MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 71

published containing among other articles " Outlines of the Physical
Geography of Maryland embracing its principal Geological features, "
by J. T. Ducatel, the State Geologist; " A description of the Frost-
burg Coal formation of Allegany County, Maryland, with an account
of its geological position, " by Philip T. Tyson; and "A descriptive
Catalogue of the principal Minerals of the State of Maryland, " by
the same author.

The Academy of Science and Literature continued its existence but
a few years, after this, however and prior to. the abandonment of the
State Survey in 1841, came to an end, its collections and books being-
divided among the members. For more than a decade after this the
state was without an official academy.

The present Maryland Academy of Sciences dates from May, 1855,
when several members of the Maryland Historical Society formed a
Committee on Natural History by act of that Society and met fort-
nightly in one of its small rooms until the close of the year 1862.
On the 22d of February, 1863, a meeting was held at the house of
Mr. Philip T. Tyson in Baltimore, when the Maryland Academy of
Sciences was organized by the adoption of a constitution and the
election of Mr. Tyson as its first president. In 1867 an act of incor-
poration was asked from the General Assembly of Maryland, which
was granted on the 15th of March of the same year.

The Academy's collections of natural history specimens and of
books accumulated rapidly as the result of the enthusiastic labors of
its members, who included some of the most prominent professional
men of Baltimore. The more active of these members grouped them-
selves into sections, each of which took charge of one or more sub-
jects of investigation. Reports were made upon the more conspicuous
or attractive specimens secured, and the interest of the society was
continually kept awake by the fresh objects thus brought to its
consideration.

It finally became apparent that a proper building would have to be
constructed to accommodate the growing needs of the Academy, and
accordingly in 1873 the lease of a lot of ground on Mulberry Street
was secured from the University of Maryland, and subscriptions to