€ < % ■ 5 < 4 f t < f / ^ €g % t 4 4 f mT r 4 « I «[ t I ^ f LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Agricultural, College, ) Ames, Iowa, February 15, 1896. ) To His Excellency, FRANCIS M. Drake, Governor of Iowa: Sir — In accordance with the provisions of chapter 86, laws of the Twenty-' fifth General Assembly, I have the honor to transmit herewith the proceedings of the tenth annual session of the Iowa Academy of Sciences. With great respect, your obedient servant, Herbert Osborn, Secreta'}'^ Iowa Academy of Sciences. OFFICERS OF THE ACADEMY 1895. President. — H. W. NORRiS. First Vice-President.— R. Keyes. Second Vice-President. — T. PROCTOR Hall. Secretary-Treasurer.- — HERBERT OSBORN. Librarian. — H. POSTER Bain. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Ex-Officio.—^. W. Norris, Charles R. Keyes, T. Proctor Hall, Her- bert Osborn. Electire.—V^ . E. Hansen, W. H. Norton, T. H. Macbride. 1896. President.— T. PROCTOR Hall. First Vice-President, — W. S. FRANKLIN. Second Vice-President. — T. H. Macbride. Secretary- Treasurer. — HERBERT OSBORN. Lihrarian.—K. POSTER Bain. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Ex-Offcio.—T. Proctor Hall, W. S. Franklin, T. H. Macbride, Her- bert Osborn. Elective. — W. S. Hendrixson, M. P. Arey, W. H. Norton. Constitution of the Iowa Academy of Sciences. Section. 1. This organization shall be known as the Iowa Academy of Sciences. Sec. 2. The object of the Academy shall be the encouragement of sci- entific work in the state of Iowa. Sec. 3. The membership of the Academy shall consist of (1), fellows who shall be elected from residents of the state of Iowa actively engaged in scientific work, of (2) associate members of the state of Iowa interested in the progress of science but not direct contributors to original research, and (3) corresponding fellows, to be elected by vote from original workers in science in other states; also, any fellow removing to another state from this may be classed as a corresponding fellow. Nomination by the council and assent of three-fourths of the fellows present at any annual meeting shall be necessary to election. Sec. 4. An entrance fee of $3 shall be required of each fellow, and an annual fee of $1, due at each annual meeting after his election. Fellows in arrears for two years, and failing to respond to notification from the secretary-treasurer, shall be dropped from the academy roll. Sec. 5. (a) The officers of the academy shall be a president, two vice- presidents and a secretary-treasurer, to be elected at the annual meeting. Their duties shall be such as ordinarily devolve upon these officers, {b) The charter members of the academy shall constitute the council, together with such other fellows as may be elected at an annual meeting of the council by it as members thereof, provided, that at any such election two or more negative votes shall constitute a rejection of the candidate, (c) The council shall have power to nominate fellows to elect members of the council, fix time and place of meetings, to select papers for publication in the proceed- ings, and have control of all meetings not provided for in general session. It may, by vote, delegate any or all these powers, except the election of members of the council, to an executive committee, consisting of the officers and of three other fellows, to be elected by the council. Sec. 6. The academy shall hold an annual meeting in Des Moines dur- ing the week that the State Teachers’ association is in session. Other meetings may be called by the council at times and places deemed advisable. Sec. 7. All papers presented shall be the result of original investiga- tion, but the council may arrange for public lectures or addresses on scien- tific subjects. 8 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Sec. 8. The secretary-treasurer shall each year publish the proceed- ing's of the academy in pamphlet (octavo) form, giving author’s abstract of papers, and, if published elsewhere, a reference to the place and date of publication; also the full text of such papers as may be designated by the council. If published elsewhere the author shall, if practicable, publish in octavo form and deposit separates with the secretary-treasurer, to be per- manently preserved for the academy. Sec. 9. This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting by assent of a majority of the fellows voting, and a majority of the council; provided, notice of proposed amendment has been sent to all fellows at least one month previous to the meeting, and provided that absent fellows may deposit their votes, sealed, with the secretary-treasurer. ARTICLES OP INCORPORATION OP THE IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. I ARTICLE I. We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves with the intention to constitute a corporation to be known as the Iowa Academy of Sciences, the purpose of which is to hold periodical meetings for the presentation and discussion of scientific papers, to publish proceedings, to collect such litera- ture, specimens, records and other property as may serve to advance the interests of the organization, and to transact all such business as may be necessary in the accomplishment of these objects. ARTICLE II. The membership of the corporation shall consist of the incorporators, and such other residents of the state of Iowa as maybe duly elected fellows of the Academy. ARTICLE III. The duly elected officers of the Academy shall be the officers of the corporation. ARTICLE IV. The principal place of business of the Academy shall be the city of Des Moines, in the state of Iowa. The capital stock of the corporation is none. The par value of its shares is none. The number of its shares is none. ARTICLE V. The Academy shall hold an annual meeting in the last week of Decem- ber, of each year, or upon call of the executive committee, and such other meetings as may be arranged for. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 9 ARTICLE VI. This corporation shall have the right to acquire property, real and per- sonal, by purchase, gift or exchange, and such property shall be held sub- ject to the action of the majority of its fellows, or the council, the execu- tive committee, or such parties as it may by vote direct to transact such business in accordance with the constitution. All deeds, leases, contracts, conveyances and agreements, and all releases of mortgages, satisfactions of judgment, and other obligations, shall be signed by the president or vice-president and the secretary, and the signa- ture of these officers shall be conclusive evidence that the execution of the instrument was by authority of the corporation. ARTICLE VII. The private property of the members of this corporation shall not be liable for any of its debts or obligations. ARTICLE VIII. By-laws, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these articles, may be enacted by the Academy. ARTICLE IX. These articles may be amended at any meeting of the Academy called for the purpose by assenting vote of two-thirds of the members present. 10 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. MEMBERSHIP OF THE ACADEMY. FELLOWS. Almy, P. F Iowa College, Grinnell Andrews. L. W._ State University, Iowa City Arey, M. P-__. - State Normal School, Cedar Palls Bain, H. P._.- Geological Survey, Des Moines Barris, W. H Griswold College, Davenport Bates, C. 0._ - Coe College, Cedar Rapids Beach, Alice M Agricultural College, Ames Bennett, A. A Agricultural College, Ames Beyer, S. W Agricultural College, Ames Bissell, G. W Agricultural College, Ames Calvin, S State University, Iowa City Chappel, George M.__ Signal Service, Des Moines Combs, Robert Conrad, A. H Parsons College, Fairfield Cratty, R. I Armstrong Curtiss, C. P Agricultural College, Ames Davis, Floyd Des Moines Drew, Gilman Newton Ende, C. L Burlington Pink, B Upper Iowa University, Payette Fitzpatrick, T. J._ Lamoni Franklin, W. S.__ Agricultural College, Ames Fultz, P. M.._. Burlington Gossard, H. a _..Ames Hall, T. P Tabor College, Tabor Hansen, N. E Brookings, South Dakota Hazen, E. H Des Moines Hendrixson, W. S--_ - Iowa College, Grinnell Heileman, W. H.._ Ames Holway, E. W. D Decorah Houser, G. L State University, Iowa City Jackson, J. A.._ Des Moines Kelly, H. V Mount Vernon Leonard, A. G Western College, Toledo Leverett, Prank Denmark Mally, C. W_ - Agricultural College, Ames Marston, a Agricultural College, Ames IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 11 Macbride, T. H Niles, W. B Norris, H. W.. Norton, W. H Nutting, C. C Osborn, Herbert Page, A. C Pammel, L. H Reppert, F._ Ricker, Maurice Ross, L. S Sage, J. R Schaeffer, C. A SCHLABACH, CARL Shimek, B. Stanton, E. W Stookey, Stephen W_., Tilton, J. L Veblen, a. a Wachsmuth, Charles*, Walker, Percy H Weems, J. B.._ WiNDLE, William S Witter, F. M Youtz, L. A._._ State University, Iowa City Agricultural College, Ames __Iowa College, Grinnell Cornell College, Mount Vernon State University, Iowa City Agricultural College, Ames -State Normal School, Cedar Palls Agricultural College, Ames Muscatine - Marshalltown -Drake University Des Moines State Weather and Crop Service, Des Moines - . State University, Iowa City High School, Clinton State University, Iowa City - --Agricultural College, Ames Coe College, Cedar Rapids Simpson College, Indianola State University, Iowa City Burlington State University, Iowa City - Agricultural College, Ames Penn College, Oskaloosa Muscatine Simpson College, Indianola Ball, E. D Bartsch, Paul Beardshear, W. M Blakeslee Brown, Eugene Carter, Charles. - Carver, G. W Gifford, E. H Miller, G. P Mills, J. S Osborn, B. P Owens, Eliza. Pammel, Emma Reed, C. D Rolfs, J. A SiRRiNE, Emma Weaver, C. B ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. Little Rock Burlington -Agricultural College, Ames Des Moines -.Mason City - Fairfield Ames ---Oskaloosa Des Moines Eugene, Oregon Rippey - Ames - Ames - - Ames - - - ..Le Claire Ames Ames CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. Arthur, J. C.. Lafayette, Indiana Barbour, E. H. State University, Lincoln, Nebraska Beach, S. A ..Geneva New York Bessey, C. E --State University, Lincoln, Nebraska Bruner, H. L Irvington, Indiana * Deceased. 12 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Call, R. E — Colton, G. H_ Crozier, a, a Gillette, C. P Halsted, B. Haworth, Erasmus Hitchcock, A. S Jameson, C. D Keyes, C. R Lonsdale, E. H Mally, P. W McGee, W. J Meek, S. E Newton, Geo Parker, H. W Patrick, G. E Rolfs, P. H.__ SiRRiNE, P. Atwood Spencer, A. C Stewart, P. C Todd, J. E.„„.-_ Winslow, Arthur.. - Louisville, Kentucky Virginia City, Montana - Ann Arbor, Michigan Agricultural College, Pt. Collins, Colorado New Brunswick, New Jersey - State University, Lawrence, Kansas ..Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas ...State Geologist, Jefferson City, Missouri Missouri Geological Survey, Jefferson City, Missouri Hulen, Texas Bureau Ethnology, Washington, D. C. State University, Payetteville, Arkansas Grand Island, Nebraska .... New York City, New York Hopedale, Massachusetts Lake City, Plorida .... Jamaica, New York Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland ..Jamaica, New York State University, Vermillion, South Dakota St. Louis, Missouri PROCEEDINGS OF THE Iowa Academy of Sciences 18Q5. VOLUME 111. PUBi; a purely physical cause. The mass increases as the cube oit the diameter, while the surface increases only as the square. The surface performs the function of respiration, but it cannot perform this function for an unlimited mass any more than a cubic inch of lung can perform respiration for a full grown man. As a cell increases in size its mass increases more rapidly than its surface, until a point is reached beyond which it can not grow, because the surface can supply no more oxygen. It is worked to its limit, and can not respond to increased demands. At this stage there are three possibilities: First. — Death, which would end the question. Second. — Stationary balance, which is impossible. 3 84 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Third. — Katabolism, which would cause the cell to disappear, or auabolism would recur at a certain point, and we would thus have an alternation or rhythm of katabolic and anabolic states. This is logically conceivable, but it would debar the possibil- ity of reproduction, and the individual cell would be theoret- ically immortal, but as a matter of fact would be destroyed ultimately by accidental means. If, when the cell had reached the limit of size, it should divide, either accidentally or otherwise, there would result two individuals, both small enough to admit of an expression of anabolism in growth. There would thus be two organisms to hold the fact of spe- cific existence instead of one. Therefore, any cell which would divide would have double the chance of perpetuation that a single cell would. In other words, cells capable of spontaneous or mechanical fission would be selected and preserved by natural selection. Let 1,000 generations proceed thus by simple division or fission. By this time considerable differences would exhibit themselves in the descendants of our original cell, owing to dif- ferences in environment and food supply. One line of cells would be abundantly fed, would grow large, inactive, anaholic. Another line would be insufficiently nour- ished, and would grow smaller, more active, Tcatabolic. Taking the large anabolic cells, we find: First. — They tend to become more and more inactive. (Activ- ity may express itself either in motion or cell division.) Second — The anabolic cells accordingly tend to become quies- cent on the one hand, and to cease dividing on the other. Third. — This tendency would ultimately result in death, if not in some way counteracted. Taking the smaller katabolic cells, we find: First. — They tend to decrease in size. Second. — They tend to become more and more active. Third. — Their expenditures would eventually bankrupt them, they would be worn out, would die of exhaustion. Taking the two kinds of cells we find: First. — One needs something that can express itself in cell division, Katabolism. Second. — The other needs nourishment which would express itself in growth. Anabolism. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 35 In other words: One is full and dying of plethora. The other is hungry and dying of excessive expenditure of energy. It would evidently be a good thing for them to pool their issues. This is effected by the process of conjugation, whereby: First. — The small, active, katabolic cell imparts its energy (kinetic) to the large passive cell, and that energy expresses itself in cell division. Second. — The large, passive, anabolic cell imparts to the daughter cells its anabolic propensities which express them- selves in growth. In other words: The anabolic cell receives the impetus necessary to cell division or fission, and the katabolic cell receives nourishment and the tendency to grow. What brings them together? Hunger, or its equivalent. Hunger is a fundamental property of all things that need nourishment. It is therefore a property of katabolic cells. The small, active cells need nourishment. The large, anabolic cells are packed full of nourishment. Example — Acinetan. An intensification of this process would be brought about in time by natural selection and would result in multiple fission, external and internal, which is the highest expression of sex found among the Protozoa. SEX IN THE METAZOA. Hydroid as a Type. — The male cells originate from amoeboid endodermal cells which differentiate along the line of katabo- iism. They divide repeatedly and eventually become the smallest and most active cells in the colony. The female cells originate from amoeboid endodermal cells which differentiate along the line of anabolism. They grow excessively and become passive and circular in outline. They eventually become the largest and least active cells in the body. Tnese two cells unite, or the smaller seeks the larger and is absorbed in it. As a result: 36 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. First. — The small, active cell imparts its kinetic energy to the large, passive cell, and that energy expresses itself in cell division. Second. — The large, passive, anabolic cell imparts to the daughter cells its anabolic propensities, which express them- selves in growth. By the growth and division of cells every organism, from the hy droid to man himself, attains its perfection. It will be seen from what has been said that there is no fundamental difference between the reproductive processes in the Protozoa and Metazoa. All of the complicated machinery associated with sex in the higher forms are merely accessory to the fundamental fact of the meeting of two cells, an inter- mingling of protoplasm and a subsequent cell division, all of which phenomena are essentially present in the conjugation and fusion of the Paramecium for instance. As to the significance of sex, it is not sufficient to say that it serves to perpetuate the species. It does much more. It serves to improve species in that the commingling of the char- acteristics of two parents furnishes the main potentiality for individual variation among the offspring. Indeed, Weismann stoutly maintains that we have here the only cause for indi- vidual variation upon which natural selection can act, and he believes that evolution would be impossible among sexless animals. However this may be, it is clearly true that progress is much more rapid and certain by virtue of the fact that most individuals animals have 2^ father and a mother. It would be impossible in the limits of this paper to discuss the tremendous ethical, social and moral significance of sex. It must suffice to suggest that altruism had its birth in the world when brutes first cared for and protected their helpless young, and that through the social relations of parent and child, hus- band and wife, all that is purest and best in human affairs found its inception and its impetus. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 37 THE REDUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID BY COPPER AS A FUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE. LAUNCELOT W. ANDREWS. The object of the experiments described in this paper was to determine whether the reduction of sulphuric to sulphurous acid by copper takes place at a lower or at a higher temper- ature than the incipient dissociation of the former compound into water and the acid anhydride. The sulphuric acid employed was the ordinary pure product, containing 98.4 per cent of SO^. The apparatus illustrated in the figure was used. The method employed was to heat the copper with the sul- phuric acid (in flask B) gradually in a sulphuric acid bath while 38 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. passing a dry current of air or of carbonic anhydride through it. The escaping gas was then tested (in flask C) by suitable reagents, to be described, for sulphuric and sulphurous anhy- drides respectively. Flask A contained concentrated sulphuric acid of the ordinary temperature (25°C) to dry the gas, which was usually passed at the rate of about eighty bubbles per min- ute. The importance of securing absence of dust from the acid being recognized, the interior of the whole apparatus was washed with boiling concentrated sulphuric acid and dried in dustless air. Experiment I. — Flasks A and B were charged with concen- trated sulphuric acid and C with a solution of barium chloride. Air was drawn through the whole in a slow current for fifteen minutes. The solution in C remained clear. B was now very slowly heated while the current of air v/as maintained. Before the bath reached 70°C there appeared in C a faint tur- bidity of barium sulphate, which at the temperature named became distinct. At 60°C the solution 'remained unchanged, even after passing the air for a long time. Hence sulphuric acid of the given concentration begins to give up sulphuric anhydrides, that is, it begins to dissociate at a temperature lying between 60° and 70°C. Experiment II. — The apparatus charged as before, with the addition of pure bright copper wire in B, and with highly dilute iodide of starch instead of barium chloride in C. After passing air for several hours at the ordinary temperature, much of the copper had gone into solution and anhydrous copper sulphate had begun to crystallize out, but the iodide of starch, made originally very pale blue, retained its color. This shows that in the presence of air, sulphuric acid is attacked by copper at ordinary temperatures, but without reduction of the acid. The reaction must take place in accord- ance with the equation: 2Cu+0, 2H,SO,=2Cu SO,+2Hp. Experiment III. — This was like the last, except that the appa- ratus was filled with carbonic anhydride, and a current of this gas was substituted for air. The copper was not attacked, and the starch iodide was not decolorized. The temperature of B was now slowly raised, and when it reached 90° the solution in C was bleached. In a sim- ilar experiment a solution of dilute sulphuric acid, colored pale straw with potassium bichromate, was used as an indicator for IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 89 sulphurous acid in C. In this case the change of color did not occur until the temperature had risen to 108°, the indicator being, as might be expected, less sensitive than the other. Experiment IV. — Same as III, except that a reagent for both sulphuric and sulphurous acid was used in C. This reagent was prepared by slightly acidifying a solution of barium chloride with hydrochloric acid and then adding enough potassium permanganate to render the solution pale rose color. This indicator is capable of showing the presence of consid- erably less than r&o m. g. of sulphurous acid. When the temperature of the bath had reached 70 °C the solution in C was distinctly turbid with barium sulphate, but its color was unaltered. At 86° it began rather suddenly to bleach, and at 87° it was colorless. Special care was taken in filling B not to get any sulphuric acid on the neck or sides of the fiask. A repetition of this experiment gave identical results, the gas being passed at the rate of two to three bubbles per second. The conclusions to be drawn from this investigation are: First. — That the dissociation of sulphuric acid of 98.4 per cent, begins to be appreciable at a temperature somewhat below 70°, which may be estimated at about 67°. Second. — The reduction of sulphuric acid by copper does not begin below 86°, that is, not until the acid contains free anhydride. The assertion made by Baskerville,^ that sulphuric acid is reduced by copper at 0° is, therefore, incorrect. He appears to have based the statement, not on any demonstration of the formation of sulphurous acid, but solely on the formation of copper sulphate, which occurs, as I have shown, ^ in conse- quence of the presence of air. A more careful repetition of his experiments under condi- tions securing entire exclusion of air can but lead him to a different conclusion from that he obtained at first. The fact adduced by him that under certain conditions cuprous sulphide may be formed by the action of the metal upon sulphuric acid does not allow any conclusions to be drawn respecting the presence of “nascent” hydrogen, since it may be explained perfectly well either by the direct reducing action iJournal of the Am. Ohem. Soc., 1895, 908. 2Traube has shown the same thing for dilute sulphuric acid. Ber. 18, 1888.. 40 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. of the copper or by Traube’s theory which is backed up by almost convincing evidenced Stannous chloride will reduce sulphuric acid with formation of hydrogen sulphide and free sulphur, an analogous reaction in which the assumption of “nascent” hydrogen is inadmissible. 3Movitz Traube, loc. c/it. andBer., 18, 1877, etc. CLAYS OF THE INDIANOLA BRICK, TILE AND POT- TERY WORKS L. A. YOUTZ, INDIANOLA. Analyses of several clays from a brickyard at Indianola have recently been made by me to go into a report of the Geological Survey of Warren county. Though it has been said that a knowledge of the constituents of a clay, determined by a purely chemical analysis, is of very little value to a practical brick- maker, yet in comparing the analyses of these clays and those from other vicinities, it seems that points of great value to the manufacturer are made plain, and points that can be derived from no other source. So I wish to give a few ideas which came to me as I made the comparison, as points, of local inter- est at least, were, it seems to me, clearly brought out. In order to get an intelligent idea of the value of this clay for brick and tile it may be helpful to give a short outline of some of the qualities of clay for the various kinds of brick. The quality and character of brick depends, of course, pri- marily upon the kinds of earth used; the mechanical mixing, drying and burning being important items, however. The varieties of clay most frequently used for common bricks are three. The so-called blue clays, hydrated aluminum silicates, combined with small quantities of iron, calcium, mag- nesium and alkalis; sandy clays or loams, and marls which con- tain a large proportion of lime and magnesium. In addition to these are the clays for special kinds of brick, as fire-brick, pottery, terra cotta, etc. Hydrated silicate of aluminum is infusible even at the most intense furnace heat, but if these be mixed with alkalis, or alkali earths, it becomes fusible, and in IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 41 about the proportion of the admixture. So that clays con- taining more than about 3 per cent of lime can not be made into good brick from this fact, and that the calcium carbonate being reduced to calcium oxide by heat will slack by moisture and the brick then crumble. However, by burning at a higher temperature than is usual the injurious effect of lime can be greatly overcome unless it is in so great quantity as to lower the fusing point too much. The amount of combined water in a clay is a very important item in determining its adaptability for good brick. In a pure hydrated silicate of aluminum so much water will be given off by burning that the brick in going through the sweating process become too soft and run together, or else crack so as to be made much inferior. So all pure clays for brick must be mixed with sand, powdered quartz, "powdered brick, gangue, or some such material, in order to alleviate this difficulty. In loams a certain per cent, of lime or similar material needs to be added to act as a flux, as too much sandy material makes the brick brittle. Marls in this country have been, it appears, but little used for brick making, as the lime is supposed to be detrimental. Yet in Europe a very fine malm is made from marls having as high as 40 per cent or more of calcium carbonate. They simply heat the brick probably 200 degrees higher than the ordinary brick. This gives the brick a white color instead of red, the iron and calcium being united with the aluminum as a ferric- aluminum calcic silicate. Of the Indianola brick clays, analyses of two samples will be sufficient for our purpose of comparison. The brick are made from a certain small deposit of blue clay, taken probably twenty feet below the surface, mixed with a much larger pro- portion of a darker colored clay immediately above this blue layer. The lower strata gave the following analysis from the air dried samples : SiO^ 66.779 AI2O3. 19.525 Fea O3 72 CaO- trace Loss dried at 100°__„ 8.08 Loss by ignition 5.48 Total 100.584 42 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The sample above this as follows: Si 02-_. 67.85 AI2 03-j~F62 O3 _ 20 45 CaO 1.19 Mn O. ______ ___ trace K2 O ___ trace Loss dried at 100°___ 3.47 Loss by ignition 7.12 Total 100.08 It will be seen that in each there is a large per cent, of silica and alumina. The upper containing more free silica, conse- quently gave a higher per cent of silica and alumina, but con- tained a considerably smaller per cent, of hygroscopic moisture, The higher loss by ignition in the upper stratum being due doubtless, to a larger amount of organic matter near the sur- face. Lime was present in the upper stratum in appreciable quantity, and iron in small quantity in each. A trace of man- ganese oxide in the upper stratum. From Crossley’s “Table of Analyses of Clays” for common brick we take three average samples, which are as follows : Common brick clay: Si O2 ___ ____ 49.44 AI2 03__ 34.26 Fc2 O3 7.74 Ca O 1.48 Mg 0._ 5.14 Water and loss 1.94 Total 100.00 Sandy clay: Si02 66.68 AI2 O3.' ___ _._ 26.08 Fe2 O3 1.26 Mg O trace CaO .84 Water and loss 5.14 Total 100.00 Marl. — London “Malms.” Si O2+AI2 O3 ..._ 43.00 Fe2 O3. 3.00 CaO 46.50 Mg O 3.50 Water-. 4.00 Total 100.00 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 43 Comparing the Indianola clay with these, with the first it is at variance especiall^^ in silica, alurniwa, and oxide of iron. With the second it corresponds very well except in Al^ O3 and in hav- ing more water. But we could not call it a sandy clay. The upper layer contains a little sand, but the lower practically none. To the third there is no comparison. It seems then as these clays represent the three common classes of brick, that this clay at Indianola must represent a kind which though it may make, as it has proven itself to do, good common building brick, yet it may be adapted to other kinds of brick. The Stourbridge, England, clays, from which the world- famed fire brick are made, yield, by averaging the analyses of four different clays, the following proportion of materials: No. 1. Si02 r 64.95 AI2 22 92 Peg O3 1.90 Ca O+Mg- 0..