VASSAR BROTHERS' INSTITUTE. 147-(117) 



tory, of the Davenport Society of Natural Sciences, and 

 of the New York Academy of Sciences were received, by 

 exchange, for the Library. 



The Secretary of the Institute, Dr. Stevenson, reported 

 the by-laws of the Institute as amended, and on motion 

 Messrs. Van Gieson, Arnold and Stevenson were ap- 

 pointed a committee to revise the by-laws of the Section, 

 that they might be in harmony with those of the Insti- 

 tute. 



The Chairman presented the following Annual Report : 



Gentlemen : What may be called the transitional 

 period in the history of the Scientific Society in Pough- 

 keepsie may now be regarded as at an end. The work 

 of reorganization is complete. 



Twenty eight members of the Institute have been 

 elected to membership in the Scientific Section. 



Stated meetings have been regularly held, beginning 

 December 13, 1882. At the first stated meeting, the 

 Chairman, in obedience to the by-laws, delivered an ad- 

 dress, taking for his subject, " The Work of the Scien- 

 tific Section. " Other papers have been read as follows : 



On " The Chaldean Creation Myths. " 



By Charles B. Warring— Jan. 29th, 1883. 

 On. •• Gradation in Animal Life. " 



By Prof. W. B. Dwight— February 7th, 1883. 

 On '-The Habits of Minerals. — Illustrated by the New Mineral Hid- 

 denite. " 



By Prof. W. B. Dwight— March 7th, 1883. 



Besides the discussion of scientific subjects the by- 

 laws make it the duty of this section to establish and 

 maintain a Museum of Natural History. Work in this 

 direction has been vigorously prosecuted and with very 

 gratifying results. By purchase of the most valuable 

 portions of the property of the late Poughkeepsie So- 

 ciety of Natural Science by generous donations from the 

 Smithsonian Institution and other sources, and by the 

 temporary loan of the Schurr collection of local fauna, 

 which we hope to soon convert into a permanent acquisi- 

 tion, we are already able to exhibit a museum, at once 

 large, valuable, thoroughly classified and attractive. 



In his inaugural address, the Chairman took occasion 

 to suggest that in his opinion a, most important function 

 of a local society is to make and exhibit a collection, as 



