BYC. HARTMERRIAM.
BYC. HARTMERRIAM.
During the year now drawing to a close not a single work which I conceive to fall legitimately within the scope of the department of Geography of Life has appeared in any part of the world, so far as I am aware. It being manifestly impossible, then, to comply with the requirement of the By-law calling for a summary of the work of the year, I may be pardoned for digressing sufficiently to speak of what seems to be thefunctionof this Society in its relations to biology.
The term'Geography of Life'applied without limitation or qualification to one of the five departments of the Society is not only comprehensive, but is susceptible of different if not diverse interpretations. Indeed, without great violence it might be construed to comprehend nearly the whole domain of systematic botany, zoology, and anthropology. As a matter of fact, I believe it was intended to include everything relating directly to the distribution of life on the earth. Thus it would naturally embrace all sources of information which assign localities to species. Local lists and faunal publications of every kind would fall under this head, and also the narratives of travelers who mention the animals and plants encountered in their journeys. In the single branch of ornithology, about fifty per cent. of the current literature would have to be included. The most obvious objection to this comprehensiveness of scope is the circumstance that a mere bibliographic record of titles alone would fill a journal the size of the NATIONALGEOGRAPHICMAGAZINE.
Hence it may not be amiss to attempt a preliminary reconnoissance, with a view to what my friend Mr. Marcus Baker has recently defined as "a Survey of Class II, for Jurisdictional purposes." Let us seek therefore to run a boundary line about the territory we may fairly claim without trenching on the possessions of others.
Before doing this it becomes necessary to bear in mind certain facts and laws without a knowledge of which it is impossible to think intelligently on the subject. It is a matter of common observation that different groups of animals and plants inhabit different regions, even in the same latitude; that some forms are almost world wide in distribution; that others are restricted to very limited areas; that the ranges of very dissimilar species are often geographically coincident; and that, as a rule, animals inhabiting contiguous areas are more nearly related than those inhabiting remote areas. The recognition of these facts early led to the attempt to divide the surface of the earth, according to its animal life, into 'faunal' districts. By the termfaunais meant the sum of the animal life of a region.
A comparatively meagre supply of information is sufficient to indicate the principal faunal subdivisions of a country, but for mapping the exact boundaries of such areas a vastly greater and more precise fund of knowledge is necessary. The way in which such maps are prepared is by collecting all available authentic records of localities where the particular species has been found. This is done by compiling published records, by examining labels of specimens in various museums and private collections, and by work in the field. The data thus brought together are arranged on cards under authors and regions, and are tabulated under species. The localities are then indicated by colored spots on an outline map, the space surrounded by the spots being washed in with a paler tint of the same color. A separate map is devoted to each species.
Faunal maps are made by combining a large number of species maps. In making such combinations it is found, as a rule, that a considerable percentage of the species maps fall into certain well defined categories whose color patches are essentially coincident. The composite resulting from the coördination of these maps may be held to represent the natural faunal areas of a country. Several such areas may be characterized by the common possession of species not found elsewhere, and may be combined to constitute a faunal province; several provinces, a region; and several regions a realm or primary zoö-geographical division of the earth's surface.
Having ascertained the actual extent and limitations of the natural faunal districts, it remains to correlate the facts of distribution with the facts of physiography.
My own convictions are that the work of this Society in Geographic Distribution should be restricted to the generalization of results: that we should deal with philosophic deduction rather than with detailed observations and the tedious steps and laborious methods by which they are made available. Our aim should be to correlate the distribution of animals and plants with the physiographic conditions which govern this distribution, and to formulate the laws which are operative in bringing about the results we see. In other words, we are to study cause and effect in the relations of physiography to biology.
The kind of works meriting discussion in the annual report of the Vice-president of this section are such philosophic treatises as those of Humboldt, Dana, Agassiz, DeCandolle, Engler, Darwin, Huxley, Pelzeln, Sclater, Wallace, Baird, Verrill, Allen, Cope, and Gill. As it is seldom that more than one or two such works appear in any single year, there is likely to be ample opportunity for profitable discussion.
January, 1889.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 27, 1888.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 27, 1888.
THETREASURER, in account with the NATIONALGEOGRAPHICSOCIETY.
C. J. BELL,Treasurer.December 28, 1888.
To the National Geographic Society:
The undersigned, having been appointed an Auditing Committee to examine the accounts of the Treasurer for 1888, have the honor to make the following report:
We have compared the receipts with the official list of members and find complete agreement. We have compared the disbursements with the vouchers for the same and find them to have been duly authorized and correctly recorded. We have examined the bank account and compared the checks accompanying the same. We have compared the balance in the hands of the Treasurer as shown by the ledger ($626.70) with the balance as shown by the bank book ($644.70) and found them consistent, the difference being explained by the fact that a check for $18 drawn in favor of the Secretary of the Cosmos Club has not yet been presented for payment. We find the condition of the accounts entirely satisfactory.