__ .64 K2 0+Na2 O .37 H2 O loss 9.60 Total 100.38 Woodbridge fire clay bed, New Jersey, also famous for its quality of refractory clays, as follows: No. 2. Si O2 combined 40.50 Si O2 tree (quartz sand) 6.40 46.90 ^3 35.90 35.90 Ti02 1.30 1.30 K2 0+Na2 0 .44 O3 1.10 1 54 H2 0 combined 12.80 H2 0 hygroscopic 1.50 14.30 Total Prom Trenton, New Jersey: 99.94 99.94 No. 3. Si O2 combined 17.50 Si O2 free (quartz sand) 56.80 74.30 AI2 O3 18.11 18.11 K2 O— 0"i~Ca 0 1.07 1.07 Pe2 O3+H2 0 6.99 6.99 Total 100.47 100.47 44 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. These three samples of fire brick clays are selected from a list of about 100 analyses of clays taken from ^/arious parts of the United States and Europe, and, I think, represent a fair average as to composition. Prom these it may be seen that in general a large amount of Alg O3 and Si O^, with small amounts of alkali, or alkali earths, or iron oxide, is characteristic of these highly refractible clays. Further, it seems that a large per cent, of AI2 O3 over Si Og increases the infusibility. However, there seem to be two varieties of fire clay, varying considerably in composition, which make equally good fire brick. One is where the silica is nearly all combined with a percentage of about 40 to 50 per cent, and a large amount of aluminum oxide — probably 25 to 35 per cent. — and water making up the greater amount of the remaining 100 per cent. This clay, of course, as the per cent, of the alumina over the silica and these two over other metallic oxides increases, finally runs into kaolin. The other kind is one where the combined silica is small and the alumina less than in the first case, the combined silica prob- ably not having a much higher percentage than the alumina, the remaining part being made up almost entirely of free silica (quartz sand) and water. No. 2 above illustrates the first and No. 3 the second class. By comparing the Indianola clays with these it will be seen that the average is essentially the same as No. 1. This being an average of several samples of each of the two classes referred to above, i. e.. No. 2 and No. 3. But in the Indianola clays there is but small amount of free silica. This being the case, and from the fact that it is so free from magnesia, lime, potash, and iron oxide, it would seem that this clay would be well adapted to be used as the clay basis of fire brick, and then the necessary amount of free silica (either powdered quartz, glass, or silicious brick dust) be added. By a very careful com- parison of all the clays the analyses of which I have, and the qualities of brick made from these, theoretically it seems to me by this means very superior fire brick could be made. The fusibility of bricks made by this method with this clay as far as I know has not been determined. Yet it seems it would be an experiment worth trying, and one which we may attempt at a later date. I am informed that the pottery made at this plant is not made from the clay at Indianola, but is made from clay taken just above the upper vein of coal at Carlisle, Iowa. I have not analyzed this clay and cannot at present make a comparison. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 45 UNIT SYSTEMS AND DIMENSIONS. T. PROCTOR HALL. {Abstract.) [Published in full in Electrical World February 7, 1896.] The three fundamental units of the C. G. S. system are reduced to two when the unit of mass is defined as the quantity of matter which, by its gravitational force, produces at unit distance unit acceleration; and these two to one when the unit of time is defined as the time taken by an ether wave one cen- timeter long to advance one centimeter. A table is given show- ing the dimensions of units in each of these three systems, and the advantages of the latter are pointed out. A MAD STONE. BY T. PROCTOR HALL AND ERNEST E. FRISK. Here and there is found a man possessing a pebble for v\^hich he claims the remarkable power of preventing hydrophobia when applied to the wound made by a mad dog. We have been unable to find any record of a scientific examination of a mad stone or a scientific test of its properties. This may be partly accounted for by the rarity of the stone, and the high esteem in which they are held by their owners. A popular idea is that they are formed by accretion in a deer’s stomach. Last summer while visiting the Mammoth Chimney mine, eighteen miles south of Gunnison, Col., a prospector called attention to some small pieces of light-colored rock from the mine, which adhered very strongly to the tongue. Some 46 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. specimens were secured as a curiosity, and after being properly rounded, to obscure their origin, were recognized by some of the “old inhabitants” as genuine mad stones. Their curative power has yet to be tested, but in all other respects, apparently, their identification is complete. The fragments removed from the larger specimen were pre- served for examination and analysis. The specimen itself is larger than a hen’s egg, light gray in color, with darker specks of iron scattered through; distinctly stratified ; with no cleavage planes. The luster on a broken surface is resinous, on a worn surface more earthy. Its hardness, considered as a rock is 2i, but the fine powder scratches glass. It is infusible in an ordi- nary blowpipe flame, and powders easily after ignition. Under the microscope it appears to be made of flat and irreg- ular transparent granules about 1-500 millimeter thick, some of which are ten times that width, fitted loosely together so as to leave irregular cavities everywhere in communication with each other. The fragments resemble fragments of silicious infuso- rial shells which are found in large quantities in some parts of the Rocky mountains. The specimen after remaining some weeks in the air of a dry room (heated by hot air) weighed 70.77 grams. It was placed in distilled water, in which it floated for two or three minutes, boiled for some hours, and allowed to cool. After weighing it was hastily dried with a piece of filter paper and weighed again. Lastly it was dried some hours in an oven at a temper- ature of 100° to 150° C, cooled in a desiccator, and weighed. Weight in ordinary dry air 70 77 grams. Weight in water, saturated 39.14 grams. Weight in air, saturated.. 115.00 grams. Weight in air, dry.. 69.15 grams. From this data we get: Volume of rock in the specimen 30.01 cc. Volume of cavities in the specimen 45.85 cc. Total volume 75.86 cc. Specific gravity of rock 2.304 Specific gravity of the whole 912 Volume of water held in ordinary dry air.*. 162 cc. Some fragments of the stone were pulverized in an agate mortar, fused with sodium and potassium carbonates, and analyzed in the ordinary way. Before fusion the powder was dried at about 150°C. The results are as follows: IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 47 No. 1. No. 2. Weight of powder 5882 gram. .4559 gram. Si O2 found 95.53% 96.14% AI2 O3 plus traces of Pe2 O3- 4 59% 4.01% Total - 100.12 100 15 The force of adhesion to a wet surface was estimated at 200 grams per square centimeter, or about one -fifth of an atmos- phere, but it may be much greater. If applied to a poisoned wound at once it would undoubtedly absorb some of the poison and so assist in the cure. The popular belief in its efficacy has therefore, some foundation in fact. If more of this rock can be secured it is our intention to test the rapidity of its absorption of moisture from the air when cut in thin slices, with a view to its use as a hygrometer. The vein in which the specimen was found is twenty feet wide, nearly vertical, and strikes westward. The contents of the vein are chiefly light and dark blue translucent quartzite, mixed with amorphous clay and iron oxide, and bordered by a thin blanket of limestone. Some of the translucent quartzite is mixed with light gray mad stone, as if the firmer portions were formed by fusion of the light gray material. The latter agrees very closely in composition, as well as in appearance, with the siiicious shells already mentioned, and was probably formed from them by the internal heat of the vein. PHYSICAL THEORIES OP GRAVITATION. T. PROCTOR HALL. A force which belongs to individual atoms, is independent of chemical and physical conditions, and cannot be altered or destroyed by any known means, must be closely related to the fundamental nature of the atoms. One of the most essential parts in our concept of matter is mass, and the force of gravi- tation of an atom is proportional to its mass. Mass and gravi- tation stand, therefore, either as co-efiects of the same cause or as cause and effect. The force exerted by each atom at any point decreases in proportion to the increase of the expanding 48 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. spherical surface containing the point; following the law of all forces expanding in three- fold space, which may be stated thus: Force x area of distribution=a constant. From this fact it is evident that the distribution of the force of gravitation is confined to threefold space; for, since the boundary of a fourfold sphere is a solid, a force expanding in all directions from a point in fourfold space decreases in inten- sity in proportion to the increase of the boundary, that is to say, in proportion to the cube of the radius, instead of follow- ing Newton’s law. Newton’s law has been experimentally proved for distances that are very great compared with the diameter of an atom, and to a degree of accuracy limited by errors of experiment. It does not necessarily follow that the law holds with absolute accuracy, or that it holds at all for distances comparable with atomic dimensions. All that we can say is that for distances moderate and great the law expresses the facts as accurately as they have been experimentally determined. Gravitation is not, like magnetism, polar. In crystals atoms have an orderly arrangement, yet no difference has been found in the weight of any crystal when it is set on end or laid on its side. This fact, along ’with the complete independence of elec- tric conditions, show that gravitation is neither an electric nor a magnetic phenomenon. The ether, so far as our knowledge goes, is a homogeneous isotropic continuum. In the conveyance of light and of elec- tric strain it shows the properties of an elastic solid. To plane- tary motions and to ordinary motions on the earth it offers no appreciable resistance, and may therefore be called a fluid. Michelson and Morley have shown that the ether close to and in the earth moves with the earth, which indicates that the ether does not move among atoms without some resistance cor- responding to friction. The existence of an ether strain such as that in a ley den jar also shows that there is a resistance on the part of the ether to the kind of motion that takes place in the electric discharge. Ether has mass, since it conveys energy by waves which have a finite velocity. Lord Kelvin has pointed out that the apparently inconsistent properties of the fluid- solid ether are analogous with the properties of ordinary matter. Pitch or taffy, either of which can be bent or moulded easily by a steady pressure, is shattered like glass by a quick blow from a hammer. The ether in like manner yields easily before IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 49 moving bodies whose velocity is relatively small, not exceed- ing a few hundred kilometers per second, but acts as a solid toward such high velocities as that of light, which is nearly il00,000 kilometers per second. Copper, again, is a familiar example of a metal having nearly perfect elasticity within a certain limit of strain. Beyond that limit it yields to pressure like a fluid. The ether shows the same combination of proper- ties with a wider limit of strain. Ether in a vacuum will bear a very great electrical strain without yielding; so that the most perfect vacuum attainable is an all but perfect non-conductor; but if atoms be present the ether gives v/ay to the stress and a current passes very much more readily. This indicates that there is some sort of discontinuity at or near the surface of the atoms. One of the oldest theories of gravitation was proposed by Le Sage and elaborated by him for a lifetime. He supposed the atoms to have an open structure, something like wire models of solid figures, and to be exposed to a continuous storm of exceedingly minute “ultramundane corpuscles” which he assumed to be flying about in all directions with inconceivable velocity. Two atoms shelter each other from this storm in direct proportion to the quantity of matter in each and inversely as the square of their distance apart, and are therefore driven together in accordance with Newton’s law. The ultramundane corpuscles are supposed so small that no atomic vibrations cor- responding to heat or light are caused by their impact. Le Sage’s theory is unsatisfactory because it takes no account of the ether, which for such high velocities acts as a solid and would bring the little flying corpuscles to compara- tive rest in a small fraction of a second. Kelvin has proposed a modification of Le Sage’s theory in order to accommodate it to the existence of the ether. He first showed that vortex rings have some of the properties of elastic solids, and in a perfect fluid would be indestructible; then sug- gested that atoms may be vortex rings of ether, and the ultra- mundane corpuscles very much smaller vortex rings having high velocities of translation. In order to account for the permanence of atoms and corpuscles, this view presupposes a practically frictionless fluid ether, which does not at ail corre- spond with the actual ether. Maxwell, after deducing the mathematical theory of elec- tricity from the hypothesis of ether strain, showed that gravi- 4 50 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. tation also could be accounted for on a similar hypothesis, and that the properties required for the propagation of gravitation are similar to those exhibited by the ether in the phenomena of light and electricity. This theory is the only one that is in harmonj^ with what is known of both gravitation and the ether. It is simple, and makes no assumptions whatever regarding the nature of matter or of atoms. It is incomplete in that it leaves the nature of the strain undetermined. The non-polar character of gravitation, its symmetry in every way about the atom, reduces to two the possible kinds of strain required by Maxwell’s hypothesis. These are displace- ments of ether radially (1) outward from or (2) inward toward the atom. Assuming, as is customary, that the ether is incom- pressible, the radial displacement over a spherical surface about the atom is constant; and therefore the displacement and the intensity of the stress at any point varies inversely as the square of its distance from the atom. It is not necessary to suppose, either, that the atom itself is spherical or that the dis- placements in its immediate vicinity are directed toward or from a single point; for at the distance of a single centimeter from the atom the surface of equal displacement must be so nea^rly spherical that the most accurate observation nov/ possi- ble would fail to detect anj^ irregularity. Possibly variations in the form of the atom or in the direction of displacement immediately around it may be the cause of the chemical proper- ties of the atom, since these are apparent only at very small distances from it. For the sake of clearness let us suppose that outward dis- placement of the ether is caused by the insertion of a quantity of matter, an atom, at any point. Draw a cone having the cen- ter of displacement for its vertex. Any small element in this cone is by its outward displacement shortened and widened; so that there is on each end of the conical element a pressure, and in all directions perpendicular to the pressure a tension due to the stretching of the expanded spherical shell containing the element. Suppose, also, for the sake of clearness, that inward dis- placement is produced either by cutting out small portions of the ether and leaving holes (atoms) toward which the strain is directed, or by condensing small portions of the ether into atoms. An element of the cone is by its inward displacement lengthened and made narrower, and has a tension on each end and a pressure in all directions perpendicular to the tensions. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 51 The strain in each case extends to infinity, or as far as the ether extends. If the displacement of ether were prevented from extending on one side by a rigid imaginary wall, the whole strain on that side would take place between the atom and the wall, and would be more intense than on the opposite side. The atom would tend to move in such direction as to decrease the intensity of the strain, namely, from the wall if the displacement were outward, toward the wall if the displace- ment were inward. By the same reasoning two atoms repel each other if the displacement is outward, and attract if it is inward. The law of gravitation is thus explained on the hypothesis that each atom is accompanied by an inward dis- placement of the surrounding ether, proportional in amount to the mass of the atom. Minchin (Statics, fourth edition, vol. 2, p. 475,) by a course of mathematical reasoning has reached the same conclusion. If the atoms be regarded as cavities, the mass of an atom is represented by the quantity of ether removed, which repre- sents also the volume of the atom. Since atomic volume is not proportioned to atomic weight, the cavity-atom hypothesis must be abandoned. On the condensation hypothesis the mass of an atom is the quantity of ether condensed, its volume the space occupied on the average by the condensed mass which may have any kind of irregularity of form. This hypothesis implies that all atoms are built out of the same original stuff, and is in this respect similar to but not identical with Front’s hypothesis. The fact that all atoms attract with forces proportional to their masses shows that all atoms possess the same kind of mass, and ^are therefore likely to consist of the same sort of stuff. Valence, selective affinity, electric and other peculiarities of atoms, must, if this hypothesis of gravitation be correct, find their explanation in the form and density of the atom, the dis- tribution of its stuff in space, which can be expressed as a function of the three space co ordinates; together with the laws of energy, which express the relations of the atom to the ether. The field of force about an atom is also capable of represeata tion by a function of the space co-ordinates such that when the distance r from the atom is relatively great the equipotential surfaces are very nearly spheres. 52 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Stress in its ultimate analysis is probablj^ dynamic. If so, the maintenance of the field of strain about an atom as it moves presents no greater difficulty than the maintenance of the field of light about a moving candle, or of the field of sound about a moving bell. The propagation of such ether strains as occur in light, elec- tricity and magnetism is very greatly influenced by the material substances present in the strained medium. It is not probable that the gravitational strain differs from others in this respect, and we may reasonably hope to find some inductive phenomena in connection v/ith gravitation. A feasible plan is to surround a delicately poised mass by a thick pair of hemispheres (which may be hollow for liquids), and note with a refractometer any change of position, which, since the attraction of a sphere at a point within it is zero, will be due either to induction or to irregularities of the sphere. Errors due to irregularities may be readily eliminated by rotating the sphere. THE LE CLAIRE LIMESTONE. BY SAMUEL CALVIN. The Le Claire limestone constitutes the second stage of the Niagara formation as it is developed in Iowa. The first or lower stage has been called the Delaware, from the fact that all its varying characteristics are well exhibited in Delaware county. The Delaware stage embraces many barren beds and presents a very great number of phases, but at certain horizons it abounds in characteristic fossils. The typical faunas of this lower stage embrace such forms as Pentamerus oblongus Sow- erby, Halysites catenulatus Linnaeus, Favosites favosus Goldfuss, Strombodes gigas Owen, Strombodes pentagonus Goldfuss, Ptyclio- pliyllum expansum Owen, and Dipliypliyllum multicauleUdail. The beds of the Delaware stage furthermore contain large quanti- ties of chert. The Le Claire stage of the Niagara follows the Delaware. The exact line of separation between the two stages has not been, and probably cannot be, definitely drawn. There are IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 53 massive, barren, highly dolomitized aspects of both stages that, taken by themselves, cannot be differentiated in the field. Under such circumstances the observer must work out the strati- graphic relations of the particular group of strata under con- sideration before referring it to its place in the geological col- umn. In general the Le Claire limestone is a heavy bedded, highly crystalline dolomite. It contains scarcely any chert, and in the lower part there are very few fossils. There are occa- sionally a few specimens of Pentamerus, of the form described as Pentamerus occidentalis Hall, and the principal coral is a long, slender, tortuous Amplexus which is represented only by casts of the vacant or hollow parts of the original corallum. On account of the complete solution of the original structure, the spaces occupied by the solid parts of the coralluin are now mere cavities in the limestone. In the upper part of the Le Claire stage small brachiopods abound. They belong to the genera Homeospira, Trematospira, Nucleospira, Rhynchonella, Rhynchotrepa, Atripa, Spirifer, and probably others. In most cases the fossils have been dissolved out, leaving numerous cavities. The calcareous brachial apparatus of the spire- bear- ing genera is often the only part of the original structure rep- resented. No statement can well give any idea of the numbers of the small shells that crowded the sea bottom near the close of the Le Claire stage, nor of the corresponding number of the minute cavities that are now so characteristic a feature of this portion of the Le Claire limestone. In some localities in Cedar county the small brachiopods of this horizon are repre- sented by very perfect casts that were formed by a secondary filling of the cavities left by solution of the original shell. The external characters are thus fairly well reproduced. Compared with the beds of the Delaware stage, the Le Claire limestone as a rule lies in more massive ledges, it is more com- pletely dolomitized, and its fracture surfaces exhibit a more perfect crystalline structure. It contains an entirely different fauna, a fauna in which small rhynchonelloid*and spire-bearing brachiopods are conspicuous. Its fossils are never silicified, and, in marked contrast with some portions of the Delaware, its upper part at least is notably free from chert. The Le Claire limestone is the lime burning rock of Sugar Creek, Cedar Valley, Port Byron, and Le Claire. Wherever it occurs it fur- nishes material for the manufacture of the highest quality of lime. 54 IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES. With respect to their distribution the strata of this stage are well developed at Le Claire in Scott county. They are seen in the same stratigraphic relation at the lime kilns on Sugar creek and at Cedar Valley in Cedar county. They occur beneath the quarry stone at and near Stone Cit^^^, OliD, and Hale in Jones county. They are again seen at numerous points west of the Jones county line in Linn. Indeed they are somewhat gen- erally, though by no means universally, distributed in the east central part of Scott, southwestern parts of Clinton, western Cedar, and the southern parts of Jones and Linn. They seem to be limited to the southwestern corner of the Niagara area. A line drawn from the mouth of the Wapsipinicon through Anamosa would mark approximately their northeastern limits. The Le Claire limestone is in some respects unique among the geological formations of Iowa. In the first place it varies locally in thickness, so much so that its upper surface is exceed- ingly undulating, the curves in some places being very sharp and abrupt. In the second place it differs from every other limestone of Iowa in frequently exhibiting the peculiarity of being obliquely bedded on a large scale, the oblique bedding often affecting a thickness of fifteen or twenty feet. The phe- nomena suggests that during the deposition of the Le Claire limestone the sea covered only the southwestern part of the Niagara area, that at times the waters were comparatively shallow, and that strong currents, acting sometimes in one direction and sometimes in another, swept the calcareous mud back and forth, piling it up in the eddies in lenticular heaps or building it up in obliqely bedded masses over areas of consid- erable extent. The oblique beds observe no regularity with respect to either the angle or direction of dip. Within com- paratively short distances they may be found inclining to all points of the compass. Again the waters at times were quiet, and ordinary processes of deposition went on over the irregular sea bottom, the beds produced under such circumstances con- forming to the undulating surface on which they were laid down. In some cases these beds were horizontal as in the upper part of the section illstrated in plate 1, while in other cases they were more or less flexuous and tilted as seen in the left bank of the Wapsipinicon above Newport. (Figure 2.) Professor Hall accurately describes some of the variations in the inclination and direction of dip in the Le Claire limestone IOWA ACADEMy OF SCIENCES, VOE. III. PLATE I. Figure 1. Exposure of LeClaire limestone at the Sugar creek lime quarries, Cedar county, Iowa. The limestone is obliquely bedded in the lower part of the section and horizontally bedded above. The same fauna occurs in both sets of beds. Oblique beds dip southeast. Figure 3. Oblique beds of LeClaire limestone, dipping northeast, in west bank of Mississippi river, one-half mile below LeClaire, Iowa. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 55 as seen at Le Claire'^, but be assumes that the inclination of the beds is due to folding and uplift subsequent to their deposition. On this assumption the Le Claire limestone would have a thick- ness of more than 600 feet, whereas the maximum thickness does not exceed 80 feet, and the average over the whole area is very much less. Prof. A. H. Worthenf studied this limestone at Port Byron, 111., and Le Claire, Iowa, and describes it as ‘ ‘ presenting no regular lines of bedding or stratification, but showing lines of false bedding or cleavage at every conceivable angle to the horizon.” He assigns to these beds a thickness of * Figure 2. Inclined undulating beds o'^-tbe Le Claire stage near Newport, Iowa. fifty feet, but he offers no explanation of what he calls “false bedding or cleavage.” In White’s report on the geology of lowaj the oblique bedding seems to have been taken as evi- dence that a line of disturbance crossed the Mississippi river at Le Claire with a direction nearly parallel to the Wapsipinicon valley. This apparent disturbance was last recognized about three miles west of Anamosa. The angle of dip it is said has reached in some places twenty-eight degrees with the horizon. McGee in discussing the Regular Deformations of Northeastern Iowa% quotes Dr. White on the Wapsipinicon line of disturbance * Kept, on the Geol. Surv. ol the State of Iowa, Hall and Whitney, voL I, part I, pp. 73-74. 1858. + Geol. Surv. of 111., vol. I, p. 130. 1865. % Kept, on the Geol. Surv. of the State of Iowa, Charles A. White, vol. I, p. 133. 1870. § Pleistocene history of Northeastern Iowa, p. 340. 1891. 56 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. and accepts the observations on which the statement is based as evidence of a synclinal fold extending from Le Claire to Ana- mosa. White’s observations appear to have been made only at the two points mentioned. At both places the strata seem to be inclined at a high angle. On the assumption that the incli- nation of the strata indicates orogenic disturbance, the con- clusion that the disturbed beds were parts of the same fold was very natural. There is, hov/ever, no fold, nor is there any line of disturbance. In the whole Niagara area southwest of the line which marks the limit of the Le Claire limestone the phe- nomena seen at Le Claire and west of Anamosa are repeated scores of times and in ways that defy systematic arrangement.. The beds incline at all angles from zero to thirty degrees, and even within short distances they may be found dipping in every possible direction. Twenty miles southwest of the line sup- posed to be traversed by the synclinal fold, for example at the lime kiln on Sugar creek, along the Cedar river above Roches- ter, at Cedar Valley, as well as at many intermediate points distributed promiscuously throughout the area of the Le Claire limestone, the beds stand at a high angle, and the multiplicity of directions in which they are inclined, even in exposures that are relatively near together, is wholly inconsistent with the idea of orogenic deformation. The beds are now praciically in the position in which they were laid down in the tumultuous Niagara sea. The principal disturbances they have suffered have been the results of epeirogenic movements which affected equally the whole region over v/hich these limestones are dis- tributed, as well as all the adjacent regions of the Mississippi valley. The exposures at Port Byron and Le Claire present some interesting features that are not seen so well at any of the exposures farther west. In the first place, the lime quarries at Port Byron show the characteristic oblique position of the strata, and at the same time they demonstrate that the oblique bedding is real and not a mere deceptive appearance due to cleavage of a mass of sediment that was originally built up regularly and evenly on a horizontal base. As in other groups of strata, there are faunal and lithological variations when the beds are compared one with another. These varjriug charac- teristics do not intersect the beds in horizontal planes as they would if the present bedding were due to cleavage of a mass that had risen vertically at a uniform rate, but they follow the IOWA academy oy sciences, voe. jm. PLATE II. Figure 1 Thin-bedded LeOlaire limestone overlying the phase represented in Plate I, figure 2. as seen on west side of Main street, LeOlaire, Iowa At this point sub-marine erosion removed portions of certain beds, and the space so formed was subsequently filled with a second set of beds which overlapped obliquely the eroded edges of the first. