504 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
before the completion of the illustrative plates as advance copies 
of Prof. Cope’s paper on the Batrachia and Reptilia of Costa 
Rica. 
Abstracts of such parts of the proceedings of the Academy as 
might be of popular interest have been published from time to 
time in the daily papers, with the effect, it is believed, of increasing 
the interest of the community at large in the welfare of the society, 
as well as causing a more numerous attendance of members at the 
meetings. 
Art II. Chap. II. of the By-laws was amended by striking out 
the last sentence and substituting the following words: u Persons 
under sixteen years of age may be elected members provided 
their nominations be first approved by the Council. Members 
under the legal age of twenty-one years are not entitled to vote 
at any meeting of the Academj' nor to serve on committees.” 
On August 31, a resolution was adopted requesting the Council 
to examine the By-laws and report such changes as may be 
necessary for the better government of the Academy. 
The important events in the history of the Academy during 
the past year have been the reception of the I. V. Williamson Li¬ 
brary Fund more particularly referred to in the Librarian’s Report, 
the sale of the premises at present occupied by the society, the 
removal of the collections to the new building at the S. W. corner 
of Nineteenth and Race Streets, and the junction of the American 
Entomological Society with the Academy as a section thereof. 
On February 23, a resolution fe was adopted referring to the 
Finance Committee for consideration, a proposition to subscribe 
the sum of $50,000 to the building fund of the Academy. On 
March 30, a report was received from the committee recommend¬ 
ing the appropriation of the sum named upon certain conditions, 
and a resolution was adopted authorizing the Treasurer to make 
the subscription when a further sum of $30,000 had been obtained. 
A resolution was also adopted authorizing a committee appointed 
at a previous meeting to ascertain the value of the premises at 
Broad and Sansom Streets, to negotiate the sale of the same. 
On November 16, this committee reported that the property had 
been sold for $60,000 to be paid in cash and securities, amounting 
together it was believed in net value to $56,500, and on No¬ 
vember 23, the President and Recording Secretary were author- 
