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DAVENPORT, IOWA: PUBLISHED BY THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 1883. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE — 1882-83. ‘ Mrs. M. L. D. PUTNAM, Chatzrman. Dr. C. C. PARRY. Rey. W. H. BARRIS. W. H. PRATT. Dr. C. H.. PRESTON. The authors of the various papers are alone responsible for what is contained in them. The date of the printing of each sheet is printed in each signature line. Ons \ 2 GAZETTE COMPANY, PRINTERS. IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH DUNCAN PUTNAM. (ON RECEIVING A PICTURE.) Thy gentle, thoughtful face is good to look on, For, like an open window in a mansion Finely set, it bids me gaze far out On the wide fields of nature’s busy life. Some faces are but rents in the blank wall Of the unknown; rough openings Into darkness, into doubt; while others Are quick conjurers of evil and of hate: Giving glimpses into regions of distress And torment dire. Thanks for a face so kindly fair, That opens in the minds of other men A window towards the beauty of God's world. More than thine eyes we see, for through them We behold the things they love to look on. Threading the maze of myriad insect life, We follow thy quick sight and loving ear, To note the ways of nature's tiniest children, And perceive the little industries that thrive In every nook and cranny of the earth, Filling it full of interest. To know thee is to know much more Of wisdom and of goodness in the Universal plan. Looking at thee, I’m minded to behold Something that is not merely love of nature In her charming, changing forms. . My vision travels on around the world Of happy, wholesome interests, that nature And her sciences afford. I catch the hum Of busy thought, that rises from the many Hives of scientific lore, spread through the land, And watch the earnest workers come and go, Busily laden with delights fresh culled From truth’s sweet opening flowers; And I reflect that truth is one. The universal scientist I see, The love of lowly, natural truth Joined with the truths of spirit and of life. As the dear Christ had set in the vain midst Of aged superstitions, A wondering child-love of the simple truth, A clear-eyed vision of his lovely world, And plainly said, ““Of such the kingdom is;” For all is safety in the love of truth, Which cleanses from all guile. Like a great mountain stream, that takes its rise Far above all, and flowing down In its resistless might, washes the lowest vale, Even so the baptism of the Spirit of Truth, Down-streaming, purifies the natural mind To see the deepest things of God, And work His utmost will. JACKSONVILLE, ILL. PREFACE. The completion of Volume III. of the Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences closes the life-work of its youthful editor and publisher, Joseph Duncan Putnam. As a fitting tribute to his memory, this is made a memorial volume. It was through his earnest efforts that the plan for the publication of its proceedings was inaugurated by the Academy in November, 1875. The first volume was issued in 1876, under his editorial management. The publica- tion of Volume II. was his individual enterprise. It was received with favor by the scientific world, and brought large additions to our library and museum. The first part of Volume III. was published by the Academy, and contains the proceedings of the annual meeting of January Ist, 1879, with a list of exchanges and donations during the years 1877 and 1878. To secure the continuation of this publication, Mr. Putnam, on January 18th, 1881, removed to the Academy building his private press and printing material, and made, at his own expense, such additions of type and mate- rial as were found to be necessary for the work. The entire editorial suiper- vision, until his death, was performed by Mr. Putnam, and, under this eco- nomical arrangement, the printing of the second part of this volume steadily proceeded. It contained the proceedings and scientific papers presented during the years 1879, 1880, and 1881. The labors thereon of the young publisher were closed at page 128 by his untimely death, December 10th, 1881. At this point the unfinished work of Mr. Putnam was taken up by his associates and friends, and Part II. of this volume was completed and issued in August, 1882. The Table of Contents indicates the general character of the contri- butions during this period. They were largely made up of local investi- gations into the natural history, antiquities, and geology of this district. Other papers, from abroad, occupy the larger field of investigations opened by our rapidly-developing western territories The third and concluding part of Volume III., published by the Acad- emy, is also issued as a separate publication, and is exclusively devoted to the memory of its late President, Joseph Duncan Putnam. The papers on the Solpugide therein contained represent the scattered notes which Mr. Putnam had been collecting for the purpose of preparing a complete monograph and bibliography of this group. They embrace the accumulations of a number of years of study and research in this line, and it is greatly to be lamented that he could not himself have brought the ma- terial together in shape for publication. These notes have been collected, prepared, and arranged for publication with conscientious care by Professor Herbert Osborn, Entomologist of the Agricultural College, at Ames, Lowa, Vill PREFACE. with a view of presenting them in the best form for use in the scientific world, and with no attempt to complete unfinished work. The Bibliography has been carefully completed by Miss Julia E. Sanders, of Davenport, Lowa, by laborious compilations from Mr. Putnam’s voluminous notes and ex- tracts. Mr. Osborn and Miss Sanders have also kindly attended to the proof- reading in the publication of these papers. The paper of Mr. Putnam on Solpugide is illustrated by four plates, pre- pared from his own original drawings of the insect. The engravings were made by Mr. A. Meisel, the eminent engraver of Boston. This work was kindly superintended by Dr. H. A. Hagen, of Cambridge. The steel-plate engraving of Mr. Putnam was obtained and presented by his parents. It is the work of Mr. G. R. Hall, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and is considered an excellent likeness. The wood-cuts on pages 86, 87, 106, and 128, illustrating papers of Pro- fessor Berthoud and Professor Pratt, were executed by Mr. Putnam himself. The four plates used in illustrating the paper of W. J. Hoffman on Mexican antiquities, were kindly furnished by the Smithsonian Institution. The nanies of the subscribers to this publication will be found at the end of the volume. DavEnpPoRT, February 22, 18853. CON EEN TS: Page Poem, : : : : : 3 : : v Preface, , : 2. 2 Vii Annual Address of the Bresidout =p. R. a Barauian 30n, ‘ 1 Report of the Curator —W. H. Pratt, : ; : ; ; 6 Report of the Treasurer — H. C. Fulton, : : : 8 Report of the Finance Committee — Charles E. Putnam, f : 9 Report of the Publication Committee— Dr. C.C. Parry, . s 11 Election of Officers for 1879, E : : : : E 13 Additions to the Library during 1877, . : 3 : , 14 Additions to the Library during 1878, : ; ; : Meet Contributions to the Museum during 1877, —_.. ; ; 43 Contributions to the Museum during 1878, ; 3 srs ar Contributions to the Building Fund, . ; . . : 61 List of Honorary Members, . ; : ; z ac * Oe List of Corresponding Members, : 2 62 List of Regular Members, . : : F : : 2 OAR Standing Committees for 1879, . : : 67 Remarks on Habits of several Western ieee J. D. iia ; 67 Antiquities of Whitesides County, Ilinois—W. C. Holbrook, Z 68 The Indian Inscriptions of Davenport (illustrated) — Prof. G. Seyffarth, 72 Resolutions on the death of John C. Putnam, 82 Explorations in Idaho and Montana, 1818 ilustrated) Prof BE. S. Bort: 83 Explorations of Mounds at Albany, Illinois—W. H. Pratt, : 88 Insvribed Rock at Sterling, linois—W. H. Pratt, : , ae 88 Exploration of a Mound on the Allen Farm —W. ZH. Pratt, : 90 Lightning Phenomena at Blackhawk (illustrated) —W. H. Pratt, f 91 Annual Meeting and Reports of Officers, January 7th, 1880, : 95 Annual Address of the President-— Wrs. M. L. D. Putnam, : : 98 Election of Officers for 1880... : : 105 Geological Section of Bluff at East Davenport Giiieecated) —W- H. Pratt, 106 Standing Committees for 1880, . , ; 107 Remarks on Antiquities of New Mexico and eine (@Mustrated)— Dr. W. J. Hoffman, 108 Section of the Bluff at Sixth Street, eemenee (illustrated) —W. ‘HL. Pratt 127 Beds of Carboniferous Drift in Bluffs of East Davenport— 7. McWhorter, 129 Exploration of Mounds in Louisa County, lowa— Rev. A. Blumer, 1382 Recent Exploration of Mounds in Rock Island County, Ill. (illustrated)— Reo. J. Gass, . : . 1385 Exploration of Mounds in guise Gani cE a, i Gass, : 140 Exploration of Mounds in Mercer County, Illinois— Rev. J. Gass, s 147 Annual Meeting and Reports of Officers, January 5th, 1881, ; 148 xX CONTENTS. Annual Address of the President—W. H. Pratt, Election of Officers for 1881, Standing Committees for 1881, Notes on our Local Geology Gllastraged) No. Il. a of. W. H. Cha Contributions to the Flora of lowa— No. IV.—J. C. Arthur, Exploration of Nine Mounds in Rock Island County, Illinois — C. T. Lindley and (. L. Pratt, Oxytheca—Two New Species from Southern California—Dr. C. C: Pure, Bones of the Mammoth in Washington County, lowa— Rev. J. Gass, The Chambers Rod and the Phenix Mill Fire—W. H. Pratt, An Artesian Well at Moline —W. H. Pratt, Ancient Fortification in Louisa County, Iowa (illustrated)— pm J. on Notice of the Death of the President, J. D. Putnam, Mound Explorations in 1881 — Rev. J. Gass, Introduction to Memorial Meeting, Proceedings of Memorial Meeting, Resolutions, Address, by W. H. Pratt, H. C. Fulton, Dr. E. H. Hazen, James Thompson, Impromptu Remarks, Correspondence from Scientific Rrends: Biographical Sketch, by Dr. C. C. Parry, Memorial Proceedings of other Societies, . Iowa Academy of Sciences, : Memoir of J. Duncan Putnam, by W. J. Neen Cambridge Entomological Club, : Chicago Academy of Science, Solpugide of America—J. D. Putnam, Prefatory Note — H. Osborn, Notes on North American Solpaeiieem J. D. Pui. Descriptions of Species (illustrated), List of North American Species, Extracts from Notes and Correspondence, Bibliography, Catalogue of Libraries, List of Authors, Explanation of Plates, Names of Subscribers to this Volume, Page. 151 161 161 163 169 173 174 177 179 181 183 185 186 195 197 197 198 208 212 212 214 215 225 241 241 241 248 248 249 249 250 255 266 270 279 307 308 311 313 REPORTS ON THE CONDITION AND PROGRESS OF THE DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, HURING “PRE Y BAR 1878: Brine THE PrRocEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING, Held Wednesday, January lst, 1879. January Isr, 1879.—AnnuaL MzerTIne. Dr. R. J. Farquharson, President, in the chair. ‘Twenty members present. The reports of the officers and standing committees were pre- sented and read. Annual Address of the President. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :— Another year, the eleventh, has been added to the short life of our Academy, and though not yet in its teens, it may, thanks to a marvelous growth, be said to have already reached the stage of adolescence. We earnestly hope that it may escape the short-lived fate of many precocious individuals and institutions, and we must strive hard to give it such a continuous, steady growth, that it may not be said of it hereafter, ‘“‘ that like the pigeon, it was biggest in the squab state.”” What is needed, in my opinion, to avoid either a prema- ture death or a period of comparative stagnation, is an infusion of young blood in the shape of workers—earnest, energetic workers—to take the place of those whose advancing years and increasing infirmities may soon unfit them for the task. To the younger men of the Academy I would especially commend the study of Natural History, not as a means to command riches or fame, though a fair proportion of the latter is thus attainable, but as the best source of that happiness for which all men strive ; for I can truthfully say of this study, that the only truly happy men I have ever known were naturalists, men removed from and appa- rently above the petty cares and vexations of this world. {[REPoRTs, D. A. N.S., 1878.] 1 [Jan., 1879.] 2 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. The constitution devolves on me the duty of making a report on “ The condition and progress of the Academy in all its departments.” This report will necessarily consist, in a great measure, of a condensed sum- mary of the reports of the various officers, as follows, viz: The RECORDING SECRETARY, Mr. Charles E. Harrison, reports, that during the year there were held ten regular meetings of the Academy, with a mean attendance of eighteen members ; one special meeting, with an actual attendance of thirty-nine; four regular and nine special meet- ings of the Trustees, with a mean attendance of ten. He also reports that lectures were given by Professors Gregory, Butler, Hailman and Parvin, and that papers were read by the following gentlemen, viz: W. W. Calkins, A. D. Churchill, C. E. Harrison, J. Gass, W. H. Barris, ‘J.D. Putnam, W. H. Pratt, R. J. Farquharson and H. Strecker. He also reports the election of sixteen persons as regular members, and twenty-seven persons as corresponding members. Thirty-four names have been dropped from the roll, leaving the present number of regular members 188, of whom fifty-three are life members. There are also 210 corresponding and six honorary members. Of the great labors of our indefatigable CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, I must allow his own report to speak, contenting myself with the mere mention of the fact that during the year 700 letters were received and 427 written. During the year the first part of Volume II of the Proceed- ings of the Academy, was sent to all institutions which had in any way acknowledged the receipt of the first volume. The number of copies thus disposed of was 239, which, with eight copies missing, leaves 275 copies on hand at this date. Of the first volume of the Proceedings, eighteen copies were given in exchange, and nineteen copies Jost while moving into the new building, leaving 205 copies now on hand. The reports of the TREASURER and of the FINANCE COMMITTEE will speak for themselves. The financial condition of the Academy is quite as favorable as we could expect, considering the great depression of bus- iness during the past year. The report of the CurRAtToR, Mr. W. H. Pratt, presents a statement of the condition of the Museum, which need not be quoted here; it will suffice, to state in a general way that the Museum has had numerous additions in its various departments, some of them of almost priceless value in a scientific point of view, notably in the Archeological De- partment, the last tablet and two animal pipes, for which we are again indebted to the kindness of that indefatigable explorer, the Rev. J. Gass. BOTANY. Dr. C. C. Parry reports the following additions to the botanical collec- tion during the past year: A large collection of plants, mainly of the Eastern States, from G. W. Tryon, of Philadelphia, through Prof. D.S. Sheldon, with additions of western and southern plants, making not less than 1,500 species ; a collection of Algze from the coast of Ireland, from ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 3 D. Swiney, Esq.; a miscellaneous lot of western and southern plants from W. W. Calkins, of Chicago; and lastly, the deposit of the C. C, Parry Herbarium, numbering not less than 15,000 species, rendering the botanical collections of the Academy nearly complete for Western American plants. ENTOMOLOGY. In this department Mr. J. D. Putnam reports: February 21st, the deposit of his collection, estimated to contain about 8,000 species and 25,000 specimens, of which the Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Orthoptera are named and labeled. The additions during the year are: From Hy. Edwards, San Francisco, 560 specimens of 323 species of insects all orders, from California and Australia; from G. W. Belbrage, Clifton, Tex., 449 specimens of 246 species of Texas Coleoptera and Lepidoptera ; from C. C. Parry,a collection of Mexican Arachnide ; from Chas. Cramp- ton, Moline, Ills., a collection of spiders ; single specimens of insects from many others; a small collection made by J. D. Putnam at Mackinac and Lake Superior in August, 1878. In concluding the subject of the Museum, I might say, without incur- ring the reputation of boasting. that it is very strong and full in the following departments, viz: American Archeology, Botany, Entomology and Conchology. LIBRARY. During the unavoidable absence of the Librarian, Mr. J. G. Haupt, Mr. J. D. Putnam has kindly acted in his place, and reports the following additions : of complete volumes, 290; of incomplete volumes, 63; and of pamphlets, 539, making a total increase of 912 books. Nearly, if not quite all, of these books were in exchange for the published Proceedings of the Academy. They came as follows, viz: from 80 individuals, from 100 institutions in the United States, from 81 foreign institutions, from 23 different States and Territories in the United States, and from the following foreign countries: Russia, Belgium, Austria, Holland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France, Algeria. Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Argentine Republic, Canada, Mauritius, Tasmania, New Zealand, Victoria and South Australia. PUBLICATION OF PROCEEDINGS. I would beg leave to call particular attention to the report of the Com- MITTEE ON PUBLICATION, the statements and arguments in which in regard to the prime importance, the necessity of continuing the publica- tion of our Proceedings, I most heartily endorse. SECTIONS. During the year many meetings of the Biological, the Geological and Archeological, and the Historical Sections, have been held. The aver- age attendance of the two first has been small, but some papers have been read and some good work done; in the latter the average attend- ance has been quite good and much interest taken, especially in the os DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. collection and preservation of relics and old documents, illustrative of the early history of this section of country. In conclusion, I would beg leave to make a few remarks upon arche- ology, suggested by our recent acquisitions in that branch of science, especially the last tablet and the animal effigy pipes. In regard to the tablets, descriptions and photographs have been submitted to the exam- ination of the leading archeologists, both in this country and in Europe. What the former thought of them you have been already told; of the latter you have seen a very favorable opinion expressed by the Interna- tional Congress of Americanists, at their last meeting, held at Luxem- burg in 1877, a translation of which was published in the Gazette of this city. If there are now any doubters of the authenticity of ‘these precious monuments,” as Mr. Lucien Adams is pleased to call them, they are silent, either from their doubts having been dispelled by the accumulation of material evidence, or it may be that they deem us so incorrigible in the continued fabrication of these relics, that remonstrance would be wasted on us. No one, as yet, has suggested any reading or solution of the letters or hieroglyphics, which are also repeated, some, at least, in the last found tablet. But we need not despair. That venerable archeologist, Mr. S. F. Haven, in speaking of these very inscriptions, says* : ‘‘ These are, at present, unintelligible, but may hereafter disclose their secrets when the habits of thought and the methods of expressing and recording facts and ideas peculiar to the American races of both continents, shall be better comprehended and compared. This must be the fruit of information more accurate and general, and philosophy more profound, than has heretofore been applied to their elucidation.” Of the pipes, the bear depicted by the artist must have been the grisly, whose habitat must have been more extended then than at pres- ent, being as he is, the counterpart of the great cave bear so common in Europe in prehistoric times. In the elephant pipe we have the keystone of the arch of evidence, which has been building for so many years. Regarding this obvious effigy of the mastodon, we can echo the words of the original description of the elephant mound of Wisconsin in the Smithsonian Report for 1872, which says: ‘‘ Is not the existence of such a mound good evidence of the cotemporaneous existence of the mastodon and the mound-builders ;” and strange to say, both the mound and the pipe are entirely destitute of tusks. One glance at the ever-recurring question, ‘‘ Who were the mound- builders ?”’ and I have done. The most commonly accepted theory is that they were a kindred race to the Aztecs, and that, as the traditions of the Natchez affirm, all the valley of the Mississippi was peopled by a race of sun worshippers like themselves. But this was a comparatively recent event. There *Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, No. 71, p- 18. ~ ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. vo Was a race more advanced than the Natchez, at least more expert in min- ing, who preceded them, and must have occupied the country for ages, as the following facts will show : 5 A recent writer (Jacob Houghton) states that a single district of Isle Royal, of eighteen square miles extent, had produced for these ancient miners more copper than the total production of richest modern mines of Lake Superior for the space of twenty years. He also says that this region supplied not only this country, but Mexico, the Antilles, Yucatan, Central America, and probably even South America. In this opinion, at least in regard to Mexico, Baron Hellwald concurred when he said* : ** There does not exist any trace of the working of any mine of copper in Mexico by the natives prior to the discovery of America.” This im- mense traflic in copper must have preceded both the recent Indians, and the Natchez and their kindred. Another theory, just coming into vogue, is that of Rink, a learned Dane, who has spent many years among the Esquimanx, and is quite familiar with their language and traditions. He says that the Esqui- maux, as we know them, are an expiring race; that they did not always live by the sea shore and on the products of the seal fishery ; that they once had other habits of life, and were forced to migrate northward, having at one time occupied the most of this continent. Of this old race our oldest mound builders may have been a part (for I hold that there were two, if not three, races before the present Indians). The points in favor of this supposition are—first, the similarity in the shape of the crania between the Esquimaux and the old mound builders ; second, both people worshipped the sun and moon ; third, both were ex- pert carvers in stone, bone, etc. ; fourth, tradition among the Esquimaux point to atime when they had a way of recording their history. A Catholic Missionary (Rev. Eugene Vetromill) once told Mr. Haven that the Indians of Nova Scotia employed ‘ta series of characters, standing not for ideas but words.”’+ This, it is likely, they must have borrowed from the Esquimaux, as no modern Indians have been known to have had the like. Again we have good reason for supposing that our mound builders had a written language. Fifth, and lastly, Houghton says that the ancient miners of Lake Superior must have been there soon after the retrogradation of the glaciers, or they never would have discovered the mines of native copper as they did. *Compte Rendu du Congress Americanists, 2d sess. 1877, Vol. I, p. 51. Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, No. 70, p. 95. 6 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, Curator’s Report. My». President and Members of the Academy : Soon after my last annual report, the Museum was removed to the new building, the cabinet cases being transferred without the addition of any new ones. Since that time the collection has been constantly and rap- idly increasing, while our finances did not seem to warrant the very desirable extension of shelf room for its reception. The consequence is that much of what has been received has necessarily remained un- packed, or laid aside until we should be better prepared for the proper disposition of it. Within a few days a fine case of forty large drawers has been con- structed in the basement, which very much facilitates the better care and arrangement of the numerous specimens for which there is, as yet, no room in cases, as well as the duplicates which are kept for purpose of exchange. Even this work, though now in progress, is as yet but partially per- formed. As it is contemplated very soon to put up eight new cases for the Museum and Library, it is confidently hoped that we shall soon find suitable space for many specimens, and some considerable collections which have long been awaiting presentation to the public view. Owing to the circumstances already mentioned, I am still unable to present catalogues of the collections, or to enumerate in this report the precise number of specimens in each department which have been received during the year. IN ARCH 40OLOGY. Several mounds have been explored, and also a number of Indian burying grounds in this vicinity, by our associate, Rey. J. Gass, and other members. In order to pursue this highly important work to a greater extent and to better advantage during the coming year, it seems very desirable, if possible, to adopt some efficient plan to establish a fund to defray the expenses of such explorations. The most important and valuable article of any kind which has come into our possession during the past year, is undoubtedly another ancient inscribed tablet, this time of stone, and bearing, with the very interest- ing figures which differ from those on the other tablets, a number of hieroglyphic characters identical with those, and also unmistakable representations of several of the relics peculiar to the mound-builders. We have received, chiefly through Capt. Hall, the following articles, viz: About 35 vessels of ancient pottery from different localities—about half of which were broken and have been more or less imperfectly restored—and numerous fragments ; 2 mound builders’ pipes ; about 4550 flint implements; about 75 stone implements; 1 relic of hammered copper; @ number of ornaments or charms, made of the teeth of the bear, elk, etc; several casts of ancient stone implements, and a few skulls from the mounds. IN GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. Valuable researches have been made and specimens collected by Prof. CURATOR’S REPORT. 7 Barris, who has also contributed important papers on those subjects, and . very considerable contributions have been made by several other parties, as is shown by the list of donations. IN NATURAL HISTORY. We have received some very desirable acquisitions of birds, etc., from Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Putnam, and others ; and several hundred species of marine, fresh water and land shells, and some fine corals and other marine specimens from several contributors. . In local species, most important of all, we have a very complete collec- tion in the department of conchology; and the very extensive entomolog- ical and botanical collections of Mr. Putnam and Dr. Parry, which have been placed here, add very much to the interest and usefulness of the Museum. Of the birds, fishes and reptiles of this locality, the collection is exceedingly limited and certainly demands prompt attention to make it What it should be. It is to be hoped that another year will not be allowed to pass, leaving this very important work still undone. The following is an approximate statement of the contents of the Museum at this date: Archceology.—From the Mounds—Copper axes, 22; copper knives, 3; copper awls, 14; copper beads, 285; carved stone pipes, 20; ornaments or charms of shell. bone, horn and teeth, 30; shell drinking vessels, 3 ; shell and pearl beads, several hundred; shell money, 150; mound build- In the Report on the Museum, page 7, under Archeology, the following very important articles were inadvertently omitted, viz: The three in- seribed tablets of bituminous shale from Mound No.3, and the inscribed limestone tablet from Mound No. 10 of the Cook Farm group; the inscribed stones from Cleona, and the small animal figure from Mound No. 3; all of which are described in Vol. Il of these Proceedings. Entomology.—Mr. Putnam’s collection of insects, about 8000 species. Botany.—Plants, arranged and pe Dr. Parry’s collection —15,000 species. Historical and antique relics, curiosities, etc., 200. Coins, mostly copper, about 400. Respectfully submitted. W. H. PRATT, Curator. January 1, 1879. 6 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Curator’s Report. My. President and Members of the Academy : Soon after my last annual report, the Museum was removed to the new building, the cabinet cases being transferred without the addition of any new ones. Since that time the collection has been constantly and rap- idly increasing, while our finances did not seem to warrant the very desirable extension of shelf room for its reception. The consequence is that much of what has been received has necessarily remained un- packed, or laid aside until we should be better prepared for the proper disposition of it. Within a few days a fine case of forty large drawers has been con- structed in the basement, which very much facilitates the better careand arrangement of the numerous specimens for which there is, as yet, no room in cases, as well as the duplicates which are kept for purpose of exchange. Even this work, though now in progress, is as yet but partially per- formed. As it is contemplated very soon to put up eight new cases for the Museum and Library, it is confidently hoped that we shall soon find suitable space for many specimens, and some considerable collections which have long been awaiting presentation to the public view. Owing to the circumstances already mentioned, I am still unable to present catalogues of the collections, or to enumerate in this report the precise number of specimens in each department which have been voanoivead dnring the vear. restored—and numerous fragments ; 2 mound builders’ pipes ; about 4550 flint implements; about 75 stone implements; 1 relic of hammered copper; @ number of ornaments or charms, made of the teeth of the bear, elk, etc; several casts of ancient stone implements, and a few skulls from the mounds. IN GEOLOGY AND PALZONTOLOGY. Valuable researches have been made and specimens collected by Prof. CURATOR’S REPORT. id Barris, who has also contributed important papers on those subjects, and . very considerable contributions have been made by several other parties, as is shown by the list of donations. IN NATURAL HISTORY. We have received some very desirable acquisitions of birds, etc., from Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Putnam, and others ; and several hundred species of marine, fresh water and land shells, and some fine corals and other marine specimens from several contributors. . In local species, most important of all, we have a very complete collec- tion in the department of conchology; and the very extensive entomolog- ical and botanical collections of Mr. Putnam and Dr. Parry, which have been placed here, add very much to the interest and usefulness of the Museum. Of the birds, fishes and reptiles of this locality, the collection is exceedingly limited and certainly demands prompt attention to make it what it should be. It is to be hoped that another year will not be allowed to pass, leaving this very important work still undone. The following is an approximate statement of the contents of the Museum at this date: Archeology.—From the Mounds—Copper axes, 22; copper knives, 3: copper awls, 14; copper beads, 285; carved stone pipes, 20; ornaments or charms of shell, bone, horn and teeth, 30; shell drinking vessels, 3: shell and pearl beads, several hundred; shell money, 150; mound build- ers’ skulls, 28. Articles net from the Mounds.—Flint implements, 7500 ; stone implements, 800; hematite implements, 28; skulls, mostly Indian , 29; casts of ancient Seay ITAE TERE and relies, 8: Indian pipes, bows and arrows, 20. Geology and Paleontology.—Silurian fossils, 115 species; devonian fossils, 145 species ; carboniferous fossils, 150 species ; cretaceous fossils, 30 species. Mineralogy.—About 300 species of minerals named, and a fine collec- tion of quartz crystals. Zoology and Natural Historya—Mammals, mounted. 13 species; birds, mounted, 90 specimens; bird skins, unmounted, 50 specimens; birds’ eggs, 40 species; skulls of animals and birds, 42 species ; land and fresh water shells, 400 species; marine shells, 500 species; marine corals, sponges, crabs, etc., 50 species. Entomology.—Mr. Putnam’s collection of insects, about 8000 species. Botany.—Plants, arranged and re eee Dr. Parry’s collection —15,000 species. Historical and antique relics, curiosities, etc., 200. Coins, mostly copper, about 400. Respectfully submitted. January 1, 1879. W. H. PRATT, Curator. 8 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Report of the Treasurer. To the Davennort Academy of Natural Sciences: Your Treasurer respectfully presents this, the report of his accounts for the year 1878, hoping the same may meet with your approval. The accounts of Dr. M. B. Cochran, ex- Treasurer, for the month of Jan- uary, 1878, are included herein. GENERAL FUND. Receipts. Balance received from ex-Treasurer...$ 14 69 Error in account with Dr. Burtis........ 50 Tnitiation fees..........-.ccccscccsccsccessesoners 99 00 DYES TODAS 1G rccecccavccersevsncossoscaeccseanse 17 00 OWES POR 181i cc-ce-scsacccsensceccsconscscacconcrs 82 00 Dues OL 1878. .c.ncccccesecscce coveesssnscuncosen 173 00 Received from Art Assoeiation for JADILOL........-.csreccccens ccsoaceeescceeecs 35 00 Received from Scott County Medical Society for use Of TOOMS.......0..+6 9 00 Received from Prof. Hailman for use OERTOOM ese esetecccces centr eearsaccoccenacese 6 00 Received from Chairman of Finance Committee balance from borrowed Expenditures. ; Janitor........ spiceuuecdoaccareneseaaatenet eam $142 25 Gael aeiibenos cates cconccaseranesdavaseccterecemmens 47 95 Goal svccccsesiseus osentescvesasosacusrtesCeeulasesama 5415 Freight and eXpress..........ccccccecseeseess 42 53 Grading Fund, paid to Chairman of Grading Committee.........seeceecceeee 18 00 Rent.Of, Olt OOMS Ss ascuscaneviaseeeseenreaes 42 92 UMSUTANICE cic. coceceselseniove $142 25 Cash from annual dues.............0..0000 268 00 i AMOUME PAG: PAS At oi ccscescecesateuteeeeesece 47 95 Cash from initiation fees.................. 9900 | Amount paid coal........ up oaaamesesnoetessants 5415 Cash from Art Association................. 35 00 Amount paid freight and express...... 53 03 Cash from Medical Society.......... ...... 909 | Aimount paid rent old :ooms.... Cash from Endowment Fund............ 421 60 Amount paid insurance............... Se Cash from ether sources........-....0.. 650 | Amount paid commissions................ Amount paid extra services, etc......... 89 59 | Amount paid sundries...............ccceseee | Amount paid publication | Amount paid Endowment Fund........ 24 69 Gashitony hard 25. sccss cahextatenvassuvedsasorss 15 45 $853 79 | $853 79 The Treasurer’s report shows unpaid orders on this account of $144.11, and this while the receipts for the year have more than paid its ordinary running expenses. This was because of outstanding indebtedness exist- ing at the commencement of the year, and which has been liquidated, as shown by Treasurer’s report. To meet this there remains uncollected dues to the amount of $111, making with the $15.45, cash on hand, an aggregate of $125.45, and leaving only a small deficiency. ENDOWMENT FUND. Receipts. ' Expenditures. Cash from Dr. Cochran, Treasurer...$ 20% 92 Amount paid E, Baker, grading......$ 96 75 Cash from ladies’ special fund......... 455 36 Amount paid F. Kirk, building. ...... 1,169 94 Cash from subscriptions.................. 501 7 | Amount paid Mrs. Newcomb........... 223 50 Mashifrom loanayreicses ne cece 1,30900 | Amount paid extra on building...... 248 64 Cash from General Fund............... 2469 | Amount paid Mrs. Fitch note......... 300 00 Cash from interest..........6...00 Gein: 1067 | Amount paid interest.................. 32 24 Amount paid to General Fund_....... 421 60 Amount paid ladies’ special fund..... 67 $2,493 34 | $2,493 34 There are several items included in this account which properly belong to the Generai Fund account, and to that extent the loan was for the benefit of that fund, but that part of the loan having been paid, this complication is thereby removed. [Reports, D. A. N. S., 1878.] 2 {Jan., 1879.) 10 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. LADIES’ SPECIAL FUND. Receipts. | EBxpenditures. Cash from entertainments................. $873 75 Paid expenses of entertainments...... $185 43 Cash from subscriptions.................... 4875 | Paid for grading and fencing......... 128 35 Cash from other SOUrCES......c00.cc0ee senses 36 05 | Paid for plastering and finishing....... 45 12 Cash from Endowment Fund............. Ty here Paid for drawers for Curator.............. 4075 | Paid to Endowment Fund..............0. 455 36 | Balance cash on hand, Jan 1, 1879..... 104 21 $959 22 $959 22 RECAPITULATION. Receipts. Expenditures. Cash on General Fund................009 432 19 Paid on account General Fund........ $ 813 65 Cash on Endowment Fund............... 2,013 29 Paid on account Endowment Fund.. 2,071 07 Cash on Ladies’ Special Fund........... 958 55 Faid on ace’nt Ladies’ Special Fund.. 399 65 | Cash on hand, Jan. 1,1879..... sss. 119 66 otal eeelpts:ccsa.ccccese svvese-es sees $3,404 03 | Total expenditures............000.+...93,404 03 Deducting from the amount of total receipts ($3,404.03) the amount of money borrowed ($1,300), and it leaves the sum of $2,104.03 as the actual receipts from all sources during the year. ESTIMATES FOR COMING YEAR. Hxpenses. Receipts. CVA LAS) cherer Pp epecr ere penceeee Wess ieite Seeecoroee $120 00 Prom anne (dw esters ees $325 00 NRGS wwe wresseiedvesves ec sszese SUiteTe Le ee 36 00 Initiation fees........ abstede cesta reeezee Bre 100 00 GOA east Sessasotsa doce cccteactecessee one 50 00 WNSUTANCE:.- cy eer cena 12 50 Stationery and postage..............00-.... 3000 Breight: amd xpress: c:.csccsesncseecseteese 40 00 ILMLONCS ties, tacvesecvens aes sseve ccsdes One flint spear. Spaulding, D. D., ak ats Two flint arrows. Sprott, 'T. L.., Montrose, Iowa. Flint knife. Starr. M., Moline, Ills. Fossil coal plants. Steiniger, Oscar, Bellevue, Ills. Collection of flint arrows. Sterling, Dr. E., Cleveland, Ohio. Cast of fish—Pzke. Stevens, 8. P., Rockingham, lowa. Ancient stone axe. Stinson, Elizabeth, Carman Station, Ills. Flint spear. Stumpf, John, Gilead, Ills. Flint arrow. Styers, Mrs. Margaret, Deer Plain, Ills. Twelve flint arrows. Suiter, Zachary, Le Claire, Iowa. Two arrows; fossil shell. Supple, Henry, Pontoosuc, Ills. Flint arrow. Swafford, O. G., New Boston, Ills. Two flint implements. Swafford, Melissa, f Three flint implements. Swift, Thomas, Deer Plain, Ills. Two flint implements. Terry, Sarah, Drury, Il/s. Flint arrow; discoidal stone. Thannert, Louisa, Pontoosuc, Ills. Flint arrow. Thannert, Albert, we ot Flint knife. Thomas, Elijah, Drury, Tlls. Two flint implements. Timanus, Miss Fannie, Chicago. Fejee war club. Trader, Mary, Hamburg, Ills. Flint arrow. Troxell, Win., Drury, Ilis. Flint arrow. Truax, Charles, Maquoketa, Jowa. Orthoceras. Tubbs, George E., Port Byron, Ills. Flint arrow. Tull, Mrs. Mary E., Bate City, Ills. One flint spear. Tull; J. W-. if Two flint arrows. Twigg, Mrs. Dr. Wm., Illinois City, Ills. Two flint implements. Urban, Frederick. Two discoidal stones. Urick, Philip, Pontoosuc, Ills. Ancient stone axe. Vallandingham, Anna, Andalusia, Ills. Two flint implements. Vallandingham, Emma, #4 fe Two flint implements. Velie, Dr. J. W., Chicago, Ills. Nine species birds’ eggs; plaster cast of bird track in sandstone. Viele, Charles, Evansville, Ind. Large silver mounted show case. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM. 55 Wagoner, I. N. jr., Hamilton, Ills. Two flint arrows. Wagoner, Herbert, se ss One flint arrow; two shells. Wagoner, George, st sf Flint arrow, Wagoner, Emmarilla, “ de Three flint arrows. Walker, Margaret M., Copper Creek, Ills. Stone axe. Walker, Margaret, Pontoosuc, Ills. Flint spear. Walker, John, oS ES Flint spear. Walker, Henry, os Flint knife and stone implement. Walker. a. tHe bs oe . Flint knife. Wallendorf, Anna, Brussels, Ills. Five flint impiements. Wanon, W. P., Elsah, llls. Large stone axe. Ward, Mrs. Maggie, M. D., Gilead, Ills. Large flint spear. Watt, Harry, Davenport. Kansas grasshopper and snake rattles. Watts, Wm. M., Hamburg, Ills. Hematite axe. Watts, Lafayette, fo gS Two flint implements. Wettstein, Matthew, Alton, Ills. Flint arrow. Whipple, Lizzie, Elsah, Ills. Five flint implements. Wiess, Albert, Humpton, Ills. Flint arrow. Wilford, Shed, Drury, Zils. Two flint implements. Wilford, Geo. F., ‘ = Stone axe. Wilie, John, Davenport. Fossiliferous clay from a well. Wilkinson, B. F., Gilead, Ills. Flint spear. Willitts, Dr. Thomas, New Boston, Il/s. Mound builders’ pottery. Willhoft, ——, Divenport. Fresh water fishes. Williams, Albert, Nauvoo, Jils. Stone gouge. Williams, Chas., s ‘* Flint implement. Williams, Morris, Fairport, Iowa. Two flint arrows. Williams, Angie, se “ Flint spear. Williams, Mrs. R. M., ‘** Ga Ancient stone implement. Williams, R. M., of sf Discoidal stone. Wilson, Prof. John E., Galt, Canada (by Johu Hume). Collection of Scottish ferns. Witherell, L. R., Davenport. Minerals and fossils from Kansas. Woodward, W. R., Brussels, Ills. Two Hint implements. Woodward, H. W.., # hi Flint arrow. Woodward, E. L., ss et Flint arrow. Woodward, B. B., Davenport. Stuffed gar pike. Woodworth, William, Millville, Iowa. Mastodon tooth. Worley, Mrs. P H., Davenport. Thirteen moss agates; galena crystals. Wright, Frances N., Sonora, Ills. Stone and flint implement. Yost, Miss Julia, Hampton, Jlls. Flint arrow. Young, Frederick E., Montrose, Iowa. Flint arrow. Zern, John, Pontoosuc, Ills. Stone gouge. Zern, George W., Sonora, Jills. Stone axe; flint arrow. Zern, Mrs. Lizzie, ‘ He Flint arrow. 56 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Contributions to the Museum during 1878.* Abbott, Dr. J. T., Manchester, Iowa. A box of fossils from that locality. Allen, M. T., Smithville, Miss. Ancient stone implement. Andell, W., Clifton, Tenn. Three arrows. Atchison, Barton F., Millry, Ala. Two fossil star fish. Atchison, Rodolph, os rc Two fossil] shark’s teeth. Atwood, H. F., Chicago, Ills. Twenty-five microscopic slides—Diatoms, Foraminifera, Seeds, Sands, &c. Barris. Prof. W. H., Davenport. A collection of local Devonian fossils. Barrows, Dr. E. S., Davenport. Ball invitation card on silk, 1838. Bartlett, Frank, Demopolis, Ala. One arrow head. Bateman, Hardin, Randolph, Tenn. Two ilint implements. Bare, David F., Smithville, Miss. Six arrows. Beckerstack, W. G., Highland, Miss. Two arrows. Bellfrage, G. W., Clifton, Texas. Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, 246 spe- cies, 449 specimens. Berdan, Judge Jas., Jucksonville, Ills. A walrus tusk, and a bowi made of the shell of a fruit of South America. Blattner, Charles, Grand Tower, [lls. Two flint arrows. Boatwright, John T., Fulton, Miss. Ancient stone axe. Boudinot. Frank, Davenport. Cone-in-cone, from Marion county. Boykin, W. F., Bladen Springs, Ala. Three flint implements. Brock, R. A., Richmond, Va. Two cocoons of Collosamia promithia. Butler, Mary J., Bonfonca, La. Three flint implements. Byrnes, Dr. R. M., Walcott, Iowa. A three-legged goose. Calkins, J. W., Santa Barbara, Cal. Five flints from burial mounds; also shell beads, flint awls, stone pipe. Calkins, W. W., Chicrgo, Ills. Collections of marine, fresh water and land shells. 273 species, 1366 specimens ; Florida plants, 10 species ; fossils, 129 species, 168 specimens. Carmichael, J. E., Davenport. Skull of some animal, undetermined. Carroll, Mary A., Clifton, Tenn. Discoidal stone. Champlin, John, Highland, Miss. Five arrows. Cheney, W. P., Demopolis, Ala. Four arrows. Clark, T. B., Scranton, Miss. 'Two specimens French slate. Clark, Hon. Wm. Penn, Davenport. A fine specimen of Syringopora musica, a red coral. Clement, P. A., Warsaw, Ala. One arrow; one discoidal stone. Coleman, W. B., Cypress, Tenn. Stone axe; six arrows. Collier, M. V., Hastman, Miss. Fourteen arrows. Collum, P. F., oe oS Four arrows. Collum, R. S., e a Three arrows. Comstock, G. W. R., Brooklyn, N. Y. Chameleon bugs from Yucatan ; shells from Bermuda; stalactite from the cave at Matanzas, Cuba. Crampton, Charles and George, Moline, Ills. Large collection of local spiders. * From the records of the Curator. -] Or CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM. Cousin, Anatole, Bonfonca, La. Three arrows, one stone chisel. Crandall, J. A., Davenport. Old bank bill, 1852, and fractional currency, first issue, five cents. Curry, Mrs. T. F. M., Davenport. An ermine (Puturus erminea). Davenport, Geo. L., Davenport. Original documents relating to the early history of Davenport. MSS map of Island of Rock Island. Davis, Marshall, Edgington, Ills. Specimen of Sigillaria. Doe, Geo. W., Maquoketa, Iowa. Fine mineral specimens from Colorado. Drexel, Theodore, Davenport. Three coins. Dulaney, Gilbert, Fulton, Miss. Two arrows. Dulaney, W., Es i Two arrows. Dulaney, John, Be a Four arrows. Dulaney, Albert, ‘ eS Five arrows. Duvall, C., ae e Six arrows. Dykes, J. T., ss “y Discoidal stone. Edwards, Henry, San Francisco, Cal. A collection of marine shells and crustacea. Californian and Australian insects, 823 species. Farley, F. D., Davenport. Fore-leg of small deer of South Sea Islands. Fitch, Geo. W., Rochester, N. Y. American cent, 1818. Flagler, Col. D. W., Rock Island. Corner Stone for Academy building. Foreman, Dr. E., Washington, D. C. ASN: S:, Vol. I1T.] 9 [March 17, 1881.] 