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 57 individual layers in their oblique course from top to bottom of the exposure. The facts confirm the statement that the beds were deposited one by one in the position in which we now find them. On the west side of the Mississippi, south of Le Claire, the usual oblique bedding is seen in the bank of the river, below the level of the plain on which the lower part of the town is built. The individual beds, as in ail the characteristic expos- ures of this formation, range from eight to twelve inches in thickness. Above the level of the beds exposed in the river bank there is another series of Le Claire beds that depart some- what from the ordinary type. Near the base of this second series the layers are thick and the rock is a light gray, porous, soft, non- crystalline dolomite. These grade up into thinner and more compact beds, but the lithologica.1 characters are never quite the same as those of the more typical beds at a lower level. The soft, porous gray-colored beds contain casts of Dinobolus conroM (Hall). The same species ranges up into the harder beds, but the characteristic fossils above the soft, porous layers are casts of small individuals of Atrypa reticularis and a small, smooth- surfaced Spirifer. The layers become quite thin in the upper part of the Le Claire. They show many anomalies of dip, but, so far as observed, they do not as a rule stand at as high angles as do the harder and more perfectly crystalline beds of the lower series. The existence, however, of tumultuous seas is no less clearly indicated at this horizon than in the lower beds that pitch at greater angles. In the town of Le Claire, on the west side of the main street, there is evidence of the erosion of the sea bottom by currents, and sub- sequent filling of the resulting channels v/ith material of the same kind as formed the original beds. In eroding the observed channel some of the previously formed layers were cut off abruptly, and in refilling the space that had been scooped out the new layers conformed to the concave surface and lapped obliquely over the eroded edges of the old ones. The angle at which the lower, more highly inclined beds stand never exceeds twenty-eight or thirty degrees; that is, it never exceeds the angle of stable slope for the fine, wet, cal- careous material of which the strata v/ere originally composed. The Le Claire limestone is, as a whole, sharply set off from the deposits of the Delaware stage by its hard, highly crystal- line structure, its freedom from chert, its easily recognized 58 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. fauna, and its record of anomalous conditions of deposition. In the field the distinction between the Le Claire and the Ana- mosa stages are even more easily recognized, though faunally the two stages are intimately related. In the Anamosa stage oblique bedding is unknown; lithologically the rock is an earthy, finely and perfectly laminated dolomite, not highly crystalline in its typical aspect, and too impure for the manu- facture of lime. It may be quarried in symmetrical blocks of any desired dimensions, while the Le Claire limestone breaks into shapeless masses wholly unfit for building purposes. The quarry beds of the Anamosa stage are quite free from fossils, but along the Cedar river in Cedar county the brachiopod fauna of the upper part of the Le Claire reappears in great force in a stratum four feet in thickness, up near the top of the forma- tion. The beds of the Anamosa stage are very undulating, and dip in long, graceful, sweeping curves in everj^ possible direc- tion. The knobs and bosses and irregular undulation devel- oped on the sea bottom as a result of the peculiar condition prevailing during the Le Claire age, persisted to a greater or less extent after the age came to an end, and it was upon this uneven fioor that the Anamosa limestone was laid down. The puzzling fiexures of the Anamosa limestone, and the puzzling variations in altitude at which it occurs, were largely deter- mined by irregularities in the upper surface of the Le Claire formation. THE BUCHANAN GRAVELS: AN INTERGLACIAL DEPOSIT IN BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA. BY SAMUEL CALVIN. About three miles east of Independence, Iowa, there are cross-bedded, water-laid deposits of sand and gravel of more than usual interest. The beds in question occur near the line of the Illinois Central railway. The railway company indeed has opened up the beds and developed a great gravel pit from which many thousands of carloads have been taken and used as ballast along the line. Overlying the gravel is a thin layer of Iowan drift, not more than two or three feet in thickness, but charged with gray IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 59 granite boulders of massive size. Some of these boulders may be seen perched on the very margin of the pit, and some have been undermined in taking out the gravel and have fallen to the bottom. The surface of the whole surrounding region is thickly strewn with Iowan boulders. It is evident that the Iowan drift sheet was spread over northeastern Iowa after the gravels were in place. These sands and gravels are now so incoherent that they may be excavated easily with the shovel, and yet there is no evidence that the glaciers that transported the overlying boulders and distributed the Iowan drift cut into them, or disturbed them, to any appreciable extent. The Iowan ice sheet was probably thin, and all the loose surface materials in front of its advancing edge were frozen solid. The thickness of the gravels is some- what variable, owing to the uneven floor upon which they were deposited, but it ranges from fifteen to twenty feet. The beds have been worked out in places down to the blue cJay of the Kansan drift. Throughout the gravel bed, but more particular; y in the lower portion of it, there are numerous boulders that range in diameter up to ten or twelve inches. These boulders are all of the Kansan type. Pine grained greenstones predominate. Pro- portionally large numbers of them are planed and scored on one or two sides. Those that are too large to be used as ballast are thrown aside on the bottom of the excavation, and in the course of a few seasons many of the granites and other species crumble into sand. The contrast between the decayed granites of the Kansan stage and the fresh, hard, undecayed Iowan boulders in the drift sheet above the gravels, is very striking. Many of the boulders from the gravels are coated more or less with a secondary calcareous deposit, a feature not uncommon among boulders taken directiy from the Kansan drift sheet in other parts of Iowa. As to their origin the Buchanan gravels are made up of materials derived from the Kansan drift. As to age they must have been laid down in a body of water immediately behind the retreating edge of the Kansan ice. There are reasons for believing that the Kansan ice was vastly thicker than the Iowan, but the temperature was milder, and so when the period of melting came enormous volumes of water were set free. That strong currents were developed is evidenced by the coarse char- acter of the material deposited as well as by the conspicuous 60 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. cross bedding that characterizes the whole formation. Some of the larger boulders found at various levels throughout the beds were probably not directly transported by currents, but by float- ing masses of ice. While, therefore, the gravels lie between two sheets of drift, and for that reason may be called intergla- cial, probably Aftonian, they yet belong to the time of the first ice melting, and are related to the Kansan stage of the glacial series as the loess of northeastern Iowa is related to the Iowan stage. While the Illinois Central gravel pit is the typical exposure of the Buchanan gravels, the same beds are found widely dis- tributed throughout Buchanan, Linn, Jones, Delaware and prob- ably other counties. One exposure that has been utilized for the improvement of the county roads occurs on the hilltop a mile east of Independence, Another, used for like purposes, is found a mile and a half west of Winthrop. The county line road northeast of Troy Mills cuts through the same deposit. Throughout the region already indicated there are many beds of similar gravels, but in general they are so situated as not to show their relations to the two beds of drift. The Buchanan gravels, it should be remembered, represent the coarse residue from a large body of till. The fine silt was carried away by the currents and de}.osits of it should be found somewhere to the southward. It may possibly be represented, in part at least, by the fine loess- like silt that forms a top dressing to the plains of Kansan drift in southern Iowa and regions farther south. RECENT DISCOVERIES OP GLACIAL SCORINGS IN SOUTHEASTERN IOWA. BY FRANCIS M. FULTZ. The discoveries of localities showing glacial scoring in southeastern Iowa have been somewhat numerous during the last few years. In a paper presented before this body a year ago^ I called attention in detail to the diflerent known exposures iGlacial Markings in Southeastern Iowa. Proc. la. Acad. Sci., Vol. II, p. 213. Des Moines, 1895. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. Ill, PLATE III. Figure 1. General view of the typical exposure of the Buchanan gravels. Figure 3. Near view of the Buchanan gravels. Figure 1, Abandoned part of gravel pit. IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES, YOU III. PRATE IV. Figure 3. Field immediately north of the gravel pit, showing large numbers of Iowa boulders. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 61 of glaciated rock in this region, and pointed out that the testi- mony they gave was unanimous as to the southeastern move- ment of the ice sheet. Since then another exposure has been located that seems to bring conflicting testimony. This locality is the joint discovery of Mr. Frank Leverett and myself. It is situated on the lot at the northeast corner of the intersection of Court and Prospect streets in the city of Burlington. Some quarrying had been done by blasting out the level rock floor. Everywhere on the margin of the hole thus formed may be seen the finely striated and grooved sur- face. On the east side a patch, 6x8 feet, was cleaned off and a finely striated surface brought to view. The direction of the striae, taken with compass and corrected, was S, 79° W. This would indicate an almost due westerly movement, which is in direct variance with that shown by all other discoveries of gla- ciated rock in this region. If direction of strice alone were taken into consideration, then it might be claimed that the ice move- ment in this case also was towards the east. But a close and critical examination shows that all the accompanying phe- nomena point to a westerly trend; e. g., the indicated move- ment of the ice around and over a prominence, and down into and out of a depression. This is new and important evidence that the Illinois lobe of the great ice sheet crossed the Mississippi river and invaded Iowa. It will be remembered that I presented a paper on this subject at our last meetii g.^ The evidence on which the claim was based was the presence, on the Iowa side, of boulders of Huron conglomerates. I was convinced that this westward movement was not the latest in this region, but that the ice moving from the northeast was the last to hold possession of the west bluff of the Mississippi; and I so put forward in the paper. Mr. Prank Leverett, who has made an exhaustive study of this question, is of the opinion that the Illinois ice sheet was the last to invade this portion of Iowa, and that the movement extended to some twenty miles west of the river. This recent discovery of glacial scoring certainly strengthens his theory. For it is situated at such an elevation that any ice sheet passing over would be almost certain to leave its impress; and there- fore the striae we now find are very apt to be those made by the latest invasion. ^Extension of the Illinois Lobe of the Great Ice Sheet Into Iowa. Proc. la. Acad, Sci., Vol. II, p. 309. Des Moines, 1895. 62 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. However, I am not yet fully convinced. Of the somewhat numerous discoveries of glacial scorings in this region, nearly all are on the very brow of the west bluff bordering the Mis- sissippi flood plain, where they wcuid offer the best possible opportunity for erosion. It would therefore seem that they onght to be the records of the very latest invasion. And all these, without a single exception, show southwestward move- ment. SOME FACTS BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY DEEP WELLS IN DES MOINES COUNTY, IOWA. BY FRANCIS M. FULTZ. During the past year a number of deep wells were sunk in Des Moines county. Some of them reached such extraordinary depths before touching rock, or without touching rock at all, as would clearly show the presence of buried river channels. In a paper presented before this society a year ago I stated that the preglacial and present drainage systems in this region were practically the same. Prom facts recently brought to light I must necessarily change that opinion. To what extent remains yet to be seen. My attention was first called to the presence of buried water courses in this locality by Mr. Prank Leverett, of the United States Geological Survey, who has collected a large mass of data on the glacial phenomena of this region. He has already given us a general discussion of the preglacial conditions of the Mississippi basin^; and in the course of time we may hope for further and more detailed contributions along the same line. The deep wells in question are located some eight or nine miles north of Burlington. One is on the farm of L. Aspel- meier, near Latty station. It is 233 feet deep, and penetrates the rock but two feet. Unfortunately there was no record kept of the character of the deposits passed through, which is also true of the other wells to be mentioned further on. Therefore the details are somewhat meager. As nearly as could be deter- mined the till continued to a depth of 188 feet, where a gravel 1 Journal of Geology, p. 740, Vol. Ill, No. 7, 1895. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 63 bed of several feet in thickness was passed through. In this gravel deposit well preserved bones were found. They were crushed into fragments by the drill, but a number of pieces, from one inch up to three inches long, were brought up in the wash. I saw these fragments about a week after they were discovered, and they had the appearance of having belonged to a living animal not longer ago than that time. Mr. Jennings, of New London, Iowa, who had charge of the drilling, told me that the bones had quite a fetid odor when first brought up. It was difficult to determine from what particular bones the fragments were, but I would place them as parts of the leg bones of some animal of slender build. Below the gravel bed the drill passed through a black deposit, which the well drillers call “sea mud,” and which rests directly upon the blue shale of the Kinderhook, 231 feet below the surface. A quarter of a mile north of the Aspelmeier well the rock bed is reached at a depth of less than thirty feet. It is the hard, compact limestone of the Upper Burlington. This shows a drop of over 200 feet in within a distance of 80 rods. Half a mile south of the Aspelmeier well, on the farm of Fred Timmerman, there is another deep well which reaches a depth of 184 feet without striking rock. The bottom of the well is in a gravel deposit, T7hich partakes of the nature of a forest bed. From it much woody matter was brought up. A half mile still further south, making a mile south from the Aspelmeier well there is still another deep well. It is on the place of H. C. Timmerman. It reaches a depth of 188 feet without striking rock. It likewise terminates in a gravel bed containing much woody matter. In the two Timmerman wells the water rises seventy-five feet. When last heard from the Aspelmeier well was not furnishing a satisfactory supply. These wells indicate an old channel of great depth, and of not less than a mile emd a quarter in width. The width is probably much greater. Mr. Frank Leverett suggests that this ancient river bed was the water outlet of part of the ter- ritory now drained by the Skunk river. 64 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DUBUQUE LEAD AND ZINC MINES. BY A. G. LEONARD. During the past year or two there have been some important developments In the Dubuque district. New lead mines have been opened up, new ore bodies have been discovered* and the Durango zinc mine, the largest in the state, has been still further developed. About one mile west of the city is located the mine of the Dubuque Lead Mining company, which has been worked only about a year and a half. It is on the west end of the old level range which has been followed for nearly three miles and has yielded considerable ore from various points along its length. When the mine was visited in November, 1895, there were seventy -five men employed and the place presented a lively appearance. The three shafts are 210 feet deep with a steam hoist -on one and gins on the other two. The company has just erected a concentrator at the mine for the purpose of crushing and cleaning the ore. This was made necessary by the fact that in this mine much of the Galena occurs scattered through the rock, sometimes in particles of considerable size. The limestone is crushed and the lead then separated from it by washing. The ore-bearing dolomite forms a zone from two to four feet wide and contains an abundance of iron pyrites. This latter mineral is often found here crystallized in beautiful octahedrons with a length of from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch. Besides being disseminated through the rock the Galena occurs in large masses in what is probabij^ the fourth opening, and it likewise fills the crevice above for some dis- tance. The ore body is apparently an extensive one; 700,000 pounds of lead have already been raised. Work in this mine is made possible only by the constant operation of a steam pump which keeps the water below the opening where the ore occurs and thus allows the miners to reach the deposits. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 65 The extensive zinc mine at Durango, five miles northwest of Dubuque, has several points of special interest. The timber range on which the diggings are located was once well known as a large lead producer. The range has a width of 100 feet, and is formed by three main crevices, with a general direction S. 80° E. The openings occur ninety feet below the crown of the hill, and where they are enlarged the three fissures unite in caverns of immense size. In these openings the lead occurred, and above them, extending to the surface, the hill is filled with zinc carbonate. The zinc is known to extend also below the level of the lead. The mine is worked by means of an open cut extending through the hill, with a width of forty feet and a depth of about eighty feet. The crevices are more or less open up to the surface. Several can be seen in the face of the cut, and in them the ore is most abundant, though it is also found mixed all through the fractured limestone. The strata have been subjected to more or less strain, possibly owing to the large caves below, and are broken into fragments. The carbonate is found coating these pieces and filling the spaces between, occurring also, as stated, in the open crevices. The latter have a width of from one to two feet. In working the mine the larger masses are blasted and the smaller ones loosened with the pick. The ore is removed from the rock, the latter is carted off to the dump, and the dry bone, mixed with more or less waste material, is carried to a neighboring stream. Here it is washed by an ingenious contrivance which thoroughly frees the ore from all sand and dirt. The method was invented by Mr. Goldthorp, superintendent of the mine, and is quite extensively used about Dubuque. An Archimedes screw, turned by horse power, revolves in a trough through which a stream of water is kept fiowing. As the screw revolves it gradually works the ore up the gentle incline, while the water runs down * and carries with it all sand and dirt. Afterwards the dry bone is picked over by hand and the rock fragments thus separated. During the past season eighteen men were employed at the mine and the daily output was from fifteen to eighteen tons of ore. This would mean a yield of over 2,500 tons for six months, and is probably about the annual production of the mine during the last few years. Most of tne zinc mines have been closed for nearly two years on acount of the low price paid for the carbonate, the average being only $5 to |6 per ton the past year. About 800 tons 5 66 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. were, however, sold at these figures. There are very large quantities of ore in sight in these mines, as even a brief inspec- tion clearly shows, and they are capable of yielding thousands of tons for some years to come. The output of the mines for the past year can be given only approximately. They have produced about 750,000 pounds of lead and from 3,000 to 3,500 tons of zinc. But it must be remembered that, as already stated, most of the zinc mines were closed during the past season. They are easily capable of yielding from 8,000 to 10,000 tons of ore annually. THE AREA OF SLATE NEAR NASHUA, N. H. BY J. L. TILTON. OUTLINE. Maps of Crosby and Hitchcock. The area briefly outlined. Description of the slate area. Description of the rocks. ♦ .Section from Nashua northward. •Section along the Massachusetts line. Section west of Hollis Center. Section east from Runnells Bridge, and southeast from Nashua. Attempt to harmonize descriptions of Crosby and Hitchcock. Structure. Dip, strike, general section. Evidences of faults. Cause of metamorphism. Ma]js of Crosby and Hitchcock. — Crosby’s map of eastern Massachusetts represents an area of slate, or argillite, as it is » termed, ^running from Worcester through Lancaster and Pep- perell^to the New Hampshire state line. The eastern part of this argillite, two and one- fourth miles wide on the map, but four miles wide according to the text,* continues north into New Hampshire just west of the Nashua river. On the east of the argillite lies mica schist in an area very narrow (three- fourths' of a mile) near the state line, but much wider toward the southern part of the township of Dunstable. On the west *Orosby’SQ“ Geology of Eastern Massachusetts,” p. 137. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 67 of the argillite lies gneiss close to the state line, but mica schist a little farther southwest (in Townsend). Hitchcock’s geological map of New Hampshire (Rockingham Sheet) represents an island of gneiss extending from Mine Falls to a mile south of the Massachusetts line near Hollis Station (occupy mg a part of the area where Crosby locates argillite). This island lies in “Rockingham Mica Schist,” extending along the northwest side as an area three and three- fourths miles wide, on the average, and along the southeast side as an area two and a half miles wide. Both these areas of mica schist are represented as continued toward the north- east across the Merrimac river and southwest into Massa- chusetts. It is the object of this paper to mark out and describe the slate rock in the vicinity of Nashua (Crosby’s argillite, or the north- ern of the two areas marked by Hitchcock as mica schist). The Area Briefly Deflned. — The slate rock is found to lie in an area six miles wide extending northeast-southwest, just north- west of the Nashua river. Along the southeast of this area the contact between the slate and the adjacent schist and gneiss extends from Runnells’ bridge in a northeasterly direction parallel with the general course of the Nashua river as far as Nashua, where the river leaves the vicinity of the contact. In the city of Nashua the contact extends northwestward in a line between Shattuck’s ledge and the reservoir. Along the northwest of this slate area the boundary- line extends from where Gulf brook crosses the slate line, north- eastward through the valley just east of Proctor Hill, near Long pond, Pennichuck pond and Spaulding’s pond (or Reed’s pond, as it is called locally) and crosses the Merrimac river a mile below Thornton’s ferry. This line is not perfectly straight but curved slightly with the convex side to the northwest. Just north of Gulf brook the line curves somewhat suddenly toward the southwest, passing between the two exposures half a mile northeast of the mouth of Gulf brook. Southeast of Nashua no slate was found in the area repre- sented on Hitchcock’s map as a branch of this slate there marked “Rockingham Mica Schist.” General Description of the Slate Area. — The area of slate is marked by an extent of lowland occupied partly by swamps 68 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. and ponds.* It contains the Nissitisset river, Flint pond, Long pond, Parker’s pond, Pennichuck pond, Round pond and Spaulding’s pond, besides a large area of swamp. The southeastern part of the slate area is largely occupied by the present valley of the Nashua. • Within this area the hills of slate rise in ridges to a height of one hundred feet above the adjacent lowland. They do not form continuous ridges, nor does their general direction con- form to the direction of strike. This general direction is N. 70® E., while the strike is on the average N. 57® E., though the strike varies a few degrees even in strata but a few feet apart, as the rock is much contorted. These hills are low in contrast with the hills in the gneiss and schist area adjoining. Prom the top of Long Hill, a hill of the Monadnock type just south of Nashua, these slate hills appear below the Cretaceous peneplain. The valleys between these hills, even the hills themselves, are mantled with drift, and the river valleys deeply covered with washed drift; but further reference to this important feature is here omitted as not a part of the problem under consideration. Description of the EocJcs. — The character of the rocks and the relation of them one to another is perhaps best seen along a line from Shattuck’s ledge, Nashua, northwestward. At Shat- tuck’s ledge, the rock is gneiss in part heavy, in part quite schistose. At the reservoir, three quarters of a mile west, occurs slate with bands of graphite. Northwest for three miles the rock is a slate very much crushed and crumpled, and in the northern part of this area, a shaly slate interbedded with gneiss. The dividing lines, then between the slate and the schist, and between the schist and the gneiss, are not definitely marked lines, but are intermediate places in a series of gradations. Similar gradations from slate through schist to gneiss are to be found in the southwestern part of the area near the conflu- ence of Gulf brook and Nissitisset river. Here, south of the Massachusetts line, the slate is both shaly and quartzose. Just north of the Massachusetts line quartz veins are very marked in a dark schistose rock. This same structure is found in a railroad cutting near by, revealing in an excellent manner ^The contour lines of the accompanying map are as given on the New Hampshire state geological atlas. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 69 the schistose structure with quartz veins. A little farther northwest gneiss appears instead of schist. Here, then, there is a passage from slate through schist to gneiss. Just west of Hollis Center is still another opportunity to observe an approach to the dividing line between the slate and the schist, though not so good as either of the two already described. Just west of Hollis Center there is slate. This grades through schist to the gneiss quarried at Proctor Hill. Southeast of the slate area are several outcrops of gneiss: one at Shattuck’s ledge in the northeastern part of the city of Nashua, another in the western part of the city, where it is quarried in one place, a third on the Nashua river, five miles above Nashua, a fourth at Flat Kock quarry, and again at Long Hill, south of the city. The sudden transition from slate to gneiss close to the Nashua river will be referred to under the heading “Faults.” Eastward from Runnells’ bridge, near Hollis, there is a gra- dation from, the slate through schist to the gneiss at Flat Rock quarry, and a similar gradation from schist to gneiss between Nashua and Long Hill. Thus southeast there is a gradation from slate through schist, schist with quartz seams to gneiss, similar to that from the slate area northwest. Attempts to Harmonize Descriptions of Crosby and Hitchcock. — The above description of gradations in the character of the slate, schist and gneiss, suggests an explanation of an apparent lack of harmony between Crosby and Hitchcock. Crosby dis- tinctly records gradation between the three rocks, and because of this gradation seems to call both the slate and the schist argillite, even though the argillite southeast of Nashua is exceedingly clear mica schist. Judging by the map, Hitchcock apparently recognizes the same gradation between the rocks, though I find no description in the text to confirm this infer- ence, and calls both schist. I fear, however, that because of the schistose character of many of the slate outcrops, the area of slate has been entirely neglected. Concerning Hitchcock’s location of the gneiss area along the Nashua river, between Mine Falls and just south of the state line, there is a single area of probable gneiss on the river about four miles west of Nashua. This area is cut off on the south- west by slate just south of Runnells’ bridge, and on the north- east by mica schist at Mine Falls. Hitchcock has overlooked 70 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. the gneiss east of Mine Falls, where two areas exist: one a mile west of Nashua (Main street) and south of the canal, where out- crops occur at a large quarry, and in the hill just west of the cemetery. The other area omitted is in the northeastern part of the city itself, at Shattuck’s ledge, near the Merrimac river, a mile and a half from the outcrops just west of the city. It is possible that these two areas should be classed as one, since no outcrops exist between the two areas to tell what the rock between them may be. The line bounding Hitchcock’s ‘-Rockingham Mica Schist” seems to indicate the line between schist and gneiss, as if he did not recognize the slate as a separate rock from the schist. My northwestern line bounding the slate lies about parallel to his line bounding the Rockingham Mica Schist and a mile to the southeast of it. Strike. — On the map accompanying this paper numerous dips and strikes may be found recorded. It now becomes necessary to observe their relation to determine what folds may exist in the area, for there are no strata within the slate area itself whose repetition can indicate the structure. Within the slate area and in the gneiss along the northwest- ern boundary the strikes measured are much the same. North of Nashua there is slight evidence that the anticline there tends to form a nose; but ail other variations from N. 33° E. are such as a badly crushed area might represent; variations too small to be systematized even by minute observatiors at all points. This general similarity of strike indicates horizontal folds extending in the direction of the strike. A study of the dip along lines at right angles to the strike reveals the anticline of a fold running in the direction of the strike along the western half of the slate, while a syncline runs along the eastern half. These are here represented in a dia- gram. (Pig. 3.) mM IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 71 Faults. — At the reservoir in Nashua are evidences of a fault; there is in the slate a seam of graphitic slate with veins of quartz near by. In this graphitic slate much crushing and slipping has occurred. The strata are on edge with strike N. 73^ E. The argument for a fault in this locality is sustained, in fact made necessary, by the structure of the region. The general succession of strata from southeast to northwest, is gneiss, schist, slate, schist, gneiss, with no evidence of unconformity; but at Shattuck’s ledge the gneiss appears in close proximity to the slate, with little chance for schist between. The dip at Shattuck’s ledge compared with the dip observed in the schist to the south indicates that the gneiss exposed at Nashua is in an anticline. North of the gneiss at the quarry just west of Nashua a fault is possible, but not necessary to explain the structure, if schist not exposed underlies the river valley. While schist occurs at Mine Falls, schistose gneiss occurs two miles farther west with no schist that is exposed to the north, and beyond Runnells’ bridge the eastern boundary of the slate area bends southeast- ward across the line of strike. Thus while the evidence of faulting is very marked near Nashua it becomes less marked south westward. Other evidences of faulting exist near the mouth of Gulf brook, and just west of Hollis Center. Along this line the pres- ence of slickensides in graphitic slate, with quartz seams near by, indicate that a line connecting these two points is a line of faulting. Cause of MetamorpMsm. — Finally, it remains to ascertain the cause of the metamorphism. This involves a petrographical problem, especially on the gneiss. There is no igneous rock to be found in the area, unless the gneiss itself be of igneous origin. If the gneiss itself is not of igneous origin there may be igneous rock not far below, or not far beyond the margins of the area, though no locality of such minerals as are common where igneous material comes in contact with sedimentary material is here to be found, nor is there any evidence of intense heat. Regional metamorphism affords a satisfactory explanation. The intense crumpling of the strata, the steep dip, the bands of quartz alternating with the slate along the margins of the gneiss, with lack of evidence of intense heat in the immediate vicinity, all indicate that the metamorphism is regional. 