The meeting of the Natural History held in the Fogg Art Museum last evening to celebrate its sixtieth anniversary was in every way a marked success. There were speeches by Professor Shaler and by Wm. T. Hornaday of the New York Zoological Society, and afterwards a reception to Mr. Hornaday in University 16.

Professor Shaler gave a brief sketch of the history of the society, mentioning its relations to Mr. Agassiz and other distinguished Harvard scientists. He also outlined the purposes and ambitions of the society.

After a few introductory remarks, Mr. Davenport, president of the society, presented Mr. Hornaday, who made a strong appeal for the preservation of our native wild animals. Mr. Hornaday began by giving evidence of the extermination of such animals as used to be abundant throughout the country. This destruction, he said, is continually going on among all animals, but is especially noticeable among birds. Reports from all sections of the country show that there is a decrease of more than fifty per cent. The number of birds and animals exterminated within a few years is already large, and the prospects of the speedy destruction of many more is imminent.

The causes of this vast destruction, Mr. Hornaday attributed to the absence of popular sentiment against it, and thus to the absence of strict laws, and the enforcement of laws already in existence. Other causes are the destructive habit of collecting among boys and ornithologists, and the ravages of the sportsman and plume hunter.

Through these means the noblest and finest animals in the world are allowed to be exterminated. Congress has even so far refused to protect the animals in the Yellowstone Park. The only means of effective preserves now used is by private game preservers and such organizations as the New York Zoological Society. For the future hope is to be expected from the rousing of the popular opinion through the press and through the natural history societies.