At the beginning of the present academic year the Harvard Natural History Society was in an almost defunct condition. There had been for many years a lack of interest in the society and its work, and the few spasmodic attempts at revival, which from time to time had taken place, had come to naught.

In October, a meeting of the society was called by the secretay, Mr. F. W. White, for the purpose of considering whether some new life could not be infused into the dry bones. The members present thought that there was yet a hope of raising the society from its then dormant state to a condition of practical usefulness. A committee was therefore appointed to consider ways and means.

The result you know. The constitution was revised and improved. A rigid system of scrutiny was introduced to make sure that none should be here after elected who did not give promise of becoming useful members. A room was obtained and fitted up; a definite plan of work was decided on; and a series of informal meetings for scientific discussion has aroused new interest in the society and its work, which, it is hoped, will continue. Nine regular and four informal meetings have been held during the year, of which one regular and four informal meetings have been held in the society's new room, Massachusetts 2.

At the third regular meeting the Recording Secretary, Mr. F. W. White, resigned his office, and at the next meeting Mr. T. W. Harris was elected as his successor. Dec. 10th Mr. W. W. Nolen was elected to fill a vacancy in the junior vice-presidency, and March 18th, Mr. F. H. Sellers was elected to the vacant office of librarian. Messrs. Parker, Sargent and Humphrey have been elected curators of zoology, botany, and geology respectively.

There have been presented at the various meetings 14 formal communications on different scientific subjects, and two excursions have been made into the surrounding country, for the purpose of collecting natural history specimens. Of these the curators will probably speak more particularly in their reports.

The Society consists at present of 54 members, of whom 16 have been elected during the year. Of these 54 members, 13 are members of the graduating class, and four others are students who do not expect to remain at the university after this year. The society will therefore shortly loose about one third of its members. Half of these, it is true, take no interest in the society, and never attend its meetings; they are relics of the days when members were elected wholesale, and without regard to their scientific qualifications. But the fact remains that the society is soon to lose some valuable members; and their places must be filled by men of succeeding classes. Such men, even though well qualified from a scientific point of view, will not be likely to desire membership, unless they see the society is an earnest and interested body of workers, reaping decided advantages from the opportunities for co-operation and mutual benefit which such a society should afford in its particular department. During the year just passed, we have endeavored to take the first steps toward placing the society in this ideal position. May the future show that our labers for this end have not been quite in vain.

Respectfully submitted, T. W. HARRIS, Rec. Sec'y.