10 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
In addition to the regular work on Saturdays, ten or twelve mem¬ 
bers of the class have expressed a wish for supplementary work to 
be done either on evenings or at other suitable times. 
As an addition to the outfit of this department several models of 
insect mouth-parts have been presented by Mr. J. H. Emerton to 
whom much credit is due for this gift and for his general interest 
in this branch of the work. 
Geology. — This course, given by the Curator of the School, took 
up the subject of lithology, the second in the four years’ course. 
The .first two lessons comprised a general review of the rock form¬ 
ing minerals. The remaining fourteen lessons were devoted to 
lithology proper in which all the common species of rocks, 42 in 
all, were studied. The method of instruction was partly by lecture 
and partly by individual work with specimens. A sufficient number 
of specimens was provided to enable each two persons to have a 
complete set of the species and varieties studied at each lesson. By 
this method each person was able to study about 180 specimens dur¬ 
ing the term. Beside the specimens used in the class work many 
large ones were used on the lecturer’s table, and the collections of 
the Society were much visited by members of the class. 
The lecture hall, which is used for this course, has a seating 
capacity for class work of 100. By making two divisions, a fore¬ 
noon and an afternoon, as has been done for the last two years, 
there is a possibility of accommodating 200. All applicants, num¬ 
bering 182, were given tickets. The average attendance for the 
term was 123.8. Of these 55 were not absent a single lesson, and 
15 were absent but once. The weekly tests were taken by 101, 
and the final examination was taken by 80. The same facilities 
for extra work have been offered this year as last year. Sets of 
rock specimens have been provided for study in the basement labor¬ 
atory and members of the class have been allowed to study there dur¬ 
ing the week. Especially on days when the schools had but one ses¬ 
sion the room was freely used. The same room has also been kept 
open one night a week under the direct charge of the Curator of the 
School, making 21 nights in all. 
The average attendance from December 7 to April 30 was 27.8 
per week, including ail extra day work and that of one evening. 
This shows the definite call for this kind of work. It is hoped to 
extend it also to the classes in botany and zoology. 
