30 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
method of instruction, was partly by lecture and partly by individual 
work with specimens; A sufficient number of specimens was pro¬ 
vided to enable each two persons to have a complete set of the 
species studied at each lesson. Beside the specimens used in the 
class work, a number of large and line specimens were used for 
illustration by the instructor. The collections of the Society were 
also much visited by members of the class. 
The number of applications was 184. The lecture hall in which 
these lessons are given being sufficiently large to accommodate nearly 
100, all the applicants were given tickets and two sections were formed 
one meeting in the forenoon and the other in the afternoon. A 
few found the work too difficult to carry on in connection with their 
regular school work and soon withdrew. Sickness caused the with¬ 
drawal of 17 during the term, and the absence of a few others from 
the final examination. The average attendance for the term was 
133.8. Of these, 48 were not absent a single lesson, and 34 were 
absent but once. The weekly tests were taken by 117, and the 
final examination was taken by 92. 
Eight of those who passed the final examination thus completed 
their four years’ course and have received the certificate of the 
School. 
Greater opportunities have been granted the present class in 
geology than has formerly been possible. Sets of minerals have 
been provided for study in the basement laboratory and members of 
the class have been allowed to study there during the week. Very 
many have availed themselves of these privileges, throughout the 
winter, especially on days when the schools had but one or no session 
and during vacations. jSTo record was kept of this attendance till 
the ten days just preceding the examination during which time there 
was an average attendance of 10.7 daily. 
By permission of the Executive committee of the Society the 
basement laboratory was opened one night a week, under direct 
charge of the Curator of the School, beginning on February 17. 
On the nine open evenings there was an average attendance of 22.7. 
This shows a strong call for such advantages. 
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