72 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. NOTES ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE BOSTON BASIN. J. L. TILTON. The region about Boston forms a basin. Standing on the reservoir at College Hill one looks north, west and south upon lines of hills surrounding Boston and the thickly populated adjoining country. In the relation of the rocks underlying the drifts this region also forms a basin. The distant hills are of hornblende granite extending from near Marblehead southwest to near south Natick, thence east toward Qaincy. Close to this granite area are other igneous rocks, and within the basin, con- glomerate and slate so related and concealed by drift as to present many difficult problems. It is not surprising that the discussion* of the area contains not only a mass of conflicting conclusions, but even a mass of conflicting statements concerning field evidence. The rocks seemed to grade into one another; the felsite along the margin of the basin appeared where observed to penetrate the granite instead of the granite the felsite; the flow structure seemed Stratification; the sedimentary material is so related to the igneous rock and presents plains of stratification so obscure and nearly vertical that to some the conglomerate appeared uppermost, to others the slate uppermost, while to still another ■there seemed to be two beds of conglomerate. For years it ■was agreed that the felsite, porphory and diorite were all originally sediments changed to their present conditions by varying degrees of metamorphism. In age the sedimentary rocks were variously classified, Cam- brian, Devonion or Carboniferous. Since 1877, Dr. M. E. Wadsworth and Mr. J. S. Diller have given careful attention to these problems. In conclusion Mr. Biller, t after a presentation of evidence that seems incontro- *The discussion is given in full in “The Azoic System,” Whitney and Wadsworth, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. at Cambridge, Mass., Vol. VII. + “Felsites and their Associated Rocks north of Boston,” J. S. Diller, Bull. Mus. C/omp. Zool. at Cambridge, Mass., Vol. VII. ScaJe, /}i%f -Dip ctjc/ Scrips °/ P/an^S. ■ Granite. ^ f^tsite ^ Pdtitc, tu^aceot. erfectum, the English bot- anists were content with Cooke’s paraphrase and there the matter stood. Massee, in his Monograph of 1892, followed almost implicitly the Rostafinskian nomenclature, and even quoted his synonyms intoto. Meantime some continental writers, as Rannkier in Denmark, were becoming reckless, and Mr. Lister the latest English monographer, was preparing to overturn the whole Rostafinskian list. This author is not only extremely radical in his omission and consolidation of pre- 104 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. viously recognized species but adopts as his guide in nomen- clature the rule “laid down by A. L. Condolle in 1888, * * that the first authentic specific name published under the genus in which the species now stands shall take precedence of all others;” a rule which seems to me as unfair in its proposals as absurd in the results to which it leads. Under the operation of this rule Rostafinski’s synonyms is made to overturn his own nomenclature, and this in a multitude of instances. Now, I have no disposition to defend RostafinskL As before said, his nomenclature, whatever apology we may offer, admits in many cases of small defense; but in fact Rostafinski needs no defender. If any man chooses some other prior name for a species listed by the illustrious Pole, upon him devolves the burden of proof; he must show that the form described by Ros- tafinski is that referred to by the earlier author. No one who has studied these forms and has attempted their specific identi- fication, even with the most carefully drawn descriptions before him, but will appreciate the futility of an effort to apply the old and brief descriptions. Even so-called authentic specimens are hard to authenticate. Slime-moulds are perishable things and labels are liable to become mixed, even in the best her- baria as we all know. To aver of a species described by Ros- tafinski that it is the same as that sketched in a line or two by Persoon or Link, is an undertaking too bold for me. Even where the species described is figured, the figure is often per- fectly valueless for complete assurance. Take Schrader for instance, whose copper plates of a hundred years ago are among the best pre-Rostafinskian illustrations in the group we study, and even these are disappointing in the extreme. The figure of Dictijdium umbilicaium S. is portrayed in life-like fashion but is unluckily an only species. The species of Gri- braria to which Schrader gave name, are some of them fairly shown but not in the details by which the species may be every- where distinguished, G. macrocarpa the artist missed entirely and fell instead into a bit of arabesque which has nowhere the slightest counterpart in nature. Schrader’s descriptions are very much better than those of most writers of his day, and yet they fail to distinguish as we now discriminate since Rosta- finski taught us how. The fact is that when Rostafinski gives credit to his predecessors it is for the most part purely a work of courtesy and grace. There is nothing in the work itself to command such consideration. The man who in his search for IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 105 priority ascends beyond Rostafinski, does it therefore at the risk of endless confusion and uncertainty in the great majority of cases. Some years ago the botanists present at the session of the A. A. A. S., concluded that in describing Phenogams one should not transcend a particular edition of Line sous; a better rule is that which ascends to the earliest accurate description; no farther. Accordingly for the great majority of slime -mould species I should draw the line at Rostafinski’s work, 1875. The exceptions are the few which the rule of accurate description would carry behind the Polish publication, where Rostafinski discarded a name simply because for some reason or other Rostafinski did not like it. As an illustration, take the little, not uncommon, species called by Rostafinski — Gornuvia circumscissa (Wallr.) R. The synonyms, as quoted by Rostafinski, are: Lignidium quercinum Pr. 1825. TricMa circumscissa Wallroth. 1833. Arcyria glomerata Pr. 1849. Ophiotheca chrysosperma Currey. 1854. TricMa currey i Cronan. 1867. The only names accompanied by their authors by descrip- tions at all definitive are the last two. The genus Lignidium, as defined by Link, certainly referred to forms belonging to the Physareoe, if to Myomycetes at all, so that that generic name cannot stand, nor can Pries have had our species in mind, since his description refers, probably, to some Physarum. TricMa cir- cumscissa Wblir. undoubtedly comes nearer to it, but our species is not circumscissile, so that it is doubtful whether Wallroth, even, had in view the same species. Currey, who comes next on the list, by judicious description and carefully drawn figures, having, as we think properly, separated from the Trichi as the genus OpMotlieca^ ignored all preceding specific names, suppos- ing any to have been up to this time affixed, and called the species we have before us 0. chrysosperma. Rostafinski now recognizes Curre.^’s work, but rejects his generic name on the grounds of inapplicability in primary significance to all the species included. He therefore coins a new generic name — i. e. Gornuvia— d^ndi goes back to Wallroth for specific name, a thing that Carrey should have done had Wallroth’s description been of sufficient exactness to make sure to Currey’s mind, as it seems it did to Rostafinski’s, that Wallroth was actually describ- ing the same specific form. The criticism of Rostafinski will. 106 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. therefore, in this instance, change the commonly received name. Instead of Gornuvia circumscissa (Wallr.) R., we shall say Oi)Motlieca clirysosperina Currey, nnless we can show that Wallroth actually described the same thing, when, of course, we should write Ophiotlieca circumscissa (Wallr.), followed by the name of the author who first established the combination, in this case, Massee. ROTES ON THE FLORA OP WESTERN IOWA. BY L. H. PAMMEL. The flora of the loess in western Iowa is unique, in many respects. While it may be said that many parts of the state- have a typical prairie flora, certain species being common from Texas to British America, east to Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, only occasionally do we find plants of the great plains in our own state. Western species are somewhat unequally distributed in our state; they occupy a larger area in north- western Iowa than in southern and western. In northern Iowa a few prominent types appear, as in Emmet county. Of these I may mention Bouteloua oligostachya, Agropyrum caninum, A. caesium, Grinclelia squarrosa, Helianthus Maximiliani. The latter is not, however, a typical western plant, though intro- duced in central Iowa. It crosses our western border on the loess and extends south to Texas. The loess of western Iowa is peculiar so far as the flora is concerned, nothing like it in Iowa. A number of American writers have written upon the peculiarities of its plant life. B. P. Bush^ has given us a complete catalogue of the flora of northwestern Missouri. A. S. Hitchcock^ has reported a few of the plants occurring near Sioux City, and in general touches on the flora of western Iowa. J. W. McGee considers the loess flora of northeastern Iowa. The two regions are however not similar from a botanical standpoint. It may be well to speak of the formation in this iNotes on the mound flora of Atchison county, Miss )uri. Reprint, Sixth Ann, Rep. Missouri Botanical Garden, 1895, pp. 121-134. 2Notes on the flora of Iowa, Bot. Gazette-Vol. XIV, p. 127 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 107 connection. McGee^ says: “The macroscopic characters of the deposit are moderately constant: “(1) It is commonly fine, homogeneous, free from pebbles or other adventious matter, and either massive or so obscurely stratified that the bedding plains are inconspicuous; (2) it com- monly contains unoxidized carbonate of lime in such quantity as to effervesce freely under acids; (3) it frequently contains nodules and minute ramifying tubules of carbonate of lime; (4) in many regions it contains abundant shells of land and fresh water moUusca; (5) is commonly so friable that it may be removed with a spade or impressed with the fingers, yet it resists weathering and erosion in a remarkable manner, stand- ing for years in vertical faces and developing sieeper erosion slopes than any other formation except the more obdurate clastic or crystalline rocks.” McGee also states that it is a fallacy to regard the loess as identical in composition or that it is identi- cal in genesis or even in age. As to its origm, Chamberlin and Salisbury find that in western Wisconsin and contiguous parts of Illinois and Iowa its composition varies in different localities with that of the associated drift and that both compo- sition and distribution point to glacial silt as the parent forma- tion of the loess in the upper Mississippi valley. Prof. McGee in speaking of the plants of the loess in northeastern Iowa lays stress on the prevalence of hard wood forests in the area. That the timber belt is confined to this area. The chief trees of this region from my observations are, oaks a half dozen species {Quercus macrocarim, Q, coccinea, Q. tinctoria, Q. ruhra, Q. alba, Q. Muhlenbergii^ Q. bicolor). The Q bicolor is however, a swamp species. The latter and Q. MuJilenbergii are southern species that have extended northward along the Mississippi. The butternut {Juglans drier ea) of the uplands and walnut {Juglans nigra) of the bottoms, the former is northern and the latter southern. The genus Primus is represented by three species {Prunus Americana, P. serotina, and P. Virginiana). The crab- apple {Pyrus coronaria) is found everywhere in thickets. The white birch {Betula jiapyracea) is a rare tree, the river birch {Betula nigra) is abundant along the streams; other trees along streams are honey locust {GleditscMa triacanthos); sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Kentucky coffc^e tree (Gymnocladus Cana- densis), all southern representatives. The elms are represented 3The Pleistocene history of northeastern Iowa, Eleventh Ann. Rep. U. S. Geological Survey, p. 291. 108 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. by three species {Ulmus Americana, U. racemosa and U. fulva). Only one, the slippery elm, is abundant on the loess formation, though Ulmus Americana is less restricted to low bottoms than U. racemosa. Of the maples the sugar maple {Acer saccliarinum) is common on the loess, while the soft maple {Acer dasycarpum) is exclusively a lowland species, so is box elder {Negundo- acer Okies). The mountain maple {Acer spicatum) occurs on the loess. Tilia Americana is common on the loess formation. Three cone bearing trees occur in northeastern Iowa {Abies balsamea, Pinus Strobus diiiadi Juniperus Virginiana), but they occur on other than loess soil. Of the ashes there are several species the Fraxinus viridis delights in low bottoms. The F. Americana occurs on higher soil. I cannot, in this connection, enumerate the shrubs that occur, but they are numerous and may occur in thickets in both loess and bottoms. Comparing the plants found in north- eastern Iowa with those about La Crosse, Wis. , where my early botanical work was done, I may say that most of the species occur and that the woody plants are more numerous. Some of the southern species, however, fail to appear, but in places northern forms occur. The density of the timber increases from the Mississippi east. In the drainage basin of the Kickapoo Valley the finest timber in western Wisconsin occurs. Nowhere have I seen such beautiful specimens of Acer saccha- rinum, Tilia Americana and Quercus macrocar pa. This, too, is outside of the loess region. In southwestern Minnesota, the statement of McGee that there is a significant relation between the loess sheeting and forest covering is very apparent. The most significant fact appearing to one who has made a study of the loess flora of western Iowa is the absence of trees, except an occasional cottonwood, cn the peculiar mounds that occur in parallel ridges along the Missouri river. These peculiar hills rise abruptly from the rich, fertile Missouri bot- tom and somewhat resemble the low foot hills of the Rocky mountains. They are from 100 to 200 feet high. Prom a dis- tance they look bare, but a day spent in this region will show that the hills are full of botanical interest. I have made four botanical trips at different tim.es along the Missouri. On the whole there is very little variation in the flora of Iowa. If we leave out of consideration a number of most interesting plants found in Winneshiek county by Mr. Holway and a few peculiar southern plants found by Mr. Perd Reppert, near the city of IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 109 Muscatine, the only radical difference shown in our flora is that occurring along the Missouri. About twenty-five western and northwestern species occur and, according to the list of Mr. Bush, nearly the same species occur from Sioux City, Iowa, to St. Joseph, Mo. The region is not entirely devoid of trees, in its northern portion, between the steep mounds a var- iety of bur oak {Quercus macrocarpa var. olivaeformis) , Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva)^ Cottonwood {Populus mooiiliflera) , Plum (Primus Americana)^ Basswood (Tilia Americana), box elder (Negundo aceroides), occur. Several shrubs also occur; Grape (Vitis ripfaria), climbing bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), wahoo (Euonymus atropuTjmreus). South, the timber area is more extensive, as at Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley. At Gien- wood and Logan there are fine specimens of Quercus ruhra, Tilia Americana orad. Ulmus fulva. They are abundant from one - half to two miles from the hills. The trees on the loess about Turin and Sioux City are broad and spreading. Of the peculiar herbaceous plants, I shall content myself by giving a list. The beautiful Spanish bayonet (Yucca ongusti- folia) so abundant everywhere in the west. The Aplopapjms spinulosus forms dense mats on the tops of the mounds. Grin- delia squarrosa, now naturalized in other parts of Iowa. Liatris punctata, Eupliorhia marginata, E. Jieteropliylla, a beautiful blue- flowered lettuce (Lactuca pulchella) , Gaura coccinea, so abundant everywhere in Nebraska and in the Rocky mountain region. Oxybaplius angustifolia, Helianthus Maximiliani, Lygodesmia juncea, an abundant plant of the plains now exerting itself with great force in the cornfields of northwestern Iowa. The beautiful Mentzelia ornata is confined to Cedar Bluffs along the Big Sioux a few miles north of Sioux City. Cleome integri folia, the celebrated Rocky Mountain bee plant. Two species of Dalea (D. alopecuroides and D. laxiflora) the Loco weed (Oxptropis Lamberti) and Astragalus lotiflorus, var. brachypus. Professor Hitchcock records Stip>a comata, which belongs chiefly to the Rocky Mountain region and rarely found in eastern Nebraska. Sliepherdia argentea occurs along the Missouri near Sioux City undoubtedly a waif from the northwest. I may also add a gamma grass peculiar to the west, most common species of Nebraska (Bouteloua oligostacliya) Buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) from Lyon county. The most abun- dant grasses on the hills are Andropogon scoparius, Bouteloua racemosa, quite common in many parts of Iowa. Muhlenbergia 110 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. soMiferia, Ammophila longifolia and Sporobolus Eoolceri, 8. brevifolius and an unnamed western species which has hereto- fore been referred to S. cuspidatus. I may also remark that a peculiar thistle occurs, the Gnicus altissimus, ynx. Jililpendulus. Why is it; that these peculiar hiJls, not more than a few hundred feet wide, should have such a local western flora? The soil is retentive of moisture, it dries out quickly and the roots easily penetrate the soil to draw on the contained moist- ure below. This certainly cannot be the reason, since the loess extends along the river courses in the interior. Some of these plants, since the cultivation of the soil, have shown some tendency to spread, as in Euphorbia marginata^ Lygodesmia juncea^ Grindelia squarrosa^ which are tramping eastward to menace the farmer. Were the seeds of some of these plants brought to Iowa tvith the buffalo, as has been suggested for buffalo grass? Some of the plants are disseminated by the wind, and in others the water can by a purely mechanical means bring them to the base of the mound. With the more woody country of south- eastern Iowa there seems to have been but little chance for these plants to spread beyond the bluffs. In northwestern Iowa some of these plants, like Helianthus Maximiliani, are not uncommon, which shows that the woody area of southwestern Iowa is in part a barrier against a further eastern extension. But why did the plants not extend beyond the very narrow limits, as the forest area does not encroach directly on the loess mounds? I am at a loss to explain this most peculiar distribution. In the list appended I enumerate the most striking plants. The writer is under obligations to Mrs. Rose Schuster Taylor and Miss Bandusia Wakefield, of Sioux City, for favors rendered; also Mr. E. D. Ball, of Little Rock; Mr. W. Newell and J. Jensen, of Hull, and E. G. Preston, of Battle Creek, for specimens, to Dr. Millspaugh for naming the Euphorbias. My own collections were made at various times near Sioux City, Hawarden, Onawa, Turin, Missouri Valley, Council Bluffs and Logan. The list could have been extended and localities added, but college material is not readily accessible at this time of the year. Miss Wakefield’s list is based on colored sketches in her possession. I have abbreviated all specimens credited to her as (B. W.), and those collected by myself as (L. H. P.). I have followed Gray’s Manual in arrangement of IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Ill orders, genera and species. It will not be necessary to com- ment on the value of this, since it is the standard work in the schools and colleges of Iowa. ranunculacea:. Clematis Virginiana L. Sioux City, in woody ravines (B. W.). Anemone patens L. var, Nuttalliana Gray, Sioux City, prairies, abundant (B. W.). Anemone cylindrica A. Gray. Hull(W. Newell); Little Rock, dry grounds (Herb. C.R.Ball). A. Virginiana L. Sioux City (B W.). A. Canadensis L. Sioux City, low grounds, bottoms (B. W.); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball). Tlialictrum purpurascens L. Sioux City, low grounds and prairies (B. W.); Hull (W. New- ell); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). Ranunculus Cymhalaria Pursh. Hull (W. Newell); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Bali). R, multifidus Pursh. Little Rock, in water (Herb. C. R. Ball). R. ahortivus L. Sioux City (B. W). R. septentrionalis Poir. Cherokee (B. W.). Caltha palustris L. Sioux City, not common, low marshes (B. W.). Aquilegia Canadensis L. Sioux City, abundant in wooded ravines (B. W.). Delphinium azureum Michx. Sioux City prairies (B. W.); Little .Rock (C. R. Ball); flowers of Iowa specimens are greenish white. Actaea sjyicata L. var. ruhra, Ait. Sioux City woods, frequent (B. W.). MENISPERMACE^. Menispermum Ganadense L. Sioux City, common, in wooded ravines (B. W. L. H. P.). BERBERIDACE^. Caulophyllum thalictroides^ Michx. Sioux City woods, frequent (B. W.). 112 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. NYMPHAEACE^. Nelumbo lutea Pers. Onawa (B. W.). Nymphaea reniformis D. C. Lyon Co. (B. W.). Nuphar advena Ait. Sioux township Lyon Co , northwest corner of state (B. W.). PAPAVERACE^. Sanguinaria Canadensis L. Sioux City. Wooded ravines (B. W.). PUMARIACE^. • Dicentra cucullaria D. C. Sioux City, abundant in wooded ravines in vegetable mould. Corydalis Willd. Sioux City, borders of woods, common (B. W.). CRUCIFERS Lepidium Virginicum L. Sioux City, waste places abundant (B W.) L. apetalum Willd. Not represented by specimens though abundant on mounds, fields and pastures in western Iowa (L. H. P.). Capsella Bursa-p>astoris Medic. Sioux City (B. W.). Brasssca nigra Koch. Sioux City (B. W.). B. Sinapistrum Boiss. Sioux City (B. W.). Sisnibrium officinale Scop. Sioux City (B. W.); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (C. R. Ball); roadside weed. S. canescens, Nutt. Sioux City (B, W.). Erysimum cJieiranthoides L. Sioux City, rich soil, river bottoms (B. W.). Nasturtium terrestre R. Br. Sioux City (B. W.) low grounds; borders of ponds and streams. Cardamine hirsuta L. Little Rock (C. R. Ball). Arabis, hirsuta Scop. Sioux City (B. W.). IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 113 CAPPARIDACE^. Polanisia graveolens, Raf . Sioux City (B. W.). Cleome integrifolia Torr. & Gray. Onawa, Missouri Valley streets and loess mounds (L. H. P.) common (B. W.); common in the city (L. H. Pam- mel); from observation. VIOLACE^. Viola pedatijida Don. Sioux City, prairies frequent (B. W.), A. palmata L. var. cucullata Gray. Sioux City, common in woods (B. W.). Viola Canadensis L. Sioux City, wooded ravines between loess mounds east of Sioux City (B. W.). Apparently out of its range. CARYOPHYLLACEm. Saponaria offlcinalis L. Sioux City, escaped from cultivation (B. W,). Silene stellata Ait. Sioux Cifcy, woods common (B. W.); Hawarden, Council Bluffs, common borders of woods (L. H. P.). Lychnis Githago Lam. Sioux City, an introduced weed (B. W.); Rock Valley- (Jensen & Newell); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball). Stellaria longifolia Muhl. Sioux City (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). PORTUEACACE^. Portulaca oleracea L. Sioux City (B. W.); an abundant weed everywhere in west- ern Iowa. Talinum teretifolium Pursh. Sioux City (B. W.). Claytonia Virginica L. Smithland, in woods (B. W.). MALVACE^. Malva rotundifolia L. Turin, Onawa, weed in streets and along roadsides (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). Abutilon Avicennce Gaertn. Onawa, streets and waste places, abundant (L. HP.); Sioux City (B. W.). 8 114 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. TILIACE^. Tilia Americana L. Sioux City. Turin, Missouri Valley, Council Bluffs, ravines between loess mounds (L. H. P.); back of mounds an abundant tree. LINAGES. Linum sulcatum Biddell. Sioux City, top and sides of loess mounds, prairies (L. H. P.), (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). L. rigidum Pursli. Sioux City, loess mounds, capsules and old stems only found by myself (L. H. P.); Hamburg (Hitchcock, Bot. Gazette, XIV, 128). GERANIACEAC. Oxalis violacece L. Sioux City, in woods frequent (B. W.); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball). 0. corniculata L. var. stricta Sav. Turin, Onawa, in woods and fields abundant (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). Im%)atiens pallida Nutt. Sioux City, in woods along streams (B. 1/Y.). 1. Fulva Nutt. Sioux City, in woods along streams (B. W.). RUTACE^. Xanthoxylum Americanum Nutt. Sioux City, common in woods (B. W.); South Dakota, oppo- site Hawarden, in valleys between hilis (L, H. P.). CELASTRxVCE^. Celastrus scandens L. Sioux City, common in woods between loess mounds (B. W. and L. H. P.). Euonymus atropurpureus Jacq. Sioux City, in woods between loess mounds (B. W'., L. H. P.); South Dakota, opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.). RHAMNACE^. Fhamnus lanccolata Pursh. Logan, low hills in woods (L. H. P.), Sioux City, level woodland near the Big Sioux river (B. W.). IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 115 Geanothus Americanus L. Turin, Missouri Vallejo, loess hills in open, grassy places (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). 0. ovatus Desf. Council Bluffs, sides and tops of loess mounds (L. H. P.). VITACE^. Vitis rijjaria Michx. Sioux City, valleys between loess m.ounds in woods (L. H. P.); South Dakota, opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.). Ampelopsis quinquefolia Michx. Sioux City, in woods; common (B. W.). SAPINDACEA2. Acer dasycarpum Ehrh. SioDx City, Hawarden; abundant in alluvial bottoms, along Big Sioux and Missouri rivers (L. H. P.). Negundo aceroides Moench. Sioux City, frequent along streams (B. W.). 8tapliylea trifolia L. Sioux City, in valleys between loess hills (B. W.). ANACARDIACEA5. Elms glaloTOo L. Sioux City, common border of loess mounds (B. W.) South Dakota, opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.). R. Toxicodendron L. Sioux City, common in valleys between loess mounds (B. W.V POLYGALACE^. Poly gala verticillata L. Sioux City, loess m.ouiids (L. H. P. and B. W.). LEGUMINOS^. Baptisia leucantlia Torr. and Gray. Battle Creek, low places, prairie (E. G. Preston), Cherokee (B. W.). Crotalaria sagittalis L. Sioux City, bank of Big Sioux river. Cedar Bluffs (B. W.). Trifolium pratense L Sioux City (B. W.)- T. stoloniferum Muiil. Sioux City (B. W.), T. repens L. Sioux City (B. W..). 116 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Melilotus officinalis Willd. Sioux City (B. W.), Council Bluffs (L. H. P.). 31. alba Lam. Sioux City, along railroads, in streets, fields and roadsides, abundant (L. H. P. and B. W.), Onawa, Turin (L. H. P.). 