66 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. prefer to continue my labors for the success of the Academy in a po- sition of less prominence and responsibility, and my personal wishes certainly prompt me to decline its embarrassing duties. Not being present at your annual meeting, nor consulted in regard to your action, I could not decline in advance; but having been as- sured that were | to do so now it would seriously embarrass the Acad- emy, my deep interest in its welfare and progress constrains me to accept the position so flatteringly bestowed, though I do so with un- feigned reluctance. In thus accepting the Presidency I am aware that I must sacrifice that disinterested and independent position, which has thus far enabled me to aid you in some slight degree, and hence dur- ing this coming year much of that work will devolve upon other mem- bers of the Academy. I must, therefore, make it one of the condi- tions of my acceptance that a fair commencement of a subscription to liquidate the indebtedness of the Academy be at once made, and that the assurance of the trustees and members be given that it shall be prosecuted to an early and successful termination. Your action, in its implied recognition of woman’s interest and helpfulness in pro- moting the great cause of Science, was no less generous than just ; but the “ New Departure ” would have been more complete had the representation of women on the executive board been enlarged. I would, therefore, respectfully suggest some action on your part with a view to remedy the inequality, not leaving me the sole female rep- resentative. Thanking you, gentlemen, personally and in the name of my sex, for the honor conferred upon me, I remain, Very sincerely yours, Mary. L. D. Purnam. Woop awy, Jan. 6th, 1879. JANUARY 31st, 1879. — Reauiar MEETING. The President, Mrs. Mary L. D. Putnam, inthe chair. Eighteen members and visitors present. Reports of the Curator, Librarian, Corresponding Secretary and Publication Committee were presented, and the thanks of the Acad- emy voted to the donors to the Library and Museum. Mr. Fred. A. Candee, of Moline, Tll., was elected a regular mem- ber. Dr. Emil Schmidt, Essen, Prussia; M. Anatole Bamps, Brussels, J. D. PUTNAM.—WESTERN CICAD. 6 Belgium; and Dr. Charles Barrois, Lille, France, were elected corres- ponding members. The President announced the following Sranpinc ComMi?rrEEs for the year :— Finance —Chas. E. Putnam, H. C. Fulton, Wm. Renwick. Publication —J. D. Putnam, C. C. Parry, R. J. Farquharson, W. H. Barris, C. H. Preston. Library.—k. J. Farquharson, E. P. Lynch, J. B. Young, Miss Lucy Pratt. Musenm.—W. H. Pratt, C. C. Parry, J. D. Putnam, J. Gass, W. H. Barris, R. J. Farquharson, C. H. Preston, J. A. Crandall, D. 8. Shel- don. Lectures.—S. S. Hunting, Geo. P. McClelland, W. F. Ross, Mrs. J. B. Young, Mrs. 8. P. Bryant, Mrs. E. M. Howard. Entertainments.—Mrs. E. M. Howard, Mrs. C. C. Parry, Mrs. I. M. Gifford, Mrs. A. Burdick, Mrs. T. W. McClelland, Miss Mary Raff, ©. E. Harrison, 8. A. Fisher, C. A. Ficke. Furnishing.—E. H. Hazen, M. B. Cochran, E. P. Lynch. Mr. J. D. Putnam exhibited specimens of various species of Cicada, collected by him in the west, and made the following :— Remarks on the Habits of Several Western Cicadz. BY J. D. PUTNAM. Cicada synodica Say, was quite common on the grassy plains near Denver and Boulder, in Colorado, in June, 1872. The male makes a tolerably loud rattling noise. Cicada putnami Uhler, (Vol. II, Plate IV, figs. 3 and 4,) I have collected only upon one occasion, July 2d, 1872. 1t occurred in con- siderable numbers on some small aspen trees growing close to the water of Clear Creek, between Floyd’s Hill and Idaho Springs, Col- orado. The male makes a very faint chirp, differing entirely from any other Cicada I have ever heard. This species does not appear to have been collected since. Cicada rimosa Say. This species was found on the same day, July 2d, 1872, and not more than a mile distant. It occurred in small numbers on some aspen trees on Floyd’s Hill several hundred feet above the level of the creek. It kept itself quite apart from C’. putnami, though they were on the same kind of trees. C. rimosa appears to be more generally distributed, and therefore more common 68 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. than any other species of Cicada in the Rocky Mountains. I found it quite plenty in the Wind River and Shoshone Mountains in Wyo- ming in 1873, and Hy. Edwards has sent me some specimens from Nevada that do not appear to be specifically distinct. The male makes a rattling noise, exceedingly lke that of a rattlesnake. This resemblance was so close that one day in 1873, in the Shoshone Mountains, I was attracted by a noise which I took to be one of these insects, and stooped to pick it up, when I suddenly discovered a huge rattlesnake in its stead. I have the pupa skin of this species from Spring Lake, Utah, but the imagines had disappeared before my arrival, July 2d, 1875. Dr. Parry gave an interesting account of his recent trip to Mexico, illustrating his remarks with maps, specimens of pottery, ete. FEBRUARY 28TH, 1879. — RecuLaR MEETING. The President, Mrs. Mary L. D. Putnam, in the chair. Twelve members and visitors present. Mr. H. T. Bushnell, Mrs. J. W. Stewart, Mrs. J. B. Young and Mrs. U. N. Roberts were elected regular members. Rev. H. C. Thomson and Miss Abbie Cochran, of Monterey, Mexico, were elected corres- ponding members. Marcu 28TH, 1879. — RecuLtarR MEETING. The President, Mrs. Mary L. D. Putnam, in the chair. Twenty- seven members and visitors present. Dr. W. J. Hoffman, Washington, D. C.; Prof. Chas. Wachsmuth, Burlington, Iowa; Mr. W. C. Holbrook, Coleta, Ill.; and Prof. Roland Trimen, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, were elected corresponding members. The following papers were read : Antiquities of Whiteside County, Illinois. BY W. C. HOLBROOK. In this paper I propose to describe certain pre-historic structures of Whiteside county, which, for the want of a better name, I will designate “altars.” In the spring of 1877, Mr. Holly, of Clyde, brought me a piece of limestone, burned and reddened by fire, that W. C. HOLBROOK.—ANTIQUITIES OF WHITESIDE CO., ILL. 69 had been turned up by a plow. — I at once proceeded to examine the locality from whence it came. It was near the southeast corner of section twelve in the town of Clyde, near the center of a broad val- ley, about forty rods east of Rock Creek. The surface of this part of the field was very nearly level. Not the slightest trace of a mound could be observed. A gentleman, well acquainted with the field long before it was cultivated, tells me that there never was a mound or embankment there. About a foot below the surface of the soil, we found a circular stone floor, or table, six feet and three inches in diameter and a little more than one foot in height. The materials of this altar must have been carried from an outcropping of Niagara limestone, on the east bank of Rock Creek, about a mile below. Some of the stones were as large as one man could well carry, and were flat and thin. They were fitted together as well as unhewn stones could be fitted. There were three layers, one resting upon another. The rocks of the upper layer were reddened, and in the center almost reduced to lime by the action of fire, The plow and the cultivator had, for years, passed just above this structure, but the new “sub-soiler™ had grazed one stone and had brought it to the surface. The clay on top of the altar was filled with fine pieces of charcoal. The crevices of the rocks were filled with charcoal and clay. Where the three layers did not break joints, and the erevices extended to the bottom of the altar, the charcoal was found as low as the lower surface of the lower layer. The clay in the crevices appeared to be mingled with ashes, for it differed in color and texture from the surrounding clay. The heat had followed the crevices and reddened the edges of the stones of the lower layers. On removing the black soil, we found charcoal mingled with the clay twelve feet distant from the edge of the altar. Willow appears to have been the wood from which the charcoal was burned. Having finished the examination of this structure, we began to probe the soil with sharp iron rods, and, after a half day’s work, my rod grated upon rock. On removing the soil, we found a second altar, four rods and three feet southeast of the first. It was. six feet and six inches in diameter, and in all respects like the first. No bones or implements were found on or about these altars, A few days ago, a finely-polished grooved stone ax, weighing six and one- half pounds, was found about two rods west of the first altar. Burned rocks have frequently been plowed up in the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section eighteen in the town of 70 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Genesee, but as the field is now a meadow I can not examine by re- moving the soil, and a sharp rod comes in contact with small bould- ers. Walking along the foot of a hill that faces the southwest, about fifty rods south of the center of section five in the same town, I ob- served that the recent rains had uncovered a portion of a burned rock. An oak tree, more than two feet in diameter, had once stood in the soil above this structure, but the stump was so far decayed it offered no resistance to the work of excavation. The original form is somewhat obscure, for some of the rocks were in a confused heap beneath the center of the old oak tree. It appears to have been a rude oven, or fire-place, in the bank. No implements, and but little charcoal, were found. The rock must have been carried two miles. About a mile west of the old town of Como, the soil, in places, is filled with this burned rock. Small fragments are scattered promis- cuously through the soil. A fine specimen of pottery was once found here by a farmer while digging a post hole. | He sent this valuable relic to a friend in the State of New York. In this place I found several fragments of black basalt that had been in a hot fire. On the north bank of Rock River, above Sterling, there are several groups of mounds and earthworks. In mound number one, we found the most remarkable altar ever found in Whiteside county. The mound referred to is a low, flat, circular mound, about thirty feet in diameter and four feet Ingh. A hickory stump, ten inches in diameter, was found in the soil above the altar. On removing the soil, we found this structure, in many respects, like the one first described, except that it is oval in form, the longer diameter being six feet and the shorter four and one-half feet. The direction of the long diameter was north and south. The upper layer, for there were two layers of flat stones, was reddened, and in some places almost reduced to dust, by the action of fire. On and about this altar we found charcoal and charred human bones. Some of the bones appear to have been broken into small pieces. Six small pieces of human skulls were found. The first was a part of the frontal bone, and contained a part of the orbit of the left eye. It was about three inches long and two inches wide. The second bone examined was an irregular fragment of the occipital bone near the foramen mag- num. The next three were thick pieces of the temporal bones, two right and one left. The last was a square fragment of the parietal bone, about an inch and one-half on each edge. These six bones were found near the west margin of the altar, and were parts of at W. C. HOLBROOK .—ANTIQUITIES OF WHITESIDE c€o., ILL. 71 least two skulls. Nearer the center of the altar, buried in charcoal, we found the carpal end of the radius of the right arm. It was about three and one-half inches in length, and was charred and blackened by fire. It was not a difficult task to separate the bone and the wood charcoal, but many of the smaller fragments of bones could not be identified. I know not whether they were human or animal bones. About one-half of the left femur lay partially under one of the long flat stones of the lower layer of the altar. Mound number two of this group was next examined. We found portions of three adult skeletons. Two were lying upon the face, with their heads to the east, and the third was lying upon the right’ side, with head to the west. A part of the left side of the lower jaw of a child about five years old was found near the skulls, in the east- ern part of the mound; also the claws of some bird. The bones were found in a layer of black soil about ten inches in thickness. — Above the black soil there was a thin stratum of charcoal. The remainder of the mound was composed of clay common to that locality. In the “dolmen mound,” we found a dry wall enclosing a quadri- lateral space, about ten feet long, four and a half feet wide and four feet high. The top was covered with large flat slabs of limestone. Inside of this structure we found the remains of no less than eight persons, two finely-polished black pebbles, one fossil, and a plummet. In this mound, as well as several other mounds of this group, there were several small fragments of the above-described limestone.* On the north bank of Rock River, below Sterling, every mound excavated contained several pieces of these charred and reddened stones. They appear to have been thrown in beside the corpse dur- ing burial, for there are no other evidences of fire in these mounds.t+ Taking all of these facts into consideration, I am of the opinion, if an unbiassed witness is allowed to state an opinion, that the prehis- toric men of Whiteside county burned human victims on altars once sacred to a religion now forgotten. * For an account of this and other mounds see American Naturalist, Nov., 1877, Vol. XI, page 688. + A remarkable altar has since been found afew rods east of these mounds. It was made of large flat stones, inthe form of a perfect circle, and about twelve feet in diameter. In the soil below this structure, portions of five adult skeletons were found. The heads were in the center and feet at the circumference, at points equidistant. These bones soon crumbled to dust when exposed to the air. One skull was pierced by a small reddish chert arrow. This altar was found by some workmen, who gave the specimens to Dr. J. T. Everett.. I examined part of the structure, and obtained some of the facts from him. > w DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. The Indian* Inscriptions of Davenport, Lowa. BY PROF. G. SEYFFARTH, PH. D., TH. D. The four photographed inscriptions under consideration, published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of Davenport, Iowa, Vol. 11, 1877, p. 92, aad, a few weeks ago, transmitted to me for ex- amination, are much more important than | expected. They are the first discovered phonetic and astronomic monuments of the primitive inhabitants of this country, which, sooner or later, will cast unex- pected hight upon the origin, the history, the religion, the language, the science and intellectual faculties of our ancient Indians. For the present, however, it is natural, no satisfactory interpretation of these Indian relics can be performed, because, without a much greater number of similar inscriptions and interior knowledge of related dia- lects, it is impossible to determine the phonetic values of nearly 200 characters and the lexical signification of a corresponding number of old Indian words. Another difficulty is that many characters, obvious on our Tablets, are imperfectly represented on the photographic plates, because all limes of a figure, running parallel to the direction of the hight, remain indistinct, whilst scratches appear like engraved lines. It would, therefore, be a meritorious act to publish, before add, exact fac similes of the Tablets, taken from the originals themselves by means of a magnifying glass, as has been done with the Rosetta stone in 1812. Under these circumstances, it will not astonish the reader that the writer confines himself to but a small number of remarks, as follows :— 1. The Tablets, Nos. I, LI, 1V, contain nearly 200 characters, of which, however, 16 occur several times. The remaining 150 or more different figures, the human and animal delineations not being taken into account, demonstrate that the primitive inhabitants of our country did not use the simple Noachian alphabet of 25 letters, but a great number of sy//abic signs, originated from the said alphabet, as was and is still the case in Egypt, Japan, Corea, China and central Africa. Livingstont reports that the people of Bermegai used 280 characters for syllabically expressing the words of their spoken language. | From the late Missionary Guitzlaff I learned that the 40,000 Chinese types are not idealogic, but syllabic. Hence the city of Cassell was ex- * Prof. Seyffarth uses the word “ Indian ” in this paper in its more general sense, as applying to all former inhabitants of this continent, and not re- stricted to the modern Indians.—[ EprTor. +Seventeen Years Explorations in Africa, Phila., 1858, page 220. PROF. SEYFFA RTH.—INSCRIPTIONS OF THE DAVENPORT TABLETS. 73 pressed by two types, of which one sounded 4s, the other s7. Hence it is probable that the American Indians emigrated from a country where a syllabic method of writing prevailed. 2. If we compare the characters on the Davenport slabs with those preserved on Mexican and South American monuments, we notice instantly that many of them agree with each other, as the adjoined Plate (Pl. I, lines ¢,¢, 7.) abundantly evidences. Little discrepancies (Pl. I, lines a, 4, c,) make no difference, because different hands draw the same letters differently. In comparing the Davenport signs with Mexican and South American ones I followed Prof. Wuttke’s “Ent- stehung der Schrift,” 1872, which however does not represent a great many of American inscriptions. The harmony of the Iowa, Mexican and South American characters puts beyond question that all the prim- itive inhabitants of America must have descended from the same ab- origines. 3. It is self-evident that America must have been populated by the next nations, of course by the Japanese, Coreans, and Chinese. This conclusion is justified by the 15 Indian letters, corresponding with Chinese, Corean, and Japanese ones, (PI. I, lines g, /, 7, /, 1,) found in Wuttke’s aforesaid work. I do not doubt that scholars, be- ing familar with Japanese and Chinese literature, will find a hundred other antitypes of our Indian characters. The Northmen, it is true, discovered North America prior to Columbus, but the Indian charac- ters on the Davenport monuments point us clearly to the Chinese syllabic figures, and not to the alphabetic runes. 4. It would be interesting in the extreme to read a grammatical translation of the Iowa inscriptions ;_ but as long as Indian paleogra-. phy, just being born, is in its infancy, nobody will expect interpreta- tions of texts, of which the underlying language and the pronuncia- tion of the elements are not yet made out. Nevertheless, the Chinese and Japanese paleography and lexicography will help to determine, sooner or later, the phonetic value of the letters and the nature of the dialect of the ancient Indians in our country. Besides, since it is not to be expected to discover Indian bilingual inscriptions, like the Ro- setta and Tanis stones, the single words of the Iowa inscriptions are to be translated according to the context ; but it is extremely difficult to correctly translate the single groups of an inscription, written in unknown characters, without having a great many similar inscriptions at hand, where the same groups return in other connections. ®. In addition, it is to be mentioned, that our slabs cast unex- [Proc. D. A. N.S., Vol. IIT.] 10 [July 1, 1881.] 74 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. pected light upon the religion, civilization and science of the primitive American Indians. Let us examine the single plates and the antiquities found in the respective mounds.* . In the mound No, 3, near the surface, too human skeletons, a fire steel, a common clay pipe, a number of shell and glass beads, and a silver ear-ring, associated with the skeletons, were discovered. From the preservation of the latter, and the said rather modern antiquities, it was concluded that “they belonged to our century.” About five and one-half feet below the surface three other skele- tons ‘came to light, near which a large number of copper beads, two copper axes, again three other ones wrapped in cloth, a number of small red stones arranged in the form of a star, two carved stone pipes, several canine teeth of the bear, one arrow head, a broken pot, two pieces of galena, and a lump of yellow ochre were reposed. Again, two years later, a new excavation, about fifteen feet north- west of the former was undertaken, where the following objects were found, again near the surface: A few glass beads and a fragment of a brass ring. On this occasion | remember that very similar sepulchral mounds still exist in the whole of Germany, from Thuringia to the boundaries of Polonia and Russia, and that the same extend thence to the midst of Asia. These hills, ascribed to Slavonic nations, and built prior to the introduction of Christianity in Germany,—probably, as is commonly presumed, 1000 years B. C.,—contain similar antiqui- ties. I myself, in exacvating a number of such hills, near Herzberg, in Saxony, discovered, besides numberless ash-urns and other vases of all descriptions, a clumsy ring fit for a common finger, two ear- rings, an arrow head and an ornamented knife, all of copper, or rather bronze, changed, however, into malachite.+t The same Davenport diggings being continued, the following relics were obtained: A small bit of copper, an artificially wrought bone, a copper axe, copper beads, fragments of pottery, a piece of yellow pigment, a piece of mica, two crystals of dog-tooth spar, some flakes of selenite, a flint arrow head, and, what is the most important of all, * We refer to the pamphlet, “Account of the Discovery of Inscribed Tab- lets, by Rey. J. Gass. With a description by Dr. R. J. Farquharson.’ From these Proceedings, Vol. ii, Davenport, Iowa, 1877. +See Seyffarth, Bemerkungen iiber die sogenannten Hiinengriiber in Deutschland, nebst einer Tafel. < Schriften der Deutschen Gesellschaft zu Erforschung und Bewahrung vaterliindischer Alterthttimer. Band 1. Leipzig, 1825. * a re ‘ ese ‘ “euaibal’ Heo see brio 2 eiinpina oa Be Bodslq olga ait saimexs av tots. ae ; ; ; *.abauom < ovnnagned eet nagivod. ‘ood costae 53 LBS rf “oft. bagers ont 11: ably Bus Heda tp rode « oqiq yelo ‘nogiaos @ ,loS*s ; ees OH, “asoisiode tlt dtiw botstioosss gittxse revliz fwininae t10-t bagnoled yodt * dart habuloaos saw di 2 aadio bods soxtiog dt wolsd test HUed-sa0'-has ova suodA t ebsed taqqo” to todaiwa ororal* 6.iisidw inso ,tdail-ot sites aitot qodmis 8 diolo- mi baqqatw taco sorte sonlt cisus 2ox% 19qq09 te perrieo owt ara & to arc edt im bovaeink acrid: hor Usserna 40 ® a alow "ad sali oe quan! & PSone sholes Ao nen iy Ovrd ie #5st asodint dieds morass woo. ols mesy ow) .riemA Blooido:y oniwollel Sdi Atodw .it0 re 1wearit add du jeaw non ney bre abaed sashe wot 5808 Statfé. at ase irises .bavot Lrscqor agliotia ray zeit sberhed T foteioo aidt nt unin vende sigariedT arent ase to slodyr’ orlt i faixe ipaehbavont md baotxs omse ody jadi bow sweet baw simolod lo asishased COIs oinovsle: of baditoer lid eaodT siz A YoJebier adi of et asitosia, BIRHIOS— & aIRDy ROOT. bs MMLTES GT Vinongntos al 28 s19H 189.0 allid' doe to tedrien 1 gnitavoaxe, of Meeyer leit r toro: as ecru ~das alindan: eehieed ,beravovaib ,ysoxed ai nit nomntoD, & 10l Jo “gar y somtt ig dnodbroesd Hs to to, Aerottaal Detasmacio 8 Bs. basi * toring 118, Sou po ty: “fsdtdosisn oti joveowal: bogdans | Seana wuts flat adt hess fit109, aiiod aanigath jeoqgsys* gee” St. oi \ “yllsinitigns ipa! tedid Hania A * 5 Ba stead inte Sih 8 spronto do a agutasMmebndd T9qqos | 8 “aR oF ma miediioh lo Rees ‘ows ‘aie 49" “snahy & Asitiuy (mi nt FRQHy onl. Bi cml bn, cbaail ee SH 2. oourtetse ty Pom ake o, is ad eS es ee “+ ye vc } tO ‘opens a oicite secede 2 = 4 oF GornokgireeeD BAW 2He Ne volt yn was idaaisomet IGS tyne. Pee at enpvidio trebom: eontes bisa odd bas pvattel ad} Yo coiav rseoKg adit . | sdorq—yiwurroD fi yingitendO Yo nolloubouni oft of tong died ar srogmaysd ips IO Siete ae init sist x sgdglatad AASmBEE ert he Piderwest ae wenn y ear Cer ee *Q ixepiaad : aay FO Yi ci Sa ou” a? a ao Proc Bidoeat Meda Nat. Set. Vol Hf. Hatel. Egual characters on different Tasertptions. Pa en ae a WR a Fe tite aah a € o9fO-” ' Mee Bate Mg ; Indian signs corresponding with Mexican and South American. eae Wir aD’ tmidhgd oldie, 0 Yaaro tal FP? shiner Pann oa) Wao MO loge soa tetas ae Indian signs corresponding with Japanese, Corean& Chinese. gia — bo Y= Toute ene eet be oe hs Tease" Ebi, oi Nive aa yay bee ih olonicze al Dada O rameters | Be ane ort eae Theludian Zodiac with the Planets. re MOE BL TS PG agtias ty eee . * ~~ DAAC CAR SR oo * Als oe PAL TT li (| ll 7 DAS eyffarth Del. 1/2 W 70 GI 8 JA G on 4 3 o7 7, PROF. SEYFFARTH.—INSCRIPTIONS OF THE DAVENPORT TABLETS. 7d two inscribed tablets of coal slate, of which one bea¥s an inscription on each side. Although the time has not yet come, as was confessed in the prem- ises, to explain the said graphic monuments of the primitive inhabit- ants of our country satisfactorily, nevertheless, I shall pronounce my ideas concerning the representations on the Tablets, hoping that they will contribute a share to the final solution of the problem. Pree. 3% of which Pl. II is the reverse, obviously shows a sacrificial festivity of an Indian tribe. The fire and the flame upon a hill are apparent. The top of the hill is encompassed by a stone wall, probably forming the altar or the enclosure of that temple. Remember that the pagan temples in Germany were situated upon natural or artificial hills.t Subsequent to the introduction of Christianity in Germany Christian churches were built upon such hills instead of the pagan temples. A great many of similar Indian hills are to be found in America, e. /., the big mound in St. Louis, the Teocallis of Mexico, and similar ones.{ All such hills were, as is the case with that on our Tablet, Indian temples, or sacrificial mounds. Further, near the fire, three fettered men, lying on the ground, are conspicuous, obviously the victims. Since the whole of the tribe, in- cluding the lower part of the slah broken off,—about fifty men,—are dancing and shouting round the fire, it is probable that the victims were the captured chiefs of another tribe, being conquered. The sacrifice, moreover, is offered to the sun and the moon and the twelve great gods on the starry heaven. For the little orbs between. the sun and the moon are the stars, and the two curves above them represent the Zodiac and the heavenly firmament. Thus it is evident that the North American Indians formerly worshipped the seven plan- ets and twelve signs of the Zodiac, 7. ¢., the twelve great gods of all nations of antiquity. This result will be put beyond question by the Tablets, represented on Plates IIT and VII. According to another interpretation, our slab signifies a cremation scene ; but the Indians of our country, as is well known, did not burn their dead, but interred them, and on such occasions no entire tribe * These references are to Plates I, II, III, VII, in the Proceedings, Vol. ii. +See Seyffarth, Ueber Opferpliitze und Religion der alten Deutschen, mit 2 lithogr. tafelm, 1842. < Neues Lausitzer Magazin. B. vi, H. 2, p. 151. tSee Transactions of the Acad. of Sci. of St. Louis, Vol. i, pp. 36. 97, 700. DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. | would have danced and shouted during the annihilation of the last remains of their relations. Besides, the skeletons found in the same sepulchres record the fact that the same Iowa Indians did not burn their corpses. Piuxce It is a well known fact that the history of the deluge has been pre- served among the most different nations of America, and the univer- sality of the Noachian inundation of our globe has been placed be- yond the reach of controversy by an excellent treatise of Pojana.* He has collected nearly all the respective traditions and discussed his argument so carefully that he had a right to conclude with the follow- ing words: “ Doubting this universal catastrophe would show how far voluntary stupid incredulity is capable to go, both in believing what is incredible and in denying what is credible.”+ In short, the event of the deluge, even many of its particular fea- tures, are to be found not only in Genesis, in Syria, Egypt, Central Africa, Phoenicia, Greece, Italy, Scandinavia, Persia, India, Babylonia, China and Japan, but also among the ancient Mexicans, Cubani, Mit- echi, Zapotechi, Micuocanesi, and other nations of South America, men- tioned by Humboldt. Ona Mexican temple the deluge was repre- sented by the image of an immense ocean, bearing only one boat, oc- cupied only by a male and female. Instead of a dove, already for- gotten by the ancient Mexicans, a humming-bird returns with the olive leaf. Now, is it not probable in advance, that the Indians of North America,—the relations of the Mexicans,—must have preserved the same history of the same deluge of the year 3446 B. C.?{ In contemplating our Davenport slab, what do we notice ? First, we distinguish thirty or more animals well known in the present world, of which the most interesting is the elephant, not at all domes- tic in America. A number of these animals appear included in two large cages, intersected with lattice work. In the midst of these ani- mals we see a patriarch with the scepter in his hand, and behind him a sitting woman. Apart from these we notice three other men, and three other likewise sitting women, but scattered among the animals. (Juery: Who are these eight persons—these four men and four wo- men? Why are they connected with thirty different animals, of * Della universalita del Diluvio. < Poligrapho di Verona, Vol. xi, p. 145. + Die Allgemeinheit der Siindfluth nach Pojana und neueren Hiilfsmit- teln. Pilger Buchhandlung, Reading, Pa.. 1881. {See the writer’s: Unser Alphabet, ein Abbild des Thierkreises vom Jahre 3446 B. C.. Leipzig, 1884. Vol; Lik Nat. Sci., ud. 39824 ) Proc. Davenport Ac 7 Zz : . . : : Pe ; ; ‘ F 3 . . - i 2 = > # . 3 3 7 fd F . : 4 : ; ; “ ™, i € a ‘ f Ps ; ; F 4 “ pa ot " ls * ‘ ; woe ae ; : x o . ha . - = ri at al . = a. 7 a : ‘i: F as = Z E, * & = és + 2 : eae . a * + i Proc. Davenport Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. HG E Plate III. ws 4a PROF. SEYFFARTH.—INSCRIPTIONS OF THE DAVENPORT TABLETS. which several are encayed, and hence preserved for a future time ? What has the elephant to do with North America? I should think these particulars abundantly evidence that our Tablet is a memorial of the Noachian deluge, and a commentary to all other American tra- ditions confirming the latter. It makes no difference whether this slab was engraved in America or in that country from which the first Indians emigrated; whether it was the work of that man in whose grave it was discovered, or was a sacred relic preserved from genera- tion to generation. According to another opinion, this Tablet presents a hunting scene. Sut in this case we do not understand why no hunting imstruments are visible; that a patriarch, holding a cane in his hand, stands quietly in the midst of thirty animals; that four women sitting on the ground partake in this hunting scene. PLATE PET This is, no doubt, the most interesting and the most important Tab- let ever discovered in North America. For it represents a planetary configuration, the twelve signs of the Zodiac, known to all nations of old, and the seven planets, conjoined with six different signs. First, in the midst of four concentric circles, we see the disk or globe of the earth. The next girdle between the belt of the Zodiac and the earth is divided into four equal parts, or quadrants, each con- taining three signs, corresponding with the spring, summer, autumn and winter. The twelve signs run, as is the case with the Zodiacal constellations, from the right to the left hand. The figures of the signs are the same which we find depicted on Egyptian, Greek, Ro- man aud other monuments, and cailed Aries (7), Taurus (%), Gem- ini (71), Cancer (), Leo (0), Virgo (ml), Libra (=), Scorpio (m1), Sagittarius (f), Capricornus (V5), Aquarius (2), Pisces (+). — It is, however, to be borne in mind that these images are represented”on the Tablet as they appear if being contemplated from the earth, ¢. g., Gemini. Our copy, (PI. I, line »,) on the contrary, represents their natural position, being clearer to the spectator. The signs, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, are plain enough. | Gemini are expressed by two sitting children, like the constellation of Gemini, at present Castor and Pollux. | Cancer is expressed by the shears and the head of that animal. Leo and Virgo are likewise naturally delin- eated, and Virgo, as it seems to me, bears in her hands Spica (Vir- ginis.) The same is to be said of the figures of Libra, Scorpio, and 78 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Sagittarius. The latter is expressed by a bow and arrow, the arrow being nearly invisible. Capricornus was, as we learn from an astro- nomical monument of the Egyptians,* a species of antelope, and the same animal, though a little deformed, resembles our Capri- cornus. Aquarius and Pisces explain themselves, for the former was, on ancient monuments, very often symbolized by an amphora. The seven planets conjoined with six signs of the Zodiac are easily recognized, for the seven characters below, Pisces, Aries, Gemini, Leo» Sagittarius, and Amphora, signify the seven planets. (See Pl. I, line o.) It is, however, to be deplored that the Indian names of the plan- ets, and the pronunciation of the characters expressing the latter, are still totally unknown. Otherwise it would have been an easy task to determine the year in which the planetary configuration before us has been observed by human eyes. ~ For the present I can make out but the following approximate probabilities: First, the girdle next to the earth on the Indian Tab- let contains the marks signifying the cardinal points of the Zodiac, in other words, the beginnings of the spring, summer, autumn, and win- ter of the year at that time, as we have seen (p. 77.) Those three short lines placed below Pisces, and Gemini, and Virgo, and Sagitta- rius, (Pl. 1, p,) argue that at that time, at the beginning of spring, the sun stood in Pisces. Further, since the ancients were in the habit of observing the planets on the cardinal days,+ and commonly on the day of the vernal equinox, it is probable that the figure, Pl. I, line .o, 12, signifies the sun, and this is confirmed by the two planets referred to Aries, (Line 0, 1.) For, since Aries contained two planets, and since Mereury and Venus stand always not very far from each other and from the sun, it is very credible that No. 12 signified the sun, and the two characters in No. 1 were the planets Mercury and Venus. Consequently, it being known that in 1579 B. C. the sun entered the constellation of Aries on the day of the vernal equinox, our plan- etary configuration may have been observed before the year 1079 B. C. The result will certainly be confirmed as soon as the astronomical significations of the characters Nos. 1, 3,5, 9, 11, 12, will have been fixed by other researches, which is not impossible. At least, it is to be borne in mind that no planetary configuration like that depicted on our Indian Tablet occurs twice during a period of 2146 years, and * Seyfarth, Berichtigungen der alten Geschichte. 1855, p. 187. +See the writer’s Astronomia Aeg., 1833, and Berichtigungen der alten Geschichte, 1855. / PROF. SEYFFARTH.—INSCRIPTIONS OF THE DAVENPORT TABLETS. 79 that the ancients, being destitute of the Copernican system and planet- ary tables, could not determine the places of the planets for earlier times. Prarie Wiis Another remarkable Indian antiquity published in the same Pro- ceedings of the Academy of Sciences of Davenport, lowa. It contains the same phonetic characters represented in the aforementioned slab, and deserves to be explained as far as possible. The whole is, as it seems to me, a memorial of a great eclipse of the sun, observed in a certain hour of a certain day of a certain month of a certain year of an Indian king. The figures of the sun and moon having been recognized on Plate I, we see that the disk of the moon covers that of the sun by nearly ten inches, which is a rare and was a terrible phenomenon for ancient people. Both bodies appear between the feet of Mars, the god of war, who bears in one hand a lance, in the other a_ shield, the characteristics of Mars. Upon his head we see a hut or cottage, signifying the hut or the house of Mars. This planet, however, possessed two houses, viz., the Zodiacal signs Taurus and Sagittarius ; but it will be seen below that Taurus had been in view. It is not impossible that the figure of Mars, as signifying the planet, represented a conjunction of Mars with the sun and the moon during the eclipse, and the face on the breast of Mars favors this presump- tion ; but in this case the hut upon Mars remains inexplicable. The images of an eagle and a wolf above Mars probably express the Decuriae of Jupiter (eagle) and Mars (wolf), belonging to the sign Taurus, as will be seen in the writer’s Astronomia Aegyptiaca, Pl. 1. In this case the sun must have stood in Taurus 10° whilst the obscuration happened, Concerning the Indian letters joined with the figure of the god of war, we venture to add a few presumings. Should the first sign on the left represent the pupil, and hence the sun (Awr,) as was the case in Egypt and Persia, this sign signified, phonetically, king. The fol- lowing characters contain, perhaps, the word wy, mighty, and then the name of the king. The following figures may contain the words: First, Avorp, solar cyclus, for the little orb is, as we learn from the Egyptians, cyclus. The following two lines signify II and the added three orbs, the plurality of the preceding, give two monthly cycles. The following XI, accompanied by the same three orbs, involve eleven days. The concluding diagram, containing X_ cross lines, 80 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. would point us to the tenth hour of the day in which the eclipse took place. The added three little orbs again signify cycles. But these are guess-works, which can be confirmed or refuted by future paleog- raphic researches. We return to the reliable results obtained by the unparalleled Davenport antiquities, of which the following are the most Important ones ; 1. The primitive inhabitants of North America were no preadam- ites, nor offsprings of the monkeys, but Noachites. 2. They belonged to the same nation by which Mexico and South America were populated after the dispersion of the nations in 2780 5, Gs 3. The literature of the American Indians evidences that they emigrated from Japan, or Corea, or proper China. A, They must have come over prior to the year 1579 B.C. 5. Our Indians, as well as those in Mexico and South America, knew the history of the deluge, especially that Noah’s family then consisted of eight persons. 6. The primitive inhabitants of America were much more civilized than our present Indian tribes. 7. The former understood the art of writing, and used a great many of syllabic characters, based upon the Noachian alphabet, and wrote from the left to the right hands, like the Chinese. 8. They were acquainted with the seven planets and the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and they referred the same stars to the same con- stellations as did the Chaldeans, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, ete. 9. They had solar years and solar months, even twelve hours of the day. They knew the cardinal points of the Zodiac, and the car- dinal days of the year. : 10. Their religion agreed with that of the Babylonians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, ete., because they worshipped the plan- ets and the twelve gods of the Zodiac by sacrifices. | Compare Isaiah 51,7: ‘“ Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand that made all the earth drunken ; the nations have been drunken of her wine ; therefore the nations are mad.” Plutarch, De Is. p. 377: “There are no different deities to be found’ among the Greeks and the barbarian nations, either in the northern or southern countries.” (Juite the same is reported by Cicero, Aristotle, Diodorus, Tacitus, and other ancient authors.+ * See the author’s Summary of recent discoveries. N. Y., 1857, p. 93. +See the writer’s “Grundsiitze den Mythologie und alten Religionsge- schichte. Leipzig, 1848.” | 2 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. $1 Aprit 25TH, 1879. — Reeuiar MEETING. The President, Mrs. Mary L. D. Putnam, in the chair. Sixteen members and visitors present. Mr. E. A. Oliver, Mr. L. B. Oliver, and Mrs. Mary E. Brown, were elected regular members. Mr. Chas. A. Crampton, Moline, Ill; Dr. Emil Brendel, Tremont, Ill.; Col. D. W. Flagler, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill.; Prof. N. H. Winchell, Minneapolis, . Minn. ; Mr. Henri De Saussure, Geneva, Switzerland; Mr. Clarence King, U.S. Geologist; Lieut. G. H. Wheeler, U. S. A.; Mr. H. N. Pat- terson, Oquawka, Ill., and Dr. G. Seyffarth, New York City, were elected corresponding members. Mr. Pratt presented a statement of the facts concerning the find- ing of an elephant pipe.* May 1l6rn, 1879. — GroLocicaL AND ARCH H®OLOGICAL SECTION. tev. W. H. Barris in the chair. Five members present. It was decided to divide the Section and form separate Geolog- ical and Archeological Sections. The following By-Laws were adopted subject to the acceptance of the Trustees : By-Laws of the Archwological Section. Section 1. This Section shall be known as the Archeological Section of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences. Src. 2. Its object shall be the study of the history, customs and condition of prehistoric races, the exploration of ancient burial places, mounds, and other ancient structures, and the collection for the Academy Museum of ar- ticles pertaining to that department. Srcs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Same as printed on page 16, Vol. II, of the Proceedings. By-Laws of the Geological Section. Section 1. This Section shall be known as the Geological Section of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences. Sec. 2. Its object shall be the study of local geology and of geology in general, including Paleontology and Mineralogy, and the collection of speci- mens for the Academy Museum. Secs, 3,4,5,6,7. Same as printed on page 16, Vol. II, of the Proceedings. * See the Proceedings of the Academy, Vol. ii, page 349. [Proc. D. A. N.S., Vol. TIT.] Pt [Aug. 4, 1881.] 82 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. May 30rn, 1879. — ReauLtar MEETING. Mr. W. H. Pratt, Vice President, in the chair. Ten persons present. ; Mr. John E. Parry, Sandy Hill, N. Y.,and Mr. Frank W. Taylor, Davenport, were elected regular members. Mr. Eugéne Simon, Paris, France, was elected a corresponding member. JUNE 2p, 1879. — SprctaAL MEETING. Mr. W. H. Pratt, Vice President, in the chair. On motion of Rev. 8S. S. Hunting, a committee consisting of Dr. C. C. Parry, Rev. W. H. Barris and Dr. R. J. Farquharson was ap- pointed to prepare resolutions expressive of the sorrow of this Acad- emy over the death of John Caldwell Putnam, a life member of the Academy. The committee reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : In view of the sad event which has recently stricken from the list of the living the name of John C. Putnam, one of our youngest life members and a son of our respected President, we desire hereby to record in fitting words an expression of our sorrow in this our bereavement. . Science mourns the loss of the veteran falling in the midst of his success- ful labors, and mourns no less the departure of the young and talented, who, by education, character and inherited ability, give promise of future useful- ness. Over each funeral urn she drops the unavailing tear, and gives.ex- pression to sorrow “That makes the whole world kin.” Realizing every- where, in nature and in human life, the unknown and incomprehensible, she recognizes a power that never errs and a law immutable in the right and true. Bowing in the presence of this awful majesty, she can but say, “It is the Lord,’ and in the language of one of old, ‘‘Let him do that which is good in his sight.” To the bereaved family, and especially to the sorrow-stricken mother, who realizes as no one else the bitterness of blighted hopes and the loss of cher- ished affections, we tender our sincerest sympathy. Therefore, Resolved, That this expression of our sympathy and regard be spread upon the records of the Academy and a copy of the same be presented to the fam- ily of the deceased. C.-C. PARRY, ; W. H. Barris, ( Committee. Ry Se HarguaaRson;) PROF. BERTHOUD.—EXPLORATIONS IN IDAHO AND MONTANA. 