tions can be set afoot; and, before winter commences, the collec¬ 
tions can be brought into your depository, where the specimens 
may be identified, named and a scientific arrangement begun. 
All collectors should bear in mind to note carefully the locality 
from which derived, with any special circumstance bearing 
thereon. In some classes of objects, such as lithological speci¬ 
mens, unless details are recorded with perfect accuracy, and ac¬ 
company the fragments of rocks, the specimens themselves be¬ 
come quite worthless for any scientific purpose. As the geology 
of Rhode Island, on account of the metamorphism of many of 
the strata, is singularly complicated, your local lithological col¬ 
lection had, therefore, better be undertaken by those who are 
specially conversant with that branch of study ; but an interesting 
collection of minerals from the neighborhood can be formed with 
facility by the general student. 
These suggestions, admittedly imperfect in their extent, are 
respectfully laid before you, in the hope that some real out-of-door 
work may be commenced by the members this year in the field, 
on the shore and on the surroundihg waters. 
Such work is in itself a reward ; and it should be remembered 
that no matter how small or incomplete our collections may be at 
first, if investigation be steadily continued, the persistent accumu¬ 
lation of typical specimens in any branch of natural history is 
virtually the recording in visible forms, of actual facts in the do¬ 
main of nature. Upon such tangible facts, when combined and 
compared with the mental inductions which follow from previ¬ 
ously ascertained phenomena, is formed the true basis on which 
all scientific conclusions rest. 
I have the honor to be, ladies and gentlemen, your obedient 
servant, 
A. O’D. TAYLOR, Curator. 
Newport, R. I., May 7, 18S5. 
NOTES ON FIVE SPECIES OF BIRDS FROM IRELAND. 
By A. O’D. TAYLOR* 
BUFFALO HUNTING IN KANSAS. 
By RICHARD BLISS, Jr.* 
♦Titles of addresses before the Society March 6th, 1SS5. (No abstracts furnished for publi¬ 
cation by the authors.) 