3Ieclicago saliva L. Sioux City, in streets; not common, Council Bluffs (L. H. P.). HosacMa Fursliiana Benth. Sioux City, loess mounds (B. W.). Psoralea argojoJiylla Pursh. Sioux City, adundant on loess mounds (B. W.), high prairies and low, rich soil; Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball), Hull (W. Newell). A typical prairie plant, com- mon throughout Iowa on dry hills. Amorpha canescens L. Sioux City, bottom.s (B. ¥/.), Missouri Valley (L. H. P.). Dalea alopecuroides Nutt. Near Lake Okoboji (B. W.), Missouri Valley, Sioux City, loess mounds; abundant; Hawarden, in open grounds (L. H. P.), Hamburg (Hitchcock Bot. Gazette, XIV, 128). D. laxiflora Pursh. Sioux City (B. W.). The species is abundant on the loess mounds about Sioux City, Missouri Valley and Turin, producing a long and thick root. Hamburg (Hitch- cock, Bot. Gazette, XIV, 128). Petalostemon violaceus Michx. Sioux City abundant on loess hills (B. W., L. H. P.); Hull (W. Newell); South Dakota opposite Hawarden dry hills (L. H. P.); Logan (L. H. P.); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (C. R. Bali); Council Bluffs dry hills (L. H. P.); Missouri Valley, Turin, loess hills (L. H. P.). On loess mounds, usually with shorter heads than commonly found on prairies. P. candidus Michx. Sioux City, hills loess abundant; L. H. P. South Dakota opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.); HulL(W. Newell); Bat- tle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball;) Council Bluffs, Turin, Missouri Valley, on loess mounds, shorter heads and smaller plants than com- monly found on prairies. IOV7A ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 117 Robinia Pseudacacia L. Sioux City, an escape from cultivation (B. W.). Astragalus caryocarpus Ker. Sioux City (B. W.). A. Canadensis L Sioux City (B. W.). A. lotifloris Hook var. brachypus Gray. Hamburg, Hitchcock, Bot. Gazette XIV, 128. Oxytropis Lamberti Pursh. Soiux City (B, W.). Specimens in fruit were found near Turin and Missouri Valley on loess mounds (L. H. P.). Produces a perennial root several feet in length, frequently exposed where soil has washed away. Miss Wakefield finds the form with violet colored fiov/ers more common than the white. Ham- burg (Hitchcock, Bot. Gazette, XIV, 128). Glycyrrhiza lepidota Nutt^ Sioux City (B. W.); Turin, Missouri Valley, along railroads, and border of hills common, Logan, Coaincil Bluffs (L. H. P.). Hull (W. Newell); LTtle Rock (C. R. Ball). Desmodium Ganadense D. C. Hull (W. Newell). D. canescens D. C. Sioux City, bottom (L. H. P.). Ajyios tuberosa Moench. Smithland, low grounds (B, Yf.). Stropliostyles amgidosa Ell. South Dakota, opposite Hawrrden, flood plain of Big Sioux river (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). ArapMcarpcea monoica. Nutt. Sioux City (B. W.). Cassia Gkamcecrista L. Missouri Valley, loess hills abundant (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W. pmd L. H. P.); South Dakota, opposite Ha warden (L. H. P.); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston). Gymnocladus Canadensis Lam. Sioux City (B. W.), abundant at the mouth of the Big Sioux river, in alluvial soil, base of hills (L. H. P.). GleditscJtia, triacanthos L. Sioux City, abundant along the river (B. W.). DesmantJius brachylobus Benth. Spirit Lake (B. W.). | 118 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. ROSACE.®. Prunus Americana Marshall. CoTincil Bluffs, loess in valleys between mounds. South Dakota, opposite Hawardeii forraiog thickets at the base of hills (L. K. P.), Sioux City (B. W.) the species forms dense thickets in western low^a, fruit small. P. Virginiaim L. Logan, in valleys between hills. Sioux City (B, W.); the species occurs in thickets mostly small shrubs. Picbus strigosus Michx. Sioux City, rare (B. Y{.). R, occidentalis L. Sioux City, not common (B. W.). Geum album Gmelin, Logan, in woods (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). Fragaria Virginiana Mill. var. Illinoensis Gray. Sioux City (B. V%^.). Potentilla arguta Pursh. Hull (W. Newell); Battle Creek, (E, G. PrestonJ; Little Rock, (Herb. C. R. Bail); Sioux City (B. W.). Tne species is frequent in dry places ia western Iowa, loess mounds. P. Norvegica L. Hull (W. Newell;; Little Rock (C. R. Ball); Rock Valley, (J, F. Jensen and W. Newell); Sioux City (B. W.). Var. millelegrana Watson. Sioux City (B. W.). Rosa AT~kansana Porter. Hull (M. Newell). SAXIPRAGACE^. Eeucliera hisjnda Pursh. Sioux City (B. W.). Ribes gracile Michx. Sioux City, in v70ods (B. V/.) C juncil Bluffs, loess in woods (L. H. R). R. floridum L’Her. Sioux City, in woods (L. H. P.); South Dakota, opposite Hawarden in woods, valleys and between hills. crassulagea:. PentliOTum sedoides L. Huli'fW. Newell); Sioux City (B. W.). IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 119 ONAGRACEAE. Oenothera biennis L. Hull (W. Newell); Brittle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (C. R. Ball); Council Bluffs (L. H. P.). A weed in streets ?.nd waste places, and fields abundant throughout western Iowa. 0. serrulata Nutt. Sioux City (B. W.); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (C. R. Ball); Hull (W. Newell). Praries and loess mounds abundant. Gaura pa ) ’v ijio ra Dough Sioux City, base of mounds (B. W.); Missouri Valley (L. H. P.). It is spreading eastward, occurring in meadows and fields. G. eoecinea Nutt. Sioux City (B. W.) Missouri Valley, Turin top of loess mounds, common (L. H. P.); Hamburg (Hitchcockj Bot. Gazette XIV, 128). LOASACE^. Mentzelia ornata Torr. & Gray. Sioux City on sandy and rocky bluffs along the Big Sioux river. Cedar Bluffs, abundant in that locality (B. W.). CUCURBITACE^. Ecliinocystis lobata Torr & Gray. Turin, low ground along streams (L. H. P.). CATAGBA5. Opuntia Rafinesquii Englem. Lyon county (B. W.). UMBELLIFER^. Heracleum lanatuni Michx. Sioux City (B. W.). Pastinaca sativa L. A roadside weed. Council Bluffs, Sioux City (L. H. P.). Cryptotcenia Canadensis D. C. Sioux City (B. W.). Zizia aurea Koch. Sioux City (B. W.). Cieuta maculata L. South Dakota opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.) 120 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Osmorrhiza hrevistylis D. C. Sioux City (B. W.). Erijngiuin yuccaefoUum Miclix. Cherokee (B. W.). CAPRIPOLIACE^. Triosteum yterfoliatuin L. Cherokee Co., Sioux City (B. W.) Sambucus Canadensis L. Sioux City (B. W.). Symy)lioricaTpo& occidentalis Hook. Sioux City, base of mounds; abundant (L. H. P. and B. W.); South Dakota, opposite Ha warden (L H. P,); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston); Hock Valley (W. Newell and J. P. Jensen); Little Rock (C. R. Bail); Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Turin, base of loess mounds; abun- dant (L. H. P.). RUBIACE^. Houstonia angustijlolia Michx. Logan, hills; Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, loess mounds (L. H, P.); Smithland (B. W.), common everywhere on the hills. Galium Aparine L. Sioux City (B. W.). COMPOSITE. Vernonia fasiculata Michx. Hawarden, Missouri Valley, Turin, low grounds (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). F. Noveboracensis Willd. Missouri Valley, Council Bluffs, loess mounds near base (L. H. R). Eupatorium purpureum L; Sioux City (B. W.). E. serotinuin Michx. Sioux City, Big Sioux bottom; not common (L. H. P.). E. perfoliatum L. Missouri Valley, low grounds (L. H. P), Sioux City (B. W.). E. ageratoides L. Sioux City (B. W.); Onawa, in woods and low grounds (L. H. P.). IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 121 Kulinia ewpatoriodes L. Missouri Valley, Turin, loess mounds; Sioux Cifcy, loess mounds (B. W. and L. H. P.); Alton, prairies; South Dikota, opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.). Liatris punctata Hook. Missouri Valley, loess mounds (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W., L. H. P.); Hitchcock, South Dakota, opposite Hawarden, hills (L. H. P.). L. scariosa Willd. Alton, prairies, South Dakota, opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.). GrindeUa squarrosa Dunal. Smithland (J. M. Wrapp), Sioux City, Hawarden, alluvial plain. Big Sioux river, abundant (L. H. P.); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (Herb. C. K. Ball). Sioux Cifcy (Hitchcock, Bot. Gazette, XIV, 128). Ap)lopappus spioiulosus D. C. Missouri Valley, Turin, Sioux Cifcy, tops of loess mounds, found in dense patches (L. H. P., B. W., Hitchcock, Bot. Gazette, XIV, 128). SoUdago speciosa Nutt. Turin low grounds, border of woods (L. H. P.); Sioux City, base of hills (B. W.). S. Missouriensis Nutt. Turin, Missouri Valley, loess mounds common (L. H. P.). S. serotina Ait. Sioux City (B. W.). S. Tupestris Raf. Sioux City, loess mounds (L. H. P.). S. Canadensis L. Sioux City, border of woods, thickets, roadsides, fences, pastures, abundant (L. H. P. B. W.); Onawa, Turin (L. H. P.). S. rigicla L, Turin, loess hills (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.), Boltonia aster oides L’Her. Missouri Valley, Turin, low bottoms, common (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). Aster oblongifolius Nutt. Turin, very abundant over loess mounds; South Dakota, opposite Hawarden, abundant all over low hills (L. H. P.); Sioux City, low mounds, common (B. W. , L. H. P.). 122 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. A. Novce-Anglice L. Tiiriij, borders of woods, common; South Dakota, opposite Hfwarden, few specimens near spring (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). A, sericeus Vent. Sioux Rapids, prairies, Turin, Missouri Valley, abundant over loess mounds (L, H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). A. sagittifolms Willd. Turin, low grounds (L. H. P.). A. ericoides L. Turin, low grounds (L. H. P.). A. multifvorus Ait. Missouri Valley, open places, woods (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). A. iKmiculatus Lam. Sioux City, bottoms (L. H. P.); A. ptarmicoides, Torr. & Gray. Little Rock, prairies (Flerb. C. R. Ball). Erigeron Canadensis L. Sioux City (B. W.); a weed in fields and pastures through- out western Iowa (L. H. P. observations). E. strigosus Muhl. Rock Valley (W. Newell, J. P. Jensen); Little Rock, prairies (Herb. C. R. Bail). E. PMladeljAiicus L. Hull (W. Newell); Sioux City (B. W.). AntennanHa plantaginifolia Hook. Sioux City (B. W.). SiPphium laciniatum L. Council Bluffs, common around loess mounds (L. H P.); Sioux City (B. W.). S. perfoliatum L. Sioux City (B. W.). Iva xantl difolia Nutt. Sioux City (B. W. , L. H. P.); Onawa L. H. P,); Smith- land (J. M. Wrapp). An extremely abundant weed everyvfhere in western lov^a, growing luxuriantly ten to twelve feet high in streets, vacant lots, dooryards, and around neglected buildings, etc. Amlorosia trifida L. Smithland (J. M. Wrapp); Sioux City (B. W.). A common weed along creeks and river courses in western Iowa (L. H. R). IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 123 A. artemisiaefolia L. Alton, Turin (L II . P.); Sioux City (B. W.). A common weed in cultivated fields, pastures, meadows, along roadsides, vacant lots, and railroads. A. j^silostachya DC. Council Bluffs, comnion weed along creeks and river courses in v/estern Iowa (L, H. P.). Xanthiuin Ganadense Mill. Sioux City, Turin (L. II. P.). In alluvial soil very abun- dant and weedy. South. Dakota, opposite Hawarden, bottoms of Big Sioux river (L. II. P.). Heliopsis scabra Dunal. Sioux City (B. W.); Hull {YL Newell); Battle Creek, in woods (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball). Echinacea angustifolia DC. Sioux City (B. W.); Hull (W. Newell); Battle Creek, abundant prpfiries (E. G. Preston); Council Bluff’s, Logan (L. H. P ); Little Rock (Herb , G. R. Ball). Rudbeclcia laciniata L. South Dakota, opposite Hawarden in woods abundant (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). R. triloba L. Onawa, low grounds, common (L. H. P.) R. hirta L. Sioux City (B. W.) Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball ). Lepachys pinnata Torr. & Gray. Sioux City (B. W.) Council Bluffs (L. H. P.). Helianthus cmnuus L. Sioux City (B. W.); Hawarden (L. H. P.); Onawa, Mis- souri Valley, (L, H. P.). A common weed everywhere in western Iowa, flood plains, Missouri tmd Big Sioux rivers, streets and dooryards. (L. II. P.). H. rigidus Desf. Hawarden (L H, P.); Sioux City (B. W.). H. grosse-serratus Martens. Sioux City, abundant in alluvial bottoms of Missouri river, and along river courses, creeks (L. II. _P., B. W.); Onawa, Turin. One of the m.ost conspicuous plants in September. H. Maximiliani Schrad. Sioux Citj/, Loess hills along the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers. Alton, Sioux Rapids, Hawarden, occasionally in alluvial bottoms at Whiting; also observed near Brad- gate further east (L. H. P.). 124 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. /A tuherosus L. Sioux City, betweea loess mounds, common, Hawarden, Big Sioux bottom, common (L. H. P,). Coreposis palmata Nutt. Sioux City (B. W.); Hull (W, Newell); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball). Bidens frondosa L. Sioux City (B. W.). B. cliTysantliemoides Mic'bx. Sioux City (B. W.). Helenium autumncde L. Missouri Valley, low grounds, common (L. H. P.) Sioux City (B. W.). Dijsodia clirysantliemoides Lag. Sioux City, hills, avaste places, streets, along roadsides abundant (L. H. P., B. W.); Turin (L. H. P.). Antliemis Cotula D. C. Sioux City (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). Achillea millefolium L. Sioux City (B. W.); Battle Creek, pastures (B. G. Preston); Little Rock (C. R. Ball.). Grysanthemum Leucantliemuin L. Sioux City; escaped from cultivation (B. W.). Artemisia Canadensis Michx. Sioux Ciiy (B. W., L. H. P.); South Dakota, opposite Har- warden (L. H. P.). A. Ludoviciana Nutt. Sioux City (L. H. P.). A. Mennis Willd. Sioux City (B. W ). Senecio aureus L. Sioux City (B. W.). Cacalia tuherosa Nutt, Council Blutfs (L. H. P.); Smithland (B. W.). Arctmni Lappa L. Sioux City (B. W.). Gnicus mululatus Gray. Sioux City, lower parts of loess m.ounds; abundant in places (L H. P.). G. altissimus Willd. var. filipendidus Gray. Has been sent to me from western Iowa — Ruthven (D. Cha- pin); Sioux City (L. H. P. ; Hitchcock Bot. Gazette, XIV, IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 125 129). This approaches G. undulatus. Miss Yf akefie Id’s G. undulatus, from Sioux City, is refera.bie to this variety. Var. discolor Gray. Sioux City (B, W.). G. arvensis Hoffm. Maple River Junction (Bernholtz). Krigia Dandelion Nutt. Sioux City (B. Yb). Lygodesmia juncea Don. Sioux City, loess mounds very abundant (L. H. P.); Logan, Missouri Valley, Turin (L. H. P.); Hull, weedy (James C. Watson); Little Rock, weedy (C. R. Ball); Battle Creek, roadsides, weedy (E. G. Preston). Very abun- dant tops and sides of mounds. In August and Septem- ber most of the plants are affected with galls. Taraxacum officinale Weber. Sioux City (B. W.). Lactuca Scariola L. Missouri Valley (L. H. P.). Common in streets of Council Bluffs, Onawa, Turin (L. H. P. ooservations). L. Ganadensis L. Sioux City (B. W.). L. integrifolia Bigel. Lake Okoboji (B. W.). L. Bigel. Sioux City, base of loess mounds and in streets (B. W. , L. H. P.). LOBELIACEiE. Lobelia syghilitica L. Sioux City (B. W.). L. spicata Lam. Rock Valley (C. R. Ball), Sioux City (B. W.). CAMPANULACEB3. Gampanula Americana L. Sioux City (B. W.), Hull (W. Newell). ERICACEAE. Monotropa unijiora L, Smithland, in rich woods (B. W.). PRIMULACEBE. Steironema ciliatum Raf. Rock Valley (J. Jensen and W. Newell), Sioux City (B. Y^.). 126 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES, S. lanceolatum Gray. Little Rock (C. R. Ball). APOCYNACE^. Apocynum cannabinum L. Little Rock (C. R. Ball), Sioux City (B. W.). ASGLEPIADACE^, ^ Asclejnas tuberosa L. Hull (W. Newell), Sioux City (B. W.). A. incarnata L. Hull (W. Newell), Sioux City (B. W.). A. Cornuti Decaisne. Sioux City (B. W.), Little Rock (C. R. Ball). A. ovalifoUa Decaisne. Sioux City (B. W.). A. verticillata L. Sioux City, loess mounds, common in open places (B. W. , L. H. P.); South Dakota, opposite Ha warden, hills; Turin, Missouri Valley (L. H. P.); Rock Valley (J. P. Jensen and W. Newell). Acerates virdiflora Ell. Little Rock (C. R. Ball). GENTIANACEA]. Gentiana jmberula Michx. Sioux City, grassy low lands and hills; not common (B. W.). G. Andrewsii Griseb. Sioux City, meadows of Missouri river bottom (B. W.). POLEMONlAGEyE. Phlox pilosa L. Sioux City (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). P. divaricata L. Sioux City, in rich woods (B. W.). Poleinonium reptans L. Cherokee, in rich woods (B. W.). BORRAGINACE.E. EcMnospermum Virginicum Lehm. Sioux City, woods, along streets and roadsides (B. W.). Lithospermum canescens Lehin. Sioux City, prairies, and loess mounds (B. W.) L. angustifolium Michx. Sioux Ciiy, prairie and loess mounds (B. W.). IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 127 Onosmodium CaroUnanum D. C. var. molle, Gray. Sioux City, prairies and common on loess mounds (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball); Council Bluffs, loess woods, South Dakota opposite Hawarden, border cf woods, hills (L. H. P.). CONVOLVULACE^. Convolvulus sepium L. Sioux City (B. B.); a common weed in fields, and pastures, gardens and meadows (L. H. P. observations). Cuscuta glomerata Choisy. Sioux City on Heilaiithus, Solidago, common (B. W.). SOLANACE^. Solanum nigrum L. Sioux City (B. W.). S. Carolinense L. Introduced; Mapleton (Abjah Lamb); Logan, along road- sides, Council Bluffs in streets (L. H. P.). S. rostratum DunaL Woodbine; South Dakota, opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.). Physalis p)ul>escens L. Sioux City B. W.); A very common weed in neglected 3;ards Missouri Valley, Council Bluffs, Onawa (L. H. P. observations). SCROPHULARIACE^. ScTopiiularia nodosa L. var. Marilandica Gray. Sioux City (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). Pentstemon grandiflorus Nutt. Sioux City, common on the sides of the loess mounds (L, H. P.*^, B. W.). Mimulus ringens L. Sioux City in low grounds (B. W.). Ilysantlies riparia Raf. Sioux City, low grounds and muddy places (B. W.); Hawarden (L. H. P.); Hull (W. Newell). Veronica Virginica L. Sioux City (B. W.); H>all (Wb Newell); Little Rock (C. R. Bali). Geromdia asp)era Doiigl. Sioux City, common on sides and tops of loess mounds (L. H. P.). G. tenuifolia Vahl. Missouri Valley, loess mounds (L. H. P.). 128 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Castilleia sessiliflora Parsh. Sioux City, abundant on loess mounds (B. W.). LENTIBULARIACE^. Utricularia vulgaris L. Hull (W. Newell). PEDALIACE^. Martijnia prohoscidea Glox. Missouri Valley, in fields, base of hills (L. H. P.). VERBENACE^. Verljena urticcefolia L. Sioux City (B. W.); Hall (W. Newell); Turin, Missouri Val- ley, low grounds (L. H. P.). V. liastata L. Sioux City, fields and low ground (B. W.); Hull (W. Newell). V. stricta Vent. Sioux City, base of loess mounds, prairies and fields, abundant (B. W.); Battle Creek (E. G. Preston); Little Rock (C. R. Ball); Turin, Missouri Valley (L. H. P.). Fhryma leptostacJiya L. Sioux City (B. W.). LABIATE. Teucrium Canadense L. Sioux City, low grounds, abundant (B. W.); Council Bluffs, abundant (L. H. P.). Mentha Canadensis L. Sioux City (B. W.); Hull (W. Newell); Little Rock, low grounds (C. R. Ball). Ly copus sinutus Ell. Sioux City (B. W.); Hull, low grounds (W. Newell). L. Virginicus 'Li. Sioux City (B. W.). Hedeoma hispida, Pursh. Sioux City (B. W.). Pycnantliemum lanceolatum Pursh. Spirit Lake (B. W.). Salvia lanceolata Willd. Council Bluffs (L. H. P. observations). Monarda Jistulosa L. Logan, prairies and borders of woods (L. H. P.). Lophanthus scrophularicefolius Benth. Sioux City (B. W.). IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 129 Nepeta Cataria L. Sioux City (B. W.). A common weed in western Iowa (L. H. P.). Scutellaria lateriflora L. Turin, rich, low woods near stream (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). S. parvula Michx. Little Rock (C. R. Ball); Sioux City (B. W.). Physostegia Virginiana Benth. Sioux Cifcy, low grounds (B. W.). Stachys palustris L. Sioux City, low grounds (B. W.); Rock Valley (J. Jensen, W. Newell). PLANTAGINACE^. Plantago major L. Sioux City (B. W.). P. Pa^a^omca Jacq., var. gnaphalioides Gray. Rock Valley (J. Jensen, W. Newell). NYCTAGJNACE^. Oxyloaplius liirsntus Sweet. Hull (W. Newell); Sioux City, common along roadsides and fields (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball). 0. angustifolius Sweet. Sioux City, loess hills near top (L. H. P.). AMARANTACE^, A. retroflexus L. A common weed everywhere in western Iowa (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). A. alhus L. Sioux City (B. W.); Onawa, Turin, a common weed (L. H. P.). A. blitoides Watson. Sioux City, loess mounds in open places (L. H. P.). Acnida tuhercidata Mcq. Onawa, common weed in cultivated ground (L. H. P.). CHENOPODIACE^. Onawa, Turin, Des Moines (L. H. P.); Smithland (J. M. Wrapp); Sioux City (B. W.). G. urhicum L. Onawa, Missouri Valley, Turin near stables and houses (L. H. P.). 9 130 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. G. hybridum L. Missouri Valley, Turin, Onawa (L H, P.); Sioux City (B. W.), a common weed in waste places. jSalsola Kali L. , var. tragus Moq. Onawa, Sioux City, Missouri Valley, Hawarden, Council Bluffs (L. H.P.), spreading rapidly. POLYGONACEAE. Bumex verticillatus L. Missouri Valley, in swamps, common (L. H. P.). R. crispus L. Council Bluffs, weed in streets (L, H. P. observations). R. maritimum L Sioux City (B. W.); Little Rock (C. R. Ball), in low grounds. R. Acetosella L. Missouri Valley, Turin, weedy in yards and fields (L. H, P.). Polygonum aviculare L. Sioux City (B. W.); Hawarden, weed in yards (L. H. P.); Missouri Valley. P. erectum L. Missouri Valley, common weed in streets (L. H. P). P. ramosissimum Michx. Missouri Valley, Sioux City, L. H. P., B. W.) Hawarden (L. H. P.). P. lapatJiifolium L., var. incarnatum Watson. Sioux City, (B. W.); Turin, low grounds (L. H. P.). P. Pennsylvanicum L. Logan, Turin, Onawa, Missouri Valley, low grounds, (L. H. P.); Hull (N. Newell). P. Mulilenbergii Watson. Sioux City (B. W.), common along the Missouri river (L. H. P.). P. Persicaria L. Hull (W. Newell); Sioux City (B. W.). P. orientale L. Missouri Valley, an escape from cultivation (L. H. P.). P. acre HBK. Hull (W. Newell). P. Virginianum L. Sioux City (B. W ). P. Convolvulus L. Sioux City (B. W.), Hull (W. Newell). IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 131 P. dumetorum L. , var. scandens Gray. Sioux City (B. W.). ARISTOLOCHIACE^. Asarum Canadense L. Cherokee (B. W.). EL^AGNACE^. Shepherdia argentea Nutt. Sioux City, sandy banks of Missouri river (B. W., L. H. P., Hitchcock, Bot. Gazette, XIV, 128). EUPHORBIACE^. Euphorbia maculata L. Missouri Valley, Des Moines, Turin and Onawa; waste places and along railroad (L. H. P.). E. hypericifoUa. Onawa (L. H. P.), Sioux City (B. W.). E. marginata Pursh. South Dakota, opposite Hawarden, hills, Missouri Valley, Turin and in waste places (L. H. P.), Hull (W. Newell), Council Bluffs (L. H. P,), Sioux City (B. W., L, H. P.). E. coroUata L. Missouri Valley (L. H. P.), Sioux City (B. W.). E, serpens H. B. K. Missouri Valley, low grounds (L. H. P.). E. serpyllifolia Pers. Turin (L. H. P.), Sioux City (B. W.). Var. consanguinea. Onawa, Turin (L. H. P.). E. glyptosperma Engelm. Missouri Valley (L. H. P.). Var. pubescens. Turin (L. H. P.). E. hexagona N utt. Missouri Valley (L. H. P.), Sioux City (B. W.). E. GeyeriEiagelm. Missouri Valley (L. H. P.) E. heterophylla L. Sioux Ciry, in woods. Council Bluffs (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W ). E. obtusata Push. Sioux City (B. W.). Aealypha Virginica L. Sioux City (B. W.) 132 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. URTICACE^. Ulmus fulva Michx. Sioux City, in valleys between loess mounds (B. W., L. H P.); South Dakota opposite Hawarden. U. Americana L. Sioux City, along the Big Sioux river and Missouri river (B, W., L. H. P.). Celtis occidentalis L. Sioux City, along Missouri and Big Sioux rivers (L. H. P.). CannaMs saliva L. Missouri Valley (L. H. P. observations); Sioux City (B. W.). Humulns Lupulus L. Sioux City (B. W.). Urtica gracilis Ait. Sioux City (B. W.); Little Rock (Herb. C. R. Ball.). Laportea Canadensis Gaudichaud. Sioux City (B. W.). Pilea pumila Gray. Logan (L. H. P.) Parietaria Pennsylvanica Muhl. Turin (L. H. P.). JUGLANDACE^. Juglans nigra L. Sioux City (B. W.). Gary a olivceformis Nutt. Sioux City (Hitchcock); this is further north than it occurs elsewhere in this state. G. amara Nutt. Smithland (B. W.). CUPULIFER^. Corylus Americana Walt. Sioux City (B. W.). Ostrya Virginica Willd. Council Bluffs, in woods, back of steep mounds (L. H. P.); Logan (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). Quercus macrocarpa Michx. Council Bluffs (L. H. P.). Var. olivceformis Gray. Sioux City, sides of bluffs (L. H. P., B. W.) Q. rvhra L. Sioux City (B. W.). IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 133 SALICACE^. Salix Immilis Marsh. Sioux Cifcy, common on prairies and at base of loess mounds (L. H. P.). S. longifolia Mnhl. Sioux City (B. W.). Populus monilifera Ait. Missouri Valley, in bottoms near streams, in swales between loess mounds; occasionally near top of mound. Com- mon (L. H. P.), South Dakota, opposite Hawarden (L. H. P.); Sioux City (B. W.). CERATOPHYLLACE^. Cerato'pliyllum demersum L. Sioux City (B. W.). CONIFERS. Juniperus Virginiana L. Sioux Chy (B. W.). ORCHIDACE^. Orchis spcctdbilis L. Sioux City (B. W.). Habenaria leucophcea Gray. Cherokee fB. W.). Spirantlies ceriMa Richard. Smithland (B. !¥.). Gyprip)edium pubescens Willd. Cnerokee, Smithland (B. W.). IRDIACE^. Iris versicolor L. Sioux City (B. W.). LILIACE.E. Smilax herbacea D. Sioux City (B. ¥7.). Allium stellatum Fras. Alton, common on prairies (L. H. P.). A. Ganadense Kalm. Sioux City (B. W.). Yucca angusUfolia Pursh. Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Sioux City, Turin (L. H. P.); near top of loess, mounds common. South, north and west sides. Many seeds produced. Not all the plants which flower produce seeds — many empty stalks were found. It is a significant fact that this species does 134 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. not occur on the east slopes of the mounds, perhaps because they are more or less wooded about Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley. Sioux City (B. W.), Hitch- cock Bot. Gazette, XIV, p. 128. Polygonatum giganteum Dietr. Sioux City (B. W., L. H. P. observations). Deep rich woods. Smilacina stellata Desf. Sioux City (B. W.). Uviclaria grandiflora Smith. Sioux City (B. W.). Erythronium albidum Nutt. Sioux City (B. W.). Lilium PliiladeljpMcum L. Little Rock (Herb., C. R. Ball). L. Canadense L. Sioux City (B. W.). Trillium nivale Riddell. Cherokee (B. W.). Zygadenus elegans Pursh. Little Rock (Herb., C. R. Ball). COMMELINACE^. Tradescantia Virginica L. Sioux City (B. W.). JUNCACE^. Juncus tenuis Willd. Sioux City (B. W., L. H. P. observations). J. nodosus. Sioux City (B. W.). TYPHACE^. TypJia latifolia L. Sioux City (B. W.). Sparganium eurycarpum Engelm. ARACE^. Dickinson Co. (Hitchcock); Hull (W. Newell). Arisaema tripyldlum Torr. Sioux City (B. W.). ALISMACE^. Alisma plantago L. Sioux City (B. W.). Echinodorus rostratus Nutt. Sioux City, Big Sioux river (L. H. P.). IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 135 NAIADACE^. Potamogeton natans L. Lake Okoboji (Hitchcock). P. loncMtes Tuck. Spirit Lake (Hitchcock). P. %)vaelongu8 Wulf. Clear Lake (Hitchcock). P. ijerfoliatus L. var. Bicliardsonii, Bennett. Lake Okoboji and Spirit Lake (Hitchcock). P. zoster if ol ms Schum. Lake Okoboji (Hitchcock). P. mucronatus Schrad. Spirit Lake (Hitchcock). P. X)ectinatus L. Woodbine (Burgess); Lake Okoboji (Hitchcock) CYPERACEAE. Oijperus diandrus Torr. Near Lake Okoboji (B. W.). G. Scliioeinitzii Torr. Lake Okoboji (B. W.). Eleocliaris acicularis R. Br. Sioux City (B. W.;L. H. P.). Scirpus lacustris L. Council Bluffs (L. H. P. observations); Sioux City (B. W.). S. atrovirens Muhl. Sioux City (B. W.). Species of Carex numerous, but omitted because they have not been studied critically. There are also a large number of grasses, localities and species will appear in another connection. SOME NOTES ON CHROMOGENIC BACTERIA. L. H. PAMMEL AND ROBERT COMBS. Quite a large list of chromogenic bacteria are known to bacteriologists. Many of these are familiar objects in bacteri- ological laboratories. Of the early works describing these in this country we may mention Sternberg and Trelease. For later works on North American chromogenic bacteria we must refer to Sternberg, Jordan and the numerous text books dealing with pathogenic species. 136 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Very few attempts have been made to study our local bac- teriological floras. It is indeed a very difficult matter. The following works describe Chromogenes: Saccardo: Sylloge Fungorum VIII. Sternberg: Manual of Bacteriology. 1892. Trelease: Observations on several Zoogloea (Studies Biol. Lab. of the Johns Hopkins University). 1885. P. & G. C. Prankland: Micro-organisms in Water. 1894. Adametz: Die Bakterien der Trink-und Nutzwasser. Mitth. der Oester Versuchstation fur Brauerei-und Malzerei in Wien, 1888. Heft 1. Jordan: A report on certain species of bacteria observed in sewage. Rep. Mass. State Board of Health, 1888-1890, plate II. Eisenberg: Bakteriologische Diagnostik. 1888. Welz: Bakteriologische Untersuchnyer der Freiburger Luft, Zeiritschrift fur Hygiene XI, p. 121. No attempt will be made to give description of common species found here at Ames, simply a record of tlieir occurrence including some laboratory observations. Micrococcus cyanogenus. N. SP. Source, — During the latter part of May, 1894, a foreign blue color was observed on an old milk culture of an organism obtained from cheese; later the same was found in an old milk culture of Bacillus aromaticus. A transfer from the first milk tube was made to another tube of sterilized milk, the typical color appearing in three or four days. The organism was sep- arated by pouring plates of agar. Morphology.— K small micrococcus occurring singly or in groups; motility not determined. An aerobic liquefying micrococcus. Agar. — Nearly colorless, with a slight tinge of blue, produc- ing an irregular film on surface, growing at temperature of room. Gelatin. — A creamy white layer not spreading on surface, soon liquefying, forming a funnel-shaped area, later the medium was liquefied with a creamy white sediment in the bottom of the tube. Milk. — Sterilized milk inoculated produces in three days a slight blue layer on surface, which increases in intensity, becoming quite blue for one- third of an inch on the seventh day. On the eighth day it appeared rather muddy; on the ninth day only a faint blue color remained; it coagulated milk with a IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 137 blue liquid on top. The curd was dissolved slowly. In twenty- five days the process was completed, excepting a small portion in the bottom of the flisk. Dunham' s peptone solution. — No color produced; the medium became cloudy, which was in no way characteristic. It failed to grow in Dunham’s rosalic acid solution. Several blue organisms have been described. Bacillus cyanogenus is a well known inhabitant of milk. This is a non-liquefying, actively motile bacillus. Has not been found here at Ames. Gessard has shown that in presence of an acid it produces an intense blue color, and in milk not sterilized containing lactic acid germs, a sky blue color is produced. Jordan has also described a Bacillus cyanogenus, which is less motile forming a deep brown color on potato, but he says undoubtedly Bacillus cyangenus. Beyerinck^ has also described a blue organism obtained from cheese, the Bacillus cyaneo-fuscus. The original paper has not been seen but according to the description given by Sternberg this is a small bacillus 0.2-0. 