Reports of Chapters.
We have to begin again this month, as last, by presenting the excellent reports of dilatory Chapters. A little more promptness hereafter, good secretaries, if you please!
37, Kingsboro, N. Y. By some mischance, your card notifying me that our report is due has just come to my notice, and I hasten to write, fearing our "candlestick may be removed." Last week three of us visited a gold-mine and brought home specimens of rock from which gold is obtained, averaging about twenty dollars per ton. The rock is dark, fine-grained, and resembles lime-stone. It effervesces with acid. We have here beautiful specimens of the Azoic rocks, and we could make up named collections to exchange for other specimens.—W. W. Thomas, Box 711.
112, So. Boston. We number ten active and three honorary members. During the year we have held twenty-two meetings, with an average attendance of eight. In January we gave an entertainment, and realized $10.80. In April we endeavored to establish an assembly of the Chapters in this part of the State, but did not succeed.
During the year we have studied chemistry, zoölogy, and astronomy. At one time we visited the Agassiz museum in a body, and learned a great deal. Having seen now what we can do, I think we shall all study harder during the coming year.—Geo. L. Whitehouse, 37 Gates street.
[Don't be discouraged; we shall have a State Assembly in Massachusetts before many years.]
134, De Pere, Wis. We have eighteen members. Our room is beginning to look very nicely. We added five new cases last fall. We have 1600 geological specimens,—including 1000 fossils,—600 minerals, 50 birds, 500 plants, 400 shells, and 100 ethnological specimens.—A. S. Gilbert.
153, Chicago (E). At the Exposition here last fall, we had two large cases, one containing minerals, the other fossils, which compared favorably with any in the building, and did much toward making our society known to the throng of visitors. We have added new books to our library at no small expense. Our "Paper" is the latest addition to our meetings, and contains original articles, clippings, and the letters received.—Charles T. Mixer.
164, Jackson, Mich. (B). We have eight members, and expect more soon. We all have natural histories of our own. We meet once a week, on Monday evening. We had a very pleasant field-meeting by Clark's Lake. All our members are interested.—James C. Wood.
168, Buffalo (C). During the summer there were some excursions, which brought a number of specimens into the hands of our curator. With the new year fresh courage has inspired most of us. Our prospects are quite bright. We still have our standing committees in each department, and these have a report to make nearly every week. Every two weeks we have an essay. Our next topic is to be "Forests and their Utility." Besides this and the reading and discussion of scientific essays, we have our weekly report on the current scientific news, and notes and personal observations. Chapter K of this city has joined us, and Chapter I thinks of following the example of Chapter K.—Sophie Finkenstaedt.
187, Albany, N. Y. (A). We have found time for occasional meeting among the heavy requirements of school-life; and as for myself, I find our own back-yard a bewildering field for exploration. We have ten active and eleven honorary members. Our meetings are held alternate Wednesday evenings at the houses of members, and are always well attended and interesting. At our next meeting—our second anniversary—a special programme is to be carried out. We are to debate the comparative usefulness of astronomy and botany; have an extra number of The Naturalist, our MS. paper; scientific essays, readings and lectures. Albany A has never been more flourishing.—John P. Gavit.