122 West American Scientist. 



species having widely different requirements for their growth, and 

 presents a goodly list of species as indigenous to the island. 



The majority of the ferns grow at an elevation of between 

 2,000 and 5,000 feet. 



The balance of this little pamphlet is occupied with a list of the 

 ferns and extracts from the manuscript notes of the late Dr. 

 Thwaites and the published works of Hooker, Baker and Wall. 



•■'■■The ferns of Ceylon, by Lorenzo G. Yates, 33 pp. ^^x^H. Santa Barbara, 1887. Price 

 75 cents. 



SANTA BARBARA SOCIETY OF NATURAL 

 HISTORY. 



The Santa Barbara society ^f natural history, was organized De- 

 cember, 1876, with twenty-one members. 



The object of the society as set forth in the constitution, is, * the 

 increase and diffusion of a knowledge of the natural sciences; by 

 the establishment of a museum, the reading and publication of 

 original papers, and other suitable plans.' 



The meetings of the society were for two years, held in the San- 

 ta Barbara College building An offer of a place in the I. O. O. F. 

 Library, was made by the Trustees of said J^ibrary, and was 

 accepted. 



At the time of the change, the museum specimens occupied one 

 case, and there were a few books and pamphlets, 



These gradually increased by individual donations. 



In 1883, the society was made a repository for government pub- 

 lications in place of the Santa Barbara College which had been 

 closed: and the library of the College, consisting of twelve hun- 

 dred volumes, was transferred to the society. 



The museum specimens at this time, occupied four cases, and 

 these, together with the library, were moved to rented rooms; and 

 the citizens of Santa Barbara, contributed funds to purchase book- 

 cases, and furniture. 



In 1884, the owners of the Library Building offered the free use 

 of rooms adjoining the Public Library, and the society is there 

 located, in convenient quarters. 



The library now contains over 2,700 volumes. 



After moving to the Library Building, the society purchased a 

 collection of Archeological specimens, valued at three hundred 

 dollars, the money for which was raised from the proceeds of an 

 entertainment. 



These specimens, together with others that had been previously 

 donated, make a very fair collection for that department. 



Of botanical specimens, there are about two thousand mounted 

 phanerogams and ferns from various sources; three Fasiculae of 

 Algae prepared by Profs. Farlow, Eaton and Anderson; besides a 

 good representation from our own coast. 