6 u. long and one half as thick. It is an aerobic liquefying motile bacillus, and when cultivated in a solution containing one-half per cent of peptone the culture media acquires at first a green color, which later changes to blue, brown and black. Subsequently the color is entirely lost. More recently Wm. Zangemeister'^ has described a biciilus cyaneo-fluorescens. This species is in many respects similar to Bacillus cyanogenus. It is however somewhat shorter and very actively motile. Gelatin is not liquefied and the bright greenish fluorescent pigment dfliuses through it. Our species also came from cheese and the blue color disap- pears, but the organism in question never produces a black color. The species so far as we have been able to determine is new, and we have therefore given it the name of Micrococcus cyanogenus. Staphylococcus pyogenes, Ogstonvar. Rosenbach.— This, the most common of the pyogenic micrococci has been found quite frequently here at Ames. It has at different times been isolated from ordinary carbuncle, fistula, dirt under the finger nails, etc. It has been found more commonly in suppurative abscesses than any other organism. It is pathogenic to mice ^Sternberg: Manual of Bacteriology p. 727. 3Kurze Mitteilungen uber Bakterien der-blauen Milch. Oentralblatt f. Bakt. u Parsitenkunde. Erste Abt., XVIII, p. 321. 138 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. and rats. Old cultures, however, soon loose their virulence. A culture nine months old failed to cause any lesions in mice, not even the local formation of pus. St. pyogenes, Ogston var. ciireus Passet. — This species has not been found spontaneously in any of the cases of pus studied, though it has been cultivated in the laboratory. It has been included with the pyogenic cocci because of its occurrence in pus. Passet found the organism in the pus of an acute abscess and Sternberg* says: “As to its pathogenic properties, we have no definite information. It is included among the pyogenic bacteria because of occasional presence in the pus of acute abscesses, although it has heretofore only been found in association with other micro-organisms.” Mice have been inoculated here at Ames but in no case did fatal sep- ticaemia follow. We have, however, had no trouble in obtain- ing pus at the point of inoculation under the root of the tail. From this pus, pure cultures of the organisms were obtained. St. ptyogenes Ogston var., fiavescens Trev. — Obtained from the fistula of a horse by Dr. S. Whitbeck in bacteriological labora- tory, Iowa Agricultural college. This organism does not differ from the foregoing in size; in color, however, it is much paler, being an ochre yellow. It produces fatal septicaemia in mice when fresh cultures were used, but in this case pure cultures were not obtained. Streptococcus cinnabar eus, Flugge. — Obtained at first from butter, but probably came either from the air or water. Color in different media is quite constant, except in blood serum, where its color is much paler. It grows quite characteristic on the surface of bouillon, forming spherical masses paler than in agar or potato. A nearly related species was isolated by Dr. W. B. Niles from the heart of a diseased steer affected with corn-stalk disease. It differs from the cinnabarcus in the change of color. It is dark lemon- yellow at first, and then changes to a brick-red. This species will be described in another connection. Sarcina lutea Schroter. — This well known organism occurs chiefiy in the air. Gelatin and agar plates exposed to the air invariably show this organism. It comes up somewhat more tardily than the non-chromogenic species. They appear as small, yellow, spherical colonies. The canary-yellow growth liquefies gelatin quite slowly. The same organism has been ^Manual of Bacteriology p. 273. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 139 obtained frequently from butter and milk, but the organism undoubtedly came from the air. N. aurantiaca Flligge. — This organism is also quite commonly met, and appears on gelatin and agar plates exposed to the air. Bacillus jluorescens Uqaefaciens Flligge. — This common inhab- itant of water also 'occurs on potato, milk and butter. Scarcely a sample of water can be plated without obtaining this organism. B. 'pyocxjaneus Gessard. — This has been obtained several times from wounds and Dr. S. Whitbeck obtained a pure culture in open synovial bursa. Inoculation into the peritoneal cavity was followed by death in forty-eight hours. In old cultures there is a gradual tendency for the organism to lose its power of forming coloring matter. Gessard"^ has isolated two pigments a fluorescent green and a blue, the latter called pycoyanin. Bacillus prodigionsus Ehrenberg. — This species is well known to most bacteriologists. It has long attracted attention because of the red stains produced on potatoes, boiled bread, and the red color it imparts to milk. According to several investi- gators this organism is not a native to this country. The species is however, recorded at Ames by Bessey. He commonly obtained a red organism on sliced potatoes exposed to the air. There are of course several red organisms and as the organ- ism was reported before the era of modern bacteriological methods I must therefore express some doubt as to the correct determination of the Bacillus prodigiosus found by Bessey. The senior writer has at various times had cultures of this organism in the laboratory. Thus we had good growing cul- tures in 1889, 1892, but all attempts to make old cultures failed. In 1894 a blood-red colony came up in culture plate. Cultures of this organism had never been in this laboratory so far as we know. In the spring we had received from Dr. Irving W. Smith, cultures of several species obtained from the laboratory of Johns Hopkins University. The cultures appeared pure but they may have been contaminated. The senior writer observed this organism on one other occasion in the botanical laboratory of the Shaw School of Botany, St. Louis. Cultures of B. prodigiosus were obtained from rotting sweet potatoes, but European cultures were common at the time in the labora- 5Gessard. De la pyocyanine et de son Microbe. These de Paris, 1882. Nouvelles recherches sur la Microbe pyocyanique. Ann. d VInstitut Pasteur. Vol. IV, 1890, p. 89 6Bull. Dept, of Botany, Nov. 1884. 140 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. tory. Professor Trelease thought it probable that the species came from the E aropean cultures. We are therefore inclined to believe with Jordan, Russell, and others that the species is not native in this country. FUNGUS DISEASES OP PLANTS AT AMES, IOWA, 1895. BY E. H. PAMMEL AND GEO. W. CARVER. In previous papers record has been made of the abundance of parasitic fungi for the years of 1891, 1892, 1893 and 1894.^ Wq hope to continue these observations for the purpose of making comparison. Obsarvations from year to year with climatic conditions should make it possible to say how much climate modifies the appearance of disease. Observations in a climate like ours are valuable because of the changeable conditions as to humidity and rainfall. Prom the nature of the diseases of plants it is difficult to make exact statements. We must speak in relative terms. In 1893 Puccinia graminis^ P. ruMgo-vera and P. coronata were very destructive. In 1894 these rusts were not absent, but they were nob destructive; in fact, scarce as compared wfith 1893. In the study of diseases of plants the condition of the atmos- phere with reference to moisture is an important factor. The universally low humidity of the atmosphere in 1894, no doubt, largely determined the amount of rust that year. So low was the humidity that during the growing season dew was an unusual condition. We append table, giving rainfall, relative humidity, 7 A. M. temperature (ma-ximum and minimum), for the months of May, June, July, August and September, taken from the records made at Ames by Dr. J. B. Weems, Mr. W H. Heileman. 1 L H. Pammel, Jour. Mycology, VIE, p. 95. Agricultural Science, VIE, p. 20. Proc. Iowa Academy of Science, II, p. 201-203 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES, 141 31 CO«D 30 1.95 CO O CO t- 39 00 1?^ cot- §§ 1 : COOi 05 0 2T .08 oo CO rr 26 ^ 1 : a> t- oo ^ 1 : oo oo ^ 23 b- O 1 I 1 ; iMin t-fO 21 t— ' oco 20 c^o O CO 19 CO O CO 18 64 47 17 OO? O S 1 : O o OCO 15 .17 O CO o^ - 1 ! CO XC CO 1 : rr CO lO CO S 1 : CO o OOl ^ 1 • CO t— O CO s h 64 44 ^ i cc. 1 : OOl CO o ^ 1 : o o CO xo 6 1.18 05 o t-iC 5 .02 O' 05 b-O ^ 1 1 o 00 O 3 .38 X(0 O CO xo 2 .36 xo O t-liO 1 .03 o o t-o Rainfall Rel. hum. 7:00 a. m.. Temperature— max . Temperature— min.. 1 mm; O 1 •XCtH^ CO 1 -t> ooxn 05 1 ior-^o •CCt-kO 1 i&SS 1 O? 05 0? 05 ■ COb-^ €0 1 005^05 CCl 1 -b-t-*^ lO i (M 1 •«ot-in (M Sr CO ^ O ^ CO ‘05 GO to 01 1x0 • CO GO 1-1 • XO O (M ‘t-COxC O • XC t- ‘OOCOkC 19 'to' 80 56 00 CO to o rH • b- b- XC 1 ‘oo^- 1 -05C040 to b- •t-ODtO ^ xo o tH I • t-00 to tH 1 05 -H -pH to • 05 CO XO CO ’"I 1 1 O •COGOXC s 1 1 1 » 05 CO xo s • C75 b- XO 1 • 05b-X0 o ^ >0 05 0> • 05 to to c 1 1 to CO CO to -i- • to GO to 00 • tH CO to •b-coto t- o? 05^J> • b-OOXO CO •00 •t^GOO xo • TH t:- 05 • b-b-^ •to COCO ■!>tO^ CO 1 , GO 1 O CO CO o • CO »o or i to O CO XO • fc-GOtO - 1 ; -xcot^ ' • 05 05t0 Rainfall Rel. hum. 7 :00 a. m. . Temperature— max. Temperature— min.. t-H • 05 O 0? CO ‘C^caoxo O •»0"^05 CO 'OSt-p^ 05 (M •0-^00 •05G0XC 1 05 CO O XJO xo CO 0? • GO GO to 0? CO CO 'H4 !-»(?.? • 05 00 to to • XC 05 O? O? •O5G0tO 1 05 xo (MXOOO? O? • 05 GO to (M O xo b- 05 00 iO S5 1 005 to 05 ?> XQ S i 05 o xn CO b-XO cr ! 05 '•tH b- C5b-lO 1 05 O CO 05 o? o IM -05C0t0 05 1 tH xOtO(T? 05 GO to 00 tH XO to g:5 05 to 1 o? b- 00 0? 05 to rH • l> GO to to • xo CO xo rH ^(05 C?5CO i o? XO 0? XO GO 0? rH 1 •05C0XC 1 CO rtl rHXOO5G0 rH •O5G0XC ^3 1 O 00 xc ■— ICOCO b-ooxo s 1 85 80 56 05 rH 'yj to b— b- rjH cc t- lO i-J ^ t- to xo tOQOxO CO 1 to CO CO CO 05 lO lO to to -H CO 00 to 86 85 67 CO GJ5XOCO ^ 0500 0 ro o xo to ^ 1 05 00X0 ^ 1 xotoo GO 00 to Rainfall Rel. hum. 7 :00 a. m . Temperature— max . Temperature— min.. rH ‘OOOrH CO j • b- to rtl O rHrHCOO? CO •0500X0 05 IpHO^O O? • CO b- xc CO r_j 05 t- 0? Hc5b-io t- 1 or _^o5o:? •GOOOtO or •ciooin ^ S-iO— 'fO or • 05 1- 50 33 1.93 85 93 66 or 1 84 85 59 o 1 1 b-OOxO s 1 00»'-00 GO b-'HH S 1 o — ' tOb-XO ^ 1 xO ^ GO CO XO O'-HrH 05 05 to XO r, 05 or rH 1 CO GO to ^ 1 XO^ b- GOCOXO CO I CO 05 to oy '•5H rH GO GO 05X0 ^ 1 GO CO XO b-CO XC o rH OllftO OICOCO CS5 tO-^ “T. • b- 05 to CO ^-^rH GO 05 b- b-O5X0 to GO to to o«r?xo GOCCXO lO ooo 05 CO to 1 { to rj o rH b-to ^ • GO 00 xo ^ 1 84 85 61 Rainfall Rel. hum. 7:00 a. m.. Temperature— max . Temperature— min . 31 30 oo— ' CacOCO ^ 1 OXCO b-xO CC CO 1 1 tOtOb- to 41.J CC cr 1 b- XC ^ b-tOrH ^ 1 XO to GO to to CO SI 1 rHOOtO 05 b-^ CO CvB XOXOC? coto^ 1 to 1 tO(MCCtO C<1 1 • GO CO (M rH -rHCOCC (?? 1 • b- GO to 1 (M O COtOGOrH C^? 1*0 COCO 05 •’^OCO rH ‘b-CTib- GO • CO C? OO rH •b-05t0 b- I • X.O CO ir- rH j »05 05t0 to • XC b- rH TH •tJSGCtO 1 to xo O5b-000? rH 1 • CC 05 to ^ 1 CO ^ 05 rH 1 b-GOxO 1 f>t CO XC HJ OOGO rH • 05b-x0 b-o CO GO to 11 C5C0C? GO 05 to 10 01 c? 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They have been reported as occurring on the ash, oak, pine, alder, butternut, elder, blueberry, cranberry and some of the larger grasses and weeds. SUMMARY. The study of this genus just recorded only adds one more instance to the many giving evidence against the immutability of species. Here we have four species, of which the larger and lighter varieties are widely separated, and easily recognizable by constant and strikingly distinct color markings, while at the other end of the series are small dark forms only capable of separation and recognition by reference to structural char- acters rendered indis inct by deep coloration. To still more complicate matters, proteus excepsed, they have intermediate light green or glaucus forms which so grade into each other in size and shade that it is only on structural characters In gen- eral, and the shape of the apical cells, in particular, that they can be separated. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 193 The structural characters upon which the species have been founded have proved so constant, within measurable variations, for all the dilferent varieties, that I am confident the species and the synonymical determinations will stand. The limitation of sub-species and varieties, v^hile as accurate and complete as the 400 specimens of available material would allow, will doubt- less undergo some expansion and correction with the accumula- tion of new and larger collections of material. In conclusion I wish to acknowledge indebtedness to Messrs. Gillette, Liiitner, Ashmead, Weed, Fernald, Goding, Skinner, VanDuzee, Sirrine, Maliy and Gossard and Miss Beach for the privilege of examining material, and for other favors extended, and to Professor Osborn, in particular, for the use of his pri- vate collection and the department material, and for his invalu- able counsel and advice.* EXPLANATION OP PLATES. PLATE XI. Figure 1. Clastoptera ohtnsa. Say. Color markings of Sub-species I. ohtnsa. Showing color markings of faces. Figure 2. C. ohtusa-ohtusa. Figure 3. C. ohtusa-oshorni. Figure 4. C. obtusa-lineatocoUis. Figure 5. C. proteus-nigra (variety b.). Figure 6. C. pro tens Pitch. | Figure 7. C. xanthocephala Germ.* Figure 8. C. dclicata-lineata (variety a.). PLATE XII, Venation of upper and under wings represented by one species from each genus as a type. The venation seems to be very constant within generic limits, as far as I have had opportunity to examine, with the exception of Philsenus which either possesses two types or else there is another as yet unrecognized genus represented in our fauna. Figure I. Wings of Monecphora bicincta, Say. Figure II. Wings of Philsenus sp. Figure III. Lepyronia 4-angularis Say. Figure IV. Aphrophora quadrinotata, Say. Figure V. Philsenus sp. o I'igure VI. Clastoptera obtusa, Say. * This work has been done in the entomological laboratory of the Iowa Agricul- tural College, and submitted as a graduating thesis. 13 194 IOWA. ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. PLATE XIII. Figure 1. Leg of Aphrophora quadrinotata, Say, showing double row of spines. Figure 2. Leg of Lepyronia quadrangularis, Say. Figure 3. Leg of Clastoptera proteus, B'itch, showing single row of spines. Figure 4. Side view of C. delicata, Uhl., showing outline of face. Oblique dorsal view of same showing inflation of front. Figure 5. C. proteas, Pitch, same as above. Figure 6. C. xanthocephala, Germ. Figure 7. C. ohtasa, Say. Figure 8. Venation of hemelytra, C. delicata. Figure 9. Same for C. proteus. Figure 10. Same for C. xanthocephala, Germ. Figure 11. Clastoptera obtusa, Pitch. 1, 2 and 3; first, second and third apical cells, a and b; first and sec- ond discoid cells. PLATE XIV. Figure 1. Abdomen of Lepyronia quarangularis Say, male, ventral view. Figure 2. Female, of same. Figure 3. Male, dorsal view. Figure 4. Abdomen of Aphrophora parallela, Say, male, ventral view. Figure 5. Female, ventral view. Figure 6. Same, dorsal view. Figure 7. Abdomen of C. obtusa, male, posterior view. Figure 8. Female, same view. Figure 9. Abdomen of C. xanthocephala. Germ., male, posterior view. Figure 10. Female, same view. OBSERVATIONS ON THE CICADID.® OP IOWA. HERBERT OSBORN. The members of this interesting group of insects, which con- tains the largest of our native Homoptera, have at least four representatives in the state of Iowa and it is the intention to call attention to these in this paper and also to put on record some observations regarding their habits and distribution which may serve as a basis for further investigations concerning them. Cicada dorsata Say. One specimen of this large species n the collection of the Iowa Agricultural College from a student who stated that it was taken in Poweshiek county, is the only example indicating its occurrence in the state. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 195 THE DOG-DAY CICADA. {Cicada tibicen Linn.) This is our larger common species, and one which, by its penetrating note, renders itself a conspicuous feature of the autumn weeks. First described by Linne it has since received various appellations opercularis, Olivier; pruinosa, Say; lyricen, DfeGeer and canicularis, Harris. This synomony arises partly on account of the variability of the species. This variation is considerable when its range over a large part of the United States is considered, but within our own state this variation is somewhat limited . Specimens collected here generally conform closely to the description given by Say for his pruinosa. Its distribution is quite general and I assume that it occurs throughout the eastern part of the state, at least, and in general over the timbered portions. I am assured by good observers, however, that there are places in the northwest part of the state where it is unknown. Specimens have been collected or received from many widely different localities. In spite of its abundance and wide distribution our knowl- edge of its habits and life -history is very meager, though it is stated to require two years to complete its growth and to deposit its eggs in apple trees as one at least of the plants it may injure. THE PERIODICAL CICADA OR “SEVENTEEN- YEAR LOCUST.” {Cicada septen-decem Linn.) The “seventeen-year cicada” is doubtless the most interest- ing of all the Cicadas on account of its phenomenally long larval life. As is well known it lays its eggs in twigs of vari- ous trees and the larvae entering the ground feed upon the roots of plants, and require a period of seventeen years to complete their growth. Two broods are represented in the state. Brood F, Distribution. — In 1888, the locust year for the east- ern part of the state, I secured, through the state crop service, reports from many of the localities which gave decidedly use- ful information with reference to limitations of the brood and comparison with previous occurrences. Records were received from over thirty counties and about ninety correspondents. The limits of this brood have been outlined heretofore by Mr. Suel Foster, Dr. William LeBaron and Prof. C E. Bessey. 196 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Dr. LeBaron (2d Kept. 111. Insects p. 130) writes as follows: “In the Prairie Parmer for July 29th, a brief outline of the locust range was published by Mr. Suel Foster, of Muscatine, Iowa, but in this outline, as Mr. Poster himself stated, many gaps were left undetermined. I have found Mr. Poster’s out- line to be, in the main, correct, and have filled, as far as pos- sible, the gaps which he left. I will take the same starting point with Mr. Poster, namely, the junction of the Iowa River with the Mississippi in Louisa county, Iowa. Thence, in a northwesterly direction, following the eastern branch known as the Cedar River as far north as about opposite the mouth of the Wisconsin river. Thence east in about the same line of latitude to Lake Michigan, following the Wisconsin river so far as it lies in this line, thus leaving out the northernmost counties of Iowa and the two lower tiers of counties of Wisconsin.” The rest of the description refers only to territory outside of Iowa. In 1878 at the time of the occurrence of Brood XIII in south- ern Iowa, Prof. C. E. Bessey, then of the Iowa Agricultural College, collected data for the determination of the boundaries of that brood and incidentally collected considerable informa- tion concerning the distribution of Brood V in the eastern part of the state. His report upon this investigation appeared in the American Entomologist, Vol. I. N. S., p. 27, As there given the area included is considerably greater than that outlined by Dr. LeBaron. He does not seem to have noticed the record of LeBaron given above. His outline is as follows: Starting at nearly the same point in Wapello, Louisa county, the line he draws extends more to the westward, including the western or low^a branch of the Iowa river as far west as into Tama county, and considerable territory to the southward, including all of Johnson, more than half of Iowa and a portion of Poweshiek counties. Prom Tama county northeastward to the extreme northeast corner of the state includiug nearly all of Black Hawk, Payette and Allamakee counties, and part of Bremer, Chickasaw and Winneshiek, with a possible extension westward so as to include all the counties to the north and east of Tama, though reference to his notes indicates some of the counties included, as Allamakee, Winneshiek, Black Hawk, Payette and Bremer to be doubtful. IOWA ACADEMV OF SCIENCE?, VOL. II[ PLATE XT. E. D. Ball, del. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOD. TIT. PLATE XII. E. D. Ball, del. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 197 The counties reporting Cicadas for 1888 are as follows: Ben- ton, Black Hawk, Bachanan, Clayton, Clinton, Cedar, Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott, Tama. This shows only the counties reporting but does not indicate the extent or distribution in the counties, and this, for the border counties particularly, is quite important in fix- ing a definite boundary. I took pains therefore to locate the particular township from which the reports came, which was possible by examining the records at the secretary’s office in Des Moines, and was thus able to locate the actual boundary usually within six miles at most, certainly within the limits of the ordinary flight of the insect. The line of townships beginning at the Mississippi river in Muscatine county and naming those on the border line from which positive reports were received is as follov/s: Muscatine county, Fruitland, Cedar; Louisa county, Columbus City; Iowa county, York, Summer; Benton county. Saint Clair; Tama county, Clark, Geneseo; Black Hawk county, Spiny Creek; Buchanan county, Sumner; Clayton county, Cox Creek, Clayton. For convenience sake we may carry our line through the towns and villages nearest this line and it will be approxi- mately as follows: Fruitland, along south line of Muscatine to Columbus City, then along the west of the Iowa river till in Johnson county, then northwest to York Center, Iowa county and to near Ladora, then northeast to Blairs town, then north- west to Dysart, then northeast through Laporte City, Independ- ence, Strawberry Point, Elkader and Clayton. The area of natural timber corresponding for the most part with the valleys of the rivers and smaller streams, the distribu- tion of Cicada may be pretty accurately expressed by defining them, and on this basis they may be said to occur in the valley of the Iowa river from Columbus City to west of Marengo, in the valley of the Cedar river and its tributaries as far to the northwest as Laporte City. In the Yv^apsipinicon to Independ- ence, in the Maquoketa to Strawberry Point, in the Turkey to Elkader, and north on the Mississippi from south central Muscatine county nearly to McGregor. Numerous reports not specially indicated, attest their abun- dance in all the central counties of this area and need not be specified but some which bear particularly upon the border line may be quoted here. 198 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Mr. V. C. Gambell, a student in entomology whose home was at Winfield, in Henry county, saw no locusts there but a man in that vicinity reported hearing them and had seen one shell. This is rather uncertain testimony especially in view of absence of reports from this and the adjoining county to the north. If correct it shows a very feeble representation of the insect there. Mr. Gambell noticed in traveling on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad from Brooklyn to Iowa City that the trees were injured, apparently by Cicada. If all due to Cicada this would carry the brood into Poweshiek county several miles further west than indicated by other reports. Mr. E. N. Eaton of Keota, in the extreme east of Keokuk found no locusts and no reports of them for that county. Mr. P. H. Rolfs reports for the central eastern border of Tama county that there were no locusts and none for about five miles to the east of the county line, while Mr. F. A. Sir- rine reports for a point about six miles further north that locusts were in Tama county, two miles west of the county line in Geneseo and Clark townships, but not in townships west so far as he could learn. The following additional statements from correspondents have a special significance in determining the border line; Louisa county, Wapello township, “None; a few in north part of the county. ” Columbus City, “Locusts present.” In Keokuk county. Clear Creek township, “None here this year, but here seventeen years ago.” Prairie township, “None yet; were here seventeen years ago.” Garman township, “No locusts, last in 1877” [1878 Brood XIII probably]. Iowa county, York township, “Locusts in limited numbers in northeast third of this township.” Poweshiek county, Malcom township, “None.” Sheridan township, “None.” Bear Creek township, “None. None seventeen years ago.” Warren, “None yet, July 15th. Were here sixteen and seventeen years ago; second year in great nunbers and did great damage to fruit trees and shrubbery.” Chester township, “No seventeen year locusts to amount to anything; appeared in 1861 and 1878.” [Brood XIII]. Black Hawk county, Spring Creek township, “Yes, and seven- teen years ago.” East Waterloo township, one correspondent says: “ No, never here.” Another says: “No. A few seven- teen years ago.” Payette county, Westfield township, “None; IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES. VOL. III. PLATE XIII. E. D. Ball, del. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. III. PLATE XIV. E. D. Ball, del. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 199 none seventeen years ago.” Eden township, “ None. ” Jeffer- son township, “None within thirty- four years to my knowl- edge.” Clayton county, Giard township, “None this year; a few seventeen years ago.” Brood XIII. — Professor Riley (1st Ann. Rept. State Entomol- ogist of Mo.) mentions this brood as occurring along the southern border of Iowa, but does not specially define its limits . The 1878 occurrence was studied by Professor Bessey and the data collected enabled him to define the limits of the brood with considerable exactness (Amer. Entom., N. S. VoL I, p. 27). According to this record they occurred in the following counties: Van Buren, Davis, Wayne, Decatur, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Wapello, Monroe, Union, Louisa, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Warren, Madison, Adair, Cass, Iowa, Powe- shiek, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Marshall, Story, Boone, Greene, Hamilton, and they were assumed to occur in the counties embraced within the area encompassed by these, Clarke, Appa- noose, Ringgold, Washington, Johnson, as indicated on his map, outline of which is shown. (Plate XV.) On the recurrence of this brood last season (1895) I published requests in a number of state papers and also obtained from students and others, data covering as much territory as possi- ble. Tne responses to the published requests were not so general as could be wished. In some cases m.any reports com- ing from the same locality, while a number of counties, where they must have occurred, furnished no reports. Taking the counties reported in their order from the eastern border of the state they run as follows: Louisa, Keokuk, Poweshiek, Tama, Marshall, Story, Webster, Boone, Dallas, Madison, Union, Decatur, and for counties within the outer limits, Polk, Jasper, Marion, Monroe, Wapello, Jefferson, Van Buren, Lee. The counties within this area which must, in all probability, have been visited, are Warren, Mahaska, Lucas, Wayne, Appa- noose, Davis, Washington, Henry, Des Moines, while the doubtful ones are Johnson, Iowa, Hamilton, Greene, Guthrie, Adair, Ringgold. Reports from Iowa and Johnson are quite positive as to their non-appearance in those counties, though it is possible our informants could speak for only a part of the area. There is also a probability that they occurred in Hamilton county, close to the Des Moines valley at least, if not in the Skunk. 