1879.] 125 [Bouvé. 
limit that divides the seen from the unseen. Among these 
were men of noble characters and impulses, to be associated 
with whem was to be impressed with such sense of their great 
excellence and purity of purpose as no subsequent experi- 
ence through life could obliterate. Claiming but little know- 
ledge of Natural History, but strongly appreciating the im- 
portance of its study both for themselves and the community, 
they came together for mutual help in the acquisition of 
‘knowledge and to combine their efforts for its dissemination, 
modestly expressing in the preface to the first number of the 
Journal “that having but small claims to the character of 
Naturalists, they nevertheless are desiruus of contributing 
something to the common stock of information.” 
In the greater light of the present day, and reflecting 
upon the little aid obtainable by them through books or col- 
lections, we may well exclaim, Noble men! Simple seekers 
of truth, not only for your own good but for that of all 
others; you grandly did your work! And so they did. 
The many volumes of their papers and proceedings attest this: 
the State reports upon the geology, the invertebrate an- 
imals, the fishes, the insects injurious to vegetation, the 
trees and shrubs of Massachusetts; all by early members 
resident or corresponding, speak unceasingly of the value of 
their labors. And the magnificent developement of the 
Society until it has become what it now is, with its great 
collections and its wide felt influence, — how much of this is 
due to their early strivings who shall say? Certainly all is 
but the fruition of their hopes and desires. 
Among these early members were Dr. Benj. D. Greene, an 
accomplished botanist and the first President of the Society ; 
Dr. Augustus A. Gould, the author of the Report upon the In- 
vertebrates of the State and who became one of the most 
able general naturalists of New England; Dr. D. Humphreys 
Storer, the author of the very valuable Report upon the 
Fishes of New England; Dr. Amos Binney, an accomplished 
conchologist, afterwards President; Dr. Chas. Pickering; Mr. 