83 JuNnE 277TH, 1879: — REGULAR MEETING. Mr. W. H. Pratt, Vice President, in the chair. Seven members present, tev. J. D. King, Edgartown, Mass., was elected a corresponding member. The following paper was read : Explorations in Idaho and Montana in 1878. BY PROF. E. L. BERTHOUD. In 1878 I made an extended exploration of the Territories of Idaho and Montana. This included not only the instrumental part of a thorough railway survey, but also a critical examination of the natural and artificial productions of that region embraced between British America on the north and Ogden, Utah, on the south, and from the head of the Yellowstone River on the east to the valley of Hell Gate and Wisdom River on the west, a region we found replete with the most interesting natural scenery and the most striking objects that it has ever been our fortune to witness. Without undue egotism, I really believe that for varied, rare and beautiful scenery, for a full exhibition of all the abnormal phenomena of fire, air and water, this portion of our republic ex- ceeds any similar extent in any other region under the sun. Mon- tana Territory is a land full of wonders, and, with Idaho Territory, they seem to form an area of surface where the former energies, so potently exerted in past geological ages, have not yet found a rest. The cosmographers and philosophers of the Middle Ages were wont to ascribe many phenomena, many geognostic facts, to the “ plastic effects of Nature,” as if the earth had in itself some free agency power to control its phenomena. Were this so, they could haye found some color to this fancy in the variety of natural ob- jects of nature’s energies so liberally found in these two Territo- ries. Idaho Territory ‘is a veritable “ Phlegraean Field.” My un- known friends of the Academy can imagine a vast flat plain, covered from the foot of the mountain ranges of Eastern Idaho for several hundred miles west with an uniform close covering of sage brush—the Artemisia tridentata of botanists, or, as the Canadian voyagers three quarters of a century since called it, “absinthe.” This gives an uniform dull gray tint of inconceivable melancholy to 84 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. what in other respects would often be charming and picturesque. From this plain, formed wholly of lava, covered with a thin coat of sand, and still scantier stratum of vegetable soil, which, however, is generally absent, and nothing grows upon this sterile surface but cactus and artemisia. The lava plain of Idaho is seamed in a few places by some unim- portant streams, the major part of them emptying into Snake River, or its main affluent, Henry’s Fork. Aside from this, universal drouth prevails, and ”/jn, Of Idaho is doomed to eternal ster- ility. Universally, all the rivers and smaller creeks flow in deep crevices in black honey-combed lava, abounding in rapids and deep pools of cool, clear water, and in magnificent trout. Snake River, the main southern branch of the majestic Columbia, has cut out its bed in this dark lava. It is a fine deep river, swift, impetuous and dangerous. The American Falls, some 70 miles below Fort Hall, are stupendous and magnificent. Here the whole water of this magnificent stream is precipitated down a step in the lava field over 140 feet high. In the course of our exploration, when surveying our return line by the valley of Madison Fork and Fire Hole River, we left the last named stream on our left, and to avoid its steep and tangled caflons, we prolonged our line of survey over the main, Rocky Mountain range by Raynolds’ Pass to Henry’s Lake, the source of Henry’s Fork of Snake River. From this lake we turned sharply, eastward crossed the Rocky Mountain by the Tahgee Pass, 7470 feet above the sea, and reached Fire Hole Valley and the marvel- ous geysers of the National Park by an easy natural wagon road. Fire Hole River, from the west edge of the National Park to the several geyser basins, flows through a valley cut through lofty, picturesque, but ragged Trachyte Mountains, covered with scrub pines, with g@lades interspersed, clothed with scanty grass. The first canon in the National Park is grand and weird, seamed with traces of recent volcanic action. Its wildness was rendered more ~ salient from. our continued watch night and day to prevent sur- prise from small bands of hostile Indians driven eastward by Gen. Howard’s campaign against hostile Piutes and Bannocks. | With some labor, and by vigorous exertion, we carried our line of recon- noisance up to the Upper Geyser Basin, our wagons being the see- ond only that have penetrated to that point. I confess that my ideas are barren and my mind bewildered by PROF. BERTHOUD.—EXPLORATIONS IN IDAHO AND MONTANA. 89 the amount of objects that three days exploration of that extraor- dinary region developed. We were then in the first days of Octo- ber. Before reaching the geyser region, hard frosts at night, and a temperature one morning to zero Fahrenheit, rendered our couches on the volcanic soil cold and restless. Once, however, in the midst of this region of subterranean fires and lakes of scalding water, we felt no more the cold chill of the lower valleys. A soft moist air in the day, foggy mists, or columns of steam, rendered more visible from the greater coolness of the atmosphere, made our mornings enjoyable by their novelty. In the pines, in the open prairies along Fire Hole River, we could see the steam rising from myriads of scalding springs or clear basins of scalding water. Oc- easionally a magnificent column of steam and boiling water would rush aloft swiftly and play from one to ten minutes in duration. Old Faithful, the Giant, the Giantess, the Castle geyser, the Beehive, the Fountain, and a countless host of smaller spurting | fountains made it difficult to follow any determined course. Everywhere—above, below, around—the hidden energies of sub- terranean forces were manifest. | When near some of the more ac- tive yents—some of the more demonstrative safety valves they might be called—we could hear the smothered, labored pent-up groans, or what one would imagine were the desperate struggles of some cavern-full of -struggling life striving to escape. We stood, as it were, in the mythological Hades ; we wandered in im- agination on the banks of Cocytus. “ Cocytus, named of lamentations loud Heard on the rueful stream.” The whole ground surface in the geyser basins seems to be made up wholly from the varied mineral deposits of the countless myriads of hot springs. We notice in every direction a peculiar res- onance when we ride or drive over the ordinary surface. We seem to wander over a dome erected over immense subterranean lakes of pent-up steam and boiling water. At the surface, the general boiling point varied from 199° so 200°. Dr. Peale, however, (who was then in the Park,) informed me that a self-registering thermometer shoved some 15 or 16 feet down the geyser orifices gave him a temperature ‘of 209°, evidently due to an abnormal compression, having in these subterranean reservoirs raised the boiling point. The National Park is well worthy of that title, and for future time its capabilities and its surprising natural phenomena will always ren- 86 DAVENPORT ACADEMY (OF: NATURAL SCIENCES. der it of most extraordinary interest. I can say but little of the fauna and flora of the National Park. ‘Elk, moose, deer, antelope, mountain sheep, bears, wolves, wild cats, lynx, rabbits and porcupines, with some beautiful foxes, were all we obtained. Birds were scarce, and of only fifteen species, including an abundance of ducks, geese, swans and sage hens. We were too late for summer flowers, and generally the whole of the sylva of the park consist of a pine, red fir, spruce, one species of cottonwood, and the ever-present quaking aspen; scrubby willows and some insignificant bushes of Rhus and Cornus complete nearly the whole list. Completing our surveys in the Park, we turned to the west again, reached Henry’s Lake, and tried to follow the west side of Henry’s Fork to Snake River. Baffled in this, we traveled westward to Cam- ass Creek, reached the regular stage road at Beaverhead Caiion, and finally reached Fort Hall and Portneuf River October 19-20, 78. During this whole journey I have made continued examinations for archeological relics, but had very little success until we reached Upper Madison Fork. Here and around Henry’s Lake, Henry’s Fork and Beaverhead Cafion, and on Market Lake and Snake River I have gathered some very character- istic obsidian implements which | transmit to the Academy for illustration. [Figs. 1 and 2.| I have always understood, until within a few years, that the presence of obsidian weapons in Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming, and in Utah also, was due to the probable intercourse Fig. 1. Nat. size. of exchange from the Indians, or we may say Az- tec races, of Mexico, with the more northern tribes. I am satisfied that whatever obsidian arrows, lance heads and leaf-shaped imple- ments I have found in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, etc., were more probably derived from the Yellowstone and from Snake River rather than from New and old Mexico. Obsidian implements begin to abound from Great Salt Lake northward ; and on Portneuf and Snake and Henry’s Fork of Snake River, in the National Park, and on Madison Fork ; its abundance everywhere, both wrought and un- wrought, ceased to become extraordinary or noticeable. IJ have been assured by reliable, trusty residents of Idaho and Utah Territo- ries that even to this date, not farther back than fifteen to twenty years ago, they have repeatedly seen the Bannock and Snake In- dians of that region make themselves arrow heads of obsidian, PROF. BERTHOUD.—EXPLORATIONS IN IDAHO AND MONTANA. 87 beautifully and skilfully worked out of flakes, by a simple pro- cess of slow clipping on the edges by means of a buckhorn tool, with a cross notch, holding the flake in a piece of buckskin so as not to cut their hands on the fresh sharp edges of the obsidian flake. In the National Park Prof. Hayden’s par- ties found a gorge in the mountains which is almost entirely formed of volcanic glass ; they have aptly named it Obsidian Cajon. Here, evidently, the material has been used from time immemorial for flaking and con- version into implements. The most common form I have found was leaf form, some of them as much as five or six inches long and well proportioned. Some arrow heads of obsidian, unfortunately lost in the moun- Fig. 2" 1-2 nat. size. tains, are beautifully and regularly worked, and one especially was as if made only a few days before, as it retained an edge and . point as keen as a razor. The antiquities I have noticed and examined on Madison Fork, extend along the river for three or four miles. These consist of large rings of stones, generally rounded and water-worn. Some of them surround low mounds now scarcely one and one-half feet high, as if an old wall around the mound. These were mostly no- ticed about twenty miles southeast of Virginia City. Going south from them about one and one-half or two miles, and in the open \. \ \ \ Vio bd \¥ A \a, Fas 3 i e\ MAN ° ww, S Wu, 2 o r i o> Old works, 74,809 Gogy a'*30 a0 > 7.8 20 90°%888,097 2 105, oS) we LMP R ULL ATTN LET vi ate Z Org works 9 9079 Pay 4.49 289, 23) *°eannone Aspe & * Y 77 W,,2288 0 BSS & Wag, ea? PHI, ~ a) ‘AL Nw ie “ee CTT VOM TS 7, © A Pe030 6, TALI P88 Bag 6 a 9, 0° Fig. 5.—Scale, 1 mile to 1 inch. bottom lands on west side of the Madison Fork, we found a singu- lar series of remains, the use of which it is difficult to conjecture. These remains generally follow the edge of a slight step or terrace, of which Madison Valley offers numerous examples that extend for 88 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, miles on each side as regularly as if artificially constructed. I inclose a sketch map [Fig. 3] showing their topography. The re- mains are small piles of stone set at regular distances, sometimes connected by a low cobble-stone wall now all in ruins, and notice- able only from their regular ridge-like form. Occasionally we find stone circles, stone mounds, though very small, but all regu- larly disposed on an uniformly conceived plan. In Idaho Terri- tory we found some low stone mounds on the tep of numerous high hills and mountains, but they represent no present use, except to mark signal stations, or occasionally a lone grave covered with the surrounding detritus and rounded boulders. At 2 meeting of the Trustees, held July 30th, 1879, it was voted to charge an admission fee of 10 cents for adults and 5 cents for children to all persons visiting the museum exeept members. : SEPTEMBER 26TH, 1879.— Reaunar MEETING. Dr. C. C. Parry, Vice President, in the chair. Twelve members present. Dr. S. H. Drake, West Union, Iowa, and Dr. C. C. Bradley, Man- chester, lowa, were elected corresponding members. Dr. Parry made some remarks on the cause of hay fever, which has been attributed to a certain weed (Ambrosia urtemisiwfolia) by peo- ple in Wisconsin and Hlinois, Mr. Pratt stated that Mr. Gass had recently explored a mound near Edgington, Il., in which was found a roughly-shaped copper “axe,” a flint arrowhead, and a pipe of the usual mound builders’ pattern, carved to represent some animal—apparently a seal or a porcupine. Mr. Pratt presented the following notes : Explorations of Mounds at Albany, Th. BY W. H. PRATT. | Having learned that some explorations had recently been made in the mounds at Albany, Whiteside county, Ill., I recently visited that place to learn the particulars. I found that Mr. C. A. Dodge and some friends had opened three of the mounds on the hill and some in the low ground of the group W. H. PRATT — INSCRIBED ROCK AT STERLING, ILL. 89 described in our Proceedings, Vol. I, page 103, and he kindly gave me a careful description of his observations. He says the human bones were exceedingly numerous in every case, and usually in no regular order, though “the positions in which the majority of the skulls were found indicate that the bodies were buried with the heads in to the center.” In one mound on the low ground he found as many as twelve skel- etons in a space of four feet square. He says, “in one mound on the hill T found, after digging five feet, a bed of ashes eight inches thick, and then a bed of charcoal of the same thickness, and as nice as if it had been burned to-day. In another mound on the hill, at the depth of seven or eight feet, there were at least seven or eight skeletons, some small and others large, but only one in such a state of preserva- tion that it could be handled without falling to pieces, and this was about five feet eight inches high.” ‘This he secured in pretty good condition. It was evidently buried “in a sitting posture, and had the ribs around the skull. The face was to the northwest, and directly toward the river.” In this mound he also found a “bowl” of fine, compact, firm clay pottery, well burned, of a clay color, but much blackened outside, apparently by smoke. It is evidently of a quite - different quality from other vessels we have found in this vicinity. It is 44 inches in diameter and 2% inches in height; capacity, about 30 cubic inches, and much ornamented on the outside. This bowl had apparently been placed, inverted, on’ the top of a skull, but the latter was quite decayed except the portion which was covered by the bowl. This piece of skull he preserved. Inscribed Rock at Sterling, III. BY W. H. PRATT. On a recent visit to Sterling, I was shown by Dr. J.S. Everett, Sec- retary of the Sterling Scientific Association, an inscribed rock recent- ly exhumed in grading the race track in the new fair grounds at the south edge of the town. It is a mass about 35 by 25 by 2 feet of Galena limestone, having on one side a somewhat flat surface—natural, not ground—about 20 inches in diameter, on which have been rudely cut or picked with some blunt instrument—probably a stone—a few large, coarse figures. No connected design or plan can be traced in them, or any signifi- jerog. DA. N.S.,; Vol. ITT, | 12 [Dec. 28, 1881.] 90 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. cant figure, except, perhaps, a human face, which, if so intended, is very indistinct. The most curious circumstance connected with it seems to be that the stone was buried with the inscribed side downward on the drift, covered with three feet of alluvial terrace deposit, in what had once been the bed of Rock River. The only place in the neighborhood where the same kind of rock is found in place is sixteen miles farther up the river. Dr. Everett remarks that “possibly the block (of a ton weight) may have been brought down in the ice and inscribed on the spot to mark the site of a battlefield, for both above and below, for a distance of three miles, there are numerous mounds containing Immense quanti- ties of human bones, usually indiscriminately buried and sometimes partially burned.” I learn that no relics or weapons are found there, except an occasional arrow head, one of which, by the way, was found still sticking in a skull. Dr. Everett has both skull and arrow in his office. Exploration of a Mound on the Allen Farm. BY W. H. PRATT. On September 5th, 1879, Mr. Gass, Mr. Lindley, Mr. Christian and myself went down to Col. Allen’s farm to explore the one remaining mound of that group.* At adepth of about four feet, we found four skulls in a badly decayed and broken condition, so that they could not be preserved, and a portion of the other bones, but so few as to make it probable that but a portion of the four skeletons had ever been buried there. One piece of lower jaw, quite a number of the long bones, and a few of the others, were found,—but no vertebra or ribs. The skeletons were lying nearly in an east and west direction, heads westward. The only relics were a poor discoidal stone, two fragments of stone implements and two small copper beads made of very thin, appa- rently hammered, copper. There were no ashes or charcoal in any portion of the mound, no charred wood or bones, and no traces whatever of the action of fire. This completes the exploration of that prominent group, all of which have, I believe, been thoroughly examined and reported, We have recently received, by the kiudness of Col. R. M. Lit- * See these Proceedings, Vol. II, pp. 148 and 154. P. : W. H. PRATT — LIGHTNING PHENOMENA AT BLACKHAWK., 9] tler, one of the skulls exhumed from Mound No. 5, where the house was built in 1871. It is an especially interesting one on ac- count of its peculiar shape, remarkably broad at the base, and “gothic” form; and also from the fact that several ‘* rondelles” have been sawed out from it on each side. The Smithsonian Institution has also kindly presented us with the vase — which however is in fragments — taken from Mound No, 6, and sent there by Col. Crawford as heretofore mentioned. Lightning Phenomena at Blackhawk. BY W. H. PRATT. During the night of August 13-14; 1879, the family of Mr. Kisten- macher, residing on the edge of the rather low bluff in Blackhawk district, two miles west of this city, were startled by a terrible crash, and going out to see what had happened, Mr. K. found that the light- ning had “struck” a tree near the house. Our friend, Mr. Wm. Riepe, who resides in a house but a few rods distant, at the first opportunity, called my attention to the phenomena exhibited there, and together we made a very careful examination of the place. The house is situated on a southwestern slope, elevated some 40 feet above the flat land of the Blackhawk bottom, and the land just back (northeast) of the house is a few feet higher. The house is a small one, built of brick, and without a lightning rod. Immediately ° Oo é A 3 ° ‘ ole) fo) ° i | ‘ H 03 ato) a Barn. a ° ° o2 ® fe) ae 4 ° Open Grass Ground. Ss South. } Scale, 35 feet to an inch. {North north of the house is a grove of thrifty oak trees, ten to twenty feet apart and 40 or 50 feet high, and just west of this little grove the 92 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. ground slopes very considerably west-southwest. The positions of house, barn, trees, etc., are shown in the accompanying diagram. The grove extends no farther eastward than the line of the east side of the house and barn. Some 950 feet farther east is a north and south line of wire fence, and the space between is a grass plat. The tree near the corner of the barn (No. 4) though not the tallest tree of th» group, is the highest of them all as it stands on higher ground. Upon examination, we found that the tree numbered 1 in the fig- ure, nine inches in diameter and 40 feet high, had a splinter torn off, taking, at the ground, about one-sixth of the trunk of the tree, dimin- ishing upward, and running out about eleven feet from the ground, the bark being torn two feet farther up. This splinter included four feet in length of a root running southward, and was thrown out and lying about ten feet from the tree, the bark all being off it. The sod was broken only three feet from the body of the tree, though the’ splinter thrown out was one foot more. On digging, we found tke remainder of the root, one foot beneath the sod, shivered to shreds and loose, not only where the splinter was torn out but two feet far- ther. A small limb, six feet from the ground, on the same side of the tree (south), was torn off, and showed the disruptive force in an upward direction from the tree. |The internal wood in each case was shattered into fine slivers. None of the upper or outer limbs showed the slightest injury. In the trunk of the tree, marked 2, we found, on — the northeast side, four feet from the ground, a hole which at first glance appeared like a bullet hole, but on inspection it was apparent that the disruptive force was here also exerted outward. The brush- like fibres of the wood, formed by the discharge, pointed wholly out- ward. The hole was half an inch deep in the wood and somewhat less in diameter, and the whole interior was finely torn-up wood fibres. Very little bark was displaced around the opening. Three feet directly above the hole just described, it was discovered that the tree had been split open for the length of a foot or two, and some fibres of wood or inner bark were still protruding directly outward through the bark, showing that this crack had gaped for a moment while these were pushed outward and then closed again. The bark ubout this crack was not disturbed, which indicates a wholly internal action of the disturbing force. No other portion of the tree appeared to have been touched. At H, north of the stable, a horse had, as it appears, been standing under the tree, No. 3, for, on going to look for him in the morning, © W. H. PRATT — LIGHTNING PHENOMENA AT BLACKHAWE. 93 he was found lying there, having apparently fallen lifeless without the smallest struggle. On the south side of that tree, and about five feet from the ground, was a. limb, two inches thick, extending out di- rectly over the back of the horse as he stood there. |The under side of this branch, for a few inches in length near the body of the tree, was torn to fine shreds ina manner which plainly showed the same outward explosive action. No other part of this tree was injured, and none of the other trees were at all disturbed. At S a cow was tethered to a stake in the grass ground, but entire- ly uninjured. I do not propose to advance any theory, but the idea suggested to my mind by these phenomena is something like this: Suppose the molecules of a body of wood, or any other substance, to be by some cause forced out of their normal position of equilibrium and thus held in a state of extreme tension, or, to illustrate, suppose millions of mil- lions of spiral springs in each cubic inch, and each wound up tightly and strained to the uttermost and held so. Then, suppose this strain to be released instantaneously and each spring, or each molecule, to return to its normal position with a movement which, though oceupy- ing but an infinitesimal fraction of a second, should, during that time, have a velocity of thousands of feet per second. _ It is quite conceiv- able that such intensely rapid molecular motion might so disturb the intermolecular relations while passing from the abnormal to the nor- mal position, as not merely to overpower but to neutralize and sus- pend cohesion. Such an extreme velocity of motion in the mass, rep- resenting an immense amount of energy, instantaneously arrested, would be converted into a corresponding amount of some other form of energy. It seems to me that we have a rude analogy for this, enough, at least, to aid in the conception of such conditions, in the familiar case of “Prince Rupert’s drops.” In these, as is well understood, the molecules of the glass are in a state of such high tension that though —undisturbed—they will maintain their abnormal position in relation to each other for any length of time, yet, if we disturb it by making ever so small a fracture, breaking off the extreme point, the whole are instantly released, and, with suddenness amounting to an explo- sion, the mass is completely disintegrated, the molecules part com- pany, and the whole is reduced to a powder. In this view, a lightning “stroke” is such only in the sense of a shock, a suddenness of action or change. A person is “struck” by 94 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. hghtning in the same sense as he is struck by apoplexy or paralysis. The cause, in either case, may be more or less remote and far-reaching, but the conditions and the action are local. The phenomena above described seemed to us to indicate, not a progressive tearing force, not, indeed, merely an explosive, but rather a disintegrating force. It seemed as if the matter had been endowed, temporarily, with new properties, or properties unknown to us, and not manifested under other circumstances. Perhaps we may say, that the arrested motion of which I have spoken, instead of being converted into its equivalent of heat (which is but a mode of motion) may have assumed the form of a d/fferent “mode of motion,” which mode is the one we denominate “electricity,” and which is a more intense action, more rapid, hence more destructive than heat. At a meeting of the Trustees, held September 29th, 1879, the action of the Geological and Archeological Section, in forming two separate sections, and the By-Laws adopted by each, were approved. OcroBER 31st, 1879. — ReGuLar MEETING. The President, Mrs. Mary L. D. Putnam, in the chair. Nineteen persons present. Messrs. F. T. Schmidt, E. Geisler, H. Carmichael, and Mrs. E. M. Pratt, were elected regular members. Mr. F. S. Pooler, Albany, IIL; Mr. L. J. Longpre, Ontonagon, Mich.; Prof. Josua Lindahl, Rock Island, Ill.; Dr. S. S. Rathvon, Lancaster, Pa.; Dr. J. N. De Hart, Whippany, N. J.; Mr. Henry C. Young, Glasgow, Scotland, and Mr. Frank Cowan, Greensburg, Pa., were elected corresponding members. Mr. ©, T. Lindley read an interesting popular paper on the boom- erang. NoveMBER 287TH, 1879.— RegutarR MEETING. Mr. W. H. Pratt, Vice President, in the chair. Six members pres- ent. Mr. Benjamin, Randall, of this city, made some interesting remarks on the Phenomena of Mirage, advancing some original ideas on the subject. . <© Cr RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. DrEcEMBER 12TH, 1879. — HisroricaL SEcTION. Mr. J. A. Crandall in the chair. Six persons present. The subject of the early schools of Davenport was informally dis- cussed at some length. Mr. Pratt read a letter from Prof. John H. Tice, now of St. Louis and well known as a “ weather prophet,” who taught a school in Davenport in 1842-3. _ The Curator reported that Mrs. M. A. Sanders had deposited in the Library of the Academy a complete file of the Davenport “ Gazette” from its commencement in 1841 to 1862, the years during which her husband, the late Alfred Sanders, Esq., was editor and pro- prietor. DrcEMBER 19TH, 1879. — ARCH®OLOGICAL SECTION. Mr. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Four members present. Mr. W. H. Pratt was elected chairman and Mr. C. T. Lindley was elected secretary of the section. DECEMBER 26TH, 1879. — REGULAR MEETING. Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Eighteen persons present. Mr. Henry F. Smith was elected a regular member. Dr. Parry read a letter from Dr. G. Barroette, of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, containing some valuable information regarding the origin and introduction of the cultivated potato into Mexico. At a meeting of the Trustees, held January 7th, 1880, the following resolu- tion was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That, in consideration of the important services and gratuitous labors of W. H. Pratt as Curator of the Museum for several years past, the name of Mrs. W. H. Pratt be enrolled on the list of life members of the Academy. JANUARY 7TH, 1580. — ANNUAL MEETING. The President, Mrs. Mary L. D. Putnam in the chair. Twenty-one members and four visitors present. The several officers presented their reports as follows : The Frvancr Commirrer,—C. E. Putnam, Wm. Renwick and H. C. Fulton,—reported the present indebtedness of the Academy to be $1,879.67, as follows: Notes on account of building, $1,500.90 ; 96 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. note on account of publications, $239.90; outstanding orders, $139.77. The interest on $1000.00 of the building debt was decreased from 10 per cent. to 8 per cent. per annum by making a new loan and pay- ing off the old one. The sum of $239.90 was borrowed at 8 per cent; per annum, to pay the expense of publishing the Annual Report. Mr. J. D. Putnam, chairman of the PuBtication Com™Mirrer, re- ported that the publication of the second volume of the Proceedings of the Academy had been delayed by a series of mishaps to the plates intended to iliustrate it, but that the plates had been réengraved on steel, and the printing nearly completed so that they expected the volume to be ready for distribution in a few weeks. The Proceedings of the annual meeting, held January Ist, 1879, have been printed, to- gether with the lists of additions to the Library and Museum during 1877 and 1878, the whole forming a pamphlet of 64 pages and con- stituting No. 1 of Vol. IIT of the Proceedings. A separate edition of 1000 copies was printed with the title, “Report on the Condition and Progress of the Davenport Academy during 1878,” and has been distributed, as far as they would go, among the corresponding mem- bers and principal donors to the Academy. — In addition to the reg@u- lar publications above mentioned, eight photographic negatives have been prepared illustrating several carved animal pipes and other ar- chological objects. The total receipts on the publication account, including loans and advancements, have been $1040.30, and expendi- tures $983.54, leaving a balance on hand of $56.76. The Recorpine Secretary, Mr. C. E. Harrison, reported that dur- ing the year there were held ten regular and two special or adjourned meetings of the Academy, with an average attendance of fifteen; and eight meetings of the Trustees, with an average attendance of nine. The Lrsprartan, Dr. R. J. Farquharson, reported 2818 additions to the Library during the year 1879, making a grand total of 4000 [counting all pamphlets, ete.],a great advance upon the number of books on Jan. Ist, 1876, which was 118... : The Curator, Mr. W. H. Pratt, reported that the increase in size and value of the collections since-his last-annual report was greater than during any previous year, consisting of contributions from over 100 individuals, the greater portion, however, being presented by four or five persons. In the archeological department there have been acquired 2,000 flint implements, 75 stone implements, 9 vessels of pottery, 4 carved stone pipes and one ‘copper implement. The ad- ditions in geology and palzontology have not been large, but some- Ve aia hse RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 97 thing has been gained in the number of species represented and in their classification and arrangement. In mineralogy, the beautiful cabinet of 1,500 fine specimens bequeathed by the late Mr. Doe, of Maquoketa, with the collection left by a former Academician, Mr. True, and contributions from many others, more than doubled the for- mer collection in this department, which is made highly attractive and very valuable. In ethnology, six mound builders’ skulls and_ six skulls of Sioux Indians, and other interesting osteological specimens, have been added. The department of zoology is the Academy’s weakest point ; 600 species of land, marine and fresh water shells have been received, making the entire collection of shells number 1700 species. A few animals suitable for mounting, and two cases of stuffed birds, and some very interesting crustacea in alcohol have been received. The art collection has been much enriched by the addition of several fine pictures presented by Mr. Chas. Viele, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Parker and others, and there has been considerable gain in_his- torical relics. The Treasurer, Mr. H. C. Fulton, reported that the total receipts of the general fund were $453.60, and the expenditures $691.24, mak- ing a deficiency of $237.64, which amount is mainly accounted for by the item of $190.00 paid for interest. On the Building or Endowment fund there had been received from all sources $320.45, and expended $100.95, leaving a balance of $219.50. On the Ladies’ special fund the receipts were $120.93 and the expenditures $78.00, leaving a bal- ance of $42.93 on hand. [The deficiency in the General fund was met by payments from the Endowment and Ladies’ special funds, leaving a net balance on hand of $24.79. | Mr. W. C. Putnam, Srecrerary of the Hisrortcan Secrion, pre- sented the following report : To the President of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences : I have the honor to make the following report of the work of the Historicz] Section of the Academy during the past year : There have been but two regular meetings of the Section, one in January and one December. At each of these there were interesting discussions among the few present: at the first meeting upon the early times in this vicinity, and at the last upon the history of the schools of Davenport. | No historical essays have been presented by any of the members. [Proc. D. A. N. §., Vol. IIL.] 13 {Aug. 16, 1881.] 98 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. While there has thus been but little of the regular work of soci- eties of this kind accomplished during the year just closed, still we may congratulate ourselves that, since so little interest has been man- ifested, we have been able to do as much as we have in other direc- tions. Many donations and exchanges have been received for our museum and library. The most important of these are the desk, with the pistol and other articles, of the late Antoine LeClaire, and over one thousand of his manuscript papers, many of them of the greatest value and importance in illustrating the early history of this region, and quite a number of old French papers of great interest. It is out of such material as this that the historian weaves his interesting nar- rative, and the value of these old manuscript collections cannot be too deeply appreciated. There have been deposited in the library of the Section files of New York papers published during the late war, and twenty-two volumes of the Davenport Gazette from its com- mencement. |Next in order to collections of manuscripts, newspaper files are of great utility as historical material. But by far the most important work of this past year was the series of meetings of the old settlers of this county, held during the spring and summer at the Academy. Asa result of these meetings and of circulars sent among the pioneer settlers still living, a large number of letters giving interesting narratives of early days have been sent to the President of the Section ; others have been promised, and when the whole series is completed, it will form a store-house filled with information which must otherwise have been lost. Hoping that the future will bring forth better fruits than the past, and that the spark of life which the Section now has may not only not be allowed to expire, but that it may be fanned into a flame, I close this brief record of a year’s work, which, to say the least, should have presented a better showing. President’s Annual Address. BY MRS, MARY L. D. PUTNAM. GENTLEMEN AND Lapirs: When at your last annual meeting the sex, of which I am an humble representative, was honored by the selection of myself as your President, my nomination was preceded by the statement from one of your most esteemed members, that “the actual success and present prosperity of the Academy had been co- incident with the interest taken in it by woman. It was a Woman’s MRS. M.-L...D. PUTNAM.—PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL. ADDRESS. 99 Centennial Association that first inaugurated and successfully carried out the publication of the proceedings, on which, more than any other one thing, the scientific character and standing of the Academy abroad has been firmly established. The very ground beneath our feet is the spontaneous gift of a generous woman, and this commodi- ous building which affords us a permanent home, from lowest founda- tion stone to the highest roof crest, if not the direct work of woman’s hand, has been wrought out and completed under the inspiring influ- ence of a woman’s heart.” These generous words and the hearty action of the Academy in ac- cepting them, overcame the reluctance I naturally felt in assuming a position so exalted as to become the first female president of an academy of natural sciences. The circumstances were peculiar and embarrassing, but in gratefully accepting the position as a tribute to my sex, I had hoped and expected to make up for any lack of scien- tific qualifications by zeal and enthusiasm in behalf of your great work, and if the performance has fallen short of the promise, you will, I am sure, attribute my shortcomings to the dark experiences through whose shadows I have been passing. The constitution of your Academy makes it the duty of the Board of Trustees at the annual meeting to make a written report of their proceedings. The by-laws devolve this duty upon the President, and in compliance with this requirement I will now submit to you a brief statement of the progress and condition of the Academy during the past year, (1879,) referring you to the very full and complete reports of the various officers for the details. The objects of the Academy, as aptly expressed in the Constitu- tion, are “the increase and diffusion of a knowledge of the natural sciences by the establishment of a museum, the reading and publi- cation of original papers and other suitable means.” In reporting the progress of the Academy during the year, the most important question to be answered is, What has been done to promote these objects ? Under the first head, “the ¢acrease of a knowledge of the natural sciences,” the following papers, embodying the results of original investigations, have been presented : By J. D. Putnam, Notes on the habits of Cicadas ; by W. C. Holbrook, Antiquities of Whiteside county, Ill; by Prof. G. Seyffarth, Inscriptions on the Davenport Tablets ; by Prof. E. L. Berthoud, Explorations in Idaho and Montana in 1878 ; by Dr. W. J, Hoffman, Antiquities of New Mexico and Arizona; by W. H. 160 2 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Pratt, The Elephant Pipe, Inscribed Rock at Sterling, I11., Explo- ration of Mounds at Albany, I]. andon Allen Farm, and Lightning Phenomena at Blackhawk. Of investigations still in progress I may mention that Dr. Parry has been engaged most of the year in arranging his Mexican col- lections made in 1878. This contains more than 1000 species of plants, of which about 10 per cent. are undescribed. These have been placed in the hands of eminent botanical specialists in Amer- ica and Europe for study. Capt. W. P. Hall has increased his collections of archeological relics in the South—the past year in Tennessee—thus laying a solid foundation for the study of the archeology of the Mississippi Valley. Messrs. Gass, Pratt, Far- quharson and Lindley have continued the exploration and study of mounds in this vicinity. Messrs. Barris and Pratt have made large collections of fossils, among which are a number of new species. Mr. J. D. Putnam has continued, as far as other duties would permit, his studies of the Coecidae aud Solpugidae, includ- ing a complete revision of his paper on the maple bark lice, the printing of which is just completed. It would be a strong incentive to original investigations if the Proceedings of the Academy could be issued more promptly than has hitherto been done. It is by the amount and quality of its original work that such a society as ours takes its rank as a perma- nent benefactor to mankind, even though much of it seems a use- less waste of energy to the ordinary man of the world. Under the second head, “the diffusion of a knowledge of the natural sciences,” thirteen general and five section meetings have been held, before which the above mentioned papers have been read, and numerous verbal remarks and reports made. Besides the papers read at the meetings, lectures of a more popular nature have been given under the auspices of the Academy, by W. M. D. French, of Chicago, on the “Principles of Art ;” by Dr. W. W. Grant on the ‘ Philosophy of Locke ;” by Mr. W. O. Gronen on “« Lilies and their Culture,” and by Mrs. E. H. Walworth on “Art as a Fashion.” A series of familiar Saturday afternoon talks have been given by Mr. C. T. Lindley, on “ Corals” and on “ Sea Ur- chins”; by W. H. Pratt, on “* Mound Builders” and on “ Teeth”; by Dr. E. H. Hazen, on “ Lenses,” and by Dr. C. C. Parry, on Mexican Botany. data. ° the origin of which—regarding POTTERY. In examining the oldest forms of pottery and fragments of vessels, one cannot but be surprised at the existence of glazing in greater or less degree upon the various types of specimens. By far the greater namber of fragments bear color ornamentation upon a smooth surface, others being either perfectly plain or ornamented with indented or incised lines. The glazing upon some specimens is very pronounced, which extended investigations and chemical analyses appear to dem- onstrate was the result of accident rather than design. Knowing the country to abound in springs and pools of water rather than running streams, and taking into consideration the general alka- linity of such water in this region, resulting from the disintegration of the rocks and the percolation of water through formations containing alkaline matter, and further the concentration of such solutions by evaporation—which is very rapid in this climate—it would be only natural for the natives to employ such water in the manufacture of pottery as would be unfit for any other purposes. | Consequently, the water used in producing a plastic condition of the clay, with that ab- mosaic of precisely this stone, and a flint knife with its handle elaborately inlaid with it, in similar fragments. Various authors give chalchiuttl, chal- chihuitl, or chaichiudte. The word chalchiuitl is defined by Molina in his Vo- cabulario Mexicano (1571), to signify Hsmeralda baja, or an inferior kind of emerald. The precious emerald, or emerald proper, was called quetzalitatli, from guetzai—the bird Trogan resplendens (the feathers of which served for royal robes), and ¢tz/i—stone, 7. ¢., the stone of quetzal. The esmeralda baja is supposed to be nephrite, as Sahagun avers. W. J. HOFFMAN.—ANTIQUITIES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. bi sorbed in smoothing the vessel previous to drying, would contribute sufficient saline matter to produce a visible effect, if the salt had not previously existed in the clay. In addition, it is ascertained that the salt is present in the body of the fragments of pottery as well as in the glazing, thus verifying to some extent the belief already enter- tained. Another fact which supports the statement is that in several instances glazing was present upon the incised or punctured varieties, and upon close examination was found to exist in the different inden- tations as well as upon the ordinary untouched surface. The reason that some specimens present more glazing than others, (and this, by the way, generally occurs upon the thickest fragments,) is, on account of the proportionately greater amount of saline matter contained therein, and brought to the surface as an incrustation by evaporation and drying, being thus directly exposed to the heat in baking, and also, perhaps, that these specimens may have received more surface washing to present a more uniform appearance. Analyses made of a large number of varying specimens support the above proposition, and a few examples are given below, to illustrate the relative proportions of several ingredients that were more partic- ularly sought for. No. I. From a cliff-dwelling in the cation of the Rio Mancos. Physical characters : Compact; inner surface smooth and of a pale bluish or ashy tint; externally, fawn-colored, strongly glazed, the ornamentation consisting of black lines crossing the base lines at right angles. The body of the specimen contains numerous granules of silica and spicules of horn- blende. Hardness, 3; sp. gr., 2.372. Composition: Chlorid of sodium, B8 Potassa, 2 Alumina, 08 Oxide of iron, 78 Carbonate of lime, silica, etc.. 98.69 Carefully removing the glazed surface from other pieces of the same vessel, the body of the material furnished the following : Chlorid of sodium, 26 5 Potassa, ple Alumina, trace Oxide of iron, Rey: Carbonate of lime, silica, ete., 98.85 Small particles of the baked clay were lost by adhering to the glazed scales, if they may be so termed, as that surface was too thin to remove without affecting the material to which it adhered. — Natu- ral thickness of the piece, .27 of an inch, 118 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. No. II. From the same locality. Physical characters: Compact; granular; color, dark blue; glazing upon the outer surface not so pronounced as in the preceding, although the inner surface shows it very perceptibly. Decoration upon outer surface consists of pale black serrated lines. Hardness, 3.5. Sp. gr., 2.433. Composition . Chlorid of sodium, 23 Potassa, 16 Alumina, 08 Oxide of iron, 6 ‘ Carbonate of lime, silica, etc., 98.97 Thickness of specimen, .13 of an inch. In this case the vessel was, according to the pieces, about eight inches high, originally with an opening less than four inches in diameter, and would scarcely present the imner perceptibly glazed surface from intentional design in man- ufacture, for that were scarcely possible. No. LI. From Santo Domingo. Physical characters. Rather porous; fawn-colored in middle of specimen, the inner and outer fourths being of a reddish tinge, due to oxidation of iron; no glazing; contains minute granules of silica; colored decorations, brown. Hardness, 2.8; sp. gr., 2.308. Composition : Chiorid of sodium, 24 Potassa, Allis) Alumina, 02 Oxide of iron, 15 Carb. of lime, silica, org. matter, etc., 99.44 If any glazing was present originally, it was not perceptible at this time, although no indications of wear were noticeble. The color- ing matter upon this specimen consisted of carbonate of iron, and it would be interesting to kuow how long a period was consumed in the change from an oxide. Mortar from a Roman wall was found to con- tain carbonate of lime, and in another instance a bi-carbonate, the re- union of the carbonic acid with the lime having taken place during the lapse of centuries.