200 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. In Greene, Guthrie and Adair they may have occurred in the valley of the Raccoon or tributaries. By river valleys, then, which give really the more impor- tant distribution, we can say that they appeared in the Iowa valley at Louisa county, were absent or possibly scarce in Johnson and Iowa counties, but present in Tama and Marshall and north as far as Marshalltown; in the valley of the Skunk river from its mouth to Ames in Story county; in the valley of the Des Moines and its tributaries as far north as to near Fort Bodge and Lehigh, and in the Raccoon in Dallas county; also in the valley of the Grand river and its tributaries in Decatur, Union and Clairke counties. Comparison of the points giving actual occurrence in 1895, represented on our map by square black spots, with the out- line of Professor Bessey’s map shows a reduction in most of the outline, with a slight extension in the Des Moines valley. These reports on the whole would suggest a reduction of the area, and many of the reports state a reduction in number of cicadas as compared with previous occurrences. It is of course impossible with the records for even three or four occurrences to draw any conclusions as to the future his- tory of the insect or assign causes to any apparent changes, still seme suggestions as to probable influences may not be out of place as indicating lines of future observation and record. It is evident that many years must elapse before the problems connected with the species can be properly discussed. Admitting that the broods in these respective areas have declined, it is interesting to inquire into the possible conditions affecting the perpetuation of the species. It should be borne in mind that the great bulk of settlement in these parts of the state occurred between the appearance of the broods in 1854-1871 and 1861-1878 respectively, and that the settlement resulted in some important changes of the timber distribution. These changes took two forms, first a diminution of the natural timber belts along the streams from the neces- sities for fuel and in much less degree the clearing of limited tracts for cultivation. Second, an extension of the timbered area by the planting of groves, wind-breaks, orchards, etc., on the treeless portions. The former I believe not to have affected the area or quantity of timber very greatly, as it would be made good by the natural growth and extension and, especially as regards the Cicada, had, I believe very little influence. The IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 201 latter, though perhaps having very little effect as increasing the actual quantity of timber, seems to me a much more impor- tant factor in connection with the Cicada problem. These insects show a very decided tendency to deposit their eggs in young trees, and in 1871 and 1878 found abundant opportunity in the numerous young orchards and groves developed since their prior occurrence to satisfy this propensity, so much so that they must have in many places deserted in no small degree the natural timber areas for these artificial ones. Now, it seems natural to suppose that depending normally for their food on roots common to areas of natural timber they should have been met with a deficiency of such food in many of the localities to which the adults had fiown to deposit eggs, and consequently have failed to develop and mature. Such an infiiience will, of course, not be permanent and if this be the only factor of importance Cicada should recuperate in the future. It has been my privilege to observe personally the occur- rences of both these broods since 1871, and I hope to have the opportunity to observe many of their generations in the future. TIBICEN RIMOSA, SAY. This species, which may be considered as belonging more particularly to the northern and western fauna, is represented in this state by a depauperate form and in the northern and western portions by a form more closely approaching the west- ern type. It was described by Thomas Say in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. for 1830, p. 235, who ascribes it to the Missouri and Arkansas and says further ‘‘Mr. Nuttall presented me with two specimens which he obtained on the Missouri, and I found one on the Arkansaw.” While Mr. Nuttall’s specimens may have been secured on Iowa soil the probability seems strongly in favor of a location further west in the then extensive territory of Missouri. But slight mention has been made of the species since that time and if it is found in the Mississippi valley as a species at all common, it has failed to receive due mention. It is col- lected in abundance in the Rocky Mountain region, and I have numerous specimens from Colorado and New Mexico. Aside from the depauperate form to be mentioned further, I have specimens from Tama county, collected by Mr. P. A. 202 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Sirrine, of the larger form approaching typical examples also from Worth county, collected by Mr. S. W. Beyer. It occurs somewhat commonly in the northwest part of the state and probably is responsible for some of the reports of seventeen year Cicada emanating from that quarter. Mr. E. D. Ball, a graduate of the Agricultural college and whose home is at Little Rock, Lyon county, states that it is found quite abundantly throughout the prairie regions of the northwest part of the state and that it was more abundant in the 70’s, before the prairies were broken up, than at present. He gives some interesting observations regarding its habits, the most striking being that it occurs on prairie land remote from tim- ber, thus indicating a habit quite different from the other mem- bers of the genus. He states that in herding cattle on the ranges years ago, he has seen them as many as four or five to the square rod. of grass in localities where the nearest trees were ten miles away and these only bush willows fringing a stream. During the summer of 1893 he carefully observed them in a lot in town. The lot was bordered on two sides by a double row of trees, box-elder and maples. At any time plenty of the cicades could be found or heard in the grass, but careful search- ing failed to find a single one or any indications of egg deposi- tion. They occur more abundantly in the rich upland grass at the foot of a hill or bordering a meadow, a situation equally favorable to the growth of certain prairie weeds, notably the ‘^shoestring” or Lead plant, Amorplia canescens, which has a very tough woody stem, a plant which was particularly abun- dant in the lot above mentioned. The cicadas were frequently seen on this plant, but no eggs were found. They appear the latter part of June and only live for two or three weeks at most. The form of this species which occurs at Ames is much smaller and with more extensive orange markings than in the western forms ; it is by no means co mmon and no observations have been made as to its breeding habit here. It is so different from the larger Rocky Mountain form that were it not for the inter- mediate forms occurring throughout the range of the species as a whole, there would be little question as to its being recog- nized as distinct. This form agrees with the one described by Emmons as noveboracensis. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 203 MELAMPSALTA PARVULA SAY. This interesting little species has been taken once at Ames and this is, so far as I know, the only record of its occurrence in the state. It is a more southern form, being credited to the southern states as far north as southern Illinois and central Kansas. Very likely it may be found occasionally in the south- ern part of the state when collectors become more plentiful. Any addition to these records will be gratefully received and duly credited in future records. BIOLOGIC NOTES ON CERTAIN IOWA INSECTS. HERBERT OSBORN AND C. W. MALLY. The following notes are extracted from Bulletin 32 of the Iowa Experiment Station, and embrace such portions of work upon certain injurious insects as have a biologic interest. We are indebted to the Experiment Station for the use of the figures. THE GROUND CHERRY SEED MOTH. {Gelechia sp.) Our attention was called to this insect by Dr. J. C. Milnes, of Cedar Rapids, who reported it as very destructive on wild ground cherries under cultivation; writing further, that this cherry being very prolific and of excellent quality would be a desirable garden plant were it not for the great injury from this pest. The specimens sent contained the insect in the pupa stage. Cultivated ground cherry at Ames suffered from similar attack, and the pest seems likely to occasion much loss. Examination of wild ground cherries in the vicinity of Ames revealed a considerable injury from the pest, and steps were taken to secure the early stages and determine as fully as pos- sible the habits of the insect. Out of 1,000 berries examined 130, or 13 per cent were infested. All of these infested berries contained the pupae enclosed in a white silken cocoon which filled most of the cavity of the berry, the seeds being entirely devoured. Near the stem end of the berry and opposite the head of the pupa was an opening presumably prepared for the emergence of the moth. 204 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Observations on these berries would favor the conclusion that the larvae develop within a single berry, no injured berries being found which did not contain pupae. However, two ber- ries were found with an opening on the side and containing well developed larvae with very little of the inside of the berry devoured, suggesting that the larv«, under exceptional condi- tions migrate from a berry of insufficient food material to a fresh one. But very few larvae were found and these during the last week in September. They were at that time mature and apparently ready to pupate; so of the early molts and even of the full grown larvm we cannot give a satisfactory description. Those observed vrere rather contracted, spindle-shaped, whitish, with a reddish-brown head, sparsely haired. Pupation occurs during last two weeks of August and is in nearly all cases completed by the last of the month. The pupae are dark brown, six mm. long, and no distinctive characters that would separate them from related species were detected. The cocoon is thin but of tough, close woven silk. In forming the cocoon the larva attaches itself to the blossom end of the berry by means of the caudal prolegs and then builds the cocoon which practically fills the cavity of the shriveled berry. Fig. 1. (GelecMa sp.) a, injured berries, b, moth, c, mature larva, d, pupa, e, parasite Centeterus suturalis. Moths first appeared October 3d, so the period of pupation may be stated as from two to three weeks. The moth shown at 6 in Pig. 1 is of a gray color with darker spots on the wings. It closely resembles G. quercifoliella. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 205 Out of the 130 berries containing pupse mentioned above we secured four specimens of moths. This low per cent of adults is due to the fact that a large proportion of the pupae, over 100, were destroyed by a fungus, apparently quite similar to Sporo- trichum, and of the remainder a number were attacked by a Hymenopterous parasite {Genteterus suturalis Ash), seven of which issued prior to September 24th. The fungus was not observed to attack healthy berries, always making its appearance after the hole bad been made near the stem, and, while it seemed to develop in the tissues of the berry, there seems scarcely any doubt but that it is a par- asite of the insect. Some of the Hymenopterous parasites issued from berries showing fungus growth, so that it would appear possible for these to resist the fungus, even when pup^ were infected with it; that is, supposing the fungus to infest primarily the Gelechia. Doubtless a parasitized larva would be a more easy victim of fungus attack. The appearance of moths so late in the season, the impossi- bility of their producing another brood, and the improbability of their depositing eggs in any situation where they would winter and assure the larvae access to their food plant the fol- lowing spring, almost forces us to the conclusion that the moths hibernate and deposit eggs when ground cherries bloom the following season. This view is strengthened by the fact that a specimen was captured in an office room of one the col- lege buildings December 7, 1894. Nevertheless, so long an existence of the a^dult for so delicate a lepidopterous insect seems doubtful, and the possibility of some pupae hibernating or of a spring brood of larvse, even in some situation different from the berries of Phy salts, must not be overlooked. This species, as already intimated, very closely resembles G. quercifoliella, and it was so determined with some doubt by Mr. Marlatt from specimens sent to Washington for identifica- tion. The fact that it affects a totally different plant indicates it to be quite distinct from that species. It is certainly differ- ent from yhysaliella as described by Chambers, and has a totally different larval habit, that species being said to mine the leaves of Phy salts in September, to pupate in leaves and rubbish on the ground, and to issue as adult in April. Still another species described as physaltvorella was thought possibly to represent our form, though no record of its larval characters or habits were accessible. Mr. Marlatt has, however, kindly 206 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. compared our specimens with three specimens of physalivorella in the National museum, and states, “these are very distinct from your specimen.” “ The latter agrees quite well with G. quercifoliella, but may be a distinct species.” From this it seems most probable that this insect is unde- scribed, but we prefer to leave the technical description to some specialist in this group of delicate and inetresting moths. ON THE EARLY STAGES OP THE IMBRICATED SNOUT BEETLE. {Epicaerus imbricatus Say.) While this species has been recognized as a pest since its first economic treatment by Walsh in 1863, our knowledge of its life history has remained as meagre as at that time, nothing being known as to its early stages, except the record of egg laying by Professor Forbes. This led us, on receiving specimens of the beetle with the report of their in j ary to strawberry plants, to attempt their breeding upon this food plant. While we did not succeed in tracing the full history of the species, the securing of eggs and the partial development of the larvse, and the possibility that this clue may assist in the further elucidation of its history is our excuse for presenting this fragmentary account. On May 14, 1895, the adulis were placed on a strawberry plant having three or four open leaves and a number of small berries. They immediately crawled up the stems and soon began feeding upon the leaves, cutting a crescent correspond- ing to a line described by the end of the snout. The crescent was apparently quite uniform but soon became irregular when the beetle had to move in order to reach the tissue; so in reality there is no regularity in devouring the leaf and finally nothing is left but the veins and a few angular fragments of leaves. By the following day the effect on the leaves was quite apparent, the beetles eating rapidly, and by the 20th the leaves were ail devoured except a few dry, curled pieces and the stems. They did not attack the berries, but in some cases ate the sepals at the base. The beetles began pairing the first day and continued for five or six days. No eggs were observed till the 21st when a number of small, white, glistening eggs were found under a fold of a leaf and as no folded or dry leaves had been left on the plant these eggs had certainly been deposited by the Epicaerus. On the 22d another leaf containing eggs was found IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 207 and these, with those previously found, were placed by a fresh leaf that had been carefully freed from all matter that might possibly contain eggs of other species, and the beetles removed to avoid possibility of their injuring the egg. The eggs appeared in all cases to be protected by a fold of leaf carefully glued down. Fig. 8. Epicaerus imbrioatus eggs. (Drawn by Miss King.) Forbes^ says of Epicaerus that they “were found by experi- ment to feed freely on pear leaves, and also to lay their eggs upon these leaves, concealing their deposit by gumming another leaf to the surface.” The eggs are 1.3 inm. long, glistening white, nearly cylindri- cal, sometimes very slightly curved, the ends broadly rounded, the surface smooth, transparent and the shell very thin. The first larvae to hatch escaped before being seen, the empty shells being first noticed on the 30 ih. Hatching there- fore occurs within ten days from time of deposition. Other eggs isolated and kept under close observation showed that the larvae immediately work their way into the ground and these observed in root cages, during the following three weeks, could be seen to move about among the roots and as they very evidently increased in size and appeared to thrive it is safe to say that they fed upon the roots of the strawberry plant. The death of the plants in the root cages and the loss of the larvee unfortunately brought the observation to an end. The young larvm are two mm. long, without any trace of eyes or legs. They are yellowish- white in color, the head from above oval with a few strong bristles and the mandibles very conspicuous. The maxillary and labial palpi are short, stumpy and in the living larvae stand out rather prominently from the under side of the head. The body segments are pro- vided with a few small hairs. 1 Sixteenth Eeport State Entom., 111. p. 76. ■208 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Adult beetles have been observed in autumn, as early a& August, but the probability is that only one brood occurs each year, the adults surviving the winter. This fragmentary result enables us to say with certainty that the eggs are deposited in dry and folded leaves of the food plants of the adults and that the larvae immediately enter the ground to feed upon the roots. To this extent they show what measures of control must be adopted for this insect. Fig. 9. Epicaerus imbricatus. a, b, young larva, back and side view, c, head above. d, head below, e, terminal segment. (From drawings by Miss King ) THE COSMOS WEEVIL. {Baris confinis Lee.) This weevil, Fig. 4, w"as found September 1, 1895, to work very extensively in the root-stocks and the base of the larger branches of Cosmos bipinnata causing the ultimate destruction of the plant. - The presence of the insect is first manifested by Fig. 10. Baris confinis. (Drawn by Miss King.) the breaking off of the larger branches. By examining the base of these branches, and especially the root- stock, it will be IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 209 found that numerous white larvae and pupae about one-eighth inch long are present and working in the woody tissue of the plant. They make small tunnels, packing the borings around them much as does the potato-stalk- weevil. They pupate in these tunnels and emerge as a small black beetle. The adult when first formed is white and takes on the black color gradually, beginning on the head and thorax and then extending backward to the scutellum and base of elytra and then gradually over the whole body. The adults are quite active but drop to the ground as soon as disturbed and remain very quiet for some time. Specimens of the adults kept on plants under observation in the laboratory worked in the young tender tissues, either eat- ing into the terminal portions or into the stems at the axils of the leaves, almost burying themselves and finally causing the small leaf or branch to break down, as do the larger branches. They were not confined entirely to the parts just mentioned but would eat into the little leaflets as they were expanding, thus preventing their complete opening. One individual was found boring into the end of a broken stem making its way into the pith and almost disappearing in a short time. It remained in that position for some time. Think- ing that it might be a female and that the eggs were being deposited, the cavity was examined at the end of four or five days, but no eggs were found. This adult was placed on a grow- ing plant and soon began feeding in the young tissues as stated above. On one small plant in the laboratory the young leaves were so badly eaten into that the plant died in a short time. One specimen was taken while collecting in the woods August 31st. So the species undoubtedly infests other plants besides the one recorded above. Nothing can be stated concerning oviposition and the early larval stages. As stated above, numerous fully grown larvae and pupae were found in the root-stock and base of the larger branches September 1st. A few fully colored adults were found a few days later. One root- stock was isolated during the sec- ond week in September and adults kept gradually issuing until about the middle of October. From this one root- stock as many as twelve to fifteen specimens issued besides the numerous larvae and pupae that were removed for the purpose of examination. Since no eggs were deposited by the specimens kept under observation and adults were still very active after the plants 1 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. ^10 had all been killed by frost, it is quite safe to say that they hibernate and deposit eggs the next spring, there probably being but one brood each year. A nearly related species, determined at the Division of Ento- mology, U. S. Department Agriculture, as Baris dolosa Casey, was bred in small numbers from the same stems. It was thought to be the same and differences in appearance due to imperfect maturing, but there is a decided difference in form of thorax and it seems probable that both species breed in the same plant and with practically the same life history. DESCRIPTIONS. Larva: Fig. 11, a. The fully grown larva is about 5-32 in. long and 1-16 in. diameter, and a yellowish- white color; head light brown, mandibles reddish-brown; legs represented by mammiform protuberances. The body tapers somewhat toward posterior end, the last segment usually showing four bristles. Fig. 11. B. conflnis. a, larva, b, pupa. Pupa: Pig. 11, b. About the same length as larva, but com- paratively wider. Head (from beneath) fits closely to the body, eyes not especially prominent; antennae wide in proportion to the length, normally not projecting beyond the sides of the thorax, club conspicuous, usually somewhat denser in appearance. Snout reaches base of first pair of legs and shows small, roundish portions at tip corresponding to the mouth -parts. First and second pair of legs clumsy in appearance; joints of the tarsi indicated, the last one distinctly curved; third pair of legs hidden, only a slight portion being visible along the inner margin of the hind wing-pads. Pour abdominal segments visi- ble for their entire width. The last segment usually has two apical bristles and a group of small spiny processes. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 211 Adult Fig. 10. (a, dorsal view; b, side view; c, tarsus.) Widest at base of elytra and tapers strongly toward either end; shining black, glabrous; numerous medium sized punctures on the thorax and between the striae of the elytra. Snout about 1-24 inch long, curved, usually extending directly downward, but sometimes drawn backward or slightly pro- jected forward. Thorax narrows perceptibly toward the head. Tarsi strongly pubescent beneath, claws strongly curved, diverging. Elytra emarginate at tip, making the tip of abdomen more distinctly visible from above. REMEDIES. Collecting and burning the old root- stocks and stems in early autumn will be the most effective treatment that can be sug- gested from present knowledge of the species. AN INSECT OCCURRING IN WATER TANKS AND RESERVOIRS. {Ghironomus sp ) Early in July I received some specimens of a slender red larva from Boone, with the following letter: Professor Osborn: Dear Sir— Enclosed I send a sample of the worm that appeared in our city water about a week ago in countless numbers. Would like to know what they are and where they would be likely to come from. The water we use comes from a 3,000-foot well, but about two weeks ago our pumps failed and we were supplied with water from a forty-five foot vein owned by the C. N. W. Ry. Co., and pumped to our reservoir through a hose. Yours truly, ’ E. E. Chandler, Chairman Water Committee. Boone, Iowa. The larv^ were evidently Ghironomus, and in replying to the letter it was so stated and that in themselves they could be considered harmless, though of course the presence of masses of such ugly looking creatures would be objectionable, and if dying in the water they might become a source of pollution Also that the larvae must have gained access to the water from the eggs of the adult mosquito-like insect being deposited in the reservoir or the mains by which it was filled. They could not be derived from a deep well. It was suggested that pro- vision be made to exclude the insects from the water to prevent deposition of eggs. The larvae (Fig. 12) a and b , which are an inch or a little more in length and of a light red color with green reflections on the sides near the head, construct a tube at the bottom of 212 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. the water in which they live, and in this remain protected and from it extend themselves to obtain food. The food is for the most part apparently minute aquatic organisms, algae, etc. Their presence might be considered a means of clearing water of such matter did they not at times become so numerous as to prove an element of danger. Fig. 12. (CMronomus sp.) a, larva, dorsal view, h, side view, c, head and first seg- ments of body, d, terminal segments of body showing appendages, e, upper surface of head. /, lower surface of head, p, side. dorsal, i, ventral view of pupa. (Orig- inal, drawn by Miss King.) IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 213 Later in conversation with Mr. G. W. Brown, a civil engi- neer of Boone, it was learned that the water was pumped into a large cement lined reservoir which contained the larvae in immense numbers and was without question the point where the eggs were laid, it being exposed to easy access by insects. It appeared also that the larvae were drained into the mains at times when the reservoir was low, doubtless causing strong currents over the bottom. Specimens have also been received from Des Moines. When mature they change to a delicate pupa (Pig. 12, A, i,) and then rise to the surface of the water and soon the adult insect escapes from a slit along the back of the pupa case. The adult is a delicate mosquito-like insect (Pig. 13.) belong- ing to the genus CMronomus but it cannot be referred to any of the described species and the present state of the classification of this genus is such as not to warrant us in giving it a scien- tific name or description. Fig. 13. (CTiironomus sp ) a, adult male, d, antenna of female. (Original). The insect is of interest at this time because of the great number of water tanks and reservoirs established, not only in cities and towns, but on many farms, and the probability of its frequent occurrence where these are open to visits of the adults. Exclusion of the adults, where practicable, may be accom- plished by the use of ordinary mosquito netting or wire gauze. Where this is impracticable the providing of an inlet to dis- tributing pipes that will draw water from a few inches above the bottom of the reservoir (which might further be protected by a fine screen) will, it is believed, avoid the distribution of the worms in the mains. 214 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. CONTRIBUTIONS TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE THRIP- ID^ OF IOWA. ALICE M. BEACH. This paper represents the results of a study of some of the Thripidse of Iowa, and is based upon an examination of mate- rial found in the collection of the Iowa Agricultural College, some specimens kindly loaned by Miss Emma Sirrine, Messrs. F. A. Sirrine and C. W. Mally, and some in the writer’s own collection. Descriptions of seven new species and three new varieties are herewith presented, including a new species of Phloeothrips described by Prof. Herbert Osborn. The descrip- tions are preceded by an artificial key, arranged to aid in the identification of all the described Iowa species known to the author. The table for the determination of genera is substan- tially that found in Comstock’s Introduction to Entomology, pp. 125-127. The writer is indebted to Mr. Pergande for an outline of the characters of Euthrips, and is under special obli- gations to Professor Osborn for valuable aid in the prosecution of this work which has been done in the Entomological Depart- ment of the Iowa Agricultural College. TABLE FOR DETERMINATION OP GENERA. A. Last abdominal segment in both sexes elongated, narrow, tubular; both pairs of wings similar, veinless, margins equally ciliated; maxillary palpi two-jointed; borer in female absent Sub-Order I. Tubulifera. B. Contains but a single family Earn. I. Tubuliferidse. C. Contains but a single genus ___Gen. 1. PhlcBothrips. AA. Last abdominal segment not elongated and tubular in both sexes; both pairs of wings unlike in structure, front wings always veined; margins unequally ciliated; maxillary palpi three- jointed; borer in female present Sub-Order II. Terebrantia. B. Females with borer curved upwards Fam. II Stenopteridae. BB. Females with borer curved downwards. _ -Fam. III. Coleoptratidae. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 215 FAM. II. STENOPTERID^ . A. Body above netted with elevated lines... Gen. 2. Heliothrips. AA. Body above smooth. B. Abdomen clothed with silky hairs; apex conical, formed alike in both sexes. Gen. 3. Sericothrips. BB. Body smooth; apex of abdomen unlike in the two sexes. C. Prothorax produced in front, and narrowed Gen. 4. Chirothrips. CC. Prothorax not produced in front and narrowed. D. Last segment of abdomen with a pair of spines in female; male, wingless Gen. 5. Limothrips. DD. Last segment of abdomen unarmed. E. Last two segments of antennae shorter than the sixth segment Gen. 6. Thrips. EE. Last two segments of the antennae longer than the sixth segment Gen. 7. Belothrips. FAM. III. COLEOPTRATID^. A. Antennae with nine distinct segments Gen. 8. Melanthrips. AA. Antennae apparently five jointed, the last four segments being minute and compact B. Body somewhat flattened; meso-metathorax broad; front wings without fringe on costal border, and with four distinct cross veins; males with lateral abdominal appendages Gen. 9. Coleothrips. BB. Body cylindrical, mesothorax and metathorax constricted, wings rudimentary Gen. 10 Aeolothrips. SYNOPSIS OP IOWA SPECIES. GENUS PHLCEOTHRIPS, HAL. A. Proximal joint of anterior tarsi armed with a tooth on inner side ..1 A A. Proximal joint of anterior tarsi unarmed.. 2 1. With postocular bristle; three bristles on each side of pro- thorax; antennal joints 3-6 yellow verhasci, Osb, Without postocular bristle; a single bristle at each posterior angle of prothorax; antennal joint 3 and base of joint 4, some- times base of joint 5, yellowish.. oigra, Osb. 2. Black; head slightly longer than wide; tube three times as long as wide caryie, Pitch, Purplish-black; head one and one-half times as long as wide; tube twice as long as wide mali, Pitch. Phloeothrips verbasci, Osb. Description follows this paper. Phloeothrips nigra, Osb. Can. Ent., Vol. XV, p. 154 [1883]. Phloeothrips caryoe, Fitch. [Third Report.] Trans. N. Y. State Agr. Soc. for 1856, Vol. XVI, p. 446. 