28 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
ular part of the subject to be studied and the lessons are arranged 
in consecutive order. 
As far as possible, localities near Boston are selected so as to be 
of greatest advantage to Boston teachers, but as a broad view 
must be obtained many of the localities are necessarily at a consider¬ 
able distance. The special subject for study in the autumn was the 
action of external forces upon the earth’s surface, the results they 
accomplish in decomposition, disintegration, and erosion, and finally 
the topographic forms resulting therefrom. 
The places visited were Medford, Waverly, Eliot, Wayland, 
Auburndale, Winthrop, Marblehead, Iioxbury, Acton, and an 
extended trip of two days was made to the Hoosac Tunnel region. 
This latter region furnishes so much of direct value in teaching that 
it is considered one of the most important of all the lessons. For the 
courtesies shown the School by the officials of the Boston and Maine 
Railroad, and by Mr. F. F. Murdock of the State normal school at 
North Adams, deep appreciation is felt. 
Laboratory Courses. 
Each of the laboratory courses consists of a series of fifteen lessons 
of two hours each during a period of four years. Short examina¬ 
tions are given at each exercise and at the end of each year a final 
examination of three hours is given. Those members who have 
passed satisfactory examinations during the four years receive a 
diploma stating the kind and amount of work accomplished. 
The small size of the laboratory in which the botany and zoology 
lessons are given, necessarily limits the number receiving tickets to 
those courses. The course in botany under the charge of Mr. 
Webster, assisted by Miss J. F. Conant, began its second year on 
November 22, 1902, and ended on March 28, 1903. 
Of the 80 applicants, 51 received “A” tickets, which entitle the 
holder to a reserved seat, and 7 received “ B ” tickets, which entitle 
the holder to a seat if one is vacant a short time after the begin¬ 
ning of the lesson. The average attendance for the term was 45. 
Of these, 33 took the final examination, all of whom passed, 4 with 
special credit. 
Each lesson opened with a written examination, after which a 
few introductory remarks were made and directions given about the 
