52 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
With this in mind, one understands fully the significance of the 
following remark. Dr. Greenleaf finds that, in trying to accommo¬ 
date themselves to the use of this objective method, a considerable 
proportion of his class, although obliged to teach botany in the public 
schools, showed an obvious want of the necessary capacity to make 
or assimilate facts of observation. He in consequence of this experi¬ 
ence comments justly upon the cut and dried nature of a system that 
obliges any one to undertake the work of teaching subjects for 
which he or she has no natural capacity. 
There were forty-nine members in this class, and the average 
attendance was thirty-six. The usual examinations were held, and 
results were satisfactory as on former occasions. 
The Curator o-ave the second series of lessons in his course deal- 
ino* with the Echinozoa, Vermes, and Crustacea. This series began 
the first Saturday in November, and ended March 27, making six¬ 
teen lessons of two hours each. The number of tickets issued was 
thirty-six, and the average attendance was twenty. The usual 
examinations were held with results as satisfactory as in former 
years. 
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN, SAMUEL 
HENSHAW. 
Membership. 
Twenty-two Corporate members have been elected by the Council 
during the past year; eight, Thomas T. Bouve, Caleb D. Bradlee, 
Frederick G. Frothingham, Caleb W. Loring, Jacob Norton, Oliver 
W. Peabody, George F. Waters, and George W. Wales, have died, 
five have resigned, and three have forfeited their membership for 
non-payment of dues. One Honorary member, Auguste Daubree, and 
six Corresponding members, Edward D. Cope, G. Brown Goode, 
Juan Gundlach, Ferdinand von Muller, Joseph Prestwich, and 
Josiah Dwight Whitney, have died. 
The membership of the Society corrected to May 5, 1897, 
consists of 12 Honorary, 189 Corresponding, and 368 Corporate 
members, a total of 514. 
