264 
Field  Columbian  Museum — Reports,  Vol.  i. 
expended  for  collections  and  for  new  installations,  expeditions,  etc., 
that  brought  the  total  to  $111,940,  the  deficit  being  met  by  individual 
contributions  and  by  the  sale  of  certain  securities.  An  analysis  of 
the  itemized  financial  statements  appearing  elsewhere  in  this  report, 
will  convey  the  suggestion  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  deficit, 
including  expenditure  for  new  material,  is  accounted  for  in  the  cost 
of  guards,  protection  from  fire,  and  repairs  to  the  building.  That  the 
total  outlay,  however,  so  nearly  approaches  the  income  from  all 
sources  under  the  constant  pressure  for  funds  that  the  growth  and 
development  of  the  institution  creates,  and  the  proper  protection  that 
the  building  requires  is,  it  would  seem,  rather  satisfactory  than  other- 
wise. The  books  of  the  Museum  have  been  compared  with  the 
Treasurer's  statements,  and  a  certificate  of  agreement  issued. 
The  Memberships. — The  annual  memberships  have  decreased  dur- 
ing the  year,  owing  to  the  fact  that  life  memberships  were  taken  by 
a  number  of  persons  who  were  previously  annual  members.  In 
accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  Executive  Committee,  no 
effort  was  made  to  increase  the  annual  membership,  and  the  list 
now  of  record  comprises  those  who  have  voluntarily  renewed  their 
annual  subscriptions.  The  attendance  of  annual  members  has  been 
considerably  larger  than  in  any  previous  year. 
Lecture  Courses. — The  spring  and  autumn  lecture  courses,  com- 
prising Course  Number  Eight  in  October  and  November,  1897,  nine 
lectures,  and  Course  Number  Nine  in  March  and  April,  1898,  nine 
lectures,  were  attended  more  largely  than  had  been  the  case  thereto- 
fore. In  fact,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  the  capacity  of  the  lecture 
hall  has  been  inadequate  to  the  demands  for  admission,  several  hun- 
dred people  being  ordinarily  unable  to  gain  admission,  and  the  num- 
ber of  those  disappointed,  in  one  case  at  least,  approximating  one 
thousand.  With  one  exception,  the  eighteen  lectures  under  consid- 
eration were  illustrated,  and  the  lecturers,  except  in  five  instances, 
were  members  of  the  staff  of  the  Museum.  A  perusal  of  the  sub- 
jects presented  will  give  an  idea  of  the  range  and  variety  of  the  topics 
and  will  account  for  the  interest  manifested  by  the  public  in  their 
delivery.  Following  is  the  Eighth  Course,  delivered  in  October  and 
November,  1897,  with  subjects  and  lecturers  : 
Oct.    2. — The  East  African  Expedition — "London  to  South  of  Toyo 
Plain." 
D.  G.  Elliot,  Curator  Department  of  Zoology. 
