BOSTON SOCIETY OP NATURAL HISTORY. 181 



approbation of the policy which had governed the Society during his presidency, expressed 

 by many of our most influential members. The officers of the Society felt themselves to 

 be identified with the President in this matter ; and consequently, the ovation which he 

 received, and the absolutely unanimous vote of a large and select meeting of the Society, 

 requesting him to withdraw his resignation, were peculiarly grateful to them." 



At the annual meeting in May, very important alterations were made in the Constitu- 

 tion and By-laws, which were primarily suggested by the desire on the part of many that 

 women should be eligible as members of the Society. Others objected to this, partly 

 because of the necessity that sometimes arose to speak upon matters not appropriate to 

 discuss in the presence of ladies. Independently of considerations affecting the admission 

 of women, a large number favored the creation of a new grade of members, to be known 

 as Associate Members, who should be admitted to its meetings and take part in scientific 

 discussions, but who should not be entitled to vote for the officers of the Society, or parti- 

 cipate in its business management. All those hitherto known as Resident Members to 

 constitute a higher grade to be known as Corporate Members. New admissions to this 

 grade only to be by election from Associate Members of at least a year's standing and who 

 either were professionally engaged in science, or had aided in its advancement. 



The views of those favoring an additional grade of members finally prevailed. They had 

 been embodied in the proposed alterations to the Constitution, and the amendments had 

 received the requisite three fourths vote of the members present at two consecutive meet- 

 ings. They were finally adopted by a nearly unanimous vote. In the proposed alteration 

 of the By-laws made, the article relating to the election of Corporate Members had been 

 made to express, by a vote of the Society at the previous meeting, that only male Associ- 

 ate Members should be chosen. When final action was called for, Mr. Cummings moved 

 that the word male be omitted. After much discussion the motion prevailed by a vote of 

 forty-eight to twenty. The amendments to the By-laws were then adopted. 



Thus after much deliberation and warm discussion, the Society finally by decisive action 

 ceased to make any sexual discrimination in the admission of members. 



At the election of officers no" changes were made, all serving the previous year having 

 been reelected. 



The report of the Custodian was as usiial full of interest to the members. Of the Min- 

 eralogical collection, it was said that accessions had* been made by the purchase of some 

 desirable specimens from the Jackson collection and that there were in all belonging to 

 the department 3230 trays and single specimens on exhibition, 347 of which were in the 

 New England collection. 



In referring to the Botanical collection, it was stated that the New England collection 

 of specimens had been completed, poisoned and catalogued by Miss Carter, and that it 

 contained nearly every species found within the New England States, there being 1984, 

 comprising 3227 specimens. Much work had also been done upon the general collection. 



The preparation of the leaves and stems of New England trees and shrubs had been 

 placed on exhibition by the donor, Mr. Edward T. Bouv^, filling, with the accompanying 

 wood sections and specimens of fruit, one entire gallery. With these had been placed a 

 series of plates from the last edition of The Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts, presented 

 by Mr. George B. Emerson, showing the natural colors of the leaves, flowers and fruit. 



