Annnal Report.] 210 [May 3, 



definitely set forth. For instance, it is evident that the exten- 

 sion of our exchanges should be limited to Natural History 

 periodicals, excluding all political, economical or technological 

 serials, or those which are strictly antiquarian or historical, 

 and do not publish occasional articles bearing upon the sci- 

 ences of Anthropology and Ethnology. 



Mr. Scudder directed his efforts principally to the publica- 

 tions, and to the establishment of a system of exchanges 

 which now furnishes us with nearly all the best Natural 

 History periodicals of the day. Every practical worker on 

 Natural History in this vicinity, to a greater or less extent, 

 reaps the benefit of his labor and admirable perseverance. 

 The Museum, however, to which we now turn, has not re- 

 ceived so much attention, and the principles to be adopted in 

 its arrangement require more careful consideration. 



The collection in the department of Ornithology is the 

 scientific ornament of the Museum, and it contains numbers 

 of original specimens, whose value to the investigator can 

 hardly be over-estimated. Such collections should be re- 

 garded as scientific trusts, which an enlightened policy will 

 not only preserve with the greatest care, but increase for the 

 benefit of posterity. 



The situation of this Society obliges us to consider as per- 

 haps the most important part of our duties, the gradual accu- 

 mulation of a full and complete collection of the animals and 

 plants, fossil and living, as well as the minerals of New Eng- 

 land, especially those of our own State. 



On the other hand, there are certain special departments, 

 which it would not seem necessaiy to enlarge beyond the 

 reasonable limits of educational collections. Thus, for exam- 

 ple, the Botanical, Anthropological and Ethnological collec- 

 tions at Cambridge and Salem are extensive, and it would be 

 a waste of means to duplicate them. 



The relations of the Society to the public, require that 

 the Museum should be made instructive to all visitors seek- 

 ing either general information or amusement. The initial 



