ditions than by their number. The nest and eggs of Dendroica castanea presented by Mr. Bailey, the eggs of the Corvus Floridanus, an egg of Rostrhamus sociabilis, one of Ardea Wurdemanni from Florida, and a fine suite of the eggs of the Plectrophanes ornatus from Mr. J. A. Allen, are among the more noticeable; also a suite of skins of the Connecticut Warbler, including a fine male in the spring plumage, from Wisconsin, a fine specimen of the Mourning Warbler from the same locality, also in the bridal plumage; a fine specimen of the Anser frontalis of Baird, now supposed to be an unusual plumage of A. Gambelli, and many other additions hardly less rare and valuable. About one hundred mounted birds have been added in the course of the year to our collection in the cases.

From time to time the collections of unmounted skins in the Society's drawers have been studied, labelled, catalogued and arranged in their respective families. All of these, with the exception of the humming-birds, the birds of prey and the water birds, have thus been carefully arranged. These are as follows: 23 species of Turdidæ, 5 Sylviidæ, 5 Paridæ, 11 Troglodytidæ, 1 of Motacillida, 38 of Mniotiltidæ, 7 of Hirundinidæ, 16 of Vireonidæ, 1 of Laniidæ, 4 of Ampelidæ, 9 of Cœrebidæ, 64 of Tanagridæ, 66 of Fringillidæ, 30 of Icteridæ, 16 of Corvida, 24 Dendrocolaptidæ, 22 Formicariidæ, 62 Tyrannidæ, 32 Cotingidæ, 5 Momotidæ, 2 Galbulidæ 2 Alcedinidæ, 5 Bucconidæ, and 45 Picidæ. In all, 475 species. Some idea may be formed of the great value, when I state that of these no less than 150 are entirely new to our collection, and are not to be found in our cases of mounted birds, while others are only represented with a single exception, by a single specimen each, and all these are American birds.

The Chairman of the Committee desires especially to express his thanks to Mr. George N. Lawrence, of New York, for the assistance which he has given him in the determination of doubtful species, and also to Mr. Robert Ridgeway of the Smithsonian Institution.

MAMMALS.

This collection, which is entirely composed of skins, has been most carefully watched, and is believed to be free from Anthreni, otherwise it is in the same condition as last year.

MICROSCOPY.

This department remains in the same condition as last year.

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GEOLOGY AND MINERALS.

The geological collection remains as it was last year, in fair order but not in a satisfactory condition. It is hoped that during the coming year the Committee will rearrange the collection, so as to make it more interesting to visitors and more instructive to students. The Mineralogical Collection is in perfect condition, every specimen labelled and in its proper place.

The Geological Department has been increased by specimens presented by various individuals, among which may be noticed a series from Mr. L. S. Burbank, illustrative of his paper upon the Eozoon, some lavas from Dr. S. Kneeland, and a set of polished marbles from Mr. T. T. Bouvé. A magnificent specimen of rock composed of jasper and oxid of iron, weighing about a ton, brought from Lake Superior, has also been presented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Mineralogical Department has been enriched by the presentation of various specimens during the year, of which may be particularly mentioned two large ones from Mr. F. Alger. One a huge crystal of beryl, the other a mass of rock, containing numerous beryls large and small. These were both brought from the town of Grafton, N. H., many years since, by the late Mr. Francis Alger, father of the donor. They will soon be properly placed in our entrance hall, where they will be objects of much interest.

There have been but few donations to the collection; the most important are 50 specimens of coal plants from Alle

ghany Co., Va., by Albert Ordway, and 40 specimens of coal shale organisms from Newcastle on Tyne, by Rev. E. C. Bolles.

The condition of the specimens in the collection has been greatly improved through the labors of the President, Mr. T. T. Bouvé. The Paleozoic fossils have been mounted upon tablets, the labels revised, and the specimens arranged, so as to make them more instructive to the public.

APPENDIX.

The following is a quotation from the "Twenty-third Semiannual Report of the Superintendent of the Public Schools of the City of Boston by John D. Philbrick" It gives the early history of the Society's attempt to introduce Natural History into the Public Schools and also a notice of the Lowell Courses of Lectures given both in our building and in that of the Institute of Technology.

He who would most effectually improve school tuition must find out the most effectual way of improving the teachers. Hence he is the greatest educational benefactor who does most to raise the character and qualifications of teachers. The wisest and most successful educators have already been most intent on providing the means, opportunities, and motives for the education, training, and continued improvement of teachers. The good teacher is always an active and ardent learner. The teacher who does not keep his mind fresh by new acquisitions is sure to sink into the ruts of routine. It is quite clear that the teacher who has not a strong inclination to self-culture has mistaken his vocation. It is not necessary that a teacher should confine his studies to the subjects he is required to teach. Indeed, it is highly important that he should study subjects which are not in the line of his teaching. Teachers not only become efficient and valuable, but they also become respectable, in proportion as they become learned and accomplished.

To one has been acquainted with the teachers of this city during the past quarter of a century it is evident that there