L. C. COOLEY. ... 1 17-C87; 



local collection is worthy to become an immediate and 

 prominent aim of our section. Once acquired, nothing 

 would be more attractive to the eye, more instructive to 

 the mind, more valuable to science. Imagine a collection 

 in which you can find well prepared and classified speci- 

 mens of every variety of wood and shrub within reach of 

 our explorations ; another which contains a representa- 

 tive of every kind of herb and plant, of grain and fungus 

 indigenous to the same area, not hidden away among the 

 leaves of an herbarium, but neatly arranged, plainly la- 

 belled and openly displayed in glass cases ; another, 

 wherein could be seen every variety of our native insects, 

 orderly and tastefully mounted with their larvae and 

 pupae, and, perhaps, accompanied by diagrams, illustra- 

 ting by enlargement, their invisible or minute parts ; oth- 

 ers still, containing mounted specimens of all the summer 

 and winter birds, the quadrupeds and other animals of 

 every species native to the region ; in addition suppose 

 an exhibit of specimens showing the geological forma- 

 tions, their fossils and their minerals, and the soils which 

 cover them ; and finally, whatever industries thrive by 

 which any of these native materials are wrought into use- 

 ful products, suppose these abo to be represented, not 

 only by specimens of the perfected articles of commerce, 

 but also by others illustrating the various stages of man- 

 ufacture. No collection of another kind can be gathered 

 by the personal investigation of our own members and 

 friends ; none could be more interesting to our commu- 

 nity ; none more instructive to strangers ; and, I may 

 add on the authority of men eminent in natural history, 

 none within the grasp of a local society, could be more 

 valuable to science at large. 



So much I have felt constrained to say on this occasion 

 in regard to our organization and the work it contem- 

 plates. What I have said has sprung from a belief that 

 without a definite purpose in view our efforts will be 

 spasmodic, if not valueless, and it has been said, not 

 without some hope, that it will seem to point out the 

 kinds of work for which we are best fitted, in which 

 success is possible, and which will command the sym- 

 pathy and the assistance of our community. 



