OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 55 



Tuesday evening, February 14th. Regular meeting, the Pres- 

 ident in the chair. Miss Daniels having declined to serve as a 

 member of the executive committee, the nominating committee 

 was instructed to fill the vacancy at its own discretion. 



The committee on by-laws presented their report, which was 

 accepted. The by-laws were then voted upon section by section 

 and unanimously adopted. Adjourned to February 21st. 



Tuesday evening, February 21st. Regular meeting, the Presi- 

 dent in the chair. Mr. Batchelder gave an informal talk on the 

 present unfortunate lack of agreement in regard to botanical 

 nomenclature. Adjourned to February 28th. 



Tuesday evening, February 28th. Regular meeting, the Vice 

 President in the chair. After the transaction of routine business 

 adjourned to March 7th. 



Tuesday evening, March 7th. Regular meeting. On account 

 of the absence of many members no business was transacted. 

 Adjourned to March 14th. 



Tuesday evening, March 14th. Regular meeting, the Presi- 

 dent in the chair. The office of Corresponding Secretary of the 

 Section having been after due consideration declared superfluous, 

 its duties being comprehended in those of the Corresponding 

 Secretary of the Institute, to facilitate matters Mr. Batchelder 

 tendered his resignation of the office and it was accepted. Mr. 

 Baldwin gave notice that an amendment to the by-laws abolishing 

 the ofSce would be considered at the next meeting. 



After the transaction of business Mr. Batchelder gave an intro- 

 ductory talk on the " Unity of the Vegetable Kingdom." After 

 first remarking that during the floral season close at hand 

 the diversity of that kingdom would become sufificiently manifest 

 he proceeded to show its essential unity. With the aid of dia- 

 grams and drawings it was shown how the higher plants have 

 been evolved from the lower ones ; how the apparent breaks be- 

 tween the sub-kingdoms, instead of being fatal to the evolution- 

 ary theory tend rather to corroborate it ; how the most complex 



