226 
MCGEE. 
cally discontinued, and the Transactions gave place to the 
Proceedings with the reorganization of the Association in 
1847. 
The Philosophical Society of Washington has a fixed place 
of abode and bi-weekly meetings, and its membership is 
chiefly local. It has published but a single serial, the 
Bulletin, comprising records both of administration and 
research; but the plan of publication of this serial has been 
repeatedly modified, while in the interests of bibliography 
the name has been kept unchanged. 
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with a 
fixed home, frequent meetings, and a predominantly local 
membership, has generally limited itself to two serials; but 
that these have not fully met its needs is indicated by the 
facts (1) that the series have changed in plan from time to 
time, and (2) that other serials have been issued temporarily. 
The Society began with the 8vo Journal as essentially a 
record of research, and little account was made of the records 
of administration. About 1840 a need of more detailed 
administrative records appears to have been felt, and the 
Proceedings was established principally to meet this need. 
A few years later the 2° Journal took the place of the 8vo 
record of research and for a generation was vigorously main¬ 
tained ; but as time went on the Proceedings was gradually 
transformed into a record of research rather than of admin¬ 
istration, and so absorbed the energy of the Journal, which 
now appears decadent. Of late years the original purpose of 
the Proceedings is in part met by the Annual Reports, as 
was the case while building was in progress and the Reports 
of the Trustees were issued annually. The issue of the 
American Journal of Conchology for a few years and the 
publication of various important works by the Academy 
represents its partially developed function* as a publishing 
house for trade supply; and the Proceedings of the Mineralog- 
ical and Geological section represent sporadic activity in a 
particular direction, such as led to the birth of new institu¬ 
tions in the Philosophical Society of Washington and in some 
other cases; but this exceptional activity was short-lived. 