* = The black lines applied to this pottery are supposed to have consisted of charcoal finely ground and mixed with clay. Iron in the form of an earthy oxide is not of common occur- rence in this region, and it may be that the material employed was from the “red ochre mines” mentioned by Vargas as being located in the Cierro Colorado, (Red Mountain). “It is said to be ten days travel from Aguatubi, on a high steep mountain, difficult of access. It required a day or two to go up and get the ochre out of the earth, * ] was recently so informed by Dr. F. M. Endlich of the Smithsonian Insti- tution, who has made analyses of the mortar above stated. W. J. HOFFMAN.—ANTIQUITIES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. 119 having to descend into a deep hole, and that it was necessary to re- main all night without water.”* The narrator never made an expedi- tion to the mines, the reported absence of water probably being the cause of his avoiding the dangers attending such an undertaking. The ornamentation upon the pottery found about the ancient ruins, differs in design from that produced to-day, or even that style em- ployed before the introduction of European or American ware, which suggested new forms and which has, in several instances, materially modified their primitive artistic taste. Upon the older vessels, straight lines and triangles predominate and form the base of nearly all varieties of decoration, while upon the true modern pottery curved lines are generally the most prominent. There are very decided dif- ferences in the decoration of the respective pueblos, which, to one thoroughly acquainted with them, can nearly always be distinguished; an attempt to exhibit this variation without the proper illustrations would be a useless undertaking at this time. Pottery is manufactured at present by the inhabitants of all the Pueblos but those of Taos and Picuri, excepting in instances where a woman of the manufacturing tribes marries a Taos or Picuri Indian. The ordinary decorated ware is made by numerous tribes, but for the purpose of giving it a better finish, a polishing stone is used, giving the surface of the vessel a glazed appearance after baking. The clay employed in constructing the vessel, when of the proper consistence, is worked with the thumb and fingers, aided with a small wooden trowel or a fragment of pottery to shape the ware until of the in- tended proportions and shape. The vessel is then sun-dried, after which the ornamentation is applied, when it is baked. The Indians of the Moqui Pueblos, as well as those of Zuii, Acoma, Laguna, Je- mez, Silla and Santa Ana, do not employ polishing stones, but paint the pottery in various styles of decoration, each general type present- ing sub-types characteristic of certain families or clans which are always recognizable by one intimately acquainted with them.t+ * Quoted at second hand from * Davis’ Cong. of N. Mex.” 1869. +I am indebted to Col. James Stevenson for information regarding the present mode of manufacture of pottery by these Indians. During the past two seasons he has made a thorough study of the arts and home life of the aborigines of New Mexico, his collections now ready for permanent exhibi- tion in the National Museum comprising 4,500 specimens of pottery, repre- senting all imaginable forms, sizes and styles of decorations; also, about 3,000 archeological specimens of stone, wood and bone, 50 musical instru- ments, 150 articles of clothing, about 40 varieties of paints, earths and other 120 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. The black ware, first brought to the National Museum by Col. Ste- venson, is made by the Indians of the Pueblos of San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Cochiti, Tesuque, Nambe, Santo Domingo, San- dia and San Filipe. The vessels are constructed in the ordinary man- ner and sun-dried. A paste of clay is then made, of the consistence of cream, and applied with a mop or brush of goat’s hair or sheep’s wool, which is then rubbed dry with the polishing stone. The vessel is next placed upon the ground, and a pile of dry manure built over it in contact with the specimen, appearing not unlike a huge bee-hive. The pile is ignited at several points about the base, and as soon as the fuel is consumed the ashes are quickly scraped away, when pow- dered manure is thrown upon the vessel, causing a dense smoke. The vessel, in this stage of sudden cooling, absorbs sufficient carbon to become perfectly black and glossy upon such parts as have been previously polished. The accompanying figures refer to some of the forms recently received by the National Museum : Pl. V, Fig. 39695, represents a small flat eating dish. Although not one of the older forms in shape, it illustrates a very simple one for manufacture. P]. II, Fig 39748, is a small water jar, and represents the most primitive form. In Pl. III, Fig. 39780, the neck appears, illustrating gradual improvement over the preceding. PI. III, Fig. 39615, is a water jar with a handle, while in Pl. IL], Fig. 39625, the handle is replaced by ears, admitting of suspension by cords. PI. I, Fig. 39629, is grooved for the reception of a cord, to which others were attached either for carrying or suspension. PI. III, Fig. 39650, presents both the groove and ears. Pl. I], Fig. 39832, is an odd form and represents a bird, while the grotesque object represented on PI. II, Fig. 39824, is for no particular use, further than an exhibition of skill in the working of clay. Pl. III, Fig. 41053 is an unpolished black vessel used for cooking purposes. The preceding are nearly all from the pueblo of Santa Clara, though they are typical of all those tribes already referred to. The contrast can be seen by comparing them with the following vessels from Zuii: Pl. V, Fig. 40317, and Pl. IV, Fig. 41609, are ordinary water jars, as is also Pl. II, Fig. 39510, though in this the constriction was made for attaching cords to aid either in carrying, or for suspension. Pl. IV, Fig. 40612, repre- sents a condiment dish, the separate partitions being intended for salt, pep- materials employed in the manufacture of pottery, besides toys, images, sa- cred objects, pipes, medicines, food, etc., etc. I also embrace this opportunity of returning my sincere thanks to Major J.W. Powell, U. 8. Geologist and Director of the Bureau of Ethnology, for granting me the use of illustrations intended for his forthcoming Annual Report. The numbers employed are those corresponding with the speci- mens as labeled in the National Museum. WwW. J. HOFFMAN.—ANTIQUITIES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. 12] per, etc. Pl. LV, Fig. 39962, is an ordinary eating dish, the spoon used in con- nection with it being shown on Pl. IV, Fig. 40417. Pl. IV, Fig. 40399, is a pottery basket, used in religious ceremonies to hold meal or flour, which is sprinkled on the heads of the sacred dancers and objects buried during the services. Pl. V, Fig. 40731, is a mortar and ball used for grinding the pig- ments used in decorating pottery. Although the present Zunis utilize these, the articles were found by them in the ancient ruins, and were made by the pre-historic people. Most of the existing stone implements and weapons are found in the ancient ruins and utilized if practicable; the more common ex- YYVo~ amples being hammers, as illustrated on Pl. V, Figs. 42208 and 42337, and axes, of which a fine specimen is represented on Pl. V, Fig. 40560. Of the tribes who manufacture the black ware, the Cochiti Indi- ans also ornament certain vessels with black lines, using a vegeta- ble material’ called wacea. Those tribes who manufacture the gray ware, with red, brown, or black ornamentation, have in several instances departed from the original forms of outlines, adopting characters and flowers found upon china imported by Mexicans or Americans. Zuii pottery is generally known by the representation of animal forms, a typical example being given in PI. V, Fig. 40317. Prof..F. W. Putnam,* in speaking of the glazed surface of the gray pottery, says: ‘“ The gray clay seems to contain a large amount of silicious material, which, on being subjected to a great heat, becomes slightly vitrified. The vessels made of the gray- colored clay have apparently received a thin wash of the same, upon which the black ornamentation was put before baking, and the intense heat to which they are afterward subjected has vitrified this thin layer of clay, which now appears like a slight glaze. The polish is probably due to the smoothing of the surface with a stone before the thin wash was applied, as is now done by the present Pueblo Indians and by several tribes in the United States and Mexico.” According to the personal observations of Col. Stevenson, the glaze is produced, not by the heat, as the fire never reaches that intensity to fuse silica, but to the polishing stone which is used in rubbing the thin wash until dry previous to baking ; the decora- tions being applied just before the vessels are ready for the fire. Prof. Putnam’s remarks are not applicable to the Zuii pottery, as before stated, that tribe does not use the polishing stone ; the In- * American Art Review for February, 1881, p. 153. [Proc. D. A. N. §., Vol. TIT:] 16 [May 2, 1881.] 122 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. dians of San Ildefonso using it, though in the manner just de scribed. CRANIA. Examinations and comparisons of the crania obtained in the southwestern portion of the United States and northern Mexico, show that apparently characteristic peculiarities exist in all of those found in or about the ancient buildings and ruins, which are not present in crania of the adjacent regions nor in those of the present inhabitants. In the comparatively small number of crania thus far preserved in collections,* this peculiarity consists first, in the general absence of the superciliary ridges, and second, the ex- istence of a remarkably prominent nasal eminence. Another striking feature observed (as far as my examinations have extended) in the cranial remains from both north and south of that portion of the Mexican boundary is the constant occurrence of deformity, to a greater or less degree. In one instance of occipito- parietal flattening, the pressure upon the facial portion of the skull was so great, indirectly, no doubt, as to throw one orbit three- tenths of an inch above the normal position, while the other was correspondingly below it, the remaining facial bones being dis- torted in proportion. In nearly all the specimens, however, the flattening appears more strongly directed to either one side or the other, while in a few it is vertical occipital. In most instances this deformation might be attributed to the natural pressure of the cradle board, but the occurrence of such extraordinary asymmetry indicates that pressure was also, in certain cases, applied by band- aging, whether for the purpose as practiced in Central America or not, can only be surmised. As is well known, cranial deformationt+ is attributed to pressure * Tt is supposed that the Army Medical Museum at Washington, D. C., contains by far the largest collection of crania of the ancient Pueblos thus far collected by Government or private parties. +The cradles, as constructed by the majority of our Indians of to-day, con- sist of a frame of wood, with a back, composed either of a piece of raw-hide or a network of thongs or cords of buckskin. As these substances are more or less yielding, the pressure is not so great as where a piece of board was used for the same purpose. “In Nicaragua,’ says Bancroft, ‘‘ the heads of infants were flattened; the people believed that the custom had been origin- ally introduced by the gods; that the compressed forehead was the sign of noble blood and the highest type of beauty; and, besides, that the head was thus better adapted to the carrying of burdens. In Yucatan, ac- cording to Landa, the same custom obtained. Four or five days after birth the child was laid with the face down on a bed and the head was compressed between two pieces of wood, one on the forehead and the other on the back of the head, the boards being: kept in place for several days until the desired ppb wt Es, “e. Pets AS Jeg Safer Find J. HOFFMAN.—ANTIQUITIES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. 123 produced by the cradle board ; by bandages across the forehead, or boards, to produce elongation as well as flattening ; posthumous distortion, in consequence of the combined influence of pressure and moisture ; and, as Dr. Humphrey Minchin states, naturally and congenitally deformed in consequence of obliteration by synostosis of some one of the sutures, the obliteration taking place during intra-uterine or early extra-uterine life and by presenting a point of resistance, causing the brain and with it the calvarial bones to be unduly developed in certain directions. . cranial conformation is effected. So great was the pressure that the child’s skull was sometimes broken. * * Mr. Squier, following Fuentes’ unpub- lished history, says that among the Quichés, Cakchiquels, and Zutugils, the back of the head was flattened by the practice of carrying infants tied closely to a straight board.” Vol. ii, p. 731, 732. The following references will be found of importance in further illustration of this subject, as well as noting the universality of the occurrence of asym- etrical crania: J.Atkin Meigs, (M. D.) Observations upon the Form of the Occiput in the yarious races of Men. < Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. (Phila. Pa.,) 1860, p. 412 e¢ seqg., and, by the same author, Description of a deformed fragmentary Human Skull found in an Ancient Quarry-Cave at Jerusalem. < Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci, 1859, p. 272. On the Crania of the most Ancient Races of Man, Miiller’s Archiv. 1858, pp. 453, (By Prof. Schaaffhausen) is discussed and extended in the Nat. Hist. Review, 1861, pp. 155-176, pl. iv,v. [Compares cranial deformities between ancient Mexicans, Flatheads, and Europeans. | Notes on the Distortions which present themselves in the Crania of the Ancient Britons. < Nat. Hist. Review, 1862, pp. 290-297, ill. 1-3. Ueber asymmetrische Schiidel. < Novara-Expedition. Anthropologisch- er theil, I abtheil., Wien, 1875, pp. 40-50, besides numerous notes through- out the work, giving measurements, ete. Retzius: Present state of Ethnology in relation to the form of the human skull. < Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. for 1859. 1860, pp. 251-270. Winslow: [Conformation particuliere du Crane d’un Sauvage de ’Amé¢r- ique septentrionale.} < Mém. de l’Acad. Roy. des Sci. pour année 1722. 1724, pp. 322-824, pl. 16. [Isle aux Chiens, 78me degré de lat. et 310 on plus de long. | Retzius: - Cranier fran Sandwichs-darna och Oregon. < Ofvers. Kongl. Vetens.-Akad. Forhandl. for ar 1847. 1848, pp. 31- 36, 2 figures. Retzius: Peruvianernas cranieform. < Ofvers. Kong]. Vetens.-Akad. Forhandl. for ar 1848. 1849, pp. 140-147. {Remarks upon the distinctive characteristics of the American races, etc.] Crania Selecta ex Thesauris Anthropologicis Academiae Imperialis Petro- politanae. < Mém de l’Acad. St. Pétersb. vi sér. Sci. Nat. viii. 1859, pp. 241-268, pl. 1-16. {Important as relating to Aleutians: description, origin, measurements of crania, etc.] Baer: Nachrichten tiber die ethnographisch-craniologische Sammlung der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu St. Petersburg. < Bull. Classe Phys.-Math. Acad. St. Pétersb. xvii. 1859, pp. 177-211. [Extended re- marks on classification, measurements, etc., and on crania from graves from N.W. America. Voyez aussi Gosse’s Essai sur les déformations artif. du crane. Paris, 1855: Morton’s Crania Americana; and Blumenbach’s Decas Cranio- rum. | 124 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Malformation of the skull appears occasionally dependent also, upon Cretinism, which is usually preceded by degeneration of the thyroid gland—goitre. This has been particularly noticed in the - more elevated regions of Europe and Asia.* Hereditary syphilis is also claimed to have produced similar results, as M. Parrot found the remains of this disease upon crania of the ancient races of Peru and Bogota, which, he avers, caused the deformation.t Quatrefa- ges cites Jourdanet’s work as referring to the existence of syphilis in Mexico previous to the Conquest, and it is found by comparing the ancient Mexican sculptures, that cranial deformation existed, but this was produced artificially as a mark of distinction, as among the Central Americans. The Aztecs, however, are not known to have practiced this custom ; though if they did, the practice had limited adoption. A curious statement is made by Sir Robert Schomburgh, of In- dians which he found on the Orinoco whose heads were flattened by nature. He saw a child one hour after its birth which showed all the characteristics of the tribe, ‘‘and the flatness of its head, as compared with the heads of the other tribes, was remarkable.” { The most prominent of our native tribes as having practiced head-flattening are the Flathead Indians of the northwest,|| though Dr. Suckley states that they do not practice this custom (1855). The Natchez, Choctaws, and in fact nearly all of the tribes within the borders of the United States, at one time practiced this custom to a limited extent, if all the literature is to be relied upon. — It is more probable, however, that the frequent discovery of crania, de- formed unintentionally by means of the primitive cradle board, has given rise to these statements regarding many of the Indian tribes. In the following table, representing measurements of some of the crania from the region under consideration, metrical measurements are employed, as most convenient for the greater number of ethnol- * See Ermines’ Travels in Siberia, 1848, ii, p. 330; Saussure, Voyage dans les Alpes, 1786, iv; Ackermann, Ueber die Cretinen. Gotha, 1790; Foderé, Traité du Goitre et du crétinisme, a Paris, an vii. + Les deformations craniennes causées par la Syphilis héréditaire. < As- sociation Francaise pour l'avancement des Science. Compt. Rendus de la 6e Session. (Le Havre, 1877). 1878, pp. 665--674. + Jour. Royal Geograph. Soc. xv, p. 53, 54. | Ueber Abplattung des Schadels bei Amerik. Indianern. < Froriep’s Notiz. 1841, Bd, 19, p. 40... Ueber die Indianer aus Columbiaflusse. < Ibid, 1843, Bd, xxv, 2 ill. + - PENG Sie Rit aes ree) tele nig St EET oS Ww. ogists engaged in this study. c. and for rope cap., internal capacity, measured by No. 8 shot ; longitudinal diameter, prominent part of the occiput ; the parietal bones widest apart ; from the middle of the anterior border measured The centimetres and cubic from J. HOFFMAN.—ANTIQUITIES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. abbreviations are as follows : the centimetres, e@labella the most elevated point on the sagittal suture | a) foramen magnum 5 , longitudinal arch; ( ‘ ., circumference, respectively L., the greatest to the most B., breadth between the points of H., height, measured by calipers, of the foramen magnum to . Ts f. m., index of by tape measure, on a plain including the glabella, occiput and promi- nent lateral elevations; Z. d., zygomatic diameter; and F. a., facial angle. >) et lace ll Ss = = = { = LocaLity. ie =U = a = = zy apt [| Ld sa7 el [jth Sees SB Wooler ee meen a oes — [S lO 1. Pueblo Mounds, Utah....... (1145) 160/138|122/39 324 4761 126)79°| 86.20 2. ss Ee RES ahs /160/145/143)/36. 9 359) \484) 90.62 Pian “ crass sat 168/145} |38.7/354/506| 76°} 86.30 4. New Mexican Pueblos ...... 1160 159)138) 130) 41 |333)/476) 78°} 86.79 2. t of; SRD ancy 11215)151 138) 341/456!100/92°) 91.39 6, es cL Sat pe RE in eo ane adnan 56)142)35 338/506) '123/84°|101.96 Th * Me Eee eientersi 11205) 154/147/140)34 (345/476. 128) | 95.45 Saea2Ghaco, Canon, Ni Mey. 22. 1155} fe (323/460 | | 91.61 AMPK CANN fens saderctecqsescay cu rccohens biel )1515/181)141)141/45 |375)508/120)75°! 77.90 10. EWEN nth eth tines sek Soy '170/138/130/41 |346/486/122) | 81.17 Tho Ty So Nee Oe eared en eae bp ea 135/138 42 |368/498) 79°! 75.41 12. 2 gal ANT OO 11455|181/147|127|47, [365/519|131/80°| 81.21 os a a a RE er Ain a ah Fe aR Wiis Ps 3 1220 164 145/121 41 2/485)124/79°| 89.02 TES RNR 00116 5 oe 1410) ae ie 41.6) 484|129/76°) 87.57 15. AME intents 2 | (155)138 145/35.5 340/460) 72°| 89.67 Noss l=3: From the southern portion of Utah. The mounds lo- cated in this region are supposed to have been built by the Pueblo Indians. No. 4. Shows flattening From Laguna, N. M. No. 5d. hibiting marked flattening left of the median line, the deformation extending the temporal bone. No. 6. Over Cranium of an “ancient” the left occipito-parietal region. Pueblo from New Mexico, ex- over the occipito-parietal region to the nearly as far as Similar to preceding as to apparent age and locality. The occiput is nearly vertical in this specimen, the posterior por- tions of the parietal bones being included in the deformation, the 126 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. pressure having been directed more to the left of the median line. No. 7. Presents flattening over the left occipital region, giving greater rotundity and prominence to the parietal bone of the same side. : No. 9. Cranium of a Mexican Indian taken from the church of San José, near San Antonio, Texas. Superciliary ridges pro- nounced ; occipital bone remarkably prominent and_ projecting, with no presence of deformity by artificial means. No. 10.) Skull of a Mexican assassin, from the vicinity of Mata- moras. Superciliary ridges less prominent than usually found in Mexican Indians. No deformation. No. 11. Nasal eminence rather marked ; no deformation beyond slight flattening over the superior portion of the occipital bone to the right of the median line. No. 13. Cranium of adult Mexican, female, showing slight flat- tening over the anterior superior apex of the occipital bone and ad- jacent portions of both parietals. Nos. 14, 15. Both specimens were obtained in a ruined eliff- dwelling several miles northeast of Camp Verdé, A. T. Several skeletons were lying side by side, buried under the fallen wall, as if death had occurred in defense of the place ; the greater portions of the bodies were destroyed by fire as the surroundings plainly indicated, the crania and few of the adjacent portions only being preserved. No. 8. This very deformed skull, already noticed, presents great occipito-parieta] flattening, more to the left of the median line than upon the opposite side, producing remarkable prominence of the frontal bone. The measurements, as far as could be taken on ac- count of partial fracture in transportation, are as follows : Length, - - - : 155 mm. | Frontal arch, 2 - 2395 mm. Breadth, - : - = 142. °"o >) (Parietaltarehy \ 3 : 2 Longitudinal arch, - > 323° £9" s| Ocerpital arch,” = - | 223 as Circumference, - - 460 “ | Length of Frontal, _- 108 iP Index For, mag,, — - - 2 Length of Parietal, - 124 . Zygomatic diam., - : ? Length of Occipital, - 163 Facial angle, - - - x | Cephalic index, - : 96.61.“ The effect upon the cephalic index by distortion is strikingly illustrated in Nos. 6 and 7, respectively, viz. LO1.96 and 95.45. To these may be added another, from a_ cliff-dwelling in Arizona, . tan) ? having an index of 101.96. The number of crania from these in- teresting regions are ‘very limited, and until more material is ac- W. H. PRATT.—SECTION OF SIXTH STREET BLUFF. 127 cessible no results of a satisfactory nature can be arrived at, the average of measurements blending one known type with another, and it is impossible to state whether the peculiarities previously referred to will result as characteristics of the so-called ancient Pueblos, or not. FEBRUARY 6TH, 1880:— GEOLOGICAL SECTION. Prof. W. H. Barris in the chair. Five members present. An amendment to the By-Laws was adopted changing the day of the regular meeting of the Section to the first, instead of the third, Friday in each month. Prof. Barris read an interesting letter from Prof. Chas. Wachs- muth, of Burlington, Lowa, confirming Prof. Barris’ views regard- ing the geology of this locality, and recognizing his genus of Stereocrinus as well established. Prof. Barris presented several specimens of Buomphalus de cewi from Michigan, and from Cook’s quarry at Davenport. The following paper was presented : Section of the Bluff at Sixth Street, Davenport. BNO OW. eh. BAT The bluff along Sixth street, between Ripley and Harrison streets, consists of a high narrow ridge between the Mississippi River bottom and a very broad ravine which extends back toward the west about half a mile, nearly parallel with the front slope, and terminates very abruptly at Harrison street. This ravine, like Duck Creek and other ravines and small streams on this side of the river, runs very nearly parallel with the Mississippi River, “but descending in the oppo- site direction. The lowest portion exposed to view is composed of the usual “ blue clay” (@), or glacial drift, always containing more or less gravel irregu- larly distributed. In addition, it also contains numerous masses of sand in as irregular positions as possible, and looking as if they had been dropped in with the clay while in a frozen or otherwise solidified condition. Occasional exceedingly crooked and irregular lines of stratification are also observable. It appears evident that this whole formation must have been deposited in turbulent waters, before the cutting out of the ravine or the river valley. This deposit comes up to a level at about 90 feet above the low water level of the Mississippi ‘ 128 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. River and 25 or 30 feet above the present surface of the valley about this point. At the top of this formation is a quite regular horizontal and well defined line, showing the surface at the period immediately succeeding the time of the deposition of the drift. Above this is the usual loess or “ yellow clay” (6) to the depth of some 70 feet and reaching a level of about 160 feet above the datum line of low water mark. A section of the underlying strata to the depth of 240 feet has been obtained by a boring for water by Mr. M. Frahm some years since. This boring was made at the side of Harrison street, a short distance R PS SS SaaS SE See SHS OT PS SBS ERE IES eee SXSW ENE- 8 PSSA 0 = — VSS == =O =~ SEL — S28 Se SSS SS ~S eo Bacon a SEBS West. [Scale, 120 feet to an inch.] East. “oS a, Blue clay or glacial drift; b, Yellow clay or Loess; ¢, Limestone; d, Fire clay: e, Limestone; ft, Cave; H, Harrison street; R, Ripley street: H-R, Grade of Sixth street: 1. Low water level of Mississippi River, 553.22 feet above sea level. below Sixth, where the grade is two feet lower than at Sixth street. The boulder clay (@) extends to the depth of 40 feet below the surface of the street, making a total depth F of 70 feet of this formation. Next below is a bed of limestone (¢c) ten feet in thickness, resting upon a stra- tum of fire-clay (7) eight feet thick. MH =, = = ——, = == = =e = = = = = S E ia) 1 AAT AM NOL | From this point downward the boring was continued 182 feet far- ther in a bed of solid limestone (e) excepting that at the depth of 142 feet from the surface the drill dropped eight feet in a small cave (7) in this rock. This cave contained water, and a pump was put in. After pumping nearly 1000 barrels of water, the cave was emptied and gradually refilled when the pumping was stopped, showing that the supply was only from the surrounding earth. The boring was then continued 90 feet farther, reaching the full depth of 240 feet from the street, 178 feet below low water mark of the Mississippi river, which is distant nearly half a mile, south. T. Mc WHORTER. GEOLOGY OF EAST DAVENPORT. 129 As the results of some borings in other parts of the county ren- dered it probable that any water which might be obtained below this rock would be of a mineral character and unsuitable for brew- ery purposes, the work was discontinued at the above-named depth. Fesruary 13rn, 1880. — Histroricat SEcTION. Mr. J. A. Crandall in the chair. Eight persons present. Mr. P. V. Pope presented a stone pipe inlaid with lead, made long ago by the Indians and given to him by * Little Crow ” (who told him he himself had cut it out) in 1838, about ten miles below Fort Snelling. ‘“ Little Crow” was afterward killed during the Sioux rebellion in 1862-1863, of which he was the leader. Mr. Pope read a very interesting account of this pipe and of Little Crow’s connection with it. Dr. Parry read a translation made by Dr. Fr. Brendel, of Peoria, of Volney’s account of the early French settlers of Illinois, con- tained in his * Travels in America in 1792.” ¢ Fresruary 20TH, 1880. — ArcH £0LOGICAL SECTION. Mr. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Four members present. The evening was spent in discussing the various published state- ments regarding the Tablets and Pipes in the collection of the Academy. FEBRUARY 27TH, 1880. — ReGuLaR: MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Twelve persons present. Miss Lizzie Myers and Messrs. C. J. Brown and Gilman Doe were elected regular members. The following paper was read : Beds of Carboniferous Drift in the Bluffs of East Davenport. BY TYLER Me WHORTER, The occurrence of a bed of carboniferous drift, at a high eleva- tion, in East Davenport, is very interesting, though it is nothing more than we might expect. (Proc D) A. N.S. Vol. IIT] IL [Jan. 24, 1882.] 130 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. The fact that we find no undisturbed beds of rocks of a more recent age than the Devonian, does not prove that the face of the country has been continuously above the water since that age. We have reason to believe that much of northern Illinois and of Iowa was beneath the ocean during much of the Carboniferous age ; and if exposed to surface degradation through the long dura- tion of the Mesozoic ages, including the eroding forces of the Qua- ternary times, we may judge what an amount of the original sur- face rocks has been worn away ! Sufficient attention has not been directed to high beds of gravel that occur in many places. Such beds of gravel, if closely in- spected, may, in many cases, reveal traces of what has been the character of the rocks that have been disintegrated from the sur- face of the country. The upper Mississippi is one of the oldest rivers of the globe ; it once flowed at a much higher elevation than at present. The bed of the river has once had an elevation fully as high as the tops of the present bluffs ; for, while the river has for millions of years been wearing its channel continually deeper, the tops of the bluffs and the whole face of the country have also been wearing away by aqueous action. We should expect to find some traces of river gravel at high elevations. When we consider the vast thickness of the Mesozoic formations that are revealed in the western mountain regions, and reflect on the duration of time required ‘for the accumulation of this material in the bottoms of the oceans, we should also bear in mind that the material of which all these Mesozoic rocks were formed was mainly abraded from the face of the older continents, and was transported by rivers and spread over the floors of the oceans. From the thickness of the Mesozoic rocks, including the Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Eocene, Miocene and Pliocene, we may judge what a quantity of material has been thus removed. Marcu dtu, 1880. — GroLtoeicaL SECTION. Mr. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Four members present. Messrs. Gass and Blumer had just returned from a trip to Louisa county, and exhibited a second elephant pipe, a broken bird pipe, and a small copper axe, found in a mound on the farm of Mr. Haas. Mr. Pratt presented some fossils collected at East Davenport. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 131 Marcu 6TH, 1880.— BroLtoaicaL Srerion. Mr. J. D. Putnam in the chair. Three members present. Mr. Putnam exhibited a large collection of French Hymenoptera and Coleoptera recently received from Mr. L. Lethierry, of Lille, France. Marcu 197TH, 1880.— ArcH£0LOGICAL SECTION. Mr. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Seven members present. The evening was spent in work, mending and restoring broken pottery. Marcu 26TH, 1880. — Reauiar MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Nine persons present. Messrs. E. Pester and E. H. Pierce were elected regular mem- bers. Prof. Chas. U. Shepard, Sr., Amherst, Mass.; Prof. Chas. U. Shepard, Jr., Charleston, South Carolina; Mr. Adolph Toellner, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Mr. 8. 8S. Barr, of Walnut Grove, Iowa, were elected corresponding members. Dr. C. C. Parry and Mr. J. D. Putnam were appointed delegates to represent the Academy at the 100th anniversary celebration of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, at Boston, on May 26th, 1880. AprRIL 2p, 1880. — GroLogicaL SEcTION. Prof. W. H. Barris in the chair. Four members present. Pp AprRIL 9TH, 1880. — HisroricaL SEcTIon. Mr. J. A. Crandall in the chair. Four persons present. Communications were read from Judge Wm. L. Cook, of Daven- port Township, and James E. Burnside, of Blue Grass, giving some interesting reminiscences of early times. APRIL 23p, 1880.— SprectaL MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Five members present. The following paper was read : 132 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Exploration of Mounds in Louisa County, Iowa. BY REV. A. BLUMER. Having formerly resided in Louisa couuty, Iowa, and being well acquainted with the situation of the various groups of mounds in that region, and having become especially interested in the subject of Archeology on account of the discoveries recently made in various parts of the country, I visited that place during the first week of the present month in company with Rev. J. Gass, for the purpose of making some explorations among those mounds situated on the bluff on the west side of the Mississippi valley along the Muscatine slough, which latter has an extent of about thirty miles. The country is here everywhere dotted thickly with ancient mounds. Many of them have already been explored by parties of the neighborhood and by strangers, but, as I learned, compara- tively few relics have been discovered. We visited several groups lying within the distance of a few miles, and finally determined to open those of a group situated two miles east of Grandview and three miles south of the boundary of Muscatine county. With the aid of Mr. Fr. Haas and a few men, residents of the vicinity, whom we engaged to assist in the labor, our work was begun on the farm of Mr. P. Haas, S. W. 4 N. EH. ¢ Sec. 25, Twp. 75 N, R. 3, where a considerable number of mounds had been examined some years ago by Mr. Lindley and others. The first mound we opened, and the only one at the exploration of which I was present, proved to be a sacrificial or cremation mound. It is situated on the extreme edge of a prominent point of the bluff, having on both sides ravines extending down into the valley. Its form is that of a flat cone, of a diameter of about thirty feet and elevation of three feet. Mr. F. Haas, who is the son of the owner of the land, has given, as he told me, considerable attention to the exploration of the mounds, and opened quite a number of them. Late last fall he made an attempt upon this one, but coming to a layer of very hard burned clay intermingled with coals, he found the work too diffi- cult and abandoned it, and did not try digging here again until he joined in our work. These circumstances and the fact that in two neighboring mounds, one on each side of this, some relics were found by Mr. Lindley, attracted our particular attention, and we determined, with the assistance of Mr. Haas, to explore it thor- REV. A. BLUMER. — EXPLORATIONS IN LOUVISA COUNTY. 135 oughly. An opening of five by ten feet was made. The surface was a layer of hard clay, about one and a half feet thick. Beneath this layer, which exhibited here and there the effects of fire, we founda layer of red burned clay, about as hard as a rather soft- burned brick. This layer was of an oval form, five feet in the shortest diameter, one foot thick in the center, and gradually di- minishing to three inches at the circumference. Under this was a bed of ashes thirteen inches deep in the middle and also gradually diminishing to the edges, where it terminated, with the burned clay above. Nota single fragment of bone was discovered, but Mr. Haas found in his former examination of this mound a few fragments of human teeth. In the midst of this bed of ashes, a few inches above the bottom, were found a portion of a broken carved stone pipe, bird form, by Mr. F. Haas, and a very small copper axe by Mr. Gass, both of which articles are now in the Academy Museum; also a carved stone pipe, entire and represent- ing an elephant, which was first discovered by myself, and which I hereby have the pleasure of presenting to the Archeological de- partment of the Academy Museum. The work was continued by Mr. Gass. Respectfully submitted, Rev. Ap. BLuMER. Geneseo, I1]., March 27th, 1880. May 14rxH, 1880. — Hisroricat SEcTION. Five persons present. Mr. Pratt reported that Mr. Howard Burtis had donated to the Academy the hotel registers of the Burtis House from 1872 to 1875. May 28ru, 1880. — Recutar MEETING. The President, Mr. W.H. Pratt, in the chair. Eleven members present. Miss Nellie W. Merriman, Jackson, Mich., and Mr. J. Q. Wing, Davenport, were elected regular members. A letter was read from Mr. Robert Clarke, of Cincinnati, describing an inscribed stone recently found in Ohio, and sending a photograph of the same. 134 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Prof. Josua Lindahl exhibited some dissections of Helix pomatia, in water and under the microscope, and gave an interesting explana- tion of the internal anatomy of the species. JUNE 25TH, 1880.— RecuLarR MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Six members pres- ent. Mr. C. T. Dahm, Rev. A. Blumer, Mrs. W. A. Nourse, Mrs. W. P. Hall, Miss Grace R. Hall and Mrs. G. W. Jenkins were elected regu- lar members, and Mr. James Shaw and Dr. Henry Shimer, of Mount Carroll, Ills., as corresponding members. SEPTEMBER 241TH, 1880. — ReGuLarR MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt,in the chair. Thirty persons present. Mr. W. C. Egan, Chicago, IIl.; Prof. H. H. Babcock, Chicago, IIl.; Mrs. R. E. Latham, Lincoln, Ill.; and Mrs. C. H. Perry, Keokuk, Iowa, were elected corresponding members. Dr. Farquharson gave a very complete and interesting report of his recent visit to Boston and the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science ; and of the exhibition there of the Academy’s collection of prehistoric relics and the great interest man- ifested in them by the scientific people collected there. OcroBeR 22p, 1880.— ArcH®O0LOGICAL SECTION. Mr. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Three members present. Mr. Gass gave a verbal account of several explorations which had not been previously reported, on account of the expectation of contin- uing the investigations at some other time, for which, however, no op- portunity had occurred. He gave a special description of a group of nine low conical mounds on the bluffs of the Wapsipinicon river, about three miles east of . Wheatland, Clinton county, lowa, which he visited in August, 1879. He opened four of these mounds, which were each about two feet in height and fifteen feet in diameter. They were composed of a mix- ture of black soil and clay, but exhibited no evidences of fire, and con- tained no bones or other relics. REV. J. GASS — EXPLORATIONS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. 135 Report of Exploration of Mounds in Rock Island County, Ill, in 1879 and 1880.* BY REV. J. GASS. In August, 1879, I spent a day, assisted by Mr. Toellner and Mr. Graham, in opening some mounds in Mr. Deere’s pasture, one mile above Moline. The following is a plan of this group: Wagon Road ty, tlie vy ii us 4, Mii, « Ni, ANAND if, Wh, ili NAAN OT sli Wy i MY Woe ani WR VENTA NWA RIN Nally, / XM, i Mi, Auli nied ly RUAN LI NW Wigan 75) QW, u “in aly SAMI NIN =F a Wiig, 3% > inne Zs a Sh 2 Mirae in Rail Road. ssa e Soe MOUNDS on Hon. Jgohn Deero’ s Farm, cw a EN Rp Us, my ANY, am 1 mile E. of Moline. Ti. AS is /) Ha SHypppy0l) crs we VAN ws MN: m Lie Says {For the use of this cut the Academy 1s indebted to the courtesy of Prof. Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. } The first mound we explored is situated in the first of the four rows of this group nearest to the Mississippi, and was of a conical form, one foot high and fifteen feet in diameter. Two and a half feet below the surface we found an irregular bed of limestone about three feet square, and below this layer of stones the decomposed remains of a human skeleton. No relics were discovered. *See Proc. D. A. N.'S., Vol. II., p. 291 Also, Smithsonian Mantial Report, 1879, p. 364, 136 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. On the same day we opened another mound west of No.1. This mound was of oval form, fifteen by twenty-five feet and two and a half feet in height. Two and a half feet below the surface we found a layer of limestone rock, accurately fitted together, and forming a rather smooth surface, in the shape of a half circle. Below this pavement was resting a skeleton in a sitting position. The bones were entirely decayed except the cranium, which was better pre- served, and is presented to the Museum. No relics were found. [This mound is marked 3 on the plan]. The mound marked 5, in the same row, west of the above, is forty-six feet long and six feet broad, and but a few inches above the sur- rounding earth. On this mound, immediately below the green sod is, extending through the whole length, a layer of limestone, which here and there is not quite covered by the sod. On the same day, we made an opening in the west side of this mound, five feet long and four feet wide. Under this stone bed we met with a second one, and be- low this second layer of stones appeared a mixed soil, intermingled with Mttle stones up to the size of a child’s head, but not the least sign of human bones or relics. Two weeks later, we (Mr. Toellner and myself) made some further explorations in the same mound, ex- tending the first opening twelve feet farther, but found everything in the same condition as above described. Neither bones nor other relics were to be found in this mound. September 3d, 1879, | examined some mounds on Copper creek, in Section 23, Township 16, Range 4 west. The first one is of con- ical form, one and a half feet high and twenty-five feet in diameter. This mound has been formerly much higher, but has been reduced by tilling the ground for fifteen years. I made an excavation a few feet square and found near the surface a layer of mixed soil, three feet thick, below this layer a bed of sand of four inches, and under this a human skeleton very much decayed. On the right hand side of this skeleton a few fragments of pottery were found, and a piece of copper having the appearance of an unfinished mound builder’s axe. The second mound opened on the above date is nine feet high and oval, sixty by ninety feet,and was formerly much higher, having been scraped down a good deal by the owner several years ago. It is situated in a very low portion of the valley, near the junction of the two creeks. We made an opening about six feet square at the most elevated point of the surface and down to the natural soil, penetrating various layers of sand and clay. This material must REV. J. GASS — EXPLORATIONS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. 137 have been taken from the neighboring hills, as the bottom of the valley along the creeks is only a black alluvial soil. Charcoal, ashes and burned stones, and also chips of flint and fragments of pottery were found here, but no indications of human remains. This was, perhaps, not a burial mound. The third mound—west of the second—on the right hand side and near Big Copper creek, is of conical form, four feet high; di- ameter thirty feet. We made an opening six feet square and went four feet down through a mixed earth, then one foot through a black soil. Beneath this we discovered two skeletons, in a hori- zontal position, extending east and west. Under the skull of one of these we found a carved stone pipe, of the usual type of this region—curved base, perforated to serve as stem—and representing some animal, perhaps a seal, perhaps a porcupine, and also a flint implement. The bones were too much decayed to bear removal. April 15th, 1880, 1 explored some mounds on the Mississippi bluffs, near Brownsville, in Sec. 27, Twp. 17, R. 9. There are five mounds in a single row, at distances of fifty to one hundred feet apart, having an average height of one to one and a half feet and a diameter of about fifteen feet. In the first one, nearly two and a half feet below the surface, I found, by the side of a few human bones, a stone chisel. In the next, at a depth of two and a half feet, I found human leg bones. In the third, two feet below the surface, were a few pieces of charcoal, four leg bones, and a stone knife. In the fourth and fifth I found, besides some human bones, a few pieces of elk horns, some of which were fashioned into awls or very narrow chisels. These five mounds seem to be of more modern character—perhaps Indian graves. In the neighborhood of Illinois City there are a great many mounds. The most of these have been partly dug up many times, but, so far as I could learn, no relics have been found. On May 12th, 1880, I tried three of those which had not been disturbed, situated in Sec. 12, Twp. 16, R. 5, but found nothing but a few bones at a depth of about three feet. These mounds were about two and a half feet high and thirty feet in diameter. June 22d I investigated five mounds in Rock Island county, op- posite Fairport, in Sec. 6, Twp. 16, R. 4 w, on a high bluff, com- manding a grand view. ‘Two of this group had been opened by parties before we went there. The first mound we opened was three feet high and fifteen feet across—conical. A layer of mixed frroc. D..A; N. §., Vol. 111.] 18 [Feb. 9, 1882. ] 138 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. earth three feet thick covered here a human skeleton, which was lying in an east and west direction, and near this skeleton were a number of arm and leg bones. The next mound was one of those already explored. The third mound in order eastward was four feet high and thirty feet in diameter. Five feet below the surface we found, in a small ditch two feet across, a great number of human bones—of arms, legs, skulls, shoulders, etc.