The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-22
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
The Annual Meeting of Much Interest
Election of Officers.

The adjourned annual meeting of the
Natural History Society was held last
evening, the vice president in the chair.
The annual report of the president was
confined to matters of special interest
to the society, in connection with It's col
Iections, it's monetary condition anc It's
practical affairs. The state of it's various
was explained, and the cry
ing need for money to comI lete and sus-
tain them. Its diminished income GRIP
pies it's usefulness in every direction.
Illustrations of this were cited in way
to make the situation most apparent,
and the address closed with a strong ap-
peal to the friends of the society and the
public to sustain the institution with
substantial help, to enable it to go on IN
a career of usefulness We regret that
the demands upoDsour space. forbid our
reproducing the report in full, las many
of its points would be new to citi-
.zens,. and bring the necessities of our the
society clearly before them.
The recording secretary's report includ-
ed an account of the more important
meetings of the past year. Three new
mem bers were added and five lost by
death.
The report on the library showed a
long list of accessions, chiefly by ex-
change with domestic and foreignEsocie-
ties, many of them Of great value and
interest, The library now contains 1861
bound volumes, 1904 unbound, 1913 parts
of volumes, and 1857 pamphlets. Ninety
volumes have been bound during the
year, thanks to the generosity Of faith
Jul friend OF the society. More money
is greatly needed for binding many most
important works being inaccessi BILE from
lack of If. The accessions for the year
were from III societies, governments and
in dividuals.
The donations to the museum have
not been as numerous as in some proceed
ing years, but are of much scientific in
crest. The magnificent bison's head
from Gen. Francis Fessenden, attracted
much attention and elected some discus
sion as to the history and habits of this
characteristic American animal, and its
surely approaching extinction. A collec-
tion of chronological specimens from
Alaska and the Seal Islands, presented
by John B. Coyle. Jr., were recently re-
ceived, and are a valuable addition to
the society's cabinets. The other dona-
lions are all interesting, but we have no
space for their enumeration.
Arthur H. Norton was elected an ac-
tive mem Der, and DR.. George 2. Merrill
of Washington, a corresponding mem Der.
Rev. John c. Perkins and Frank S. Nor.
ton were nominated for mem bership.
The election of officers resulted in q
continuance of the old board.
President-Dr William Wood.
Vice President-Jos. P. I thompson.
| Recording Secretary-John NJ. Gould.
Corresponding Secretary-Prentice q.
Manning.
Treasurer-F. K. BARRETT.
Associate Mauagers-Woodb bury S, Da-
ma. Lewis Pierce, A. W. Longfellow, A.
l.. Burbank, Chas. H. Boyd, William K.
Wood, George F. Morse.
The flee of cabinet keeper was not
filled. as the society cannot afford to
pay the salary needed to secure suita.
BILE person in that capacity. A janitor is
employed at present, and arrangements
have been made fol- the museum to be
open on Wednesday and Saturday after
Moons, free, to the public. The average
attendance of visitors has been about 20.
The largest number on any one day was