, Watkins, N. Y. ; W. A. Smith, Worcester ; W. C. Binney, 

 Amesbury, A. H. Bullock, Worcester; Corporation of Harvard College: 

 Trustees of Boston Public Library (Aug. 9) ; Prof. A. E. Verrill, Yale 

 College; N. Vickary, Lynn (Aug. 10); J. H. Thomson, New Bedford 

 (Aug. 11) ; C. A. Emery, Springfield; T. Mcllwraith, Hamilton, C. W. ; 

 F. Poole, South Danvers (Aug. 13) ; Prof. D. S. Sheldon, Burlington, 

 Iowa; Portland Society of Natural History (Aug. 14) ; H. A. Cutting, 

 Lunenburg, Vt. ; C. J. Mayuard, Newtonville ; Temple Prime, New 

 York (Aug. 16); Dr. Wm. Sharswood, Philadelphia, Pa.; John G. 

 Whittier, Amesbury (Aug. 20) ; Dr. E. W. Hubbard, Totteuville, N. Y. ; 

 R. E. C. Stearns, San Francisco, Cal. ; American Antiquarian Society 

 (Aug. 23) ; Frank Stratton, Natick; E. T. Cox, New Harmony, lud. ; 

 B. O. Peirce, Boston ; Prof. H. C. Wood, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Edwin Bick- 

 nell, Boston; Charles Nauman, Lancaster, Pa.; W. W. T. Butterfield, 

 Indianapolis, Ind. (Aug. 2-1) ; J. H. Hichcox, Albany, N. Y. ; Joseph 

 Blake, Gilmanton, N. H. ; Dr. James R. Nichols, Haverhill; W. C. Bin- 

 ney, Amesbury (Aug. 27) ; John G. Whittier, Amesbury ; New Hamp- 

 shire Historical Society (Aug. 28). 



Donations to the Museum and Librarj'^ were announced. 



F. W. Putnam, of Salem, reported upon the result of the zoologi- 

 cal party. The collections were principally obtained during the walk 

 from East Salisbury station to the Beach, and consisted of several 

 insects, salamanders, &c. He then gave a brief outline of the natural 

 history of the salamander, the mode of development, and the most 

 prominent differences of this and the allied families of reptiles. Some 

 oak galls, placed upon the table, suggested some appropriate and inter- 

 esting remarks upon the species of insects that cause this peculiar 

 growth. 



G. D. Phippen spoke of the botanical collections, prominent among 

 which were the Liatris scariosa, a beautiful flower, somewhat resem- 

 bling, in its general appearance, a thistle, though not allied to that 

 family". 



Charles K. Stevens described the magnificent microscope which 

 Mr. Huse kindly exhibited to the company. 



W. C. Binney, Esq., of Amesbury, being called upon, expressed the 

 gratification of the Amesbury and Salisbury Horticultural Society, in 

 having this opportunity to welcome the Essex Institute and their friends 

 to Salisbur}^ Beach, and hoped that they would enjoy themselves and 

 be amply compensated. 