—all mingled together. In one of the best preserved skulls, in the back part, we found the bone of a finger in a quantity of earth. This clearly proves that the whole corpse was not buried here, but only the bony remains of human beings. The fourth mound is two feet high and fifteen feet in diameter. Nothing was found, except a few bones, about two feet below the surface. The fifth mound was three feet high and fifteen in diameter. Here we found a skeleton at the depth of three feet, lying horizontally, east and west. The next mound—the sixth—had already been opened. The seventh was four feet high and thirty feet across. At four feet from the surface were found two skeletons, one lying east and west, the other north and south. The bodies must have been here disposed on the natural ground, and the earth afterward piled over them. The bones were much decayed, and were accompanied by no relics. September 14th I opened a mound on Copper Creek, Sec. 24, Twp. 16, R. 4, which belonged to a group which have been so reduced by long tillage of the soil, that they have disappeared entirely, except two which were situated in woodland. These two were about two feet high and fifteen feet wide, conical inform. We made in the first one an opening a few feet square, and at a depth of two and one-half feet we discovered pieces of rotten black walnut wood, four feet long, lying crosswise over the grave. In this grave, or excavation, and be- neath the wood, was a light black earth composed of rotten grass or foliage, and beneath this layer a few human bones, and close beside them, a plain mound-builder’s pipe and one arrow-head. The other mound was constructed like the one just described, and we found, with a few decayed bones, two flint implements. At the base of the two mounds were graves three feet deep, extending east and west. The earth which was over these graves, and forming the whole mound, was a black soil from the surrounding surface, and we REV. J, GASS. — EXPLORATIONS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. 139 could trace how far from the mound the soil had been stripped off for the creation of the mounds, as it is in that locality scarcely more than two inches in thickness when undisturbed. In Buffalo Prairie township, Rock Island county, on the eastern bluff of the Mississippi, opposite Pine Creek, Mr. M. Kurt, while en- gaged in digging and hauling sand, found two carved stone pipes, which I obtained, and they are herewith submitted. They are com- posed of a soft, dark-colored stone ; possibly a variety of tale, of the usual mound-builders’ type, one representing probably a howling wolf—the other, plain. Human bones are found in the same locality, which, by the people there, is commonly called “the Indian burying-ground.” In another report I will give the particulars of the different explor- ations in Louisa county during the present year. Respectfully submitted, J. Gass. NovEMBER 5TH, 1880.— AbsJouRNED ReGuLar MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Six members pres- ent. Messrs. N. Kuhnen, H. Kurmeier, H. W. Lewis, and Miss Julia San- ders, Mrs. H. M. Conner, and Mrs. Sophie C. Gronen, were elected regular members; and the following persons were elected correspond- ing members, viz: Mr. H. F. Suksdorf; Dr. J. R. Cardwell; Mr. L. Ff’. Henderson ; Rev. T. L. Eliot ; Dr. H. Carpenter and Prof. Thomas, of Portland, Oregon ; Wm. Suksdorf, of White Salmon, Washington Ter.; Dr. W. F. Tolmie, of Victoria, Br. Columbia ; O. B. Johnson, aap be Oregon ; L. M. Culver, Waukegan, Wis; Prof. E. W. Clay- pole, We bas e i18, ge, Yellow Springs, Ohio ; and Miss Mary Porter, residing at Peking, Siri , The President read the following letter from Rev. 8.8. Hunting: Drs Mornes, Ocr. 61H, 1880. W. H. Pratt, President of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences : Dear Sir :—As I have removed from Davenport, I now tender my resig- nation as one of the trustees of your Academy. In doing so I am reminded of the honor which the Ac ademy has conferred upon me since I have been one of its members. As I have been interested, so I shall continue my inter- est as a life member of the Academy. I trust that you will be prospered in the future, and be able to bless yourselves and many others in true Seience, which is real knowledge. Most respectfully, yours, S. 5. Hunrine. 140 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. On motion, the resignation of Mr. Hunting was accepted. Some discussion was had regarding the practicability of instituting a course of instructive lectures, but no definite plan was developed. NovemBer 19rn, 1880. — ARcH#OLOGICAL SECTION. W. Hz. Pratt in the chair. Three members present. NovEMBER 26TH. — REGULAR MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Nine members and two visitors present. Mrs. W. G. Shand was elected a regular member, and Mr. J. B. Kiel, of Montrose, lowa, a° corresponding member. Mr. J. D. Putnam made some interesting remarks upon several scientific societies and libraries at the East, which he had recently visited, giving a brief description of some of the collections and of the arrangement of cases. He spoke of the uniform courtesy with which he was received, both personally and es representing the Davenport Academy, and the favors extended to him in the use of rare and valuable books, in his researches in the literature relat- ing to the Solpugidee. The following paper was read: Exploration of Mounds in Louisa County, lowa. BY REV. J. GASS. In the early part of March last, accompanied by Rev. A. Blumer, of Geneseo, I visited Grand View township, in the county above mentioned, and examined the different groups of mounds which are thickly scattered along the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi bottom for many miles, only here and there interrupted by deep ravines, and which in many places extend back toa considerable distance from the edge of the bluffs. We explored at that time ten mounds, a full re- port of the first of which, dated March 27th, has been presented by Mr. Blumer, and I will describe the others in the order of the work. As the land on which some of them are situated has been culti- vated for a long time, it is now impossible to determine the original elevation of such mounds. The next mound we opened—which I will call No. 2—is situated REV. J. GASS EXPLORATION IN LOUISA COUNTY. 141 on Mr. P. Haas’ farm, 8S. W. 4 of N. E. 4 of Section 25, about fifty yards west of the first (reported by Mr. Blumer), and in the second row of this group, extending north and south, approximately parallel with the edge of the bluff, the mounds being arranged in several somewhat irregular rows, all running in the same direction. This mound was about fifteen feet in diameter and one and a half in height, and composed of a mixture of the adjacent common soils to the depth of three feet, where the natural undisturbed yellow clay was reached. On the bottom were some remains of a human skele- ton, all much decayed. A few splinters of flint were also found. Mound No. 3 is situated close to the edge of the bluff, in the first row, about fifty yards southward from the first one. Its diameter was about twenty feet, height two feet. At two feet from the sur- face we discovered an excavation into the natural soil, extending downward two feet farther, and one and a half in diameter, entirely filled with ashes and coals. No relics nor bones were found. Mound No. 4 is fifty yards south of the third one, twenty-five feet in diameter and three in height. Here, as in No. 2, we met with the same kind of soil, three feet in depth, but this stratum was resting upon a layer of white clay, as hard as cement, eight inches thick down to the natural undisturbed yellow clay. On the south side this layer sloped a little and grew thicker in that direction, and here were the remains of two skeletons, lying in a horizontal position and ex- tended northwest and southeast, imbedded in this clay. Only por- tions of the larger bones were preserved. The skulls rested on a large stone. Some fragments of arrow. heads were the only relics found. Mound No. 5 row—is twenty-five feet in diameter, and three and a half in height. about ten yards west of No. 4, and in the second From the surface two and a half feet down, it is composed of a mixed soil like Nos. 2 and 4, resting, as in the latter, on a layer of white clay, from eleven to fifteen inches thick. Under this layer, but rather at one side, we found a small quantity of ashes and coals, and in the center, in an excavation two feet across and two anda half deep, were the remains of a skeleton, in a sitting position. No relics here. Mound No.6, nine yards northward from No. 5, and also in the second row, is twenty feet in diameter and two and a half in height. It consists of a mixture of the common soil resting on the natural hard clay. No relics were to be found, and only a few frag- ments of decayed bones. 142 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. The three mounds last mentioned belong to the same group with the other three, but are situated on Mr. Stoddard’s farm, N. W. 4 of S. E. 4 of Sec. 25, and are covered with young trees. Monnd No. 7 is sixty yards north of No. 6, in the same row, and is on Mr. Haas’ land ; diameter fifteen feet, height one and one half— composed of soil hke No. 6. No relics and not a single fragment of bone. Mound No. 8 is one mile and ahalf north of those last described. on the farm of Mr. Dickenson, 8S. W. + of Sec. 13. It is located on the most elevated point in the vicinity, and the observer has here a grand, far extended view over the surrounding country. This mound is about three hundred yards from the edge of the bluff and in the center of a numerous group of small ones. It is eighty feet in diam- eter and six feet high. The earth covering this mound was also a mix- ture of common soil, but much softer than in all the rest. Atadepth of six feet we discovered three skeletons in a horizontal position, one having the head toward the east, and the other two with the heads toward the west. Some of the arm and leg bones were very well preseryed and remarkably strong, but the skulls were entirely de- ‘rayed. South of these skeletons we found a quantity of ashes and coals, intermingled with burnt clay and flint fragments. No relies. Mound No. 9 is one-eighth of a mile south of No. 8, on Mr. Gast’s farm, N. W. 4 of N. W. 4 of Sec. 24. This is also a large mound— dimensions same as the last mentioned—and is nearly two hundred yards from the edge of the bluff, but not surrounded by smaller mounds. At the depth of six feet we found only a small quantity of ashes and coals. Mound No. 10, the last one we opened, stands on Mr. Godfrey’s farm, N. E. + of N. W. 4 of Section 24, about two hundred yards from No. 9, close at the edge of the bluff overlooking the valley of the Mississippi. Its diameter is twenty-five feet, elevation four feet. One foot below the surface was reached a mass of decayed human bones, which proved to be a bed of them, five or six feet across and three and a half feet in thickness. They were lying in various diree- tions without order or arrangement. No relics were discovered, In August I again visited the same neighborhood for the purpose of making further investigations. In Section 24, on a prominent point of the bluff commanding a splendid view, I found a group of six mounds disposed in the form eked i Se ee eS REV. J. GASS — EXPLORATION IN LOUISA COUNTY. 143 of a crescent, and west of this group the whole field of many acres is covered with hundreds of mounds. The first of the above mentioned group, opened by Mr. Kallenber- ger, is situated at the southern end of the semi-circle, on Mr. K’s. land, at the extreme northwest corner of the S. E. + of Sec. 24, and is the largest, viz: eight feet high and about a hundred feet in diam- eter. An excavation from the center of the surface down to the natural soil at the depth of six feet, showed a mixed earth, with only frag- ments of flint implements. The next layer of earth, one and a half feet thick, was a mixture of sand and clay, and in this he found a flint knife and a perforator. Beneath this layer of sind and clay he dis- covered four skeletons, lying with the heads toward the west, with a number of other human bones and pieces of skulls. Near the second skeleton he found a pipe of dark red pipe stone, plain, (No. 7060,) and a very small copper axe, (No. 7063.) © Another excavation was made in the same mound, in the eastern side, where he found two other skeletons and, near the skulls, two pipes (Nos. 7390 and 7391) and a portion of the bones of a child, and near them a few copper beads. The second mound of this crescent group is situated forty-five feet northeast of No. 1 and is three and one-half feet high and forty-five feet in diameter. Four feet deep we found three skeletons, with the heads westward, and a few fragments of flint and pottery. The bones in both of thes mounds were very much decayed. The third mound, thirty-five feet north of No. 2, is three and a half feet in height and thirty feet in diameter. One and a half feet from the surface, the earth appeared to be a burnt clay, and one and a half feet further down, this clay was as hard as a soft-burned brick. Be- low this layer of burnt clay, he met with an ash-bed of eleven inches thickness, of oval form, four by five anda half feet. Near the cen- ter of this bed of ashes was a small copper axe, (No. 7062,) which showed indications of the action of fire. No. bones were found here. This was, perhaps, a cremation and not a sepulchral mound. The last two were also explored by Mr. Kallenberger. The fourth mound, explored by myself, thirty-six feet northward from the last described, was about three feet high and thirty feet in diameter. Four feet down were a few. human bones, some broken pottery and flint implements, and nothing more was found. 144 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. The fifth mound was forty-six feet from the fourth; was three feet high and thirty feet across. Three feet from the surface I found a few bones, but nothing more. The sixth mound, forty-five feet northwest from the fifth and on Mr. Rockroth’s land, is six feet high and one hundred feet in diam- eter. On the surface of this one the rotten stump of an oak tree, two and a half feet in diameter, is standing. We made an excava- tion eight by thirteen feet. About two feet down’ we found the skeletons of three Indians, which were very much decayed. All the earth six feet down to the natural soil, was a mixed clay and black soil, containing no bones. A farther excavation ina north and south direction revealed two skeletons on the south side, one a male and the other a female, the former having the head westward, and the latter eastward, the feet meeting at the center. No other relics were found here. We next explored two other mounds, standing rather apart from the rest, on land belonging to Mr. Schleicher, 8. E. 4 N. W. 4 See. 24. One of these was four feet high and about seventy-five feet in di- ameter, and at the depth of four feet were found two human leg bones and some fragments of pottery and flints. The other, about thirty-five feet south, three and a half by fifty feet, contained only a few bones. At the same time we explored three other mounds a short dis- tance from those above described. The first of these, on Mr. Gast’s farm, N. W.4N. W. 4 Sec. 24, is a single mound, six feet in height and 100 feet in diameter. An excavation was made, ten feet in di- ameter and six feet deep, but nothing was found except two arrow- heads. The excavation was then extended in different directions with the same result. The next mound, on Mr. Godfrey’s land, N. E. ¢ N. W. 4 Sec. 24, is four and a half feet high and forty-five feet across. ‘Three and a half feet below the surface we discovered a whole layer of human bones, but in such confusion that the positions of the several skele- tons could not be ascertained. A singular circumstance in connec- tion with this, and the only such instance I have ever known, was a smell of decay, which was almost unendurable. No relics were found. The third mound is thirty feet south of the last described, and is three feet high and thirty feet in diameter. At the depth of three feet we found the remains of two skeletons and nothing more. a ea ee oe Sonia — es REV. J. GASS — EXPLORATIONS IN LOUISA COUNTY. 145 Next, on Mr. Vibber’s farm, at the N. E. corner of the N. W. } of See. 13, we opened four other mounds. The first was three feet high and thirty feet in diameter. Here we found nothing but a few human bones at the depth of three feet. The second, fifteen feet from the former, was two and a half feet high and thirty feet across. Two anda half feet down we discoy- ered on? human arm bone and one leg bone. The third mound was three feet high and of oval form, fifteen by thirty feet. At the depth of three feet were two skeletons, imbed- ded in the clay ; no relics. The fourth was two feet and a half high and twenty-five feet in di- ameter. Nothing was found here except a few decayed bones. In addition to the above explorations, Mr. Kallenberger has opened in the same group, at my request, six other mounds, but without any valuable results. Other people, from Muscatine and elsewhere, have opened a great many mounds in the same vicinity but, as far as I could learn, with no beiter success. Not long previous to the investigations above referred to, Mr. David Young and others opened two mounds on a projecting point -of the bluffs on Mr. Godfrey’s land, N. E.} N. W. 4 Sec. 24. In these they found a finely-carved sandstone pipe, (No. 7061.) repre- senting a bird, also a copper axe anda very large copper bead. The pipe and bead are already in our museum, and the axe is promised but not yet received. In November we made the third exploration of mounds in Grand- view township, but on account of stormy weather only two mounds could be opened, and nothing was obtained from them. These were on Mr. Kallenberger’s land, 8. W. 4 Sec. 24. At my request and under my dept Mr. F. Haas has explored eight mounds on his father’s farm, N. E. + Sec. 25, and obtained for our museum one plain pipe of red pipestone, a few shell beads, an obsid- ian arvow head and a number of flint implements. I have thus briefly described the exploration of seventy-five mounds during a period of a little over one year, and as the result of the whole work we have secured four skulls, twelve pipes, four cop- per axes, a number of copper and shell beads, and a considerable number of flint, stone and horn implements. This may seem a small result in comparison with the amount of labor required, but as the ~value of mound-builders’ relics is increasing every year, 1t seems ibroc: DAC N:.8.,. Vol. ILE] 19 [Feb. 27; 1882.] 146 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. quite desirable to secure all we can before the opportunity is gone. Respectfully submitting the above report, 1 wish to express my most sincere thanks to the Academy for the kind assistance they have always given me, and especially during the past year. J. Gass. DECEMBER 3p, 1880. — GEOLOGICAL SECTION. Prof. W. H. Barris in the chair. Three members present. Prof. Barris gave an interesting account of his explorations during the past summer in the vicinity of Alpena, Mich., and presented about thirty species of Devonian fossils gathered there. He also spoke of several new species of fossils recently discovered in this vicinity. DEcEMBER 17TH, 1880. — ArcH OLOGICAL SECTION. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Four members present. Plans were discussed for obtaiming data for maps and charts of the mounds of Iowa and Illinois. DECEMBER 3lsr, 1880. — ReGuLaR MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Seven members present. Article III, Sections 1 and 2, of the By-Laws of the Academy, were amended, so as to read as follows : Section I. Every regular member-elect shall pay to the Treasurer an ini- tiation fee of five dollars ($5.00), and the assessment for the remaining por- tion of the current year. Section II. Every regular member shall be subject to an annual assess- ment of two dollars ($2.00), payable to the Treasurer on the first day of Jan- uary of each year. Dr. E. Schlegel, Mr. N. V. Kuhnen, Mr. Louis Hanssen, and Mr. Herman Lerchen were elected regular members. Mr. James W. Christopher, New York ; Mr. James Bannister, New York ; Prof. A. J. Cook, Lansing, Mich. ; Prof. A. R. Grote, New Brighton, N. Y. ; and Mr. Daniel Swiney, Ramelton, Ireland, were elected correspond- 1 ilietigt eee eS Se ess be eteigieets ing members. The following papers were read : REV. J. GASS — EXPLORATIONS IN MERCER COUNTY. 147 “ Ancient Fortification in Louisa County, Lowa,” by Rey. J. Gass.* Exploration of Mounds in Mercer County, Ils. BY REV. J. GASS. On the bluffs in Mercer county, Ills., are found, as on the Iowa side, great numbers of ancient mounds. Hundreds of them are scattered in groups through an extent of many miles along those bluffs. A considerable number of those mounds have been explored by various parties during several years, but usually with very little success in obtaining relics. Late last fall several young men—Messrs. Herig, Weiss, Hitt and others—opened some twelve or fifteen mounds on the Mississippi bluffs. In the first four—each about three feet in height and thirty feet in diameter—they found, three feet below the top, a quantity of human bones resting upon the natural surface, over which the mound had been built. No other relics were found. In the fifth—four and a half feet high and sixty feet in diameter— were found, from four to five feet down, the remains of human bodies, lying in an east and west direction. Above the skull of the skeleton at the right, was found a pipe of soft, dark-colored stone—probably a variety of talc—representing a lizard, and one flint implement. The sixth, seventh and eighth were about three feet in height and thirty feet in diameter, and in these were found only human remains, at a depth of three feet. No other relics. The ninth was four feet high and forty-five in diameter. About four feet below the top were found the remains of three skeletons, lying with heads toward the west. Three inches from the skuli of the middle one was another pipe of the kind of stone above-mentioned, representing a turtle, and one flint implement. Both these pipes were of the usual type, having the curved and perforated base. The tenth mound was a quite small one—three feet high and fifteen feet across. Nothing was found here, except a few human bones, about three feet below the surface. The eleventh was the largest mound of all, being about five or six feet high, and sixty feet across. About one foot down were the re- mains of an Indian skeleton, and at five feet were skeletons lying hori- zontally wpon the original surface of the ground, with the head toward *The illustration not being ready at the time of printing these sheets, this paper will be found farther on. 148 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. the west. These skeletons were covered over with a layer of split oak wood, very much decayed, lying crosswise, or north and south. Between the skulls was found a piece of galena, much coated with carbonate, one flint arrow-head, a small piece of obsidian, and a very remarkable stone pipe, representing a snake coiled around an up- right cylinder (or stump?) and covered with some very thin metallic coating—probably galena. Near the right hand of the left skeleton were found some fragments of a much decayed sea-shell. In the other mounds explored nothing was found except a few bones. The three mounds containing the relics above mentioned were all situated in the front row, near the edge of the bluff. The bones were all much decayed, and no skulls were obtained which could be pre- served. The bodies, when buried, had been placed upon the natural surface of the earth and the mounds built up over them, composed of earth taken from the surface in the immediate vicinity. The turtle and lizard pipes were obtained for the Academy, and are now in the Museum, contributed by Mr. Pratt. The most important pipe, representing the serpent, and with metal- lic coating, I have as yet been unable to obtain for the Academy, ex- cept as a loan for examination and exhibition. These three pipes are, like all those found in the mounds of Iowa and adjacent portions of Illinois, of the usual ewrved base type, which form, so far as I can learn, has never been found associated with cop- per arrow and spear heads, and knives like those in the Wisconsin Historical Society collection. Nor has any other form of pipe ever been found in connection with such copper implements (axes, celts, &c.) as those in the Davenport collection. JANUARY OTH, 1881. — AnNuaAL MEETING. The President, Mr. W. H. Pratt, in the chair. Twenty-seven members and four visitors present. The several officers presented their reports as follows : The CorRESPONDING Secrerary, Mr. J. D. Putnam, reported 434 letters written and 537 letters received, an increase over any previous year, notwithstanding that other duties had forced him to neglect the correspondence toa considerable extent. The exchange of printed publications has also been very considerable ; though not so great as it might have been if the proceedings could have been distributed more promptly. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 149 The Recorpine Secretary, Miss Lucy M. Pratt, reported that there have been held during the year one annual, nine regular and one spe- cial meeting of the Academy, with an average attendance of twelve persons. The Geological section held five, the Historical section four, and the Archeological section six meetings, with an average attend- ance of four. Two entertainments of a popular nature were given— a children’s entertainment on Washington’s birthday, and a May-day festival. Three lectures were given—two by Mr. J. Q. Wing, on the “ Pre-Historic Age,” and one by Mr. Daniel Swiney, on “Ireland.” Six Saturday afternoon “talks” were given by Messrs. Lindley, De- Armond, Pratt, Preston, Hazen and Bowman. Five original papers were read at the meetings by Messrs. Hoffman, McWhorter and Gass. Twenty-five regular members and twenty-nine corresponding mem- bers were elected, and five regular members transferred to the roll of life members. The Treasurer, Mr. Charles E. Putnam, made a very full detailed report, of which the following is a condensed summary : RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURES. Cash on General Fund....$ 797.27 Paid on General Fund.... $ 781.92 “Endowment Fund. 511.82 “Endowment Fond. 508.82 “ Ladies’ Special * 442.77 * Ladies’ Special “ 442.73 “Publication Fund. 595.06 “Publication Fund.. 554.15 Mound Fund..... 83.10 | ‘Mound! Funds ==. *- $3.10 ——— | Cash on hand (all funds).... 59.30 MiGhale ran tier. 2s oe < $2,430.02 | | Ota cit sates oes RAO The total cost of the publications of the Academy from January Ist, 1877, to January Ist, 1881, has been $1,807.36. Of this sum $1,051.00 has been raised from subscriptions and sales of publica- tions, $259.90 was borrowed for printing the reports of 1878, and as- sumed by the Trustees of the Academy, and the remaining $516.46 was advanced by the chairman of the publication committee, who has personally assumed all the liabilities from the publication of Vol- ume II of the Proceedings of the Academy. An estimate of the probable receipts of the year 1881 amounts to $693.39 and of necessary running expenses to $618.20. These esti- mates are, of course, approximate only. Probably the general re- ceipts and expenditures will not greatly differ from those of 1880. No estimate is made for scientific investigations, nor for publication, 150 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. which: however, should not be overlooked. From $500 to $1000 could be profitably expended in these directions. The indebtedness during the year has been as follows : , Net Jan. 1880.) Jan. 1881.) Decrease. = ee ——— SS) OE Outstandine notess.- mers $1,739.90 | $1,389.90 | $350.00 Wnpaldtinteresty <2. icc eaeuriee cies ee 59.60 19.20 40.40 Wnpaidtonrd ers: src cae cess h 153.50 | 50.56 | 102.94 Open accounts..... Seta s ears SME wie Oe cate 20.25 7.83 12.42 ARO ta Sig teva vase 2) sees eee $1,973.25 | $1,467.49 $505.76 A note of $500 on account of building has been paid, and a note of $150 made for a temporary loan, on account of the general fund, to replace money borrowed from the endowment or building fund. The hope is entertained that during the coming year the $1,000 en- cumbrance on the Academy property may be removed. The number of life members on the books of the Treasurer is 63 ; the number of regular members is 161; making a total of 224. Of these, the number in good standing and qualified to vote at the pres- ent time is 162. The Lisprartan, Mr. C. T. Lindley, reported the number of books now in the library, belonging to the Academy, to be 1,013 bound volumes, 1,596 unbound volumes and 525 pamphlets, 3,154 in all. There are also 888 volumes and pamphlets deposited by members, making a total of 4,022 volumes and pamphlets. More than 100 scientific periodicals are received regularly in exchange for the Pro- ceedings. The Curaror, Mr. W. O. Gronen, reported as follows : There is here to-night among us hardly one not familiar with the history of the explorations of Rev. Mr. Gass, Capt. Hall and Prof. Barris. You all know what rich treasures of archzeological and geo- logical value and importance these indefatigable workers have wrought from mother earth, and a glance at our collection of mound- builder’s pipes, copper axes and other implements of the same metal, ancient pottery, stone and and flint implements, as well as at the valuable contributions of geological specimens, some of them entirely new species, many of them very unique and rare, all of which, with but a few exceptions, are the generous donations of these hero ex- plorers, and the result of their own personal self-sacrificing work, will simply justify my assertion that not only this institution, nor W. H. PRATT.— PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 15] this community, but the whole scientific world owe a debt of grati- tude to these missionaries in the field of science. As for the work done, that was necessarily connected with the cleaning, assorting, arranging, labeling and distributing among the various departments represented in our museum, I can assure you, this work is of a frightening magnitude. For this the Academy is solely indebted to Mr. Pratt, and not to me, as he has, with faith- fulness and energy not paralleled in the history of our institution, besides his duties as president, also taken this great amount of la- bor and responsibility practically upon his own shoulders. Mr. J. D. Putnam, chairman of the Puspiicarion COMMITTEE re- ported that the printing of the letter press of Volume II of the Proceedings of the Academy was completed on February 2d, but a long and unexpected delay occurred in the printing of the steel plates, so that it was May 14th, when the first complete copies were received, and August 17th when the work was finally com- pleted, and it has not yet been fully distributed. Four new photo- graphic negatives were made during the year, making a total of eighty-three now on hand. A few prints of these and a few copies of Vol. I and Part 1 of Vol. III of the Academy’s Proceedings have been sold or otherwise distributed. It was recommended that the publication of the Proceedings be resumed as speedily as possible, and it was suggested that the printing could be done in the build- ing with considerable economy and convenience. The President’s Annual Address. BY W. BC PRATT. In presenting a report, as the outgoing President is required to do, of the condition and progress of the Academy in all its depart- ments, it may be interesting to refer briefly to the’ history of the rise and growth of one now very interesting and important branch of the science of archwology—itself a comparatively new one—and one in which the Academy has been especially engaged, viz : the history of the pre-historic people of the Mississippi Valley. At the period of the organization of our society probably few persons had ever heard of the term now in so common use, “the mound-builders.” The tumuli seattered over all this region of country, and which had attracted little attention, had been considered * Indian graves,” and few, or perhaps none, had been explored further than to unearth some of what are now known as “intrusive burials,” made by a 152 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. more modern people than those who built the mounds, and occupy- ing them merely because they afforded a position higher and drier than the surrounding surface. These burials were at a depth of but two or three feet, and after exploring so far from mere curiosity, the search was carried no deeper, and the real treasures for which the mound was built were not discovered nor even dreamed of. In many such cases, doubtless, the mounds have since been leveled down, and their exact locality being forgotten, the opportunity of ex- ploring them is lost forever. At about the time already referred to, 1867, attention began to be turned in the direction of this research. Some discoveries were made of quite a different character from anything known of the habits of the modern Indians, and gradually it was learned that a distinction must be made between the Indians and the people, evi- dently of an earlier period, who had left these lasting memorials of their greater industry. As nothing was known of them to warrant the use of any descriptive or national name, the very safe appella- tion of “ Mound Builders” was, by common consent, adopted. During the last decade every year has added something new and strange to the silent testimonials of the lives, the labors, and the vast numbers of that mysterious people, whose very memory had utterly passed from the face of the earth. From these relics a great deal has been learned regarding the habits of this people, and a wide-spread and intense interest awak- ened, and it is not too much to say that our Academy has contribu- ted a fair share toward this result. f Though the knowledge consists chiefly of a disjointed, incoherent mass of facts, scarcely sufficient even now to warrant the enuncia- tion of any very complete theory regarding them, yet sufficient data have been accumulated to justify some pretty strong inferences, in most of which, probably, nearly all persons at all familiar with the subject will concur. The Mound-Builders were very numerous throughout the Missis- sippi valley. They dwelt mostly, if not exclusively, in the neigh- borhood of the rivers. They were a people entirely distinct from the North American Indians, as we know them, had occupied the country in much earlier times than the latter, and were entirely un- known to them, even by tradition. Like the modern Indians, they were of different tribes, but less warlike and less nomadic, more domestic in their habits, yet their W. H. PRATT. — PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS. lie dwellings must have been of the most imperfect and perishable char- acter, no traces of them being found. They practised cremation, though but to a limited extent, and on- ly upon great and unusual occasions. They lived in avery simple manner, possessed few mechanical con- trivances, but were a laborious, pains-taking people. That they had some system of barter with neighboring tribes at least, (though per- haps limited to mere occasional exchanges as opportunity offered) is shown by the occurrence in the mounds of large sea shells, which, at the nearest, must have come from the Gulf of Mexico; obsidian from the far west; mica, not to be found in this region; galena, ete. Copper was evidently a rare and highly valued article among them; its rarity seems to indicate that they did not work the copper mines of Lake Superior or anywhere, and were not much in communication with any people who did. Small nuggets of drift copper are still occasionally found here, we have several in our museum, picked up in this vicinity; and a numer- ous people, dwelling here for a long period, would be likely to find the greater portion of all such specimens existing here, and if they did so, that would furnish a quite sufficient source of supply of ma- terial for all the copper relics yet discovered, without the necessity of drawing upon the mines. That the mound-builders had no know- ledge of the art of smelting is well shown by the following facts: The numerous copper axes, awls, beads, etc, and the very rare sil- ver ornaments are evidently of the pure native metal, and hammer- ed, none are found bearing the slightest indications of having been melted; no molds or crucibles, or fragments of any have ever been found, although they would be of the most imperishable character, even more so than the pottery which is exceedingly common. If cast in molds, many would be made of identical size and form, whereas no duplicates are ever found. If, as has been argued, though I believe on insufficient grounds, the copper implements collected in Wisconsin exhibit indications of having been formed in molds, it would have no bearing whatever up- on the origin of those of lowa, which are of a very different type; those of the north being mostly of the more modern forms of spears and knives; and not usually found in mounds, but scattered on the surface or in the shallow Indian graves. The copper ‘‘axes,” so called (and very inappropriately, too) in no fErec.. D. A. N. 8 Vol. IIT] 20 {March 9, 1882.) 154 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. instances show any indications of having been put to any use as tools, or even of having had handles attached. They were probably valued and kept as badges of rank or wealth, and held in high esteem. Those people undoubtedly smoked tobacco, not, however, as a re- creation or habitually for pleasure, but as a kind of ceremonial ob- servance. The pipes are often very elaborately and beautifully carv- ed out of a great variety of kinds of stone, generally of a rather soft character, and were apparently held in very high estimation, perhaps almost sacred. They are all, in the Upper Mississippi Valley, of the same general type, having the flat, curved base, which is perforated to serve as a stem and not at all adapted to retain in the mouth for smoking continuously, which fact, with the smallness of the bowl it- self, would indicate that it was to be used by passing from one to another of the persons assembled. They represent a great variety of animal forms, some difficult to de- termine, but among them are two, well and distinctly representing the elephant, though differing somewhat from each other in form and position. These plainly and unmistakably show that the sculptors were ac- quainted with the elephants, (the mammoth or mastodon) of which, though long extinct, numerous remains are found throughout this country. Strangest of all, and most contrary to the opinion of archzeologists hitherto, it now appears that the mound builders had a written lan- guage. Whence derived, or what its origin, is matter of the merest. conjecture. What were its affinities, or whether it had any connec- tion with other written languages, ancient or modern, no one has as yet been able to determine. The inscribed tablets in our museum, the al ones of much sig- nificance or importance perhaps, which have as yet been discovered in the mounds, have attracted much attention bothin this country and in Europe, and by all eminent and well informed archzologists, are considered of the highest importance. They are certain to stim- ulate research, which will doubtless lead to further discoveries, un- til it may well be hoped that the key to the language may ultimate- ly be discovered, and something of a history of this ancient people may be made out as written by themselves. . Whether the language was understood by all, or only by a more learned few, or whether these tablets were heirlooms and cherished relics, can now be scarcely even guessed. ~~ W. H. PRATT. — PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 155 A rather significant circumstance, perhaps, is the fact that in the same mound with the two tablets first found were the bones of a young child, partially preserved by the contact of a large number— ‘about 300—copper beads, indicating it to be an important person- age, and that persons of high rank were buried there. Some doubts of course have been expressed regarding the gen- uineness of the tablets, though not to any great extent by competent and candid archeologists, and we feel no uneasiness on that account- The tablets have been sent to the Smithsonian Institution for exam- ination, and were retained there and subjected to the most thorough scrutiny for two months, during which time the National Academy of Sciences held its meeting there, and the heliotype plates of them were obtained under the direction of Prof. Baird himself. They were also exhibited throughout the sessions of the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at Boston last August. Any author or other person who cared to inform himself of the facts, has and has always had ample opportunity to do so, and would at once see that the circumstances of the finding were such as utter- ly to preclude all possibility of fraud or imposition. The evidence that they are coeval with the other relics, that is, that they were inhumed with them and before the mound was built, is ample and conclusive and will be so considered by any unbiased man. No pre-historic relic ever found has better evidence to establish its genuineness than these, and not one suspicious circumstance in con- nection with them has been pointed out, nor can there be. We shall confidently hope for and gladly welcome further discov- eries by whomsoever made, tending to throw more light upon this still obscure and intensely interesting problem of our earliest pre- decessors on this continent. Among the principal additions to this department of the museum since the last annual report, have been fourteen mound-builders’ pipes, three copper axes, and a number of other relics from the mounds, se- cured chiefly by the untiring exertions of our honored associate, the Rev. Mr. Gass, who has spared no time nor labor, and who has recent- ly presented his report of the exploration of 75 mounds within the year, only one fifth of which afforded any relics for the museum, though the investigations are always instructive, and many facts are thus learned. Beside his gratuitous labors and persona] expenses borne by him- 156 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. self, about $70 made up by private contribution has been expended for hired help in opening the mounds; the results have been highly satisfactory and this important work should be continued, and if pos- sible, better provided for by some regular appropriations. The time is rapidly passing during which the opportunity for such researches in this vicinity will remain. We have also received, as the product of the persistent enthusiasm of Capt. W. P. Hall, about 1,100 ancient stone and flint implements, and 150 vessels of ancient pottery, the latter having been exhumed by his own hands from the mounds and ancient burial places of the lower Mississippi Valley. Our collection of mound relics now consists of the four inscribed tablets, 32 mound-builders’ pipes, 25 copper axes, 300 copper beads, 14 copper awls, and a great number and variety of other relics from the mounds of this region, constituting the most extensive, rare and unique collection of its kind in this country, and probably in the world. Besides these, this department contains 225 vessels of ancient pot- tery, over 1,000 stone implements, and 10,000 of flint, also about an equal number of broken ones and fragments worth preserving. In the department of Natural History, except in Entomology, Bot- any and Conchology, we are deficient in workers, and in especial want of an expert taxidermist, and much that might readily be, and would be obtained, is lost to us for want of means of preserving spec- imens in a proper manner. In Geology and Paleontology, under the especial attention of Prof. Barris, good progress has been made during the year in local investi- gation and discovery of new species, and preparation of material for papers for publication whenever the opportunity for publishing is pre- sented. The collections have also been enriched by additions by him and other contributors. In Mineralogy some valuable contributions to the museum have been received, and this department of the exhibit is now a very at- tractive one. The collection of historical relics is constantly increasing, as the possessors of such objects throughout the community gradually come to realize the greatly enhanced value of these articles when collect- ed together in a suitable place and accessible to the public. The Library is steadily increasing by exchange and contributions, W. H. PRATT. — PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 15% with very few additions by purchase, and has thus far grown some- what beyond our expectations. It now contains 2,600 volumes, over 1,000 of which are bound, and many of them very valuable works; al- so over 500 pamphlets; all this exclusive of duplicates. In addition to these there are on deposit belonging to several members, 900 vol- umes, making 4,000 volumes and pamphlets available for the use of members, exclusive of about 1,000 city dailies and other newspapers. At the very beginning of the year, the second part of Vol. II, of our proceedings was completed and a portion of the copies have been dis- tributed, thus keeping good and increasing our list of exchanges in this country and in Europe. MEMBERSHIP. As shown by the Secretary’s report, the increase in number of members has been greater during the past year than for several pre- vious years, and we now number 161 regular members, and 63 life mem bers. And I might mention here that the number of visitors during the past year, actually counted, including members, is 8282. THE FINANCES of the Academy as shown by the Treasurer’s report are considerably improved within the past year and may be considered in a healthy condition. While we are not yet out of debt, the amount has nevertheless been diminished since the last annual report by $505.76, leaving still due $1,467.49; and the progress made is a hopeful indication that ere long it will be entirely extinguished, and the Academy will be free to devote its entire income, after the payment of current expenses, to the necessary improvements in the building, and to the requirements for making and properly preserving the Natural History collections which are simply awaiting such provision. We have, during the year just past, lived within our income, and all the cash contributions received, including Life Membership fees, have been devoted to the liquidation of a portion of our indebted- ness. This, I think, shows that all funds have been carefully and economically applied. It will probably not be many years before it will be found advis- able to increase the amount of the annual dues of members, as the present unparalleled small fee of $2.00 per annum is quite dispropor- tionate to the magnitude of the Museum and Library, and to the val- ue of the privileges of membership. 