RECORDS. 363 



been dropped on account of non-payment of dues. As five new- 

 members have been elected during the same period, there has 

 been a net loss of nine. 



In accordance with a recommendation offered by the Library 

 Committee, a more permanent union of the libraries of the 

 Academy and the American Museum of Natural History has 

 been effected, to their mutual advantage. In regard to publi- 

 cations, it may be stated that the former method according to 

 which papers presented before the Academy could be published 

 in journals other than the Annals with the financial support of 

 the Academy has been set aside. In the future, under an earlier 

 method of publication, a volume of the Annals, to consist of 

 three or four parts, will be issued during a calendar year. 



Particular attention is now being given by the Council to the 

 matter of membership, and efforts are to be directed in the near 

 future towards increasing the list of Active Members. As stated 

 above there has been a loss of nine during the year, although 

 the members that resigned exceed the new members by one 

 only. Maintenance, however, is not progressive development 

 unless in the face of adverse conditions. The situation that 

 confronts us is in some respects a difficult one, though not 

 peculiar to the Academy. The special societies, each dealing 

 with some restricted branch of science, will tend more and more 

 in the future as they have in the past to draw away active 

 workers from general bodies such as the Academy. Support 

 for the Academy may therefore be sought with a fairer prospect 

 of success from those upon whom demands are not made by 

 professional duties that their activities shall be centered in the 

 special organizations for scientific work. With such support, 

 publication as one of our two main objects may be furthered. 

 Efforts should none the less be made to draw into the Academy 

 the younger men in active work who must carry forward the 

 activities of scientific nature in the future, thus subserving the 

 second purpose of the Society. 



One other subject of general interest must be mentioned. 

 The Council has decided that the routine work connected with 

 the several offices of the Academy shall be performed by a 