Very respectfully,S. H. KAUFMANN.G. K. GILBERT.
The first step toward the organization of the National Geographic Society was the circulation of the following invitation, on Jan. 10, 1888.
"Dear Sir: You are invited to be present at a meeting to be held in the Assembly hall of the Cosmos Club, Friday evening, January 13, at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of considering the advisability of organizing a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge.
Very respectfully yours,GARDINERG. HUBBARD, HENRYMITCHELL,A. W. GREELY, HENRYGANNETT,J. R. BARTLETT, A. H. THOMPSON,and others."
In response to this invitation 33 gentlemen met at the appointed place and time. The meeting was called to order by Prof. A. H. Thompson, who stated its objects and nominated Capt. C. E. Dutton as chairman. The formation of a geographic society was discussed by Messrs. Hubbard, Bartlett, Thompson, Mitchell, Kennan, Gannett, Merriam and Gore.
The following resolution, introduced by Prof. Thompson, was adopted:
Resolved, 1. As the sense of this meeting that it is both advisable and practicable to organize at the present time a geographic society in Washington;
2. That this society should be organized on as broad and liberal a basis in regard to qualifications for membership as is consistent with its own well being and the dignity of the science it represents.
3. That a committee of nine be appointed by the chairman to prepare a draft of a constitution and plan of organization, to be presented at an adjourned meeting to be held in this hall on Friday evening, January 20, 1888.
A committee was appointed by the chair, consisting of Messrs. Hubbard, Greely, Bartlett, Mitchell, Kennan, Thompson, Gore, Tittman and Merriam for formulating a plan of organization.
A subsequent meeting was held on January 20, at which it was decided to incorporate the society, and the same committee was continued to carry out that purpose. On January 27 the society was incorporated, the following gentlemen signing the certificate of incorporation:
and upon the same day the first meeting of the society was held in the Assembly hall of the Cosmos club, when it was organized by the election of the following list of officers and the adoption of the by-laws:
The number of members who joined the society at its organization was 165. Since that date 45 have been elected to membership.
The society has lost one member by death during the year, Mr. James Stevenson.
The present number of members is 209.
The society has held 14 meetings, 13 of which have been devoted to the presentation of papers. It has published the first number of a magazine, copies of which have been distributed to the members of the society, to others interested in geography and to the geographic societies throughout the world for purposes of exchange.
The society has also undertaken the preparation of a Physical Atlas of the United States, upon which some progress has been made.
Very respectfully submitted,HENRYGANNETT,GEORGEKENNAN,Secretaries.
Washington, D. C., December 28, 1888.
This is to Certify that we whose names are hereunto subscribed, citizens of the United States, and a majority of whom are citizens of the District of Columbia, have associated ourselves together pursuant to the provisions of the Revised Statutes of the United States relating to the District of Columbia, and of an act of Congress entitled: "An Act to amend the Revised Statutes of the United States relating to the District of Columbia and for other purposes," approved April 23, 1884, as a Society and body corporate, to be known by the corporate name of the National Geographic Society, and to continue for the term of one hundred years.
The particular objects and business of this Society are: to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge; to publish the transactions of the Society; to publish a periodical magazine, and other works relating to the science of geography; to dispose of such publications by sale or otherwise; and to acquire a library, under the restrictions and regulations to be established in its By-Laws.
The affairs, funds and property of the corporation shall be in the general charge of Managers, whose number for the first year shall be seventeen, consisting of a President, five Vice-Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer and eight other members, styled Managers, all of whom shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meeting. The duties of these officers and of other officers and standing committees, and their terms and the manner of their election or appointment shall be provided for in the By-Laws.
1889.
1889.
ARTICLE I.NAME.
ARTICLE I.NAME.
The name of this Society is the "NATIONALGEOGRAPHICSOCIETY."
ARTICLE II.OBJECT.
ARTICLE II.OBJECT.
The object of this Society is the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge.
ARTICLE III.MEMBERSHIP.
ARTICLE III.MEMBERSHIP.
The members of this Society shall be persons who are interested in geographic science. There may be three classes of members, active, corresponding and honorary.
Active members only shall be members of the corporation, shall be entitled to vote and may hold office.
Persons residing at a distance from the District of Columbia may become corresponding members of the Society. They may attend its meetings, take part in its proceedings and contribute to its publications.
Persons who have attained eminence by the promotion of geographic science may become honorary members.
Corresponding members may be transferred to active membership, and, conversely, active members may be transferred to corresponding membership by the Board of Managers.
The election of members shall be entrusted to the Board of Managers. Nominations for membership shall be signed by three active members of the Society; shall state the qualifications of the candidate; and shall be presented to the Recording Secretary. No nomination shall receive action by the Board of Managers until it has been before it at least two weeks, and no candidate shall be elected unless he receive at least nine affirmative votes.
