4 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



" Because of the rarity of insects during the past year the number of 

 kinds shown on the museum table devoted to our small living animals was 

 less than the year before, yet many species were reared, including a brood 

 of silkworms. The interest of the public in mosquitoes, on account of 

 their lately discovered relation to the distribution of malarial diseases, led 

 to the exhibition, not only of the different stages of mosquitoes, but also 

 of other water insects. A number of kinds of salamanders were shown, as 

 well as eggs and larv?e of one species. A securely confined active rattle- 

 snake enabled those who gathered about the table to distinguish our dan- 

 gerous from our harmless snakes, of which several were shown. It was 

 surprising to see how quickly many children, putting aside superstition 

 more easily than their elders, learned to like and pet the harmless spread- 

 ing or hissing adders, that are generally thought to be poisonous." 



In the same manner the birds of the region are displayed as they 

 appear as migrant, visitant, or permanent resident. Notes of arrivals are 

 carefully kept and public interest in this branch of study fostered and 

 directed by the publication of a bird book with dates of arrivals and spaces 

 for notes and observations. 



Through the kindness of Dr. H. W. Van Allen, the museum was en- 

 abled to place on exhibition a specimen of radium salt. 



Lectures. 



On November 25, a lecture on Radium was given in the Art Museum 

 by Mr. A. B. Kimball of the science department of the High School. Mr. 

 Kimball gave a very clear and interesting account of the substance. 



Mr. Frank L. Chapman gave a course of six lectures on Birds in High 

 School Hall under the auspices of the museum. The dates of the lectures 

 were February 20, 27, March 5, 12, 19, 26. There was a good attendance 

 and general satisfaction was expressed at the institution of such scientific 

 lectures. The free-hand drawing pupils of the High School co-operated 

 by making a number of posters descriptive of the lectures. These were 

 displayed in the library and attracted much favorable comment. 



Scientific Societies, 



The Botanical Society has carried out a series of meetings at which 

 papers relating to plant life and classification have been presented and 

 discussed. A list of these meetings with topics and lecturers is given in 

 the appendix to this report. 



Apart from maintaining its meetings the Zoiilogical Club has done a 

 valuable service in making a card catalogue of the animals of the lower 

 Connecticut valley. The following account of this catalogue shows its pur- 

 pose and present condition : 