158 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. It will probably also be expedient, as soon as the debt is entirely paid to raise the fee of Life Membership to double its present amount. SPECIAL NEEDS. Among the immediate needs of the Academy, I would mention that of the contemplated permanent cabinet cases, and as, through the liberality of Mr. J. D. Putnam, his magnificent entomological col- lection is now placed at the disposal of the Academy under suitable conditions, it is of the highest importance that the proper cases for that collection should be provided first of all, and without delay. We need a permanently established publication fund, the import- ance of which has been well set forth in the report of that committee. We need a book fund, for the occasional purchase of an important work which cannot be otherwise obtained; and for binding many vol- umes and charts which can scarcely be well preserved or convenient- ly used unbound. Also a special appropriation, or provision in some way, for a fund for the prosecution of mound explorations, that the burden of this im- portant work, which has contributed so largely to our success, may not fall almost wholly upon one member, with only such aid as may be obtained by special solicitation. Iam strongly inclined to the opinion that the financial ability of our officers and members, with the devotion to the cause which has been manifested and the experience already gained, should ere long secure the adoption of some plan by which these objects shall be ac- complished. In the first Presidential valedictory—by Dr. Parry in 1869—are some remarks to which, from our present stand-point of an experi- ence of thirteen years, it is rather interesting to refer. He says: “The particular need of such an institution, especially in its early sta- ges of growth, is @ permanent location, where its objects can be properly displayed, and affording room for necessary enlargement. We have a name, and a good one; we want a local habitation and where shall we find it ?” That question, as you all know, has been answered by the munifi- cence of a wealthy lady among us, Mrs. P. V. Newcomb, the “Day- enport Peabody,” whose advent the Dr. probably hoped for only in a more distant future; and the location being thus determined, the Doctor’s further suggestion of “the plan of life membership, as the most feasible”, was carried into effect, and a building well suited to . its purposes was erected. This building, with the addition of the W. H.: PRATT.— PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 159 proper cabinet cases now much needed, will answer our purposes very well for some time to come, and it seems to me wisest to util- ize it as completely as possible before entering upon the undertak- ing of completing the final structure. Another suggestion which Dr. Parry strongly urged, that it would be “very desirable to commence the issuing of publications and transactions as early as possible” has also happily been put in execu- tion, chiefly through the arduous labors and persistent energy of our worthy Corresponding Secretary and Chairman of the Publication Committee, Mr. J. Duncan Putnam, and the result fully demon- strates the wisdom of the recommendation, as well as its practicabil- ity, concerning which latter point considerable doubt was expressed. One other remark I would call to mind. He said: ‘When such collections (in natural history, etc.,) are once fairly commenced, the peculiar individual tastes, or even the accidental biases of different minds, will be attracted to the various branches of science so exhib- ited, and we shall see, gradually growing up under its influence, workers prepared to follow out particular lines of research and in- vestigation.” This also has been realized to some extent—would it were to a much greater. : The question, who are to take the places of the active members as they drop off, one by one, and even to swell the list to a more effi- cient force, is one which occasions some solicitude. To attain any great degree of success, an institution of this kind, unless richly endowed so as to be enabled to command the best abil- ity by good salaries, must depend upon amateur work, and upon the support of the community. To secure these, it must not only contribute something toward the culture of taste and increase of interest in natural science, by museum, meetings, publications, and occasional lectures, but should also de- vise some means of instruction in the scientific subjects of most di- rect importance, and in the form most practically adapted and applica- ble in daily life. Though some efforts have been made, we have not yet found the way in which to co-operate with the public schools as was always de- sired and hoped, and as we still hope to do. In the Presidential address of Prof. W. H. Barris, four years since, I find the following very important suggestion, which, I am sorry to say, has not yet been realized, though I believe it can be. He says: 160 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. “IT would suggest whether in each of the Sections, especially in those that as yet have attempted little, there might not be founded schools of instruction, where especially the younger members might regular- ly secure such practical instruction from the lips of the living teacher as shall qualify them for efficient, practical work. In each section might be found some one willing in this quiet way to further the in- terests of the Academy.” This is a subject which now it seems to me demands our most se- rious attention, and should be delayed no longer. Whatever can be done in this direction can be effected without interfering with the other necessary work of the Academy, and would probably aid in such other work, especially that of the section itself. One good be- ginning was made—Dr. Parry’s class in Botany—and its success while continued is certainly very encouraging for future efforts. Our experience has abundantly shown that the chief element of success is work. Work outside in collecting and exploring, and also in securing the necessary pecuniary aid. Wor: in the building, cleaning up speci- mens, restoring those that are broken; classifying, comparing, study- ing, arranging, labeling and registering. Work at the microscope, work: at the steel plate, work at the proof sheet; indefatigable, per- sistent labor, in spite of daily cares constantly pressing; undeterred by physical weakness and poor health; undismayed by any little dis- affections; unoffended at any difference of opinion as to the policy to be pursued; always keeping in view the grand object of “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” and the promotion of the interests of the Academy as a means to that end. This, seconded and made practicable and successful by the far- sighted liberality of public spirited citizens and distant friends, in re- sponding?to appeals for the aid and support without which such’an enterprise must ultimately succumb; has enabled us to escape the fate of most similar enterprises. And we’ feel that all this labor has not been in vain; that some- thing has been accomplished well worth all the effort and sacrifice which it has cost, and that our cherished institution is deeply rooted in the hearts of the community, and in the favorable estimation of the world, and that we may well feel encouraged with the certain prospect of its continued and increasing prosperity and usefulness. ’ TES ae ae: ¢ RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 16] The following officers were then elected for the ensuing year: President—J. Duncan Putnam. First Vice Presid ent—C. H. Preston. Second Vice President—C. E. Harrison. Corresponding Secretary—C. C. Parry. Recording Secretary—Lucy M. Pratt. Treasurer—Charles E. Putnam. Librarian—Julia E. Sanders. Curator—W. H. Pratt. Trustees for Three Years—C. C. Parry, W. H. Barris, J. Gass, We Pratt. Trustee for One Year (to fill vacancy) —H. C. Fulton. With a few brief remarks the retiring President resigned his posi- tion to the President elect who thereupon took the chair. JaNuARY 21st, 1881. —ArcH Z0LoGicaL SECTION. Mr. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Three members present. A communication to the Trustees of the Academy was adopted, asking for an appropriation in aid of mound explorations. JANUARY 28TH 1881—ReEGuULAR MEETING. The President, Mr. J. D. Putnam, in the chair. Twenty members present. Mr. H. H. Andresen, Mr. H. H. Smith, Mr. A. F. Williams, and Mrs. Wm. Renwick, of Davenport; and Mr. J. C. Kinsey, of Cambridge, Ill.; were elected regular members; and Dr. C. F. Kel- iogg, of Charlotte, lowa, was elected a corresponding member. The President announced the following Sranpine Commirress for 1881:— Finance Committee —C, E. Putnam, chairman ex-officio, R. D. Myers, E. H. Hazen. Furnishing Committee—Mrs. C. E. Putnam, Mr, C. E. Harrison, Mr. C. T. Lindley. Library Committee —R. J. Farquharson, C. T. Lindley, Miss Julia EK. Sanders. Museum Committee—W. H. Pratt, C. C. Parry, W. O. Gronen, J. Gass, W. H. Barris, D. S. Sheldon, R. J. Farquharson, C. T. Lindley, J. D. Putnam. [Proc. D. A. N.S., Vol. IIT] 21 [Apr. 26, 1882.] 162 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Mr. Pratt made some remarks upon the subject of “a fourth dimen- sion in space,” so called, and gave extracts from published writings by Prof. Zollner of Leipzig, Prof. Simon Newcomb, Mr. Halsted and others. He explained the meaning of the “three dimensions in space”? and showed the utter inconceivability of a fourth dimension. He then proceeded to present a different hypothesis by which certain physical phenomena, iudicating the temporary suspension of the property of impenetrability of solid bodies, might be accounted for, and referred to several well known facts which seem to point toward such a possibility. Fesruary 4ra 1881—Gx0LoGiIcaL SECTION. Prot. W.H. Barris in the chair. Three members present. Prof. Barris presented a collection of sixteen species of fossils from the coal measures of Elk Falls, Kansas. FEBRUARY 25TH—REGULAR MEETING. The President, Mr. J. D. Putnam, in the chair. Twelve members and several visitors present. A resolution was adopted adding the following article to the By- Laws:— ArRtTIcLE XI,—PuBLICATIONS, Section I. The regular publications of the Academy shail consist of PRo- CEEDINGS in octavo and the Memoirs in quarto. The ProckEDINGS shall contain such original papers, presented to the Academy and accepted by the Publication Committee, as may be conven- ‘iently published in octavo torm, together with such extracts from the Ree- ords of the Academy as the Publication Committee may consider of sufti- cient interest to print, The Memoirs shall contain such papers as, on account of their size or il- lustrations, can best be published in quarto form. Section IT. Tho Publication Committee shall fix the price upon the var- ious publications of the Academy, at which they shall be sold to members and the general public. Section III. There shall be established a permanent publication fund, the principal of which shall be invested in safe, interest-bearing securities, and the interest only, used. Any person contributing not less than $50.00 to this fund shall be entitled to all volumes of the Proceedings issued there- after for life, and any person contributing not less than $100.00 shall be en- titled to all publications of the Academy issued thereafter for life. The following paper was presented: NO. Il. 165 PROF. BARRIS.—NOTES ON OUR LOCAL GEOLOGY Notes on Our Local Geology—No. EI. BY PROF. W. H. BARRIS. The discovery of a well preserved and graceful form of life char- acterizing the ancient flora of the coal measures is a welcome event to the student of paleontology. If found detached from all its ordinary surroundings, translated in- to another and entirely different geological horizon, having its home at the base or below the well known Hamilton Group, a still greater measure of interest attaches to its discovery. During the past summer Mr. Wm. A. Elmer, one of our College students, collected several fragments of a sea plant which, even as fragments, naturally awakened considerable curiosity. At his re- quest and in company we visited the locality in which they had been found. The quarry was not in a hill-side but on adead level. It had been exposed by simply stripping a foot or two of earth from its surface. An excavation had then been made in the rock, measuring in length over a hundred feet, in breadth twenty or thirty, in depth ten or twelve feet. In the progress of their labors the workmen had en- countered a bank of clay crossing the quarry diagonally about four feet wide and extending downward the whole depth of the quarry. On its roughened floor could be traced the course of this dy/« of clay, while in the wall on either side marking its ingress and egress, and done in fine blue clay, was a well detined cross section of its height and breadth. Selecting that side which seemed to promise the most favorable results we commenced work. Beginning at the surface and digging into the bank, we purposed to enter it at such an angle that, by the time we reached the bottom of the quarry, we should have exposed a level space of three or four feet square. There was little to distinguish the first foot or two from ordinary earth; if any- thing, a gradual change in color shading from yellow to blue. | The next few feet revealed a more uniform, consistent character of tough blue clay; nothing in it as yet to indicate any foreign material. At the last the clay became still more tenacious, of the consistency of what is termed ‘fire clay,” and charged with more and more of aren- aceous matter. The layers bore every appearance of being deposited in quiet waters, while their surfaces were occasionally mottled by an extended film of carbonaceous substance, yet so poorly preserved we could trace no distinct intimation of organized life. 164 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Within a foot of the layer in which the Fucoid was found, the remains of a fish were discovered. These are pre- served in the same case with the Fu- eoid. The fine sand that had been dis- seminated throughout the clay, all at once became an indurated sand rock, varying from two to three inches thick, extending over the whole space we had uncovered, its under surface complete- ly covered by the Fucoid: Beneath this was a layer of soft blue clay, into which the plant had no doubt fallen, and which, having never hardened, had t— Riverzbed at tne bridge Where the Fucoid was found. u-_ 6— Quarry above Rock Island. S— Overlying clay and soil. ' i} 1 ; 1 ' ' ‘ ' ; 1 1 5; protected its entire surface. Itis most | probable this under clay formed the original surface on which the plant grew! and into which having fallen, it was preserved in a form almost as fault- less as it had when a thing of life. \ As an extension of the same sand rock and fossil, Mr. Elmer procured ! a specimen as large as the one figured, having been joined to and forming part of it, both together constituting but a part of the entire plant. Bailey Dav- enport Esq., the owner of the quarry, presented to the College still another fragment, equalling in size and beauty that in the possession of the Academy. In determining the source of this bed of clay, and tracing the manner of its transportation to its present locality, | have prepared the following diagram, representing a somewhat generalized 1 — East Davenport bluff. 2— Le Claire’s quarry. 3— Cook’s quarry, section on a curved line across the val- a — Non-fossiliferous rock. b — Corniferous, ¢ — Hamilton. d— Coal Measures. ley and river, from bluff to bluff. At a@ is shown the place of the non- fossiliferous rock common to each local- ity. It is with this we are most famil- 5 asa —_—— = PROF. BARRIS.—NOTES ON OUR LOCAL GEOLOGY—NO, IT. 165 iar. It crops out on the banks of the river both above and below the city Extending across the river from bluff to bluff, and as far west as Cook’s farm, this is found but a comparatively short distance below the surface of the ground. Whatever may be said of other rocks we are about to notice, one thing is settled; this is continuous and forms the solid basis on which the others all rest. In upward succession, resting on this non-fossiliferous rock just described and represented by 6, we found a rock abounding in fossils. Within the past two years it has been exposed at Le Claire’s quarry, being three or four feet thick; at the quarry between Rock Island and Moline, assuming a greater thickness; while in Cook’s quarry it is represented by certain layers found at neither, and attaining twenty feet in thickness. It is from this rock that the Corniferous fossils de- scribed in the last volume of the publications of the Academy were gathered. As at that time, so now: no traces of any of these fossils are found in the ascending beds. This rock differs from those above and below it, not only in its fos- siliferous contents, but is a pure carbonate of lime, and has been ex- tensively burned for quick-lime both in the quarries between Rock Island and Moline and at Cook’s quarry below this city. By some immense power of which we may speak hereafter, it has been brok- en up and removed over the area where it had been originally de- posited; and with the exception of its forming the bed of Rock Riv- er as far as Milan, it is only found én p/ace in the three quarries de- signate d. In their natural ascending order we next have the brown Argilla- ceous shales and gray and brown lime-stones of the Hamilton Group, (these are denoted on the diagram by the letter c,; at present they are only found in place at the quarry between Rock Island and Mo- line) exhibiting, in the face of the cliff, a thickness of between twen- ty and thirty feet. They are not found either at LeClaire’s or Cook’s quarries, nor are their equivalents found in our vicinity, the rocks at Buffalo being simply their upward extension. As in the case of the preceding rock 4, so it is in this; at one time there is not the slightest doubt that they occupied the whole distance over the area Wwe are considering, and everywhere resting immediately on the hard calcareous rock, represented by 6. Next above this formation, in natural ascending order should come what are called the Coal Measures—d. These no doubt were co-ex- tensive with and resting immediately on the Hamilton. Of. these no 166 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. traces exist in place in our immediate neighborhood. Yet they are found as outliers extending within a short distance from Le Claire, furnishing, in places, seams of coal that have been workable. We find similar outliers at Buffalo, from which coal has been brought in- to our city. Thes2 separated Coal Measures are but the extension of the Illinois beds; and all of them the deposits of an ancient sea. And in passing, | suggest whether they may not be represented by what has been called the ‘Carboniferous drift,” from which Prof. Pratt has collected some fine fossils, and in reference to which he has pre- pared a paper for the Academy (see page 106). I come now to an interesting question: By what process does a plant of the Coal Measures, of large size and delicate structure, find its way down through the whole thickness of the shales and lime- stones of the Hamilton; the twenty feet of solid limestone, the repos- itorium of all Corniferous fossils so far found; and still lower through twenty feet further of the non-fossiliferous rock below; or in other words, how is it transferred from «/, to 5 ? This is the problem to be solved. The researches of Prof. Hall will materially aid us in comprehend- ‘ing something of its nature. In his Geology of Iowa, he has given several diagrams to show that the huge cavities so often found in the Hamilton and the Helderberg, are found filled with the blue shale of the Coal Measures. One of the most remarkable instances of the kind occurs in the face of the quarry between Rock Island and Moline. We are presented with what was once an immense cavity in the rock, connected by a long neck or tube extending through to the earth which overlies it, becoming thus the medium of communication with the Coal Measures. It is filled with a deposit of clay entirely different from anything in the Hamilton, and, moreover, Contained the cast of a shell distinct from any known in the surrounding rock, very similar to a carboniferous form. This same clay, | have shown in a previous paper read before the Academy, is found in Cook’s quarry; and this same clay is that from which our plant was exhumed. If no other theory presented itself, we might be necessitated to re- sort to this to account for the occurrence of the clay in the quarry we are considering. | suggest such shght modification as will adapt it to the case in hand. What are the ordinary phenomena that now meet the eye as we look from bluff to bluff across the river? Is it not the entire disap- pearance of all the rocks that once filled up the whole area? The PROF. BARRIS.—NOTES ON OUR LOCAL GEOLOGY—NO. II. 167 power that could have wrought a denudation so vast as to sweep away the superincumbent mass of shales, Hmestones and solid rock, is beyond our conception; and yet it is this power that makes the fu- ture Mississippi River a possibility. Supposing now that before the time of the Coal Measures, a denu- dation of such magnitude has swept away (just as we see it now) all trace of the Hamilton, except in the cliff between Rock Island and Moline; all trace of the still lower fossiliferous rock; extending down still deeper, until, in the non-fossiliferous rock, it has unroofed one of the ancient subterranean water-courses in which it abounds. Ev- erything is now ready for the waters of the Coal Measures; and the same sea that fills the cavity in the Hamilton in the quarry between Rock Island and Moline, is brought into direct contact with this old water-course, thus furnishing the material with which it was filled. * I have already, in a preceding page, spoken of the layers that com - posed the clay in which the fucoid was imbedded, that there was ev- ery evidence of their having been deposited gradually and in quiet waters. That this plant could have floated from some other position and simply been swept into the locality where we now found it, seems scarcely possible when we consider the peculiar condition and quiet repose in which it is found. The portions now in our posses- sion give us but an inadequate idea of the beauty and delicacy of structure characterizing the extremities of the plant. The sandstone had gradually thinned out until it graduated into the soft blue clay; and for several inches upon this blue clay, could be traced the finer, more attenuated and delicate impressions of its branchlets, but the clay was so fragile, it was utterly impossible to preserve them. There was no confusion; no folding of part on part; no botanist in his herbarium ever arranged his treasures with more exquisite taste * Note. Since writing the above, | have been informed by Mr. Pratt, of the existence of several small patches of rocks of the Coal Measures, over the area referred to. They exist, not in the form of soft shale, but of hard, dark grey, iron-stained sandstone, filled to repletion with fragments of coal plants. One of these, at the government bridge, exposed in excavating for the draw pier, and on which the pier rests, is especially note-worthy as ap- parently belonging to a bed of some extent. The river bed at Moline also exhibits the same rock. The existence of these patches in so many places, resting in all cases up- on the partially denuded portions of the non-fossiliferous rocks, can only be accounted for on the complex theory of-first; the total disappearance of the Hamilton shales and limestones, and-secondly ; after such erosion, the inun dation of the Coal Measure seas over the same area, 168 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. and care, for the purpose of presenting and preserving their finer features. And hence we conclude that in this rock, channeled out and made ready for its reception ages beforehand, and at the depth of eight or ten feet below its surface, this plant lived and died, protected from that hour to this by its high walls of massive rock. Can we conceive of a fitter mausoleum for its reception and preservation than this, and built by no human hand? And just as in the instance before, another denudation as exten- sive as that which preceded it, has swept all the rock of the Coal Measures away, so that today, with the exception of a few feet upon its surface, the rocks here are just as they were at the close of the Coal Measure period. This paper aims to bring out the following points: 1. The fact of a fossil plant of the Coal Measures occurring in and, most probably, far below the well recognized horizon of the Hamilton. 2. The thorough identification of the blue clay with that of the Coal Measures. The probability of such relationship was favored by the presence of the cast of a shell of Carboniferous form (see Hall’s Geology of Iowa, Vol. I, p. 130). Its certainty may be con- sidered established, as the fucoid is characteristic of the same great era. 3. The existence, in place, at LeClaire’s quarry, of the hard fos- siliferous rock, as an extension of the same rock hitherto only found at the quarry between Rock Island and Moline, and Cook’s quarry. 4. It suggests the possible origin of what has been known as the ‘Carboniferous drift” in our vicinity. Just as the far-famed obelisk, transplanted on our shores, speaks to us of a past civilization and art, so this plant, a marvel of beauty, coming to us from the far-off Coal Measures, gives us a faint elimpse of the sculpturesque forms of life and grace that once floated in their seas, ages and ages ago. > Da Marcu 25TH—REGULAR MEETING. The President, Mr. J. D. Putnam, in the chair. Nine members present. The following paper was presented: J. C. ARTHUR.—CONTRIBUTIONS TO FLORA OF IOWA—wNO. Iv. 169 Contributions to the Flora of Iowa--No. IV. BY .J..G. ARTHUR. The activity of resident collectors in extending the state flora has greatly increased since 1876. The quality of the specimens sent has also improved, as well as the liberality with which they are provided for determination or verification. It will be seen by the localities in the following list, that the different portions of the state are quite fairly represented, except the three southern tiers of counties west of the immediate vicinity of the Mississippi. This large section when explored, will give a long list of additions. All the western border of the state may be expected to vield many very interesting species which do not ex- tend further east; while no locality in the whole state yet seems to be exhausted. The names of the present list are for the preceding two years. The specimens for them have been furnished by the following per- sons, to whom I am wholly indebted for the material for the pres- ent report: John Leiberg, Seney, Plymouth Co., M. E. Jones, Grinnell, Mrs. M. C. Carter, Hesper, Winneshiek Co., E. W. Hol- way, Decorah, Geo. D. Butler, late of Almont, Clinton Co., Fred. Reppert, Muscatine, Dr. Geo. E. Ehinger, Keokuk, R. Burgess, Ames, Dr. J. J. Davis, formerly of Vinton. A specimen of No.544* is in the Harvard Herbarium at Cambridge, communicated by Dr. Vasey. 51* Nasturtium officinale, R. Br. Decorah. 65° Arabis perfoliata, Lam. Vinton. 842 Viola lanceolata, 1.. Muscatine. 90° Viola pedata, L., var. bicolor, Pursh. Muscatine. 124* Talinum teretifolium, Pursh. Lyons Co. 237 Geum macrophyllum, Willd. Clinton Co. 244> Potentilla tridentata, Ait. Hesper. 247° Rubus triflorus, Rich. Hesper. 2998 Archemora rigida, DC., var. ambigua, T. & G. Kellogg and Vinton. 302° Thaspium aureum, Nutt., var. apterum, Gr. Grinnell. 306" Berula angustifolia, Koch. Sioux Co. 338 Galium circeezans, Michx. Keokuk. 404° Silphium trifoliatum, L. Clinton Co. jPraco DA. N: &., Vol. IIL] 22 [Apr. 29, 1882.] 170 457% 4698 493* 5118 5198 d20% 5448 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Artemisia serrata, Nutt. Mason City and Grinnell. Senecio lugens, Rich., var. Hookeri, Eaton. Plymouth Co. Mulgedium pulchellum, Nutt. Ames and Grinnell. Plantago Rugelii, Dec. Ames and Grinnell. Anagallis arvensis, L. Keokuk. Utricularia biflora, Lam. Muscatine. Gerardia tenuifolia, Vahl., var. macrophylla, Benth. Coun- cil Bluffs. 045% O96" 619» 620% 6288 650" 662 Gerardia flava, L. Clinton Co. Lamium amplexicaule, L. Keokuk. Cuscuta inflera, Engelm. Grinnell. Cuscuta Gronovii, Willd., var. datiflora, Engelm. Hesper. Datura Tatula, L. Muscatine, Grinnell and Cedar Rapids. Acerates lanuginosa, Dec. Plymouth Co. Chenopodium urbicum, L. Keokuk, Des Moines, Nevada, and Grinnell. 676" 673 Polygonum hydropiperoides, Mx. Grinnell, Plymouth Co. Polygonum Muhlenbergii, Watson. Plymouth County and Muscatine. 192% 792° (968 817" 826% 8298 8304 8414 843° 850” Habenaria hyperborea, R. Br. Hesper. Habenaria Hookeri, Torr. Hesper. Microstylis ophioglossoides, Nutt. Decorah and Hesper. Veratrum Woodii, Robbins. Burlington. Evrythronium Americanum, Smith. Hesper. Allium cernuum, Roth. Plymouth Co. and Decorah. Juncus Vaseyi, Engelm. Clinton Co. Commelyna Virginica, L. Muscatine. Cyperus acuminatus, Torr. Plymouth Co. Eleocharis obtusa, Schultes. Keokuk, Kellogg, Clinton Co. and Plymouth Co. 858" 861* 885° 8925 893? 893° 903? 924 925% 927% Fimbristylis capillaris, Gr. Keokuk. Carex teretiuscula, Good. Grinnell. Carex granularis, Muhl. Clinton Co: Carex Richardsonii, R. Br. Grinnell and Plymouth Co. Carex trichocarpa, Mx. Grinnell. Carex riparia, Curtis. Grinnell. Vilfa aspera, Beauv. Ames, Plymouth Co. Aristida purpurea, Nutt. Plymouth Co. Bouteloua oligostachya, Torr. Plymouth Co. Eleusine Indica, Gert. Keokuk. J. C. ARTHUR.—CONTRIBUTIONS TO FLORA OF IOWA—NO. IV. 171 The following descriptions are of plants in this list not described in Gray’s Manual, 5th edition. ARTEMISIA SERRATA, Vutt.—Stem tall and herbaceous; leaves lanceolate, acuminate at either extremity, margin serrate, upper side smooth, under to- mentose and white; flowers paniculate, partly glomerate, erect; calyx small cylindric-ovate, and nearly smooth.—Near the Prairie du Chien, on the banks of the Mississippi, also on the banks of the Missouri, in open alluvial soils. Stem 5-6 feet high. Nuttall’s Genera, II, 142. SENECIO LUGENS, Réchards.—Perennial, white-tomentose, deciduously lan- ate or nearly smooth; stem 14-2 feet high, often several from one root; leaves obscurely veined, 2-8 inches long, 14-2 inches wide, the radical obtuse, nar- rowed into a petiole, cauline sessile and partly clasping; heads variable in size, usually rather large; involucre with a few bractlets at the base; scales linear-lanceolate, acute, with blackish-purple tips; rays 10-12, oblong-linear, twice as long as the involucre; achenia glabrous. Var. Hookert, Haton.—Deciduously tomentose or smooth; stem simple; leaves entire or glandular-toothed, the radical oblong-spatulate, cauline lan- ceolate, acute, clasping; corymb dense; scales of the involucre conspicu- ously sphacelate. Flor. Col., Port. & Coul. PLaNTAGO RuGELU, Decatsne—Leaves paler than in P. major, commonly thinner; spikes long and thin, attenuate at the apex; sepals oblong, all as well as the similar bracts acutely carinate; capsules erect in the spike, cyl- indraceous-oblong (somewhat over 2 lines long, one-sixteenth inch in diame- ter), about twice the length of tha calyx, circumscissile much below the mid- dle; ovules 6-10; seeds 4-9, oval-oblong (about a line long), opaque and dull brown, not reticulated.—P. Awmtschatica, Hook. Gray’s Manual, ed. 5, not of Cham. Canada to Illinois and south to Georgia and Texas; probably truly indigenous, as no trace of it is found in the Old World. Gray's Synop. FI. N. Amer. GERARDIA TENUIFOLIA, Vail., var. MACROPHYLLA, Benth.—Stouter; leaves larger, 14g-2 inches long and almost 2 lines wide, scabrous; pedicels as- cending; calyx-teeth usually larger; corolla little over 144 inch long. West- ern Lowa to Colorado and W. Louisiana. Gray’s Synop. Fl. N. Am. Cuscuta Gronovu, Willd., var. LATIFLORA, Hngelm—A. form with flowers of more delicate texture, and shorter tube and longer lobes to the corolla.— C. Saururi, Engelm. in Am. Jour. Sci., vol. 43, with 5 figures. Common northward. Gray's Syn. Fl. N. Am. PoLyGonuM MUHLENBERGII, Watson.—Perennial, in muddy or dry places, often 2-3 feet high, scabrous with short appressed or glandular hairs, espec- ially upon the leaves and upper stems; leaves thin, rather broadly lanceo- late, long-acuminate, usually rounded or cordate at base, 4-7 inches long, on short stout petioles (44-1 inch long) from near the base of the naked sheath : flowers and fruit nearly asin P. amphibium, but spikes more elongated (1-3 inches long), often in pairs-—New England to Texas and westward to Washington Territory and N. California. P. amphibium, var. Muhienbergii, Meisn. in DC. Prodr., and including most of the var. terrestre of American botanists. Proc. Amer. Acad., XIV, 1879. ARISTIDA PURPUREA, Nuti.—Perennial; culms 6-15 inches high, simple, erect, slender, mostly glabrous; sheaths narrow, scabrous, exceeding the in- ternodes, pilose at the throat; leaves very narrow, convolute, 15-10 inches long; panicle slender, erect or flaccid, 3-6 inches long, loosely few-flowered ; glumes purplish, the upper one 6-9 lines long, about twice exceeding the lower, and longer than the flower, bifid and shortly awned; flower densely short-pilose at the base, scabrous above, 6 lines long, the awns equal or near- ly so, separate to the base, not jointed, 1-2 lines long, scabrous. — From Western Texas and New Mexico to Arkansas and Colorado. Watson in King’s Rep. 172 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. CORRECTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS. Berula angustifolia (No. 306*) is described in Gray’s Manual under the synonym of Siam angustifolium. See Watson's Bib. Index N. Am. Bot. . For 422* and 427° of the “Contributions to the Flora of Lowa” for 1877 read 522 and 5278. Gerardia setacea of “Flora of Iowa” (No.545), and of Gray’s Manual (not of Walt.) is G. Skinneriana, Wood. The true G@. seta- cea of Walter is a Southern species. See Syn. Fl. N. Am., ITZ, 294. Stachys palustris, L., var. cordata, Gr. (No. 596) should be changed to S. palustris, L., as the plant (common throughout the state) is the typical form, and not the variety. The var. cordata, is not likely to be found in Towa: its range is much further south. See Syn. Fl. N. Am. Lithospermum longiflorum, Spreng. (No. 605) is to be expunged from the “Flora of Iowa”. The plant to which this name has been applied is only an early flowering state of LZ. angustifolium, Michx. The discovery of the identity of the two cen was first made by M. S. Bebb of Illinois in 1873. See Amer. Na VIZ, 691. For the revised description of the Species see as s “Sdn Fil. N.Am. TAO: Physalis Virginica (No. aoe should be written P. Virginiana, Mall (See Syn. 0. IN. An. P2385. Some specimens remain over that have not been satisfactorily de- termined, for the most part because not complete enough. Among them are several interesting forms belonging to the genus Astrag- alus. It would be advantageous to have these reports made annual- ly, and the only obstacle is the lack of material. Any information relating to the flora of Iowa will be gladly received; and every possible assistance will be rendered Bay person who desires to help in this work. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., December, 1880. LINDLEY AND PRATT.—MOUNDS IN ROCK ISLAND CO. ILL. 173 APRIL 29TH, 1881.— REGuLaR MEETING. The President, Mr. J. D. Putnam, in the chair. Fourteen persons present. Messrs. W. 8S. Smith and L. R. Witherell were elected regular members. Mr. S. V. Proudfit, Glenwood, Iowa, was elected a cor- responding member. May 277TH, 1881. — Recuiar MEETING. Mr. W. H. Pratt in the chair. Four members present. Rey. J. Gass reported explorations of several mounds in Rock Is. land County, Illinois, obtaining two stone pipes, and stated that he would make a full report when he had made some further explor- ations. The following paper was presented: Exploration of Nine Mounds in Rock Island County, ll., May 19th to 23d, 1881. BY C. T. LINDLEY AND C. L. PRATT. Under the instructions of the Academy, Messrs. C. T. Lindley, H. M. White, D. T. McDonough, W. H. Davisson, and C. L. Pratt went down the river, on the 19th inst, toa point in Illinois nearly opposite Fairport, for the purpose of investigating a few of the very numerous mounds in that district. We camped on the river bank, in the imme- diate vicinity of the mounds, and near the farm of Mr, Eli Martin. The mounds are in several groups on the bluffs, which run along half a mile from the river, and these groups are pretty widely scat- tered. We first began the work upon a group containing five mounds, and lying on the bluff but a short distance east of Mr. Mar- tin’s house. Here we opened three mounds; but, although the search made was systematic and complete, our labors were rewarded only by the finding of a few bones in one of them. This one was con- structed, seemingly, on a plan different from that employed in the others, being of soft, black dirt; while the others were of clay, and so hard as to require the constant use of a pick-axe. Concluding that further search in this quarter would be fruitless, we adjourned to another group farther down the river, some two miles west from Mr. Martin’s house, and comprising nine mounds. Of these we chose such as appeared most likely to repay our efforts; 174 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. but, although we dug down into them to the depth of fourteen feet in one instance, and very deep in all cases; and although we worked in six different mounds, no encouraging indications were met with. The ground was exceedingly hard, and composed of clay, which, though somewhat mixed, did not present any other evidence of ever having been disturbed, or of having been used as a burial place by the mound-builders. In one of them we found the bones of an In- dian, buried near the surface; but beyond this, no bone or anything else but clay and roots was found, and we gave up the search. June 247uH, 1881. — Recutar MEETING. The President, Mr. J. D. Putnam, in the chair. Eleven members present. Mr. W. J. McGee, Farley, Iowa; Prof. J. K. Macomber, Ames, Towa; Prof. J. Henry Comstock, Washington, D. C.; and Mr. Tyler McWhorter, Aledo, Ill., were elected corresponding members. SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1881.— ReGuLaR MEETING. Prof. W. H. Barris in the chair. Five members present. The following papers were presented: Oxytheca.—Two New Species from Southern California. BY CC. Cy sPARRY:- OxyTHEcA, a genus established by Nuttall, over forty years ago, on a plant then considered peculiar to the interior arid districts of North America, but which somewhat later, under different names, was also strangely met with in remote districts in the South Ameri- can Andes, rested for a long time upon this single species ( O. den- droidea, Nutt.). In the more recent revision of the /’riogonew by Torrey and Gray | Proceedings Amer. Acad. Vol. VIII, p. 190], the genus was con- firmed by two additional species from the same interior districts. Subsequently, in Vol. Il, Botany of California, Mr. Sereno Wat- son completes the latest view of the genus by two other additions, making, in all, five species. AEH DR. C. C. PARRY.—OXYTHECA—TWO NEW SPECIES. 175 All of these, at different times, either as living plants or dried specimens, had come under the notice of the writer. It was therefore a matter of most agreeable surprise to receive from the enterprising botanical collectors, Parish Brothers, of San Bernardino, as some of the fruits of their labors during the present season (1881), two more remarkable new ones, thus enlarging the genus to seven species. One of these, as will be seen from the following description, pre- sents peculiarities that require an enlargement of the generic char- acter, which is herewith presented, together with a complete list, and descriptions of the new species. OxytTHeca, Nutt.; Watson, Botany of California, Vol. I, pp. 31-32. (The character extended in the /ta/icised parts.) Involucres few-to many-flowered, more or less pedicellate or ses- sile, campanulate or turbinate, herbaceous and not reticulated, most- ly 3-d-cleft, the erect or spreading lobes generally terminated by straight, slender awns, or obconic-truncate and conspicuously ridged with numerous longitudinal radiating nerves, which are prolonged beyond the obconic tube into a fringe of somewhat unequal acicu- lar awns. Flowers (6-parted ), bracteoles, etc., as in Eriogonum. Akenes ovate-lenticular (where known); the elongated radicle ac- cumbent upon the rounded cotyledons. With the following species:— 1. Oxythecu inermis. Watson, Bot. Cal. Vol. II, p. 32, recently rediscovered by Mr. W. G. Wright, on San Bernardino Mountain. 2. O. dendroidea, Nutt.; Watson, 1. c. 3. O. Watsoni, Torr. & Gray; Watson, lL. c. 4. O. trilobata, Gray; Watson, |. c. d. O. caryophylloides, n. sp. Plant low (4 to 8 inches), with short simple primary stem, or branching from -the base, upper stems prolonged into numerous slender, intricate branches, smooth or glandular-pubescent, with irregular patches of dark-colored glands on the upper stem and in- volucres ; leaves radical, obovate, spatulate, occasionally emargin- ate, tapering into a petiole expanding at its clasping base ; cauline bracts ternate with oblong divisions, nearly equal, one-half line long shortly acuminate ; involucres (except in the lower axils) sessile, five-parted to near the base, divisions nearly equal, one and one-half lines long, narrowly ovate with strong mid-nerve prolonged into an awn about one-third. its length ; flowers two to three in each inyolu- 176 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. ere, shortly pedicelled and with very minute bractlets ; perianth short, greenish , obscurely lobed, closely embracing the matured akenes ; akenes broadly triangular, smooth, with rounded edges; embryo with curved radicle and orbicular accumbent cotyledons. Habitat: San Bernardino Mountains, August, 1881, Parish Brothers, No. 1097, associated with the more conspicuous prostrate forms of OQ. trilobata, but readily distinguished by its smaller, more branching habit and sessile involucres, resembling in appearance some of the inconspicuous-flowered Caryophylleew, whence the spe- cific name. 6. Oxytheca Parishii, n. sp. Plant slender, sparingly and dichotomously branched, 6 to 18 inches high; radical leaves three-fourths to one inch long, obovate- oblong, minutely ciliate-denticulate, somewhat enlarged and sub- cordate at base, with a short thickened clasping petiole and distinct mid-rib; cauline bracts small, trifid, shortly acuminate, unilateral, with a connate sheath round the stem; stipitate glands conspicuous on the stems above the internodes; involucres on slender axillary and terminal pedicels (three-fourths to two inches long,), expanding into a short obscure tube conspicuously marked by longitudinal nerves, which are prolonged beyond the irregular margin into ‘a diverg- ing crown of slender acicular awns (18 to 28), somewhat unequal, about two lines in length, nearly twice the length of the involu- cral tube; flowers 5 to 14, pedicellate, unequally developed, the more mature reaching nearly to the summit of the involucral awns, the smaller usually staminate and abortive, with bracteoles of two kinds, one linear-spatulate, pubescent and ciliate, the other linear, about as long as the pedicels ; perianth 6-cleft nearly to the base, divisions ovate, pubescent on the outside, smooth within; stamens 9, inserted at the base; akene lenticular, obtusely pointed, the small green embryo with long curved radicle and accumbent cotyl- edons. Habitat: Ridge of San Bernardino Mountains, August, 1881, Parish Brothers, No. 993. The dried leaves when immersed in water exude a thick gelatinous mass many times their own bulk. Dedicated to the discoverer and collector, Mr. Wm. F. Parish, of San Bernardino. nv i. O. perfoliata, Torr, and Gr.; Watson, l. c. wy MAMMOTH BONES DISCOVERED IN WASHINGTON CO., IOWA. hed Bones of the Mammoth in Washington Co., Lowa. BY J. GASS AND W. H. PRATTYI. Having observed some newspaper notices of large bones and teeth found in Washington County, lowa, by Mr. Jerry Hoppin, we went down there on the eighteenth of July last to see what discoveries had been made. We found Mr. Hoppin’s farm on Section 14, Township 22, Range 3, and made a careful examination of the objects and the locality where they were discovered. The remains consisted of the following teeth and bones of /’lephas primigenius, — viz: The two upper molars—beautiful specimens, very well preserved and nearly black. The grinding surface on each is eleven by four and three-fourths inches; and the greatest depth of the tooth, nine and one-half inches. To each of these teeth is still attached a por- tion of the jaw-bone, showing also a part of the socket of the tusk. A fragment of a tusk, thirty inches in length and twenty-one inch- es in circumference. It is very much decomposed and falls to pieces rapidly. A considerable quantity of finely broken fragments was al- so found. The atlas, absolutely perfect. The extreme width of this bone is seventeen and one half inches; its antero-posterior diameter, nine inches; articulating surface, ten by four and one-half inches. Three other well-preserved vertebrae; one cervical, one lumbar, one uncertain; having an articulating surface of six and one-half inches diameter. The left scapula, from which a portion is broken off. — Its extreme length is thirty-four inches; greatest width of part preserved, twenty inches; articulating surface, nine and one-half by six inches. One segment of the sternum, very perfect. Its dimensions are, length, eleven inches; depth, six and one-half inches; and width, four and one-half inches. Head of femur, of hemispherical form, seven and one-half inches in diameter. A portion of humerus thirty-six inches long, both extremities want- ing, and the whole much decayed and very fragile. One fibula, quite perfect, twenty-seven and one-half inches long. Several fragments of ribs, one piece three feet in length, and some [Proc. D. A. N. S., Vol. III] 28 [May 27, 1882.] 