Report of the President 



53 



ings ; two courses of lectures for Members on Thursday eve- 

 nings; the Jesup Lectures, consisting of eight lectures on 

 Dynamic Psychology by Professor Robert S. Wood- 

 General W orth, given in cooperation with Columbia Univer- 

 sity. Free lectures under the auspices of the Board 

 of Education were given in the auditorium from October to 

 May, while the New York Academy of Sciences and Affiliated 

 Societies have held their sessions at the Museum. In addition 

 to these, there have been a number of special lectures in con- 

 junction with the American Scenic and Historic Preservation 

 Society and other organizations. 



Circulating 

 Nature Study 

 Collections 



Although the present status of nature study in the schools 

 is somewhat indefinite and is dependent largely upon the inter- 

 est of the individual teacher, there has been a 

 continuous demand for the Museum circulating 

 collections. During the year the number of 

 collections in circulation was 704, and, according 

 to statistics furnished by the teachers, they were studied by 

 1,073,188 pupils of the New York City Schools— a pupil being 

 counted once for each case of specimens studied. Fifty cabi- 

 nets were rented to the Newark, New Jersey, Schools, and 

 these were studied during the spring months by 45,134 pupils. 

 This makes the total number of pupils reached by these collec- 

 tions, 1,118,322. Undoubtedly the number of pupils reached 

 would have been greater had not the epidemic of infantile 

 paralysis delayed the opening of the schools. 



The table of statistics in comparison with previous years is 

 given below : 



Comparative Statistics Relating to the Circulating 

 Collections for the Past Seven Years 



Number of Collec 

 tions in Use. . . 



Number of Schools ) 

 of Greater New > 

 York Supplied. . ) 



Number of Pupils 

 Studying the 

 lections 



upils ) 

 Col- > 



1910 



390 



334 



839,089 



191 1 



512 



486 



1.253,435 



1912 



537 



491 



1,275,890 



i9U3 



597 



501 



1.3/8,599 



1914 



- 675 

 470 



1.273,853 



1915 



671 



473 

 1,238,581 



1916 



704 



439 

 118,32- 



