34 Report of the President 



the stimulation of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. Since 

 1909 there has been a great drop in the attendance at all 

 Museums and similar institutions in New York, this Museum 

 and the Children's Museum, Brooklyn, being the only institu- 

 tions showing a substantial gain over 1910. 



In this connection, the Director wishes to express his belief 

 that exhibitions other than of museum material, while of public 

 interest and much educational importance, are often of more 

 apparent than real value to the Museum. They add tempo- 

 rarily to the attendance, but they are apt to interfere with the 

 regular work of the Museum, to divert attention from its real 

 objects and to delay the preparation of its exhibits. 



Hospitality to Scientific Societies. — As usual the 

 Museum has been, as noted below, the meeting place of 

 various scientific and educational societies. These have been: 



American Bison Society- 

 American Ethnological Society 

 American Nature Study Society, New York Branch 

 American Psychological Association, New York Branch 

 American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society 

 Aquarium Society 

 Association of Collegiate Alumnae 

 Audubon Society of the State of New York 

 Horticultural Society of New York 

 Linnaean Society of New York 

 Metropolitan Sewerage Commission 

 Mount Holyoke Alumnae Association 

 National Academy of Sciences. Reception 

 National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild 



Birds and Animals 

 Natural Science Committee of the Associate Alumnae of the Normal 



College of the City of New York 

 New York Academy of Sciences 

 New York Association of Biology Teachers 

 New York Entomological Society 

 New York Library Club 

 New York Microscopical Society 

 New York Mineralogical Club 

 Torrey Botanical Club 



The exhibit of the Aquarium Society, the first of its kind, 

 was held under various disadvantages, but attracted much 

 interest and was visited by over 5,000 people. The annual 