178 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. + of the pieces indicating the full length of a rib to be over five feet. In addition there were a good many small, undeterminable frag- ments; though it is possible that, upon more extended examination of the whole, the true place of some of them might be ascertained. These relics were discovered in a small stream running through the bottom land on the farm above mentioned. The scapula was first found in the bed of the stream by Mr. Hop- pin’s boys while bathing. They at first took it for a piece of wood; but, upon discovering its'true character, they made a search for more, and found several of the other bones within a few feet of the same place. Mr. Hoppin then continued the search by digging into the adjacent bank, and there found the teeth and several of the other bones. All the bones were found within an area of fifteen feet each way in the black mud, (sedimentary deposit, chiefly of vegetable mold with some clay,) and about six feet below the surface of the level ground. _ Mr. Hoppin contemplated making much more extensive explora- tions after the busy season should be past and when the creek would be likely to be dry. Whether he has done so, we have not learned, We were very anxious to make some arrangements to secure these valuable relics for our museum; but it was impossible to do so, as he wishes to make all he can out of it, and was greatly in hopes of add- ing largely to the collection when he could continue the work. We wish to express our appreciation of the kind treatment and hospitality shown us by Mr. and Mrs. Hoppin and family, with whom we took supper and spent the night. OcrosBER 287ru, 1881.— ReGuLaR MEETING. Dr. C. H. Preston, Vice President, in the chair. Eight members present. Messrs. H. Stoltzenau, Muscatine, lowa; Henry Dart, Rock Isl- - and, Ills.; and Chas. H. Hubbell of Davenport, were elected reg- ular members. NovEMBER 25TH, 1881.— ReGuLar MEETING. Hon. Geo. H. French in the chair. Six members present. The following papers were presented. eee nie tte asthe EN AN TCA EIN Sea ach Ae ae al yC W. H. PRATT.— THE CHAMBERS LIGHTNING ROD. 179 The Chambers Rod and the Phoenix Mill Fire. BY W. H. PRATT. The Phoenix Mill, corner of Western Avenue and Front Street, was destroyed by fire at the time of a violent thunder-storm on the night of Sunday, the 26th; and as it was provided with the Cham- bers Lightning Rod, it became a matter of especial interest to learn whether it was destroyed by lightning. If so, it would be the first instance of the kind, so far as we had ever learned. Some time since I went to investigate the matter and learned from Mr. Pahl, one of the proprietors, that he had supervision of the prem- ises at the time; and that the mill had been stopped for several weeks, for the purpose of making some additions and alterations, of which work he also had charge. He informed me that the rod had not been changed nor interfered with in any way, but remained just as it was left by the parties who furnished and placed it there. It ran around the edge of the rectangular roof, enclosing an area of about fifty by thirty feet, and was about eighty feet from the ground, and high above all surrounding buildings. The mill had been cleaned out so that there was certainly no con- siderable accumulation of dust in any part, and they were always es- pecially careful that no grease should be dropped or accumulate any- where, so that the idea of spontaneous combustion could not be en- tertained for a moment. Occurring as it did, in the midst of the storm of wind, lightning and heavy thunder, it was very natural to conclude that it was probably struck by lightning; but I wished to find direct evidence, one way or the other, if possible. Examination of the premises could afford no clue, as the whole concern, lightning-rod and all, was engulfed in the fiery furnace very soon after the fire broke out. Mr. Pahl told me that the watchman at Schricker & Mueller’s saw- mill close by, had seen the lightning strike the mill. I went and questioned the watchman, who seemed a very intelligent man, and he informed me that he was standing near the office door—he showed me the spot—in full view of the whole upper part of the flour mill at a distance from it of about 250 feet, with his face in that direction, and watching the play of the lightning in the heavens, when he saw a vivid flash across the sky before him, directly to the top of that building; and instantly, scarcely, if at all, separable from it in time 180 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. came the thunder crash. He was, of course, fully aware that the mill had been “struck.” Almost immediately there poured forth from it a volume of smoke and then of flame, so that it seemed, as he expressed it, as if “it must have made a 4ig hole” in the roof or walls. We must probably be forced to the conclusion that the Chambers rod is, like all ightning rods, not infallible; and the rod on the Phae- nix Mills must be placed in the category of failures. All experience seems to show that no lightning rod affords complete security against violent lightning discharges. Their chief usefulness, probably, is as equalizers, tending to the restoration of equilibrium of disturbed electrical conditions, and thus to prevent, modify or weaken the dis- ruptive discharges. In this view there seems to be no good reason for assuming that the Chambers rod is useless. How many lght- ning discharges have been prevented by lightning rods, or to what extent they have been weakened, can of course, in the nature of the case, never be known. It may be asswmed that, to be at all efficacious even in this way, the rod must have a ground connection, but this, as I believe, 7s not proven, and some experiments apparently point directly to the oppo- site conclusion. We very well know that every sharp point or edge of a conductor or a body in the condition of electrical tension, affords an opportu- nity for the escape of that tension, just as surely as that a hole in a hose filled with water at a high pressure allows a portion to escape, and thus diminishes the pressure. From all experiments and investigations, as well as from theoret- ical considerations, it appears that the best security possible would be afforded to buildings by having extensive metallic surfaces, with many sharp edges, points and corners,— the larger the surface, and | the more points and rough edges the better—whether connected with the earth by conductors or not; and this latter condition may be a matter of minor importance. There seems to me to be no reason to fear that the rod increases the danger of injury by lightning under any circumstances. If it has any effect it must be to diminish the danger in a greater or less degree. Otherwise we must also condemn all metallic railing and ornaments which are so common on the tops of buildings. W. H. PRATT.— AN ARTESIAN WELL AT MOLINE, ILL. 181 An Artesian Well at Moline. BY W. H. PRATT. The Hon. 8S. W. Wheelock, Mayor of Moline and proprietor of the paper mill at that place, finding it desirable to procure purer water for the purposes of manufacture of printing paper than the river af- fords, and also at less expense for pumping, has recently bored an Artesian well close beside his mill and near the river bank. The following is a section of the strata passed through, from the best data I could obtain: SUITEAC ES SOM 5 ss tectajey aces ones. ee etcn& stat csove (ane a ere 7 feet. Devonian limestone (i.e cic scala mee nals < 113 feet. Niarara timestonets sa. '2 ss na sees eo te 275 feet. Maguoketa shales tyes.s7 eters telsee eek ee 220 feet. Galena and Trenton limestones ........... 320 feet. Sandy shales and streaks of sandstone ...... 141 feet. Sewmeters: SANGSLON Garis cc ics 64 ore 2 sein ye okie 65 feet. Red marl and limestone. 23:25. -...-2..2: 516 feet. Potsdam sandstone (supposed) ............ 121 feet. HEAINVES LOMO A divess one Soyer eer ens ata ene 50 feet. At the depth of 53 feet they met with a cave in the limestone rock of the depth of 28 feet —its other dimensions of course unknown — and either empty or occupied by loose clayey material. At the depth of 700 feet from the surface a vein of strong sulphur water was reached, which furnished a constant overflow in consid- erable quantity. The whole depth of the well, measuring from the surface, which is eleven feet above low water mark of the Mississippi river at Dav- enport, is 1628 feet. The bore is six inches in diameter for the first 80 feet, and from there down five inches. A six inch pipe was driv- en down past the cave above mentioned. The well is now fitted with a pipe of four inches internal diam- eter, and an immense volume of the purest water rushes out with great force. It is clear as crystal, has a very slight mineral taste, and a temperature of 62, F. The gauge indicates a pressure of 35 pounds to the inch, which is sufficient to raise the water to the height of 81 feet above the sur- face, giving a theoretical velocity of discharge of 72 feet per sec- ond. This, estimating a solid stream discharged through a pipe or nozzle of three inches diameter, (and the present discharge is prob- ably equivalent to that) would give 1500 gallons a minute; but fric- 182 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. tion and resistance may probably reduce it one half or more. An approximation was made by measurement, giving between 500 and 600 gallons per minute, which would afford every inhabitant of Mo- line about four gallons an hour. The Government reports give the elevation of low water mark at Davenport 553 feet above sea level, Lake Michigan 589 feet, and Lake Superior 609 feet. This well, then, will raise the water 26 feet higher than the surface of Lake Superior. This opens to our view great possibilities for the water supply, not for Moline only, but for our own city; affording the purest article, in unlimited quantity, and without the expense of pumping, for the first ninety feet at least. It should be mentioned that, in the limestone where the work ter- minated and down to the very bottom, there was a strong upward flow which brought up all the chips and cuttings made by the drill. The chisel pulverizes the stone so completely that no chips are brought up of sufficient size to show well the nature and_ structure of the rock, and there is some doubt as to whether the true Potsdam sandstone has been reached. Since the above was written, an analysis of the water has been made by Prof. Haines, of Rush Medical College, Chicago, as follows —the quantity of each constituent being represented in grains per standard gallon of 231 cubic inches: @lioridevotsodiumi se eee ne 27.854 Sulphate lotsoguinits screen nen ear 20.848 Carbonate ot calcrumal serene nee anes 8.769 Carbonate ofimarnesium 9° 2.5). a5. 2 5.849 Carbonatecomiron. S41 yes, ste eee 0.221 SU ae eis ee bg et Se ia Maree meee 0.355 (irr Mave eM s 6 5-9 Sao oa So Ao traces. Total grains per gallon......... 63.892 “The hardness of the water, on Clark’s soap scale, is 11 44 degrees;—the hardness of Lake Michigan water as furnished at Chicago, is 5 4g degrees. The water may be looked upon as fairly good for most purposes, despite the large amount of solids it contains, the greater part being readily soluble and harmless salts of sodium. For drinking purposes, its freedom from or- ganic contamination especially commends it, although, if taken in consider- able amount, it might occasion laxative effects from the considerable pro- portion of salines present. For washing purposes it cannot be well adapted on account of its hardness, but it can be satisfactorily employed for most culinary uses, although a soft water, even here, is often advantageous.” RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 18: Ancient Fortification in Louisa Co. Lowa. BY REV. J. GASS. | This paper was presented at the December meeting, 1880.—see page 147. | In Grandview Township, Louisa County, Lowa, on Mr. Henry Gast’s land, S. E. + Section 14, on the bluff, which faces eastward and overlooks the Mississippi valley, a quarter of a mile back from the edge of the bluff, are the remains of two earth-walls extending across from one ravine to another, a distance of something over twenty rods. =" é 2 =S % S = | = oy. o = =e S iz == 2%, DITCH ES /= SES GR a TT = Sl 2 Bas aig iy WA Leavin vin ~ ZE Se 2S = aoe — = ZZ as Se : a Sine ee = ZZ S22 4% =: - = 7, Sal 2S Gp Si =< DITCH MG | =rs SS =: Z, Up, = SS SCOT) hn ET a) PET Pe os Z ¥§ ©) WIVITTE Weseyer ww ALL enn tree ee = < % Up, BR VY BF of 2 pl NAB Ss = Zim = 7) Ute R Ss Be My ZB aa | Za EGia a ESS eS Ze = 4,0, a Oe ae = eS ye Se 2S 23 9 ‘ = = 7 wien = Zz Y Mie eH AS ZG. - AS 25 QB 2: CS = Si ae 2G = Zp meg A 2G =EF a =s =F == 4 %% = 2% ZBZO Zs = AG, EE w, T;, aS: = ES %% Ss. ZZ Ze In, “te Se eS an ee SES ae = = pris W S&S ZG Mini, — —_ “ie i &S \S => ZG POWYS _ SS "Mat TAWA us WS Lz, B LS & Minn i * MI|\ ‘iN k \ “ Lp Z stl yy, TA Wi Satin RN \ Sra Z ze UW, Mi lL Ly Hil ate Za, Be My,’ bi fh, Wn LH G Y AAT, 50 AOD AN Y, Gis Wye Vi Ms pyyy, i Zp fm, Aly “if / Sf ff, tpg SH4f, My ; WM, ; VY “iff, 4% “ANY Wye ill high gray) A “ally, Udy, Vy neh “AM jy 4 My Ally, Zs Ze A The walls run in an east and west direction: the south one is 24 rods in length, the north one 21 rods. They are parallel, and enclose between them an area of two acres. The south wall is now six feet 184 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. high, and close to it on the north side, is a ditch five feet in depth and twenty feet wide. (See diagram.) The northerly wall is five feet high, and immediately north of it is also a ditch, five feet wide and twelve feet across. Both walls and ditches are of course very much worn down by the action of the ele- ments during the lapse of many years. The two ravines on the east and west sides of this spot are conver- gent and both unite with a still larger one which runs eastward near- ly parallel with the walls above described, at a distance of 35 rods from the southerly wall. The ravines are 100 feet or more in depth and very steep. These ravines and the south wall thus enclose a sub-rectangular area of about five acres. On the steep slope of the ravine on the west and near the top, three rods south of the south wall, is a circular excavation, nerly 100 feet in diameter, and now fifteen to twenty feet deep, made partly by excavating and partly by building up a wall around the west or down- hillside. At the lower side is an opening or passage-way through this wall, which was formerly very narrow, but now somewhat worn away. This passage way may bo of later date, but no one knows, and it is impossible now to ascertain the fact. Directly west of this, at the bottom of the ravine, are two flowing springs, (00) some three or four rods apart. The water of the northerly one is very cold and pure; the southerly one is a sulphur spring. Over this whole area are scattered the stumps of large trees, sev- eral of which are directly upon the walls and in the ditches; showing that many centuries have elapsed since the construction of the work, and probably since its final abandonment. As a work of defence, it is pretty well adapted for resisting assault, the hills on three sides being very steep, and the two earth-walls— which probably were formerly much higher than now—each having, outside of it, a once very deep ditch. The spring water close at hand would also be an indispensable requisite to sustaining a siege. It would seem, however, to afford not much protection, except by its distance, against missiles from the bluffs on three sides. It has been conjectured — but never determined by exploration — that, possibly, the circular depression may be the remains of a well or passage-way down to the level of the springs, to reach the wa- ter without exposure to the attacks of an enemy. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 185 a ed DrEcEMBER 13rn, 1881—1 P. mM. A SpreciaL Mreerine of the Academy was held, immediately pre- ceding the funeral of its late President, Joseph Duncan Putnam, whose untimely decease took place on the 10th inst. In the absence of the Vice-President, who, together with many of the active members of the Academy, was in attendance at the funeral rites then being held at Woodlawn, the home of the deceased, Dr. M. B. Cochran called the meeting to order, and, with a few brief and appropriate remarks, called Hon. Roderick Rose to the chair. Mr. Rose alluded, in a short, impressive speech, to the great loss sustained by the community, and especially by the Academy, in this sad event. The following members were appointed as a committee on reso- lutions to be presented at a meeting to be held on Friday evening, the 16th inst, to which time this meeting was adjourned: Prof. W. H, Barris, Dr. R. J. Farquharson, W. H. Pratt, Wm. Riepe, Dr. C. H. Preston and E. P. Lynch. The members then attended the funeral at the Presbyterian church ina body, wearing crape. DEcEMBER 16TH, 1881.—ADJOURNED MEETING. Dr. Preston in the chair. Dr. C. H. Preston, E. P. Lynch, and H. C. Fulton were appointed a Committee of Arrangements for a Memorial Meeting to be held on the evening of Friday, January 3d, 1882, and the presentation of resolutions and other exercises were deferred to that time. Dr. R. J. Farquharson, a former intimate and valued friend of the deceased, having come from Des Moines to attend the funeral services, was present at this meeting, and in a few heartfelt words, paid a touching tribute to the memory of his young friend. Remarks were also made by others present, expressive of the sor- row and sense of loss felt by the Association. es I a I peroc-DA:-N. 6:,. Vol. TIT.] 24 [July 1, 1882.] 186 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. DrEcEMBER 50TH, 1881.— ReauLaR MEETING. Dr. C. H. Preston, Vice-President, in the chair. Ten members present. ; Mr. Channing Hall was elected a regular member, and, in accord- ance with the action of the trustees at their last meeting, enrolled on the list of life members. Mr. Pratt presented some notes regarding an artesian well recent- ly commenced at the glucose factory in this city. A committee was appointed, consisting of Prof. W. H. Barris, Mr. ©. E. Harrison and Mr. Wm. Riepe, to present nominations for the several offices to be filled at the annual election, occurring on January 4th, 1882. The following paper was presented: Mound Explorations in 1881. BY REV. J. GASS. MOUNDS IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS, In section 11, Buffalo Prairie Township, Rock Island County, IIL, on a prominent point on the bluffs of the Mississippi valley, looking southward, is situated a large circular mound composed almost en- tirelyof sand, and from which the surrounding population have for many years taken sand for building purposes. In the removal of the sand, human skeletons and other relics have occasionally been met with. Some of the relics thus found, including two curved-base, carved stone pipes, have been obtained for the Academy, and are now in our museum. In May of this year I explored this sand-hill, and became convine- ed that it was indeed the work of the mound-builders. The center of the mound had been entirely dug away, and it was probably about in the middle that the skeletons and relics were found, twelve feet below the surface. In my own search there I found nothing except a good many human bones and one flint knife. This mound has also been used by the Indians of the last centuries as a burial-ground, as is shown by the many bones near the surface. In the same section, about a quarter of a mile east of the mound above described, I found a group of eleven mounds disposed in a nearly straight line east and west. ‘They are situated on a ridge of land between the edge of the bluff and a ravine, and sloping toward REV. J. GASS.— MOUND EXPLORATIONS DURING THE PAST YEAR. 187 the east. The first or most westerly mound, on the highest ground, was circular and six feet high. An excavation was made from the top, about six feet by eight. Two feet below the surface were found two Indian skeletons, very poorly preserved. Four and a half feet down we came to a bed of human bones, occupying a space of some four feet in width and three in depth, so much decayed and in such confusion that it was impossible to determine the original posi- tion of the skeletons. Near the skull of the lowest skeleton, on the northern edge of this bed of bones, was found a pipe, and two feet west of the pipe, a dis- coidal stone and some fragments of pottery and flints. East of this layer of bones, entirely separate, were two other skeletons, perhaps buried later. The sixth mound, counting from the west end, was next exam- ined. It was conical in form and five feet high, and on it stands an oak tree, two and a half feet in diameter. We made an excavation three feet in diameter; and at two and one-half feet from the surface, found a discoidal stone, a piece of red ochre, and a piece of galena, laid down in the form of a triangle.. Another opening was made in this mound to the depth of five feet, where was found one skeleton. In July we again visited this group. In the second mound, next to No. 1, and of the same size and form, an opening, six by twelve feet, was made; and six aud one-half feet from the surface were found five skeletons lying east and west and close together, side by side. The one on the south side was farthest eastward; the next one about a head-length farther westward; and the third one as much far- ther still; and so on through the whole number. Near the arm of the one on the north side was a carved stone pipe, and three feet from the skull another pipe. Two feet farther west were found fragments of two different earthen pots, two dis- coidal stones, and some pieces of flint. The next mound opened was the third in the row, and consider- ably smaller than Nos. 1 and 2. The whole surface to the depth of two feet, was a red-burned earth mixed with ashes and coals. Four feet down were found a piece of galena,a few human leg bones, some bits of pottery, a marine shell and some other shells, and three cir- cular pieces of human skull—‘rondelles”—about one inch in diam- eter. The fourth mound is a little larger than No. 3... Making an ex- cavation of four by six feet, and four and one-half deep, we found 188 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. two skeletons lying close together, the head of one being to the east- ward and that of the other to the westward. Near the hand and arm bones of the northerly skeleton was a pipe, and one and one-half feet east of both a discoidal stone and a few pieces of flint and pot- tery. Of the latter the fragments are certainly pieces of the same pot of which pieces were also found in mound No. 2. Mound No. 10 of this row is about five feet high. Four and one- half feet down we found three skeletons with the heads to the west, and beneath these were scattered a number of the larger bones of the human body. No other relics were found. The eleventh mound is smallest of all, about two and one-half feet high. Three feet down was one skeleton. No other relies. The skulls in these mounds were found with the face upward in some instances, and in other cases downward. The bones in gen- eral were tolerably well preserved. The earth of which the mounds were formed was taken from the immediate vicinity. The skeletons were usually rather toward the easterly side of the mound. About half a mile west of the above is another group of nine mounds, from three to seven feet in height. The fourth mound, numbering from the west, was opened by an excavation six feet square and five feet deep. A great many human bones were found in much disorder, and must have been the remains of many skele- tons. No other relics. In the ninth of this group, which was four feet high, I found, four feet deep, the remains of two skeletons with heads westward. The earth was mixed with ashes and coals. No other relics found. Mound No. 6 was of the same size as No. 9; and four feet deep were found a few human arm and leg bones, and nothing more. Mound No. 3 was about three feet high; and from the surface down to the undisturbed earth at the bottom was nothing to be found but a mixture of burned clay, ashes and coals. Mound No. 1, a short distance eastward from the rest of this group, was the smallest of them all, composed of sand and ashes, mixed with a great many pieces of broken pottery. A number of little burned limestones were lying three feet down, on the undisturbed earth below the ashes. This mound was certainly a fire-place. Mound No. 5, on a prominent point commanding a grand view of the valley, is the largest of the group. Here we made an excava- tion of eight by ten feet, down to the natural soil, where we found, about in the center, a grave, five and one-half by three feet, and one Plate IV. Proce. Davenport Acad. Nat. Sei., Vol. ITT. 40399. A: (3) 39962 (4) REV. J. GASS.— MOUND EXPLORATIONS DURING THE PAST YEAR. 189 and one-half feet deep, filled with red ochre mixed with pieces of white clay, instead of skeletons. | About half a bushel of the paint was in this grave. No other relics and no bones were discovered. [ In the latter part of July last, a party from the Academy, con- sisting of Messrs. W. P. Hall, C. E. Harrison, George R. Putnam, W. H. Pratt and John Graham, visited the same locality and made some additional explorations, but found very few relics. They opened the fifth, eighth, and ninth mounds of the group of eleven above described, and a few others in that vicinity. In the fifth was found some broken pottery, of a light color, and very plain. In the ninth was a pretty well preserved skull, and a quantity of other bones, among which was a lower jaw from which all the teeth had been long lost during life, and the jaw was reduced to remarka- bly small dimensions in depth and thickness. Some fragments of horn, and a piece of galena were also found here. In the eighth nothing was found, and the other mounds opened at the same time also failed to afford anything of value or interest, be- yond a few fragments of human bones. | Mounds in Louisa Co,, lowa. In June last I explored a number of mounds in Grandview Town- ship, in the same region where, a year ago, my labors had been quite successful; but this time without results. In Section 11, on Mr. Wagner’s farm, is a group of thirty-six mounds. A number of these have been examined heretofore. I op- ened seven of the largest; two of them were six feet high, the other five only about three feet. In the first one I found, six feet below the surface, a bed of ashes containing a few fragments of pottery and two implements of trap rock. The other large mound, the largest of the group, had been for- merly hastily explored. I enlarged the excavation at the top of the mound and worked down to the natural earth without finding any- thing; but, widening the opening on all sides, I found on the east side, six feet down, a large limestone with a few pieces of pottery lying on the top of it, together with an arrow-head and a clay figure of the human head, about an inch in diameter and burned. This is in our Museum. Opposite this, in the west side, I found another limestone of about 190 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. the same size, with a small stone axe and a discoidal stone lying on it. No other relics were discovered. In the other five, smaller mounds, which we opened, I found not even a trace of human bones; nor had other parties who examined them before, found any so far as | could learn. In general, I believe, these mounds were not used -for burial pur- poses; and, judging from the few relics found here, possibly these mounds may be the work of a different tribe of mound-builders. In Section 13, two other mounds, four feet high, were explored. In the first was a bed of ashes containing pieces of pottery and flint. The second contained fragments of pottery similar in color and ma- terial to that from the lower Mississippi Valley. No bones were found. : In Section 24, on Mr. Godfrey’s farm, we also explored two mounds, each about four feet high. Four feet from the top of the first was a skeleton, lying in the usual horizontal position, with the head west- ward; also a small flint knife. In the second, about twenty-four pa- ces southward, was made an excavation of four by five feet. Two feet from the surface was a bed of ashes one foot thick; and above this the clay was burned. In this bed of ashes were imbedded sey- eral small white stones representing a rude and incomplete form of a mound-builder’s pipe, intended for some animal form; but they slacked up so on exposure to the atmosphere, after being washed, that it was impossible to preserve them. They were probably of lime- stone and burned. No other relics were found. Here I learned that a Mr. Potter, who resides five miles from Toolesboro, was in possession of a stone tablet, taken from a mound; and, hiring a horse and buggy, I visited him, and he showed me the stone and told me that he found it in a mound at Toolesboro, thir- teen feet below the surface, resting on a small pile of human bones. It is a slab of white sandstone, two feet long, three feet wide, and three inches thick, rounded at the corners. On one side I found a few signs or pictures which certainly are very old, and perhaps made by the mound-builders themselves; but these original signs, perhaps, did not satisfy the discoverers, so they added some English letters, completely destroying the value of this specimen. The gentleman kindly offered me the stone for our Museum, but I did not wish to accept a relic which had been thus tampered with. On this oceasion I had the pleasure of inspecting some very im- portant relics in possession of the people there, which, however, it was impossible to obtain for the Academy. Pr oc 5 JD) av e n pe or t A cad. N Nat .8 ci eV ol aan I] PI at (3) V % a —— isi © ' . 4 t< 4 ef tk, ants e erie ate | E hyp 1 Iz aT 74 if 7G | : ‘3 BE I palsy pe fr ine Tories ~ awe pS - ‘> toa’ vary me j f ‘ asl bis aor REV. J. GASS.— MOUND EXPLORATIONS DURING THE PAST YEAR. 191 Mounds near Muscatine. On the bluffs on the west side of the Mississippi Valley below Muscatine, are many groups of ancient mounds. On Mr. Schmale’s farm, are five mounds from five to eight feet in height and sixty-five feet, more or less, in diameter. In the first mound, at the west side of the group, which was five feet high, an opening five by six feet was made from the top and five feet deep. Here I found the remains of two skeletons, the head of one being eastward, and the other westward. The bones were much decayed, and crumbled on being removed. Here and there in the soil were some pieces of charcoal and pottery, but no other relics. In the next mound, No. 2, only one skeleton was found, and no other relies. The third mound is eight feet high. Making an opening of eight by twelve feet, I found at the depth of seven feet a pit, two by three feet and one foot deep, contaming a number of human leg and arm bones and pieces of skulls, but nothing more. Mound No. 4 is six feet high. Six feet down I found three skele- tons covered over with pieces of wood. At the sides I found pieces of pottery and marine shells; but the whole were so decayed and frag- ile that nothing could be secured for the Museum. The fifth mound was the smallest, and nothing was found in it ex- cept a few bones. These five were all composed of a very hard clay, making the work of exploration very laborious. One mile west of the last mentioned group, on Mr. Hershey’s farm is a group of forty-six mounds, arranged in four concentric semi-cir- cles. These are all of a conical form, except two of the largest, of which one is oval, and the other long and narrow. The heights of all vary between two and six feet. I explored twelve of these mounds, and learned that some are burial mounds and the rest are not. The bones contained in the former are much decayed, and in the most of them the remains of only one skeleton, and in no case more than two. Ashes and charcoal wére found in every mound, but no relics of importance, except a few arrow heads and fragments of pottery. Down at the river, directly even with this group of mounds, is an old camping-place, where, for an extent of fifty yards along the shore the high water washes down a great number of pieces of pottery, flint 192 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. implements, animal bones, and perhaps also human bones, which are imbedded two or two and a half feet below the surface, between the black soil above and the sand below. These pieces of pottery, and also those from the last described mounds, exhibit a greater resem- blance to that from the lower Mississippi valley, collected by Capt. Hall, than to that which we usually find in the mounds here, and, on the whole, I am inclined to the opinion that these mounds are less ancient than the most of those in this section of country. A closer investigation in the future, may, perhaps, furnish more satisfactory evidence in respect to this supposition. ; In comparison with the results of last year’s explorations, we have been this season much less successful in the collection of relics, part- ly on account of our diminished financial resources, and partly and chiefly because we had less opportunity for working in the more im- portant mounds; perhaps, also, we were less fortunate in our selec- tions in the several groups. We hope. however, to continue these researches, and, next year, with increased success. su Wemoriam., Sosrph Duncan Putnnim. Hatus 18 Oct, 1855; Obit 10 Pec., 1881. INTRODUCTION. The Third and concluding Part of Volume III of the ProcrEptnas of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, is now given to the public. In accordance with previous announcement, “ it is exclusively devoted, as a fitting tribute to the memory of the late President of the Association, JosEPH Duncan Putnam, to whose earnest zeal and untiring labors all its previous publications are mainly due.””. This memorial number embraces the pro- ceedings of the Academy upon the decease of Mr. Putnam, and his unpub- lished scientific notes on the North American Solpugidea. The biographical sketch of Mr. Putnam by his life-long friend, Dr. C. C. Parry, was especially prepared by request of the memorial committee ap- pointed by the Academy, and was presented at a meeting called for that purpose on Friday, September 22d, 1882. It should also be stated that Dr. C. H. Preston, Acting President, in his address at the annual meeting, January 4th, 1882, made appropriate and kindly mention of the life and labors of his predecessor. This paper will appear in Volume IV of the Proceedings of the Academy. The excellent steel engraving of Mr. Putnam, which appears as the fron- tispiece to this part, is the work of the eminent engraver, Mr. G. H. Hall, of Brooklyn, New York. It is deemed appropriate to include, in this memorial number, resolu- tions adopted by other scientific societies upon the occasion of Mr. Putnam’s death, letters of condolence received from eminent scientists abroad, and a thoughtful and carefully prepared address delivered before the Iowa Acad- emy of Sciences, at Iowa City, by Prof. W. J. McGee, of Farley, Iowa. The obsequies of Joseph Duncan Putnam, took place December 13th, 1881, at 2 o’clock p. M., from the First Presbyterian church, Davenport, Iowa. The pall bearers were selected from among his working associates in the Academy, viz: Dr. R. J. Farquharson, Prof. W. H. Pratt, Prof. William Riepe, Dr. Charles H. Preston, Dr. E. H. Hazen, Charles E. Harrison, H. C. Fulton, and E. P. Lynch. After private devotional exercises at Woodlawn, the family residence, the casket containing the remains of the deceased, was borne to the church, which was crowded with sympathizing friends. As the cortege approached the church, Trinity chimes pealed forth in muffled tones, the dead march from Saul. 196 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. The Rey. Dr. Barris, who had been intimately associated with Mr. Put- nam in scientific work, was expected to be present and make the principal address. He was, however, detained at home by illness, and in his absence Rey. Dr. Clute, Pastor of the church, made some appropriate impromptu re- marks. He gave an interesting account of his interviews and conversations with the deceased. He thought him peculiar in many of his characteristics, and in determination and acquirements a truly greatman. He likened him to an island peak in the midst of the sea, which stands alone amid the waste of waters, visible from afar. So,it seemed to him that the deceased stood in this community, silently accomplishing his purposes in study, and as he worked alone, enjoying his communion with Nature and God, he attracted everywhere the notice of men eminent in science. Though he had just entered on his twenty-seventh year, when death called him, still he had lived a long life in view of his profound studies, his large acquirements, and his world-wide reputation. His investigations into the science of entomology were so remarkable as to attract the notice and com- mendation of eminent scientists in other lands. He was one who made the weakness of his physical nature succumb to the powers of mind and a strong will. As amother loveth her children—as his own devoted, stricken mother loved and watched this, her son—even so he loved his favorite pursuit, and bert all his soul to it. He studied in his investigations all the manifesta- tions of the wisdom and power of God, and delighted in the evidences, thus made known to him. The Rev. Dr. Stifler, of the Baptist church, followed in an effective and appropriate address. He said he had come to pay his last tribute to a friend. The giving up of such a life as that of Duncan Putnam was ‘a loss to our community and the world. In the study of insect life were to be found some of the sweetest lessons of Divine wisdom. Death did not end all. It might carry away all of this life, but fame, influence and fruit of labor survived. Duncan Putnam was dead, but many a student would find the light of that life shed upon him. The choir composed of Miss Alice Hartzell and M. C. Smith, with Mrs. Robert Smith presiding at the organ, sang very effectively, “Asleep in Jesus.”” The casket was then borne to the hearse, followed by sorrowing friends, and asthe long’ procession moved off for the last resting place of the deceased, at Oakdale, Trinity chimes again sounded, in muffled tones, a requiem forthe dead. EDITOR. PROCEEDINGS OF THE DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. VOL. ITJ.—PART III. MEMORIAL MEETING In Honor or JosepH Duncan .PUTNAM, LATE PRESIDENT OF THE ACADEMY, HELD JANUARY 6TH, 1882. The Academy met pursuant to adjournment, President Dr. C. H. Preston in the chair. At the hour appointed, the audience room was filled with members and sympathising friends. A life-like portrait of the deceased hung above his vacant chair, which stood, appropriately draped, in its ac- customed place; while upon the Secretary’s table was a plaster-cast of the well known, thoughtful face, taken soon after the inform- ing soul had left its tenement of clay. The exercises of the evening were prefaced by the anthem, * Cast thy burdens on the Lord,” which was touchingly rendered by a vol- unteer quartette, consisting of Mrs. P. E. Brockett, Miss Mary Gil- lette and Messrs. E. M. Edgerton and H. J. Lafferty; the Rev. N. M. Clute, of the First Presbyterian Church, following in prayer. The President, after stating briefly the object of the meeting, in behalf of the committee, presented the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted: 198 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES: Wueresas, In the Providence of God, the hand of death, which none may evade, has removed from this stage of existence in the morning of his life and usefulness, our talented associate and honored President; be it Resolved, By the Davenport Academy of Sciences, that in the demise of J. Duncan Putnam, we recognize an irreparable loss, not only to the cause of natural science to whose advancement he was so earnestly devoted, but to each and all of his associates who have felt, and in some measure profited by the ennobling influence of a life so active and unassuming, given to other than selfish aims; of one whose riches were understanding, and whose best loved treasures, truths. Resolved, That the Academy, as an association, feels its deep obligation to the tireless organizing and sustaining efforts of the deceased, and to his valuable scientific labors in his chosen field of Entomology, labors which were those not of a collector merely, but of an original observer, a careful student of embryology, and of the methods of insect life. Resolved, That in conformity with what we believe would have been his desire, we will strive to make the Academy deservedly honored at home and abroad, and to this end will labor to sustain the publication of its proceed- ings, a work to which, realizing its importance, he gave the best powers of his waning life. By so doing we shall erect to his memory a monument more acceptable, as it will be more useful and enduring than granite or mar- ble shaft. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted with our sympa- thy to his sorrowing parents and friends, and that copies be furnished to the Daily Gazette and Demoerat. Prof. W. H. Pratr then read an address, which was a_ heartfelt eulogy of the deceased, who had been to him at once pupil and in- structor, throughout their long familiar intercourse as friends. Address of Prot. W. H. Pratt. Our late honored and beloved President, associate and friend, Josepu Duncan PuTrNam, in memory of whom we meet here to- night, was born at Jacksonville, Illinois, October 18th, 1855. His parents were Charles E. Putnam and Mary Louisa, daughter of Governor Joseph Duncan, of Illinois, and he was the eldest of a family of eleven children, seven of whom survive him. He was a descendant in direct line from, John Putnam, who came from Buckingham, England, to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1634, and who was the ancestor of the Putnam family in this country, so far as known. Thomas Putnam, through whom he traces his descent, was » the grandfather of Gen. Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 199 Edward Holyoke, of Tamworth, England, who was at Lynn, Mass., in 1636, and who was the grandfather of Rev. Edward Hol- yoke, for thirty-two years President of Harvard College; Benjamin Risley, of Hartford, Conn.; Rev. John Stockton, of Kingholt, Eng- land; and the Olcutt, Gibbs and Fuller families of early New Eng- land history, are found in the line of his ancestry. Through his grand- mother on his father’s side, he was a descendant of Daniel Morgan, of Colchester, Conn., who was the ancestor of the famous general of that name. His‘grandfather on his mother’s side was the late Governor Joseph Duncan of Illinois, whose ancestors came from Scotland and settled in Virginia about the middle of the last century. Through his grandmother on this side, he was a direct descendant of John Cald- well, who came to this country about 1730, and settled in Virginia, and who was the father of the noted Rev. James Caldwell of Elizabeth- town, New Jersey, and the great-grandfather of John Caldwell Cal- houn, the famous South Carolina senator. James R. Smith, a wealthy shipping merchant of New York, was his great-grandfather, and John Ogden, the founder of Elizabethtown, also belongs to this branch of his ancestry. Duncan was born at the old Duncan homestead at Jacksonville, but all his childish memories were of Davenport as his home. At the age of eight years his school education begau, at the German- American Institute, conducted by Mr. Wm. Riepe, who is now here with us, and under his instruction he began the study of the German language, and received his first regular lessons in drawing. Later, he attended the public schools of this city up to the age of nearly seventeen, and was in one of the intermediate grades of the High School when his connection with them terminated. During all these years he was a hard student, and, his physical constitution not being very strong, it was often necessary to take him from school for a few months for rest and recuperation. He always ranked among the first in the classes with which he was connected, especially in mathematics, and acquired some knowledge of the French, Latin, aud Greek languages. At the age of eleven, in 1866, as his diary shows, he began making a collection of insects, for which he seems naturally to have had an especial taste; and in 1869, when in his fourteenth year, he had al- ready commenced their scientific classification. At the same time he was also making collections of autographs, stamps, coins, minerals and geological specimens, but more especial- ly in objects of natural history. When out of school, much of his 200 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. time was spent in the excellent home library, and his after life has shown that here he had stored up a vast amount of knowledge, which was always available, for he seemed never to forget anything he had once learned. Impressed, at a very early age, with the importance and value of the printing press as a means of culture and progress, Duncan and his younger brothers determined, with the wise encouragement of their parents, to procure a press with money saved from their little gifts and earnings. It is worthy of note, as an indication of his turn of mind at that tender age, that, when he became interested in that matter, he thoroughly searched his father’s library and all other sources within his reach, and made an exhaustive study of the print- ing press, thoroughly informing himself of the history of the inven- tion and every improvement, and the peculiar excellences and de- fects of each, before leaving the subject. The press was purchased, with sufficient type for the publication of * THE Srar oF Woopiawn, @ Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Development of Amateur and Domestic Literature,” in which the family and friends joined by contributed articles, and which was continued for several years; and here was his first experience in writ- ing for the press, setting type, reading proof, engraving, printing and binding, which helped to prepare him for the work of later years. During the years 1868 to 1870 he collected insects, shells, and geological specimens, in long and frequent rambles with one or two older friends of similar tastes, but gradually concentrating his atten- tion upon entomology. In 1871, while on a visit at Saratoga, he oc¢upied himself in the same pursuits. In 1872 he spent three months up in the mountains of Colorado, with Dr. C. C. Parry, where he added largely to his col- lection of insects, as well as to -his knowledge of the subject. It was on this trip that he first met with the eminent botanists, Dr. John Torrey, since deceased, and Prof. Asa Gray, between whom and him- self an intimate friendship has since been maintained. - His health and strength seemed to be considerably improved by this summer excursion, and the succeeding winter was spent in hard study at home. In 1873, after a few days instruction in the methods .of meteoro- logical observation and forms of reports at the Signal Service office here, -he spent five months with Capt. Jones’ expedition to the Yel- lowstone, as meteorologist in the United States service. His travels on this expedition, over more than a thousand miles of the rough PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 201 districts of Wyoming and the National Park, riding a mule, or some- times on foot, carrying his instruments, measuring elevations, keep- ing a constant meteorological record and making out the reports, in- volved a great amount of very arduous labor and exposure; but, like everything else he did, it was done thoroughly and well, and received honorable mention in Capt. Jones’ official report. Here again he found time and a good opportunity to continue his favorite pursuit in gathering insects, and discovered some species new to science. On returning, he commenced his studies to prepare for entering Harvard College the next year; reciting twice a week to Professor Young in Latin and Greek; but this he was compelled to give up entirely and forever on account of failing health. After taking a severe cold, he had, on the 30th of December, the first attack of those hemorrhages from the lungs, which continued at intervals to the time of his death, eight years. Their frequent re- currence became alarming, and required constant care, yet during this trying winter, with his usual cheerful and courageous spirit, he employed himself in arranging his large Colorado and Yellowstone collections. ; When the weary winter months brightened into spring his father accompanied him to Colorado. After visiting Manitou Springs and other places, it was decided to leave him with friends and a younger brother, at Valmont. Here he spent four months, and then with renewed strength went to Empire City, where he met his mother and Dr. and Mrs. Parry. Six weeks were spent camping in a desert- ed cabin, enjoying the society of Dr. and Mrs. Engelmann, Mr. and Mrs. Ballord and others, when he removed to Canon City and there spent the winter of 1874-5, in collecting fossils for the Academy, and insects for his own collection. In April he returned home for a six weeks visit, after which he accompanied Dr. Parry to Utah, where the summer was passed at Spring Lake. In the fall he proceeded with Dr. Parry to California, where he was visited in December by his father, with whom he returned home in very feeble health. In all the different regions he had thus explored, he had gathered over 25,009 specimens of insects, embracing an immense collection of different known species, some of which were very rare, besides a considerable number of new species, several of which have been named in his honor, in recognition of his scientific attainments in [Proc. D. A. N.§., Vol. IIL] 26 [Oct. 5, 1882.] 202 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. entomology. During this time he had become especially interested in the Arachnid, and made large collections of specimens, and of books on that subject. While at Salt Lake City, he spent some time at the museum there, and arranged for it a collection of the insects of Utah, collected by himself, identified and labeled ready for exhibition. On the 22d of June, 1872, he discovered in Colorado, his first spe- cimen of the Gadeodes, a group intermediate between the spiders and the scorpions, which finally became his special study, and to which he would have devoted many of the coming years. He wrote the next day to Prof. Hagen of Cambridge, and received from him a very elaborate letter in reply, recognizing the importance of the discovery, and of the study of that family—Solpugidew—of which very little was yet known, and of which specimens were very rare, and he was evidently impressed with Duncan’s ability and aptness for such a study. In the next season he obtained one more specimen, and since that time, chiefly by exchanges, he has made a considerable collection from Mexico and elsewhere. He was, up to the time of his death, the only person in this country who had made much progress in the study of the family of Solpugide. From the date of the organization of our Academy, though but a school-boy of twelve years, Duncan manifested much interest in its progress, and on the 22d of June, 1869, he was elected to member- ship, and at once became an active and useful member. On the 28th of April, 1871, in his sixteenth year, he became re- cording secretary, in which office he was remarkably efficient, and retained the position until’compelled to resign it on account of ill health, in January, 1875. On November 23d, 1876, he was elected corresponding secretary, which important office he filled until he became our President in January, 1881. From that date to the day of his death, nearly one year, he was President and acting corresponding secretary. In this position, from the very extensive correspondence he established with scientific men and societies of many countries, and the judi- cious manner in which he conducted it, he not only himself became widely and favorably known both in America and abroad, but contributed very largely to the success and progress of the Academy, and especially to that of its library. On the 26th of November, 1875, immediately after his return from California, he presented at the Academy meeting, a set of resolutions PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 203 setting forth the importance of the publication of the proceedings of the Academy, and determining upon its commencement “ with the least possible delay.” Such a step no one else among us had had the nerve, the confidence and resolute determination to take, but the resolutions were adopted, and the result has abundantly proven, not only the entire practicability but the wisdom of the undertaking; a work which but for him would perhaps never have been commenced. In accordance with the resolutions, a publication committee was appointed of which he was chairman, and from this time to the very day of his death he pushed forward that work, editing and arranging the matter, selecting the material, superintending the printing, often advancing the means to pay for it, and latterly fur- nishing the type by the use of which the cost was reduced to one- half; and one of the very last remarks he made, an hour or two be- fore his breath ceased, was one to me, regarding the printing of the last sheet which had been prepared for the press. He lebored not for the present only, but for the future, not for what he could do while with us, but to place the work on a permanent and self-sus- taining basis, and if we who remain are at all faithful to our duty, if we follow his example of unselfish effort, he will not have failed in what he hoped to accomplish; it can be sustained, the most ardu- ous portion of the task has already been performed by his self-sacri- ficing devotion. The work has reached very nearly the middle of the third volume, has been circulated far and wide, has received the approval and commendation of scientific men everywhere, and has brought rich returns in building up a valuable library. In 1872, his attention was directed to the “maple bark louse,” which had suddenly become very destructive to the trees in this and other localities, and on June 14th, he presented, in an Academy meeting, a brief but instructive paper on the subject. With all the other work in which he was engaged, this subject was never lost sight of, and he spent the summer of 1879 in most assiduous and thorough microscopic work in an original and exhaustive investiga- tion of the embryology and development of this insect; the kind of work which not only throws light upon profound problems in biolog- ical science, but places in man’s hands the power to curb the rava- ges of noxious insects, and save his trees and crops. The results of this research were embodied in a paper of over fifty pages of our Proceedings, the most elaborate and complete paper he has ever published, under the title of ‘* Biological and other Notes on Coc- cide.” This paper at once established his position among the ento- 204 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. mologists of our land as one of the most able and promising workers in their ranks, where his name will ever stand. During several years he has occasionally found in the books re- ceived, entomological articles printed in various languages with which he was unacquainted, the Russian being one of them; and in such cases he would study up the language with such aids as he could command, and thus always managed to arrive at the gist of the matter presented. In 1880, in company with Dr. Farquharson, he attended the Bos- ton meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of which he then first became a member, and, at the same session, he was elected a Fellow of the Association, an honor con- ferred only in acknowledgment of eminent scientific attainments, and very seldom upon young members. After this meeting he spent some months in exploring the princi- pal libraries of eastern institutions, of which he has the following memorandum among his papers. “NOTE OF A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE GALEODID.”’ “Having devoted my leisure moments for some time to a study of the Galeodide, I availed myself of the opportunity in the fall of 1880 to inves- tigate the present condition of the literature of this very interesting and seemingly much neglected group of animals. In doing this, I visited all the principal scientific libraries in Cambridge, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Chicago and Davenport. I found that this lit- erature was much more voluminous than I had supposed, and I soon had a list of over two hundred and twenty works (including different editions of the same work) to be consulted, without taking into account the numerous references in the works of classic Greek and Roman authors supposed by Lichtenstein and others to refer to Galeodes or Solpuga. Of these two hun- dred and twenty works all but about thirty-five were found in one or more of the libraries visited. Thirty of the works not seen were different edi- tions or translations of the others; thus leaving but five works of importance not seen. A complete abstract of each work was made, thus furnishing ma- terial for a complete index and historical summary.” I may add that this historical summary he has since made, the ab- stracts being classified in order of time. Also, that they are illus- trated by a great many drawings which he copied from the works consulted, and forming a basis and preparation for the study of the Solpugida, which would be exceedingly valuable to any one who should undertake a thorough investigation and development of the subject, such as he intended and would surely have accomplished. How he found time and strength for so great a work, seems almost ae! PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 205 incomprehensible. It must have been due, however, to the fact, that he always saw at once what was to be done, and the best way to do it, and as a consequence all his work was so systematized that no labor was lost. Every note, list, paragraph, or memorandum was complete as far as it went, when it left his hand; in perfect form and order for future reference, and always available. He attended also the next meeting of the American Association which was held at Cincinnati last August, (1881), and was placed upon the committee on publication. At these meetings he met and became acquainted with a large number of the leading scientific men of the nation, and won the respect, esteem and confidence of all. Latterly, until his strength entirely failed, his time has been chiefly devoted to the publication of the Proceedings as before mentioned. A large portion of the illustrations have been the work of his own untaught—or self-taught—hands. His facility in mechanical manip- ulation was marvellous. He spent no time in experiment; the work he did was always for actual use. Of his first effort in etching on steel—and a very elaborate plate it was, where a failure in any part would spoil the whole—Mr. Bannister, the Secretary of the Ameri- can Bank Note Engraving Company at New: York, on examining it, said, “ wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL!” The very building we now occupy was erected upon an original design, planned and drawn by him, and adopted with scarcely the slightest modification. In manner,,he was rather undemonstrative, never wept, and, though he had a pleasant smile for all, and a vein of dry humor which would sometimes crop out, he seldom laughed, at least in later years, beyond a pleasant or amused smile; he was on the whole a serious, and cheerful man. In executive and administrative ability he was naturally strong, and would have become eminent. He possessed, I think, a remark- able combination of enthusiasm and conservatism. Earnest, per- sistent, indefatigable and enthusiastic in the pursuit of knowledge, he was fully imbued with the true scientific spirit, and never jumped to a hasty conclusion. A true naturalist, our brother was always happiest when enjoying the most intimate and free communion with nature, and when engaged in endeavoring to sound her profoundest depths, and to learn of the realities of things. He very fully ap- preciated the harmonies and beauties of nature, and found in her processes nothing to be suppressed or ignored in the pursuit of sci- 206 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. entific knowledge, being totally free from that false delicacy which could make such distinctions. He was decided, but never bigoted or dogmatic in his opinions, and was concise and rather epigram- matic, but often manifesting some diffidence, in the expression of them. While possessing good powers of generalization, and of tracing the causal relations of the various phenomena and conditions observed, he was not much given to theorizing; always open to con- viction, he suspended judgment until the evidence seemed to him to warrant a conclusion, and when his opinion was fully formed, he invariably listened, patiently and cheerfully, to those who doubted or disputed where his own convictions were strong; indeed, he rather . invited objections and criticisms. He was not fond of controversy, and while ever ready to explain his views, if requested, and to give information, he would not devote time and strength to the defense of mere opinions, or to bring others to his way of thinking. He fa- vored all true reforms, but could never make a hobby of any. . In early childhood, as we have seen, his future character and pos- sible career were plainly foreshadowed, indeed it would seem that his character was already formed. As fast as his strength and fac- ulties were developed, their direction was found to be predetermined. He passed through no years of thoughtless, purposeless life, but was occupied throughout, as if he had been aware that the work of. a life time must be accomplished within the short span of twenty- six years. That life was a short one only as measured by our little calendar; estimated by his work and by his own development, and in the light of a broad view of universal progress, and of his part in it, it was a comparatively long one. Surely the true measure of /ife is not the swing of the pendulum, or the revolution of a wheel, or a planet, but the impress made on human destiny and human happiness, the steps taken in the march of human progress, the light cast upon the dark places of ignorance, the encouragement given to earnest effort, the moral lessons taught, the atoms added to the sum of human knowledge. Our departed friend’s religion was of the highest character, both too simple and too broad to be defined by, or contained in any form- ulated creed; it consisted—as I understood him—in no speculations upon Divine attributes or intentions, and no attempted interpreta- tions of them, but in an absolute and steadfast faith in the wisdom and beneficence of the Supreme; a perfect loyalty to truth; a PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 207 reverence and love for everything that is right, and just, and pure, and good; a realization of “the fatherhood of God, and the brother- hood of man;” a deep human sympathy, and a broad charity for the failings of others. He was open as the day, candid and sincere as the little chrld, and as a friend the truest of the true. In his most careless moments he never used an expression which would be out of place in any company, public or private, or unfit for the ear of the most fastidious, delicate and pure. He kept himself posted in political matters, but took only a gen- eral interest in them, and none in party politics. He could never be a partizan in politics, or a sectarian in religion. Ambition for no- toriety, jealousy regarding priority, and a disparagement of the views of others, unfortunately too common among scientific investi- gators, had no place in his character, and could never have been de- veloped there. His life was a constant rebuke to vanity and selfish greed, narrowness, jealousy and cunning. His noble aim, that to which he devoted himself, was nothing less than the advancement of science (that is ¢rwe knowledge) for the benefit of mankind; he labored to build up the Academy not as an end, but as a means to the great end, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” He was, in a greater degree I believe, than any one else I ever knew, the possessor of the * magic staff’ of Andrew Jackson Davis, the power “under all circumstances to keep an even mind.” When gratified he was never greatly elated, and when grieved or disap- pointed never unduly depressed. Not like the small vessel moving smoothly along with a favoring breeze, though easily tossed by every changing wind, and powerless in calm or storm, but rather like the majestic steamship, containing its power, its resources, its compass, and its helm within étse/f, moving calmly on its chosen course, and undisturbed by adverse gales and troubled waters which toss the lighter craft at their pleasure. He was one of those who maxe circumstances; influencing, rather than influenced by his surroundings. But there was a fatal weak- ness in his physical constitution, an insidious disease had found lodgment there, one which no human foresight could avert, and no human power or skill could overcome. It was only a question of his work time when it would assert its supremacy; and he is gone is done—but he still lives with us in his work. It abides, and will still abide, when we also shall have passed away and joined our comrade where “the weary are at rest.” It remains, containing the 208 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. stamp of his thought and his character everywhere. In his very weakness he was strong. Our cherished institution is a noble monument to him, bearing his image on every side, and the impress of his mind and hand in every grain and fibre of its constitution and growth. It isa source of consolation to us to remember that, though at times subjected to much physical pain, he was able in a measure to rise above even that, almost to ignore it in his devotion to his studies, when others would have found no mitigation of its acute- ness; and on the whole, his life was a happy one. Situated in a beautiful and most happy home, supplied with all that taste, culture and refinement can afford; respected, esteemed, and loved by all who knew him; with ample opportunity for the search after knowledge, one of the largest and best selected private libraries in the land, at his command; with pecuniary means for in- dulging his taste in literature, procuring scientific books and the ap- pliances for study of natural history; enabled to devote his time chiefly to his grand aim in life, “the increase of knowledge,” and especially being able in the latter years, to be actively and success- fully engaged in its “diffusion” by the Academy publications, and his contributions to other works; with all this, and no petty personal schemes or ambition to distract him, he was a huppy man. Surely we may indulge in high expectations for the future of our race, when such a type of manhood is presented for the encourage- ment of the philanthropist, and the maintenance of our faith in humanity, and the infinite wisdom of the All-father. The highest eulogy which could be pronounced upon such a man would be, as every biography should be, the simple truth. Words are inadequate to the perfect description of character—ordinary hu- manity has not the power to describe its A/ghest manifestations. If the most complete equanimity and self-control, unswerving single- ness of purpose, disinterested devotion to principle, broad philan- thropy, charity, magnanimity and self-abnegation, a full and sym- metrical development of every side of character, refinement of feel- ing, purity of thought and expression, soundness of judgment, per- fect patience under suffering and annoyance, and great executive, literary, and scientific ability; if these constitute greatness, then surely was our departed friend and intimate companion, though young in years—d@ GREAT man; and we may well say, “Take him for all in all, he was a man whose like we ne’er may look upon again.” PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 209 After a song by the quartette, Mr. H. C. Fulton presented an address, as follows: Address of H. C. Fulton. When death takes those who are endeared to us, by their relation- ship, works or virtues, we erect a monument to their memory. So, but few die without leaving behind some loving heart and willing hands, ready to raise at least a humble stone in remembrance of them. This we all expect. But in the mighty army which yearly steps into the darkness of the tomb, how many have built their own monuments, and left behind enduring works, which will outlast shafts of granite, and keep their memory bright long after marble and stone have crumbled to dust? They are but few. It is only those whose inherent genius, and broad abilities carry them beyond the family hearth-stone, and give them a place in the respect, affection, admiration or love of a large circle of people. Thus it has been with our lamented President, Joseph Duncan Putnam, the loss of whom we now so sincerely mourn. For not only do we and the people of his own country, and of his own tongue, lament, but over the earth where civilization has established a scien- tific society is his loss felt, and thousands are not only sympathizing with his bereaved family and with us, but join in the mourning. The monument which will stand to his memory, and preserve his name, is the one erected by study, research, and labor in the fields of science. Our Academy is part of the fruit of that labor; for no one has done more for its establishment, or been more active in lay- ing the foundation on which we can now so successfully build, if animated by the same spirit that actuated him. How seldom is it that one so young, reaches the position he has at- tained in the world of science; and has been considered, and received as the peer of the acknowledged leaders, who have made a reputa- tion by years of study and research extending beyond the entire length of his life. What were the qualities of Joseph Duncan Putnam’s nature which gave him eminence and raised him above his fellows? For years he was a sufferer physically; subject to ills which would have totally deterred most of us from close application and work; but not so with him, for he possessed a genius for scientific study and labor which nothing could deter—nothing but death itself; not even its threatening presence, which had been impending for years before its [Proc. D. A. N.S., Vol. III.] 27 210 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. actual coming. It was this determined spirit to carry out an end in view, coupled with a thoroughness of work that made him what he was. A trait made the more noticeable in a country where all is hurry, and the great aim is to reach an end regardless of the way, or the perfection of the work. No difficulties discouraged him. An obstacle was never a barrier, only something to be surmounted. If unable to find a way of ac- complishing a task, he made a way. If what he wanted to learn was hidden in a foreign language, he learned the language. If he needed unobtainable tools, he made them, and learned all about their manufacture before he did so. If he wished to print, he learned the art—not only in its practice, but its theory and _ history. If he needed a steel plate, he engraved it; a wood-cut or etching, he made it. And his work compared favorably with that of the best art- ists. Time consumed was nothing; and delays never exhausted his patience. If books were needed to which he had not present access, he made memoranda of what he wanted, and waited until large libraries could be visited; and never stopped until all known author- ity was consulted, and the subject exhausted. When he had mas- tered what others knew, he built on their knowledge by original thought and research. To him nothing was small or insignificant. He looked at every- thing through a microscope, and saw its importance. He paid as much attention to details as to great results. Wherever he laid his hand this is seen. System and thoroughness in everything. None can appreciate this so well, as those who worked with him. The.amount of labor he has done is really astonishing; not only in his own special study of entomology, but in other departments, and especially in the routine work of the Academy; for there is no part, department, or work of the Academy, but that shows the labor of his hands and mind. He never seemed to tire, or become dis- couraged from press of work; but moved steadily onward and ac- complished each self-imposed task in its order, and was ever ready to take up new burdens. The committee he was on always acted promptly, did its work and was ready to report; because such com- mittee usually resolved itself into one member, and he was the one; for the reason he took hold with more zest, proceeded more promptly with the matter in hand; took all the burden on his own shoulders, and left the other members of the committee in the back ground. All were only too willing he should do so, for they knew the work would be better done by him alone, than with their help; and all PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 211 had confidence in him, and too much respect for his ability to fear of anything being wrongfully done or neglected. He was modest to an extreme, and seemed not to think of self. Never tried to push himself into public notice, or to make himself heard, but listened patiently to others, and respected the opinions of all. This was noticeable in a great degree. But when he spoke, it was with deliberation. His opinions were matured, and the hearer felt he was listening to one who knew what he was talking about. He knew all he pretended to know, and underrated his knowledge, rather than over-estimated it. From this fact, others appreciated him the more, and he was given honors and positions which many with more pretentions but less true worth, had sought in vain. Another of Duncan Putnam’s traits of character, and one always greatly to be desired, was his evenness of temper. Nothing seemed t6 throw him off his balance or disturb him. The thousand little vexatious things which constantly arise and fret most of us, he re- ceived with unconcern, and brushed aside. He never seemed to think an annoyance had anything to do with him; but took it up, looked it over, examined it as he would a troublesome insect under his microscope, and then laid it aside. Contrary winds which inter- fere with our work, and so often make most of us lose a little self- control, were about the same to him as a storm among Jupiter’s clouds. This trait made him always pleasant to meet, and easy of approach. Though easy of approach, he was difficult to reach, for no matter how much he imparted, or how thoroughly you believed you appre- ciated him, he always seemed to hold a reserve of thought which made you feel he was still beyond your reach. Often when a man of eminence dies, we say: “there is no one to take his place,” still his place is soon filled. Will this be true of the great vacancy left in our Academy by the death of its President? It is almost impossible. Two such cannot come into the life of an Academy. No one can fill his place. Some persons may, but no one person can. It is to be hoped the work will go on as well now, as it has heretofore; but the labor of more than one brain will be required to do what he did. Genius was the momentum that ena- bled him to do the work, which will now require a larger body to accomplish; because there is less momentum. It is to be hoped that, when Duncan Putnam was taken from us, his mantle dropped to rest upon others, who will be endowed with power to carry on the work of the Academy as he would desire it. Now that he is gone we should feel more than ever, there is something for 212 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. us to do, in trying to fill his place. And as we think of his earnest and fruitful work, may we appreciate how much can be accomplished by devotion and persistent effort, and nerve ourselves to the work of building up the Academy as a monument to him whose name will ever be associated with it; and to whom such a memorial would be more pleasing than any mausoleum. Address of Dr. E. H. Hazen. Then followed an address by Dr. E. H. Hazen, who spoke in fitting terms of the faithfulness and patient industry of the deceased, and of his many admirable qualities of mind and heart. The doctor dwelt on the career of the deceased, his early leaning to entomol- ogy, his arduous pursuit of knowledge in spite of bodily infirmities, until his name became respected throughout the civilized world. He emphasized the importance of hygiene as a foundation for all other science, the religion of physical development as a basis for the highest achievement, the most perfect intellectual and moral life. As this thoughtful address has not been prepared for publica- tion, it is necessarily omitted. Address of James Thompson. Mr. JAMES THOMPSON, one of the first members, and an earnest supporter of the Academy, was then called upon and after remark- ing that nothing would have induced him to face such an audience but his love of the deceased, delivered the following address : In the days of the Academy’s babyhood, when two or three used to meet in an upper room, and every one contributed what little he could, I was tempted to write and read a paper entitled “ Glimpses of Science as seen by a Tyro.” I apologized for so doing by refer- ing to an old custom in Scotland, that every traveler in passing some noted spot by the wayside has to throw a stone on the heap, thus helping to raise the cairn to the memory of whatever it was to be remembered—the first stone-age commencement of monuments. After the meeting, Duncan Putnam, then a mere lad, remarked, in his bashful, modest, and laughing way, that he was also a tyro, but he hoped to be able to cast a little boulder on the cairn before long. PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 213 Mr. Pratt, I think, laughed and said he thought Duncan would be able to furnish a few shedls after awhile. He had just begun then to go out with Mr. Pratt hunting shells. But who would have thought then (unless it might have been the dream or hope of a fond mother), that he would have furnished such a number, not of rough boulders, but finely hewed, polished, living, speaking, stones to this scientific monument of ours, planned in his own brain, prepared and built in with his own hands, written and printed documents with his own press, and sent them out to be seen and read of all men, in all lands. This part of his work is finished, and well done it is; and I, though older, still a tyro, would like to throw this, my little rough boulder, on the cairn we are this evening raising to the memory of him who no longer wisib/y presides over our meetings. “ Ach, Gott!” as Carlyle says, “ What a mystery is life?” There is no death! “The dust we tread, Shall change beneath the summer showers To golden grain and mellow fruit, Or rainbow-tinted flowers.” In fact, so much of his life is inseparable from the surroundings here, we feel, with Longfellow, that ‘His presence fills this room to-night, A form of mingled mist and light From that far coast. Welcome beneath this roof of mine, Welcome! this vacant chair is thine, Dear guest and ghost.”’ And could, if we had ears fine enough, hear him tell us in the lan- guage of the author, of “ The Light of Asia,” speaking of his frail body: “Tis a hut which I am quitting, *Tis a garment no more fitting, *Tis a cage from which, at last, Like a bird, my soul has passed. Love the inmate, not the room, The wearer, not the garb; the plume Of the eagle; not the bars That kept him from those splendid stars!” If we live in deeds, noé years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feel- ings, not in figures on a dial; if he lives most who thinks most, feels 214 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. the noblest, acts the best—then was Duncan Putnam old and full of years, and went hence like a shock of corn, fully ripe. It is well! Most of those who began this institution have passed the meridian, and the shadows cast by the western sun, come creep- ing towards them, and lengthening as they come. °Tis also well! And I will end these desultory remarks by imagining Duncan saying to us, in the lines of Oliver Wendell Holmes, entitled NOT FINIS: “ Brothers, farewell! The fast declining ray Fades to the twilight of our golden day. Some lessons yet our wearied brains may learn, Some leaves, perhaps, in life’s thin volume turn. How few they seem, as in our waning age We count them backwards to the title page. Oh! let us trust, with holy men of old, Not all the story here begun is told, So the tired spirit, waiting to be freed, On life’s last leaf, with tranquil eye shall read, By the pale glimmer of the torch reversed, Not Frnts, but the END oF VOLUME FrrsT!”’ fmpromptu Addresses. At the close of Mr. Thompson’s address impromptu tributes to. the memory of Mr. Putnam were delivered by several persons present. Prof. J. B. Young spoke of him as a scholar—one of the most tal- ented he had known in twenty years experience as a teacher. He said the deceased was characterized by earnestness of purpose, strict integrity, and the highest type of honor. Prof. Riepe, his first teacher, was called upon but excused himself because his ‘ heart was too full to permit of his speaking.’ Dr. J. J. Tomson, who had been his attending physician, spoke of his high personal regard for the young scientist, whose mind and attainments were indeed re- markable. The doctor said the deceased was modest, unselfish, and a true scientist. He had never known him to say aught against any one. The speaker thought the career of the deceased should stimu- late young men to greater industry and honor. PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 215 Correspondence, A large number of letters from friends of the deceased abroad were then read. From among these the following have been se- lected for publication: From PRor. SPENCER F. Barrp, Secretary Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 20, 1881. Srr: In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 10th inst., which conveys the painful intelligence that Professor J. D. Putnam, President of Davenport Academy of Sciences, has been called from his earthly labors, I beg to say that while, through this dispensation of Providence, the Academy sustains a double loss, in that by the death of Prof. Putnam it is deprived of an honored presiding officer, and at the same time of an associate who was ever zealous for the success of the establishment, the cause of science is again called upon to mourn the departure from earth of a devoted friend and conscientious collaborator. Begging that you will convey to the members of the Academy, and to the family and friends of Professor Putnam, the assurance that in their bereave- ment they have the profound sympathies of the officers of this institution, I am, very truly yours, SPENCER F. BAIRD, Sec’y. W. H. Pratt, Davenport, Iowa. From Pror. Asa Gray, Cambridge, Mass. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., January 4, 1882. My Dear Sirs: I learn that a meeting of the Davenport Academy is convened to take notice of the death of its late Corresponding Secretary, Mr. J. Duncan Putnam. It is well that you should put upon record, for future times, some memorial of the services and the character of the associate who is now lost to you. Young as he was, I suppose he is to be ranked among your founders; at least, his place in your history is a very early one. Of what he did for your society, of what he accomplished for science, of the serious disadvantage under which he labored in doing this from almost life-long ill health, of the enthusiasm which supplied the place of bodily strength, and of the fruits of his devotion which you are enjoying in the prosperity and good name of the Academy, it is quite unnecessary that I should write a word. His name and place in the science which he pursued with such devotion are made sure by being incorporated into the imperisha- ble records which Natural History builds into its very fabric as its structure rises through the combined labors of all its gifted devotees. Let me only say, that what struck me in my intercourse with Putnam, was his sobriety of judg.nent and simplicity of spirit. Never have I seen a cooler, and, as we say, more Jevel, head borne upon such young shoulders, nor is it often that such gifts and acquisitions as his are borne with such genuine modesty by one so young and so situated. Little as I have actually been with him, I 216 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. feel that I nave lost a valued friend. Yet it was all along evident that he could not remain long with us; and thankful should we be that even that brief span was protracted quite beyond all ordinary expectation. Very truly yours, ASA GRAY. Messrs. Preston, Lyncu and Fuiron, Committee of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences. From GEORGE ENGELMANN, M. D., St. Louis, Mo. Sr. Lours, Mo., January 6, 1882. Messrs. Preston, LyncH AND FuLron, Committee: GENTLEMEN: Your letter of invitation was unfortunately mislaid, and I am thus prevented from being present, even by this my answer to your invi- tation, at the memorial meeting in honor of my late friend, the President of your Academy, J. Duncan Putnam. I heartily sympathize with you and your institution in the irreparable loss you have sustained in the demise of your gifted young President, whose talents, zeal, and energy have already made him conspicuous, and would have achieved great success in science if a longer life had been vouchsafed to him. Accept my sincere condolence for the great loss you, and with you science, has sustained in the death of young Putnam. Yours respectfully, G. ENGELMANN. From Prof. SAMUEL H. ScuppER, Cambridge, Mass. CAMBRIDGE, January 7, 1882. Messrs. C. H. PRESTON AND OTHERS, Committee of the Davenport Academy : GENTLEMEN: I regret it will not be in my power to attend the meeting you propose to hold on the 12th inst. I should be glad to testify by my presence the esteem-in which I have ever held Mr. Putnam, both as a per- sonal friend and as a fellow student of nature. The persistent energy with which he not only undertook, but carried to completion, investigations of a serious and difficult nature, when his time was so largely occupied in the administration of a public trust of which he was, perhaps, the main stay, and all while laboring under the heavy disadvantage of a serious and wearing malady, can only be fully appreciated by those who understand the tax upon his strength which each of these entailed. They bring out, too, into clearer relief and more vivid light, the purity of his purpose, and, to those who knew him best, the gentleness of his character, which made intercourse with him a delight. Many a man of vigorous constitution would have shrunk from the labors he gladly undertook; few would have accomplished them so well. To us at the East, at least, who look upon your affairs at a distance, and, as it were, by a bird’s-eye view, it seems as if, without him, the Daven- PROCEEDINGS OF MEMORIAL MEETING. 217 port Academy never would have had half so vigorous a growth, nor proved so timely and beneficent an example to the younger communities of our country. His efforts and example have surely given it an impulse which will long enable it to sustain the character it enjoys; let us even hope for something better. At the same time his writings are among the most schol- arly achievements of the scientific men of the Western States, and show him to the world a modest and safe pioneer in paths of his own choosing. It is earnestly to be hoped that he left his material for the long looked for mono- graph of the Solpugide in such shape that the Academy can give it to the world at an early day, and that the Academy will feel this a trust which it cannot rightly fail to assume. With thanks for your kind invitation I remain, Very respectfully, yours, SAM’L. H. SCUDDER. From Dr. H. A. HaGeEN, Cambridge, Mass. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 22, 1881. Mrs. C. E. Purnam: DEAR MapamM—Your paper with the very sad news of the death of your excellent son has arrived. I was entirely unprepared for the sad event just now, though some years ago I could not believe that he would be able to live a few months longer. But as he had recovered last year in a remarkable manner, I had the hope he would go on better and better. I had the honor to know your lamented son for a number of years. The first letter gave to me a strong belief in his earnestness and capacity—so that my answer was prepared with great care and industry. His extreme modesty and the lack of any pretention except to advance science, is in some manner unrivaled. His scientific work shows most clearly that American science has lost a very prominent student. I think he could not have had an enemy! You will be assured that I feel very strongly how much you have lost. Yours, very respectfully, DR. H. A. HAGEN. From C. VY. Ritey, U. S. Entomologist, Washington, D. C. W AsHINGTON, D. C., December 31, 1881. GENTLEMEN: As I cannot be present at the meeting of the members of the Academy which is to be held in memory of its deceased President, Mr. J. Duncan Putnam, permit me, in this way, to express my deep-felt sorrow at the death of a friend whom I esteemed, and one so untiringly and unself- ishly devoted to the interests of Natural Science, and so beloved by all with whom he came in contact. Of late years he battled so bravely with suffer- ing that each time I have met him since our first meeting in 1873, he seemed improved in general health and strength, and when at my house not many (Proc. D. A. N. 8., Vol. III] 28 218 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. months since, I felt a strong hope and belief that his persistent and un- clouded mental activity, and his enthusiastic love of nature, by leading him into field and wood, and obliging that out-door activity so essential to the valetudinarian, would ultimately conquer the disease he suffered, so that many years of usefulness might yet be spared to him. The news of his death came therefore as a shock. All who knew him will mourn his loss, and it can be said of few as it can of him that he never made an enemy-— never did a wrong! Pray, tender my heartfelt condolence to his bereaved parents and relatives, and believe me, Yours, respectfully, C. V. REGEW. C. H. Preston, E. P. Lyncu, H. C. Futon, Davenport, Lowa. From Hy. Epwarps, Entomologist and Editor of ‘‘Papilio,”” New York City. 185 East 116 Street, New York, December 22, 1881. My Dear Sir: It was with no common sorrow that I received the sad news of the death of my valued friend, whose loss you must all so deeply mourn. To offer consolation at such a time is I know useless, but one always longs to say a word that may relieve the anguish of grief, and I can only say, that I feel, most truly in the depth of my heart, that “There is no death; what seems so is transition,” and that he whom we loved, is as much with us now as he ever was, working as earnestly as ever, patiently as ever, bend- ing his energies to his self-imposed tasks, and appreciating and returning the affection and care which always surrounded him.