ARTICLE IV.OFFICERS.
ARTICLE IV.OFFICERS.
The Officers of the Society shall be a President, five Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a Recording Secretary and a Corresponding Secretary.
The above mentioned officers, together with eight other members of the Society, known as Managers, shall constitute a Board of Managers. Officers and Managers shall be elected annually, by ballot, a majority of the votes cast being necessary to an election; they shall hold office until their successors are elected; and shall have power to fill vacancies occurring during the year.
The President, or, in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents, shall preside at the meetings of the Society and of the Board of Managers; he shall, together with the Recording Secretary, sign all written contracts and obligations of the Society, and attest its corporate seal; he shall deliver an annual address to the Society.
Each Vice-President shall represent in the Society and in the Board of Managers, a department of geographic science, as follows:
The Vice-Presidents shall foster their respective departments within the Society; they shall present annually to the Society summaries of the work done throughout the world in their several departments.
They shall be elected to their respective departments by the Society.
The Vice-Presidents, together with the two Secretaries, shall constitute a committee of the Board of Managers on Communications and Publications.
The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds of the Society, shall collect the dues, and shall disburse under the direction of the Board of Managers; he shall make an annual report; and his accounts shall be audited annually by a committee of the Society and at such other times as the Board of Managers may direct.
The Secretaries shall record the proceedings of the Society and of the Board of Managers; shall conduct the correspondence of the Society; and shall make an annual report.
The Board of Managers shall transact all the business of the Society, except such as may be presented at the annual meeting. It shall formulate rules for the conduct of its business. Nine members of the Board of Managers shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE V.DUES.
ARTICLE V.DUES.
The annual dues of active members shall be five dollars, payable during the month of January, or, in the case of new members, within thirty days after election.
The dues of members elected in November and December shall be credited to the succeeding year.
Annual dues may be commuted and life membership acquired by the payment of fifty dollars.
No member in arrears shall vote at the annual meeting, and the names of members two years in arrears shall be dropped from the roll of membership.
ARTICLE VI.MEETINGS.
ARTICLE VI.MEETINGS.
Regular meetings of the Society shall be held on alternate Fridays, from November until May, and excepting the annual meeting, they shall be devoted to communications. The Board of Managers shall, however, have power to postpone or omit meetings, when deemed desirable. Special meetings may be called by the President.
The annual meeting for the election of officers shall be the last regular meeting in December.
The meeting preceding the annual meeting shall be devoted to the President's annual address.
The reports of the retiring Vice-Presidents shall be presented in January.
A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of twenty-five active members.
ARTICLE VII.AMENDMENTS.
ARTICLE VII.AMENDMENTS.
These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular meeting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writing at a regular meeting at least four weeks previously.
a., original members.l., life members.* Deceased.
In cases where no city is given in the address, Washington, D. C., is to be understood.
A
BBE
, P
ROF
. C
LEVELAND
,
a
.
l
.,
Army Signal Office. 2017 I Street.
A
BERT
, S. T. (Sylvanus Thayer),
810 Nineteenth Street.
A
HERN
, J
EREMIAH
,
Geological Survey. 804 10th Street.
A
LLEN
, D
R
. J. A. (Joseph Asaph),
American Museum Natural History, New York.
A
PLIN
, S. A., J
R
. (Stephen Arnold),
Geological Survey. 1513 R Street.
A
RRICK
, C
LIFFORD
,
a
.,
Geological Survey. 1131 Fourteenth Street.
A
SHBURNER
, P
ROF
. C
HARLES
A.,
Pa. Geol. Survey, Hamilton Bldg., Pittsburg, Pa.
A
TKINSON
, M
ISS
E. S. (Emma Seccombe),
a
.,
Washington Normal School. 918 Massachusetts Avenue.
A
TKINSON
, W. R. (William Russum),
a
.,
Geological Survey. 2900 Q Street.
A
YRES
, M
ISS
S. C. (Susan Caroline),
a
.,
Pension Office. 502 A Street SE.
B
AKER
, P
ROF
. F
RANK
,
a
.,
Light House Board. 1315 Corcoran Street.
B
AKER
, M
ARCUS
,
a
.,
Geological Survey. 1125 Seventeenth Street.
B
ALDWIN
, H. L. (Harry Lewis),
a
.,
Geological Survey. 125 Sixth Street NE.
B
ARNARD
, E. C. (Edward Chester),
a
.,
Geological Survey. 1715 G Street.
B
ARTLE
, R. F. (Rudolph Francis),
947 Virginia Avenue SW.
B
ARTLETT
, C
OMDR
. J. R. (John Russell), U. S. N.,
a
.,
Providence, R. I.
B
ASSETT
, C. C. (Charles Chester),
a
.,
Geological Survey. 929 New York Avenue.
B
ELL
, A. G
RAHAM
(Alexander Graham),
a
.,
1336 Nineteenth Street.