BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 77 



During the year 275 specimens had been added to the cabinet, many of which were quite 

 valuable. Of these may be mentioned a large collection of mammalian skulls and skeletons 

 presented by Dr. Samuel Kneeland, Jr.; and the lower jaws of an immense sperm whale 

 from F. W. Choate, Esq. 



The Curator of Conchology reported that little or no progress had been made in his 

 department for want of room to arrange specimens. The collection was stated to com- 

 prise about 4000 species. It had had donations as follows : from Dr. Aug. A. Gould, 37 

 species from Cumana and Hayti, new to the cabinet ; from Dr. J. Lewis, a collection of 

 shells from the Mohawk valley and neighboring lakes ; from Dr. Simon Shurtleflf, 23 

 species, many of which were new to the cabinet; and from Dr. C. F. Winslow, specimens 

 from the Hawaiian Islands. 



The Curator of Crustacea reported that the cabinet of his department was generally in 

 good condition, but that many of the dried specimens had suffered from the ravages of 

 insects. He had arranged, labelled and catalogued about half the collection, and hoped soon 

 to finish the work upon it. He complained seriously of the lack of room to properly dis- 

 play the specimens, and also that a considerable number were comparatively worthless 

 because their localities were unknown. The donations had been numerous. Dr. Henry 

 ^ryant had presented a large collection from the Bahamas ; Prof. Agassiz also a large col- 

 lection from the Hawaiian Islands, and the Essex Institute many specimens from our coast. 

 In all, there had been added during the year 366 specimens, comprising 78 species and 

 55 genera. 



The Curator of Botany reported that the Herbarium was in good condition. A series of 

 valuable Swiss plants collected by Mr. Godet, and another of southern plants collected by 

 Prof. Gibbes in the Carolinas were presented by himself. 



At the election of officers the following changes took place : Dr. Augustus A. Gould was 

 elected second Vice-President in room of Dr. D. Humphreys Storer, resigned; Dr. B. 

 Joy Jeffries, Curator of Microscopy, in room of Dr. Silas Durkee, resigned; Mr. A. T. 

 Lyman, Curator of Conchology, in room of Mr. Thomas J. Whittemore, resigned ; and Dr. 

 Samuel A. Green, Curator of Herpetology, in room of Dr. J. N. Borland, resigned. 



Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers for their long and efficient services. 

 Those of one of them call for particular mention. 



De. D. Humphreys Storek. 



Whatever reason there may be generally for hesitating in writing freely of the services 

 of the living and yet active members of the community, there are none that should pre- 

 vent full expression here of such as were rendered to the Society by Dr. D. Humphreys 

 Storer dnrinu- the first thirty years of its existence. Those for the Museum were invalua- 

 ble, and it is due to him to make such mention of them while treating of the period of his 

 labors as will in some degree serve to do what the visible result of his own work as exhib- 

 ited in the magnificent collection made by him of the Fishes of Massachusetts would 

 have done much better, had this not been destroyed. Tliis collection, obtained through 

 arduous effort, put up by his own hands and presented by him to the Society, was allowed 

 to go to ruin, through causes, perhaps unavoidable at the time, but not therefore the less to 

 be deplored. It was made by Dr. Storer when preparing his valuable report on the Fishes 



