There was an unusually large attendance of members at the meeting of
the Lyceum of Natural History, on Monday evening, the 6th inst.,
to listen to an address by Professor B. Waterhouse Hawkins, on the
progress of the work of the restoration of the forms of extinct
animals in the Central Park. Mr. Hawkins gave an account of the
difficulties he encountered at the outset, in finding any skeletons
of animals in New York, with which to make comparisons, and he was
finally compelled to go to Boston and Philadelphia for this purpose.
After much study and many delays, the casts of the _Hadrosaurus_ were
completed, and numerous smaller skeletons prepared. At this stage of
the proceedings an entire change in the administration of the Park
took place, and the newly appointed Commissioners decided to suspend
the work upon the Palaeozoic Museum, and they dismissed Mr. Hawkins
from their service.
The announcement that an end had thus been summarily put to one of the
most important educational projects ever started in this country, was
received by the Lyceum with profound surprise. For a few minutes after
the close of Mr. Hawkins' report, no one felt disposed to make any
comment, but as the truth of the great damage became apparent, there
was considerable disposition manifested to have the Society give
expression to its sense of the value of Mr. Hawkins' services in the
cause of education, and their regret that so important a work should
be suspended at this critical period. Remarks were made by Dr.
Newbery, Professor Joy, Mr. Andrew H. Green, Professor Seely, Dr.
Walz, Mr. E. G. Squier, and others, and the following resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
_Resolved_, That the Lyceum of Natural History, in the city of New
York, has learned with deep regret of the temporary suspension
of the work of restoration of the forms of extinct animals,
as hitherto prosecuted in the Central Park, under the able
superintendence of Professor Waterhouse Hawkins.
_Resolved_, That the Society considers the proposed palaeozoic
museum not only a valuable acquisition to the scientific treasures
and resources of the city, but also as a most important adjunct
and complement to our great system of public education.
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