APPENDIX TO THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 
CURATOR AND SECRETARY. 
The following letters have passed between the Council and 
the Park Commissioners : 
To the Honorable the Park Commissioners of the 
City of Boston: 
Gentlemen, — The Society of Natural History has 
been earnestly and constantly engaged in work upon mat- 
ters connected with the foundation of natural-history 
gardens, since the receipt of the last letter of the Com- 
missioners, dated Dec. 30, 1887, and has finally concluded 
to offer the following as plans of what they deem to be 
best, hoping, if these are accepted, to follow up this first 
step very rapidly, so as to bring the matter speedily before 
the public. They propose to designate all the collections 
of living animals under their charge as the Natural History 
Gardens, and to establish under this title three different 
divisions, — one to be called the Marine Aquarium, a sec- 
ond the Fresh Water Aquarium, and the third the New 
England Zoological Garden ; these to be situated on 
grounds and to have buildings such as may be mutually 
agreed upon by the Commissioners and by the Society, 
in accordance with the provisions of the letter of the 
Commissioners above referred to. 
In compliance with your request to present a statement 
of the proposed policy of the Society in regard to the 
exhibits at the places designated by you, — namely, at 
City Point, near Jamaica Pond, and at Franklin Park, 
— the Council herewith offers for your consideration the 
following general statement and the outline of its plans 
with reference to each of the three divisions. 
( 27 ) 
