40 



The Secretary reported that he had received a few more 

 letters from members of the Legislature in reply to his circular 

 letter. 



The Treasurer was then called upon for his annual report. 

 It showed a balance on hand of $2,489.73. 



The Secretary next read his annual report, as follows: 



"During the past year the Society has held the full quota of sixteen 

 meetings. There has been a total attendance of 430 persons during the 

 year, giving an average of about 27 persons per meeting. This is a smaller 

 average than usual, but it should be borne in mind that during most of 

 the year the first meeting of every month was a closed meeting with no 

 paper, thus reducing the number of visitors to a comparatively small 

 figure. It is very gratifying, however, to be able to report that there 

 has been a great increase in the attendance of members. For the first 

 time in the history of the Society for many years the total attendance of 

 members has exceeded that of the visitors. The largest attendance at 

 any one meeting was 41, and the smallest, 9. The largest attendance of 

 members was 21, on December 10, equalling the best record of the Society. 



Ten new members have been elected during the past year, two have 

 resigned, and two, Edward S. Renwick and Eugene Smith, have been lost 

 by death. 



The membership list now stands: Resident, 110; Corresponding, 27; 

 Honorary, 2; a total of 139. 



Fifteen papers have been presented before the Society, namely: 6 on 

 ornithology, 1 on mammalogy, 1 on herpetology, and 7 on general subjects. 

 Twelve of the papers were illustrated with lantern slides, and several with 

 specimens, photographs, and diagrams. 



On February 8, the long-delayed Abstract of Proceedings, Nos. 20-23, 

 was issued under one cover and distributed among the members and 

 exchanges. The Abstract contained "Bird's-nesting in the Magdalen 

 Islands" and "The Bird Colonies of Pamlico Sound," by P. B. PhiUpp, 

 and "A List of the Fishes Known to Have Occurred within Fifty Miles of 

 New York City," by John Tread well Nichols. 



Of special note was the first Annual Dinner of the Society, held at the 

 Hotel Endicott on December 17. Fifty-eight members and guests at- 

 tended. Mr. Frank M. Chapman was the guest of honor, and was pre- 

 sented with the Linnsean Medal for his distinguished success in the science 

 of ornithology. 



Owing to the continued non-appearance of any pubUcation, the ex- 

 changes during the year consisted of only 40 parts. An entirely new and 

 more complete fist of exchanges is being drawn up by the Librarian, how- 

 ever, and it is hoped that in the future the Society, by publishing an 

 Abstract of Proceedings annually, will find its Library increasing rapidly 

 in value. 



