1887.1 363 [Annual Meeting. 



the construction of models and in preparing and collecting mate- 

 rials and illustrations for exhibition in these collections. Some of 

 these have been placed upon the table and their great value will 

 be recognized by the members present. I desire especially to draw 

 attention to the examples of denudation and of contorted rocks. 

 The minute caverns and pillars of one specimen exhibit the action 

 of the sea as perfectly as any series of caverns of large size cut 

 out of huge cliffs on the seashore, and the specimens of folded 

 rocks are as good examples of the pliability of strata under pres- 

 sure as are the Alps or the Appalachians. It will be seen, also, 

 that it is much easier to comprehend the more gigantic effects of 

 natural forces when interpreted by the sight of these liliputian but 

 strictly parallel examples. 



Botany. 



The generosity of Mr. John Cummings, in continuing his sup- 

 port of this department, cannot be too highly appreciated. Next 

 to the birds and insects, it would have required more attention 

 than any other and would have been a heavy burden upon the So- 

 ciety's funds, if not taken in charge by this gentleman. We have 

 not only been relieved of the burden of its support, but have had 

 the advantage of the aid of Mr. Cummings' assistant in other de- 

 partments during a considerable proportion of the past thirteen 

 years. 



The work of revising the herbarium has been carried on by Miss 

 Carter, under Mr. Cummings' direction, and has been completed 

 with the exception of the Gramineae and Cyperaceae. 



The endogens, exclusive of these two orders, contain 1,512 spec- 

 imens, representing 916 species and 280 genera. This is a gain 

 of 228 species and varieties, which have been rescued from the old 

 collection of so-called duplicates laid aside by a former curator 

 of botany. Considerable work has been done in determining un- 

 named specimens of Gramineae and Cyperaceae, for which we are 

 under obligation to Professor Scribner of U. S. Agricultural De- 

 partment and Miss S. Minns of Boston. The work of completing 

 our New England Herbarium has been carried out as far as can 

 be done with the materials in our possession. Mr. T. T. Bouve 



