180 . The American Naturalist. [February, 
The interest in anthropology on the part of the medical profession 
is shown by the fact that of the regular members no less than forty- 
eight per cent. are doctors. 
The Society of Anthropology of Paris paysno rent. It has a sub- 
vention from the government of one thousand francs. Its annual 
dues for members are thirty francs. Its receipts amount annually to 
between eighteen and twenty thousand franc its expenditures from 
one to three thousand francs less. It has invested in the rentes d’ Etat 
the sum of forty-three thousand, five hundred and ninety-three francs, 
and had enough on hand before it commenced its present work in the 
Exposition to increase the amount of its cash capital to fifty-four thou- 
sand francs. ? 
Permit me a few observations in confidence,—delivered as it were in 
executive session. There is no satisfactory reason why the Society of 
Anthropology at Washington, should not equal that of Paris. I know 
` it will be said that Washington is not so large a city as Paris; but that 
is no sufficient reason. If you will but look over the names of the 
members who have attended their meetings, will but see the amount 
of work which they have done, the seriousness of their study, the pro- 
fundity and detail of their investigations, the value to science of their 
contributions, and, finally, the zeal and fidelity of their members as 
exhibited in their work, you will conclude that if the Society at Wash- 
ington should equal in these regards the Society at Paris it will deserve 
a higher rank and greater success than it possesses at present. If you 
had or would or could take in the ladies as members, that alone would 
make considerable increase in your membership, and also in your in- 
come. If you would have your meetings,open to the public, and the 
needed conveniences provided. for its reception and accommodation, 
this would also increase your membership. No person will join a 
society of anthropology until after he shall become interested in the 
science. All those who have had an original interest have already 
joined, and we must now recruit our membership from those in whom 
an interest has to be created. This can now be done only by private 
solicitation. If the public could be invited and attend the meetings 
of the society, we would soon see revived interest ; and I have every 
faith that it would result in considerable increase of the membership 
roll. We have sufficient evidence to justify the conclusion that the 
attendance of the public upon the regular meetings would be large 
enough to be called successful. I think it deplorable that papers of 
the value and importance of those prepared by our members should be 
read before so insignificant a number. Those papers will compare in 
