28 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



MISCELLA^'EOUS INTELLIGENCE, 



Boston Society of Natural History. 



This Society was instituted for the purpose of contributing 

 to the advancement of Natural Science, with the view of 

 forming a Cabinet of Natural History, and of holding meet- 

 ings, for lectures, and to discuss subjects relative to the science. 



The number of members is unlimited. Every friend of 

 science, at whatever distance he may be from the place where 

 the Society is established, may become a member, and enjoy 

 the benefits of the Society, by being nominated by a mem- 

 ber of the Society, and afterwards chosen with a majority of 

 three-fourths of the members present, and by paying an an- 

 nual assessment of three dollars, exclusive of paying an ini- 

 tiatory fee of five dollars. 



A meeting is held in the afternoon of the first Wednesday 

 of each month, for the purpose of mutual improvement, and 

 for transacting the general business of the Society, and lec- 

 tures are given annually by members of the Society, on the 

 various branches of Natural History. 



At the commencement of the Society in February, 1830, 

 several friends of science met for the purpose of seeing what 

 nrieasures could bo tnken for the formation of such an associa- 

 tion, and a committee was chosen to report on the subject at an 

 adjourned meeting. The committee having reported favora- 

 bly, the Society was immediately organized under the name 

 of the Boston Society of Natural History. 



In the October following, a course of lectures was com- 

 menced and pursued through the winter, with uncommon in- 

 terest. A committee being chosen to procure an act of cor- 

 poration, it was carried before the Massachusetts Legislature, 

 and incorporated Feb. 25, 1831. Since that time the Society 

 has held regular meetings, at which time many interesting 

 communications have been read and several valuable dona- 

 tions received. 



Measures were adopted early last season to prepare for the 

 lectures of the present course, which commenced in Novem- 

 ber. Five able lectures have been given and listened to with 

 much satisfaction. 



The Society, at the present time, consists of 112 members, 

 several of whom are our most learned and distinguished men. 

 An ardent zeal has been manifested from the commencement 

 by its members, and we are justified in concluding that much 

 good will result from their untiring efforts for the advancement 

 of science. 



