NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. Al 
Tue Torrey FESTIVAL. — The Botanical Club of New York has been 
for some time engaged on a catalogue of the plants growing within thirty 
miles of New York city. A catalogue, embracing the same territory, was 
ry 
twentieth of December. Invitations were extended to those who had 
prominently identified themselves with American botany, and the club 
wishes us to say that they used all possible diligence to invite all inter- 
ested, and if there were any omitted, it was from inadvertence. The day 
was unfortunately one of the most inclement of the year, and the impedi- 
ments to travel prevented many from coming from abroad. Among the 
guests were Professor Gray and Dr. Pickering, of Cambridge; Professors 
Eaton and Brewer, of New Haven; Professors Porter and Green, of Eas- 
ton, Pa.; Thomas P. James, of Philadelphia ; S. T. Olney, of Providence; 
C. F. Austin, Closter, N. J.; S. B. Parsons, of Flushing; and I. Bu- 
chanan, of New York. All present were furnished with a button-hole 
co . After the 
substantials had been disposed of, Professor Thurber gave the following 
ADDRESS. 
For some occult reason I have been placed in a position where I am to 
speak for the Botanical Club of New York. It is indeed a pleasure to 
meet such a number of botanists, and my first duty is to express the 
thanks of the club to those who have come from abroad at this inclement 
season to aid us in our festivities. The incentive to this genial gathering 
is so well understood, that any elaborate remarks are fortunately unnec- 
essary. On December 22d, 1817, there was presented to the Lyceum of 
Natural History, ‘‘A Catalogue of Plants growing spontaneously within 
so important to botanical science, not only in America, but in the world. 
Here I must correct an error of the printed invitations, which are made 
to say that this is the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of the cata- 
logue. The title-page bears the date of 1819, and an explanatory adver- 
tisement says, “ Although the following pages were reported as early as 
Dece 
te 
tion, rather than that of its presentation. Such are assured that the 
club will consider the subject in season for the centennial anniversary. 
This little volume is now so rare, that I have brought it here, in part be- 
AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. II. 6 