216 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. PJiloeothrips mali, Fitcb. [First Report.] Trans. N. Y. State Agr. Soc. for 1854, Vol. XIV, p. 806. GENUS HELIOTHRIPS, HAL. This genus is represented in the collections by a single species, H. hcemorrhoidalis, Bouche. It is probable that H. dracmnce Heeger also, which occurs frequently in hothouses in this country and in Europe, is found in this state. These two species may be separated as follows: Fuscous, apex of abdomen ferruginous; antennae and feet pale; first and second joints of the former fuscous, sixth joint black hasmorrhoidsilis, Bouche. Yellowish-brown; wings white, sub-fasciate with brown Heeger. Heliothrips limmorrTioidalis, Bouche. Naturgeschichte der schadlichen und ntitzlichen Garten - Insekten, p. 42 [1833]. Heliothrips dracmncB, Bouche. Sitzungsb. d. mathem — naturw.Klasse d. Wissensch., Vol. XIV, p. 365 [1854]. GENUS SERICOTHRIPS. One species, Sericothrips? perplexa, containing representatives of the male sex only, has been doubtfully referred to this genus. This species possesses well marked characters, evidently of generic importance, which do not accord with those of any genus of this family with which I am familiar. They are as follows: Head somewhat flattened or depressed and produced in front with the ocelli placed very far forward; fourth antennal joint decidedly longer than the third, apex of abdomen in male formed like that of females of this family. In Burmeister’s Handbook of Entomology, Vol. 2, p. 413, the genus Sericothrips is characterized as having the abdomen covered with silky hairs, head hidden up to the eyes in the thoracic segment and the tip of the abdomen formed alike in both sexes. In the enumer- ation of species, the same authority records but a single species, hence it may prove that a more extended knowledge of allied forms will make it necessary to enlarge the limits of the genus, therefore it seems best to place this species here provisionally rather than to erect a new genus. Sericothrips? perplexa, n. sp. Male: Length, 1.33-1.55 mm. General color fuscous; legs and annulus on antennas yellowish; thorax tinged with yellow-ferruginous; abdomen IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES, 217 ■except apex, varying from pale to deep fuscous; anterior wings subfuligi- nous, clearer at base. Form slender; bristles and spines short, inconspicu- ous; head, from dorsal view, subpentagonal; antennae seven-jointed, approximate; ocelli placed very far' forward toward front border of head; posterior angles of prothorax bisetose; spines on cubitus 15-16, arranged in a basal series of three or four followed by an intermediate group of nine, and this by two, more widely separated, at distal end of vein. Head, seen from above, subpentagonal, its greatest length equal to its greatest width; sides constricted behind eyes; front margin produced, and subangulated in middle, its width almost completely occupied by the antennae; eyes dark red-brown, of medium size, moderately granulated, pile scattered, long; posterior orbits depressed, with a row of short sparse hairs parallel to them; vertex scarcely elevated, gradually descending toward apex where it merges into the front; ocelli yellow, inner margins red; anterior ocellus on upper margin of front; lateral ocelli contiguous to upper orbits; ocellar bristles moderately long; small bristles between ante- rior ocellus and the eyes; occiput striate, provided with two weak bristles; front produced to base of antennse thence receding toward clypeus, fur- nished with a row of four weak bristles just beneath antennae and two similar bristles near clypeal margin. Antennse seven- jointed, approximate, base plainly visible from above; joint 1 shortest and thickest, one-half the length of the second; joints 2-4 increase in length in the order named; joint 4 is nearly as long as joint 6, which is larger than any other joint; joint 5 is slightly longer than the second and more slender than any of the preced- ing; joints 6 and 7 are closely united and together pyriform in shape; the latter is nearly one-half the length of the former; the first joint is sub- rotund; the second, somewhat barrel-shaped; the third subfusiform; the fourth and the sixth elongate- ovate; the fifth submoniliform; the seventh lanceolate, its base narrower than the apex of the sixth; bristles and sen- sorial spines of joint 4 placed nearer the middle than usual. Prothorax subquadrate, scarcely broader than head; sides very slightly constricted at anterior border; posterior angles narrowly truncate, pro- vided with two bristles; shorter bristles or hairs are scattered over a trian- gular area extending backward from the front margin, and a smaller area near the posterior angles; anterior angles provided with equally small, but heavier bristles; surface apparently smooth; mesoscutum broadly convex, nearly smooth, furnished with short inconspicuous bristles each side and two submedian bristles on disc. The scutellum, obtusely ridged, feebly sculptured, provided with two short, heavy, approximate bristles on ridge near basal margin. Abdomen slender; apex abruptly conical, resembling that of females of this family; sides distinctly sculptured; segments with a few bristles or coarse hairs laterally and on apical border of their ventral surface; caudal segments with longer and stronger radiating bristles arranged in two rings as in females. Legs slender; anterior femora scarcely expanded; posterior tibiae spiny on inner margin and at apex; their tarsal joints with apical spines. Anterior wings lanceolate, humeral angle moderately arched; cubitus -extending entire length of wing; radial vein obsolete at base and nearly obsolete at tip; costal spines, 22-24; cubital spines, 15-16, arranged in 218 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. groups, three or four at base, followed by a group of nine, and this by two more widely separated, placed at distal end; radial spines, 13; anal spines,. 5; longitudinal vein of posterior wing distinct. General color fuscous; third and fourth joints of antennae entirely and sometimes base of fifth, legs, except more or less of dorsal surface, yellow- ish; thorax, especially the sutures, tinged with yellow-ferruginous; abdomen varying from fuscous to yellowish or pale fuscous; apex always dark; dorsal aspect of femora generally concolorous with head; anterior wings sub- fuliginous with a broad, indistinctly defined, pale sub-basal band; posterior wings subhyaline. Described from eleven specimens taken at Ames, Iowa, on Cjperus, corn and in sweeping grass in August and November. GENUS CHIROTHRIPS, HAL. This genus is represented by a single species, Chirothrips antennata, Osb., which is of a brownish-black color with third joint of antennaB paler; second joint is quite characteristic,, being trapezoidal with acute angle outward. Ghirotlirijjs antennata, Osb. Can. Ent. VoL, XV, p. 154. [1883.] GENUS THRIPS. A. Head of medium size; eyes moderately prominent; antennal joints 3-5 elongate _1 AA. Head small; eyes very prominent; antennal joints 3-5 not elongate - 8 1. Antennae eight- jointed ___2 Antennae seven-jointed 7 2. Sixth joint of antennae annulated 3 Sixth joint of antennae not annulated 6 3. Ocelli widely separated; long bristles at all angles of pro- thora'x; spines present at apex of ail tibiae, numerous and heavy on wings, on radial vein 12-14 4 Ocelli subapproximate; single bristle of medium length at each posterior angle of prothorax, none at anterior angles; spines present at apex of posterior tibiae only, on radial vein 2 5 4. Size medium; head, from dorsal view, rectangulari antennae approximate - - [Euthrips) tritici Pitch. Size large; head from above pentagonal; antennae subapprox- imate. __ {Euthrips) maidis n. sp. 5. Wings more or less distinctly clouded; brown markings on thorax and band at base of abdominal segments 2-7 distinct variabilis, n. sp^ Wings nearly uniformly fuliginous; brown markings distinct on thorax; abdomen immaculate var a. Wings and body, pale; markings, obsolete var. b. Wings distinctly trifasciate; broad brown band on head IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 219 and thorax respectively; abdominal segments 1-3 and 7-10 entirely brown var. c 6. Head, from dorsal view, semiovate; ocelli subapproximate, conspicuous; spines and bristles, short and few; bristles on penultimate segment of abdomen equally long striata, Osb. Head, from dorsal view, subrectangular; ocelli remote, inconspicuous; single strong bristle at each posterior angle of prothorax; intermediate bristles on penultimate segment of abdomen, one-half as long as lateral bristles, inasqualis, n. sp. 7. Size medium; antennas sub-approximate; ocelli inconspicu- ous; prothorax, transverse; bristles at posterior angles of medium length; spines at base of cubitus arranged in two groups t abaci, Lind . Size large; antennse approximate; ocelli, conspicuous; pro- thorax, subquadrate; bristles at posterior angles of prothorax, long; spines at base of cubitus in single group ..lactucas n. sp. 8. Antennas eight-jointed; ocelli approximate; spines and bristles, except those on abdomen, long and slender; bristle at middle of each lateral margin of prothorax, one at each ante- rior and two at each posterior angle.. pallida, n. sp. Thrips {Euthrips) tritici, Fitch. [Second report.] Trans. N. Y. State Agr. Soc. for 1855, p. 536; Osborn Can. Ent., Vol. XV, p. 156 (1883). Thrips (Euthrips) maidis n. sp. Female. Length, 1.83-2.mm. A large species slightly variable in color, brownish-black, but sometimes paler; annulus on antennse, extremities of femora and tibiae, lower surface of the latter and sutures of abdomen yellow- ish-white; thorax, especially its sutures, tinged with yellowish-ferruginous; anterior wings dusky white; head pentagonal, front margin produced and rounded in the middle; ocelli distant, antennae subapproximate; spines and bristles 'Strong, blackish, arranged much as ins', tritici. Pitch; costal spines 25-29; cubital, 19-23; radial, 15-16; anal, 5; internal, 1, Head, from dorsal view, pentagonal, scarcely broader than long; its sides parallel; anterior border produced and rounded in the middle; occiput less than one-half the length of the head measured on a median line, plainly striated; genae uniformly full; eyes rather large, coarsely granulated, feebly pilose; orbits yellow, encircled with a few short hairs; ocelli, pale yellow, margined with red crescents, widely separated and arranged in a broad triangle with its lateral angles contiguous to superior orbits; vertex broad, gently convex between lateral margins; produced cephalad and provided with a transverse row of four short hairs near its anterior margin; the front wide with medial, longitudinal elevation; antennal sockets occupying less than its entire width, making antennse subapproximate, more widely separated than in E. tritici, Pitch; anten- nal joints 3 and 4, occasionally base of 5, white, the rest, black; joint 1 globose, more than one-half as long as joint 2; the latter subglobose, somewhat contracted toward base, both joints more robust than those fol- lowing: joints 3-5 elongate, submoniliform, decreasing in size in the 220 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. order named; the third nearly as longf as the sixth; apical joints subequal, minute; all joints thinly covered with microscopic hairs; bristles or stiff hairs on basal and intermediate joints which on distal joints are replaced by slender hairs; sensorial spines on the third, fourth and sixth joints, dis- tinct; clypeal, subantennal and postocular bristles present, the last less conspicuous than in tritici; mouth parts distinctly asymmetrical; each joint of maxillary palpi cylindrical, narrower than the preceding; first and third subequal in length, and second shorter than either. Prothorax about one and one-half times as broad and equally as long as preceding segment; anterior angles rectangular, posterior rounded, sides slightly converging cephalad; disc striate and sparsely hairy; front and hind borders more deeply striate or rugose, bristly; the most conspicuous bristles are arranged as follows: One long bristle at each anterior and two at each posterior angle; two shorter bristles on anterior margin, two on posterior margin and one on disc near each posterior angle. Meso-metathorax, subquadrate; mesoscutum more finely striate than prothorax, with small bristles, one at each lateral angle, two near and two on posterior margin; scutellum as long as mesoscutum, narrow, not strongly carinate; base transversely striate, sides longitudinally rugose; basal bristles as in tritici. Abdomen broad, ovate, basal segments and sides sculptured, bristles similar to those of tritici. Legs, with numerous short bristles; all tibiae and joints of posterior tarsi with terminal spines; anterior femora incrassate, their tibiae stout. Wings rather broad; humeral arch not prominent; surface minutely pilose; veins distinct, uniformly and heavily spinose; anterior and poste- rior basal cross veins present; cubitus inserted in marginal at tip of wing; radius obsolete at proximal end, but perceptible before it unites with the posterior basal cross vein; costal spines longer than those on the other veins, numbering from twenty-five to twenty-nine; cubital, from nineteen to twenty-three; radial, from fifteen to sixteen; anal, fi\re, gradually increasing in size from one to five; internal, one; posterior wings hyaline; longitudinal vein indistinct, except at base. This form approaches closely the dark colored specimens of tritici, from which it may be separated by its larger size, the annulus on the antennae, and especially by the shape of the head, which is pentagonal instead of rectangular, and the less approximate antennse- Described from twenty-nine specimens taken at Ames, Iowa, in July, August, September and January. Thrips variabilis n. sp. Head transverse Antennae eight-jointed, distant; ocelli approximate. Each posterior angle of prothorax provided with a single medium sized bristle; bristles on penultimate segment of abdomen not strongly radiat- ing, not extending backward beyond the base of the succeeding row; radial ; vein bispinose, obsolete; legs slender. | Female. Length from .84-1.23 mm. Head one-half as long as ' broad; viewed from above, subrectangular; anterior margin straight; occi- | put short, transversely convex and striate; distinct oblique depression behind each eye; genae moderately full; vertex abruptly ascending, tumid | IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 221 across whole anterior border; ocellar area small, elevated; ocelli approxi- mate, inner margins heavy, conspicuous: ocellar bristles not more than one-half the length of the head; eyes large, prominent, feebly pilose. Antennae eight-jointed, distant, moderately bristly; basal joint short, thick, hidden from dorsal view by vertex; the following joint longer, more robust, globose; joints 3-6 elongate; joint 3 the longest, subfusiform; joint 4 a little shorter than joint 3, elongate-modioliform; joint 5 obovate, inter- mediate in length between 2 and 4; the remaining joints sessile, together elongate-conical; joint 6 equal to joint 4 but a little stouter; joints 7 and 8 minute, together one-half as long as preceding, line of separation between them oblique; sensorial spines on joint 6 originate beyond middle; four short bristles in transverse row on front above antennse, and one behind each eye; mouth parts nearly symmetrical. Prothorax broader than long; anterior angles prominent, rectangular; posterior angles broadly rounded and furnished with a single bristle; sur- face plainly and uniformly marked with transverse striae, with a few short slender bristles on front margin and more on disc. Mesoscutum is quite con- vex from base to apex, marked with fine transverse striae, and provided with four short bristles on disc. Scutellum with triangular area at base striate as in mesoscutum, furnished wdth four basal bristles. Abdomen broad, ovate; sides, under high power, appear thickly set with minute appressed hairs; a pair of bristles occurs on disc of each seg- ment from the second to the seventh; they are approximate on the second and gradually become more widely separated on the succeeding segments; lateral bristles few and short; apical border at sides and on ventral surface of segments bordered with minute cilise interspersed with coarse hairs or bristles; caudal spines rather light; those on penultimate segment directed backward and extending only to base of following segment; terminal spines a little longer than the preceding, radiating at sides. Legs very slender, somewhat bristly; tarsi elongate; anterior femora not dilated; apex of intermediate and posterior tibiae and of posterior tarsal joints terminating in short spines; inner margin of posterior tibiae feebly spinose. Wings; veins heavy; in anterior pair radius and cross veins obsolete; costal spines number 22-30; cubital, 20-26, arranged in two series; radial, 2; anal, 4; one near base of anal ceil; longitudinal vein of posterior wing very heavy for two-thirds of the length. Male. Length, 78-86 mm. Resembles the female very closely. Differs in being of smaller size, in having from 23-25 costal spines, 20-21 cubital: the remaining spines on the wing as in female. The apex of the abdomen is more blunt; the anal segment is cleft on either side, the lateral lobes terminate in two spines; the middle lobe is prolonged consider- ably beyond the lateral lobes, making apex more pointed than apex of male of T. tritici. The spines on preanal segment are similar to those in female. This species presents considerable variation in color. The extreme forms are quite distinct and might almost be considered separate species were it not that in addition to the similarity in structure there is the occur- rence of a series of intergradient forms. 222 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Var. a. Female: General color yellowish -white, meso-metathorax pale yellow, basal joints of antennae concolorous with head, joint 3 and base of joint 4 dusky; the remainder of the antennae and spot at distal end of tarsi, brownish-black; eyes dark red-brown; ocelli nearly colorless; inner margins red; anterior wings indistinctly clouded with fuliginous at base, distal portion clearer; brown markings as follows: A clearly defined saddle-shaped patch on posterior portion of prothorax, concave along its front border, nearly interrupted by a wedge-shaped incision extending forward from posterior border; anterior border of mesonotum; scutellum except median stripe; bands at base of abdominal segments two to seven, dilated at sides, and narrower and fainter along intervening space; patch on upper side of all the femora, darkest on posterior pair. One specimen, taken on clover August 14, 1893, and one on hackberry, October 6, 1893, Ames, Iowa. Another specimen taken on hackberry, October 6, 1893, at Ames, Iowa, corresponds with the description of variety a except that the thorax is a deeper yellow. Another specimen taken on elm, August 21, 1834, is more uniformly yellow, the anterior wings more uniformly dusky, bands at base of abdominal segments narrov/er and other markings fainter. A fourth specimen that may be placed in this group resem- bles the first, but it is of a deeper yellow color; the markings on the prothorax are prolonged farther backward, and the wings are more uniformly fuliginous. Ames, Iowa, Oct. 8, 1893. Var. h. Male and female: Body pale yellowish, immaculate; apical joints of antennae black, remainder pale; wings and fringes tinged with yellowish. Hawthorn and hackberry, Ames, Iowa, October 6, 1893. Var. c. Male and female: Wings nearly uniformly fuliginous; last three joints antennae, distal half of joints 4 and 5 black, sometimes inter- mediate joints altogether dusky; brown markings very distinct, confined to two large spots on thorax and scutellum respect! ve.ly, the latter oblong and approximating posteriorly; abdomen immaculate. Hawthorn and hackberry, October 6, 1893, Ames, Iowa. Var. d. Male and female: This variety is characterized by having the wings fuliginous, trifasciate with white bands, and in being more heavily marked with brown; the markings on the thorax and bands at base of first, second and third (sometimes of second and third only), and seventh and eighth segments of the abdomen are extended until they coalesce and form broad bands; the dorsal surface of the head is brown; sometimes all of the caudal segments are brown; the legs are white, with brown streaks on dorsal surface of femora, and frequently on tibim also; antennae as in pre- ceding variety. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 223 On smartweed, June 16, 1893, and on cucumber, July 28, 1893, Ames, Iowa. By the shape of the head and by the antennal characters this species is allied to T. tritici, but it may readily be distinguished from it by the smaller and more approximate ocelli, the absence of large conspicuous bristles on the thorax, the differ- ence in the number of spines on the wing, and the more slender legs. Thrips {Euthrips) striata, Osb. Can. Ent., Vol. XV, p. 155. Thrips inequalis, n. sp. Female: Leng-th, 88 mm.; yellow; style and distal portion of antennal joints, 3-6, black; joint 6 distinctly annulated toward apex; posterior angles of prothorax with a single bristle; lateral bristles on dorsum of penultimate segment of abdomen twice as long as intermediate pair. Head, broader than long, contracted at posterior border, occiput form- ing not more than one-half of its dorsal surface; gense uniformly full; eyes of medium size, moderately prominent, distinctly pilose; vertex uniformly tumid at anterior margin, becoming transversely convex and descending toward posterior margin; ocelli subapproximate; front, above insertion of antennae, longitudinally elevated along median line. Antennae subapproximate; the two basal joints stout, subequal; the second barrel-shaped, more than one-half as long as succeeding; joints 3-6 subequal in length and less elongate than in T. tritici; joints 3 and 4, thick, irregularly turbinate, gibbous below insertion of sensorial spines; joint 5, smaller and more regular in shape; the remaining joints form an elongate oval; joint 6 has a distinct articulation on distal half, similar to the annulation on the sixth antennal joint of T. striata, Osb.; this may be an indistinct annulation, in which case the antennse would be properly considered nine-jointed, three of the joints forming the style; the ultimate joint is nearly cylindrical and longer than the penultimate, which is of the same length as that portion of the joint 6 between the annulation and the apex; the joints are furnished with a few medium-sized bristles or stiff hairs, which become finer toward the distal end of the antennse; sensorial spines as in T. tritici. The pro thorax is one and one-half times as long as the head, equally as broad at anterior border and about one-third broader at posterior border. The disc is convex, rather indistinctly striate and sparsely set with stiff, blackish hairs or bristles, which are almost entirely wanting on median portion, and most numerous near lateral and posterior borders. Posterior angles with a single long bristle. The disc of the mesoscutum is convex, finely striate, elevated at posterior border, provided with a single short bristle near each lateral angle, two on disc and two on posterior margin. The scutellum is trapezoidal, gently sloping from the very small elevated area near base toward posterior and lateral margins; on the basal margin are two widely separated and two short approximate bristles. 224 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. The abdomen is ovate, resembling that of T. tritici, Pitch, in an arrange- ment of bristles, except that the median pair on penultimate segment is but one-half as long as those on either side. Legs, especially femora and tibiae, thinly covered with short, coarse hairs which are replaced by bristles at apex of anterior and intermediate tarsal joints; inner margin of posterior tibiae feebly spinose; its apex and apex of its tarsal joints terminating in spines; anterior femora, moderately dilated. Anterior wings nearly attain tip of abdomen: veins heavy; inner mar- ginal vein very distinct; costal fringe rather heavy; costal vein bears from 24-28 spines; radius, 18-19, those on basal half of vein separated into two groups of four each, the intervals between the rest growing wider toward the distal end of the vein; cubitus, 10-11; anal, 5; anal cell, 1. Color yellow, deeply tinged with orange on thorax and abdomen, faintly dusky along median line of thorax and abdomen; head and two basal joints of antennae, whitish; proximal portion of joints 3-6, dusky; remainder of antennae and spot near apex of tarsi, black; eyes, red-brown; ocelli, pale yellow; inner margins, orange red; spines and bristles black- ish; anterior wings and fringes tinged with dusky yellow. Described from a single specimen taken with T. tritici on aster at Ames, Iowa, September 16, 1893. Thrips tabaci, Lind. Schadiichsten Insekten des Tabak in Bessar. Abien., pp. 62-63. (1888 ) Thrips lactucoe, n. sp. Female: Length, 1.40 mm. General color pale yellow, with two broad diverging stripes on middle of thorax, a narrow band at base and one or more spots at sides of abdominal segments brown. Form elongate; anterior border of head convex. Antennae seven-jointed, proximal joints pale, remaining joints black. Wings variable in size. Ocelli conspicuous, placed close together near posterior margin of vertex. Spines and bristles stout, on thorax, arranged much as in T. tritici; the cubital spines are grouped into two series, a basal group of seven, followed by three, more widely separated, on distal portion of vein. Head scarcely broader than long; outline seen from above semiovate;. occiput, feebly striate, one-half the length of the head, with shallow, longitudinal furrow each side behind the eye; gense, broad, full, prolonged posteriorly; vertex elevated, convex between the eyes, ascending and expanding towards apex, front margin arcuate; ocelli conspicuous, remote from anterior border of vertex, inner margins heavy, contiguous in front;, ocellar area elevated; ocellar bristles of medium size; eyes, moderate, pilose; a row of bristles on front, beneath insertion of antennae, is partially visible from above; a few microscopic bristles around orbits; antennal sockets prominent, easily seen from above; antennae approximate, seven- jointed; the intermediate joints elongate; joint 1 is one-half the length of joint 2, equal to or longer than joint 7, semiglobose; joints 2-5 are sub- equal in length; joint 2 is cupshaped, a little shorter but much stouter than any of the three immediately following; joints 3-5 are moniliform; IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 225 pedicel of 3 is short; joints 6 and 7 together form an elongate oval; the latter is acuminate at apex two-fifths the length of the former and terminates in two or three long slender hairs; surface of all the joints set with minute appressed hairs and furnished with a few bristles which are arranged in a preapical ring on joints 2-5, and on remaining segments are replaced by slender hairs; sensorial spines on joints 3, 4 and 6, distinct. The prothorax is subquadrate, a little longer and wider than preceding segment; posterior angles nearly rectangular; posterior border margined; surface nearly smooth and, with the exception of two discal areas, covered with coarse, stiff hairs which are largest near lateral and posterior borders; two short bristles at each anterior angle and four longer ones near front border; two large, strong, subequal bristles at each posterior angle, two of moderate length on hind border, and a similar one on disc near each posterior angle. The surface of the mesoscutum is apparently smooth, its posterior discal portion only moderately elevated, provided with two small bristles; two similar bristles occur on the posterior border, and one at each lateral angle. The metanotum is very short. The scutellum is obtusely carinated, its surface longitudinally striate, provided with two approximate submar ginal bristles on anterior portion of disc, and two, more widely separated, on basal margin. Abdomen is quite uniform in width, convex above, striate at base and at sides; base slender; apex short, conical; segments constricted, bearing a few stiff hairs on dorsal and ventral surfaces and a few bristles at sides; both hairs and bristles become stronger on anal segments, where the latter are arranged in two rings. Legs, especially posterior pair, slender; anterior femora but slightly expanded; hind tibiae spiny on inner margin, terminating in three strong spines, joints of their tarsi also furnished with apical spines; entire surface bristly, especially at apex of intermediate and anterior tibiae. Wings varying in size from rudimentary to fully developed; the ante- rior pair slightly dusky, posterior pair hyaline; in fully developed wing the cilia on costal border of each pair is short and sparse, on posterior border longer but not very heavy; venation of anterior wings rather weak; ante- rior and posterior basal cross veins present, but not distinct; costal vein furnished with 18-21 spines; cubitus, 10; radius, 10-11; anal, 5; anal cell, 1; spines on cubitus are arranged in a basal group of seven, followed by three more widely separated on distal end of vein; longitudinal vein of posterior wings incrassate at base, not quite attaining tip of wing. Color usually pale yellow, deeper on thorax and legs, the latter frequently dusky; head and proximal joints of antennm white, intermediate joints brownish-black at base, the rest of the antennae deep black; occiput often tinged with yellow, sometimes dusky; eyes dark red-drown; ocelli yellow, inner margins brick-red; prothorax at margins, disc of mesonotum, pleurae, except upper portion of mesopleurae in front, narrow medium stripe on scutellum, pale; two spots or patches on prothorax, sometimes diffuse and coalescing sometimes nearly or quite obsolete, two broad, approximate stripes on scutellum, diverging slightly and extending outward and back- ward in a broken and interrupted line to lateral margin, upper portion of mesopleurae in front, brown; abdomen somewhat dusky, more or less pale 15 226 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. at sides and toward apex; narrow basal band on segments 2-7, expanding laterally and broken up into spots, one of which is more conspicuous than the others, brown. Femora and tibiae dusky or brownish on upper surface, pale on lower surface and at base, the latter also pale at tip; anterior wings dusky yel- lowish; spines brown. By its seven-jointed antennae. T. lactucse is allied to T. tabaci, Lind., but it is more heavily marked with brown; the color of the intermediate joints of the antennae is darker; the antennae and the ocelli more approx- imate; the ocelli more conspicuous and farther removed from the anterior margin of the vertex; the prothoracic bristles larger and less uniformly distributed, being entirely absent from two discal areas; those at posterior angles, longer; proximal spines on cubitus arranged in a single group. Described from numerous specimens taken on wild lettuce in October, November and March, at Ames, Iowa. T. lactucce bears some resemblance to T. tritici in size and general color, from which it may be easily separated by the fewer antennal joints, less rectangular head, less widely sep- arated ocelli, absence of long bristles at anterior angles of prothorax, less numerous cubital spines and their arrangement in groups, absence of spines at apex of intermediate and anterior tibia© and inner margin of posterior tibia©. From T. striata it may be known by the difference in number of antennal joints, absence of annulation on sixth joint, pres- ence of longer and more numerous spines and bristles. Thrips pallida n. sp. Female: Length 1.12 mm. Color varying from white to pale yellow. Antennae, beyond basal joints, more or less dusky. Head small, eyes large. Anterior wings partially trifasciate. Bristles on anterior portion of body long and slender. Prothorax characterized by the presence of a long bristle on the middle of each lateral margin in addition to those at anterior and posterior angles. Head small, about as long as broad. Occiput very short, not more than one-third the length of the head. Eyes dark red-brown, very large and prominent, sparsely and feebly pilose. Vertex narrow, elevated, trans- versely convex, ascending toward the anterior margin, the latter arcuate. Ocelli in middle of vertex, nearly colorless, their inner margins white, con- tiguous anteriorly. Ocellar bristles as long as the head. Front prominent, bearing a row of recurved bristles above insertion of antennae. Mouth parts short, nearly symmetrical. Antennae approximate; the two basal joints the stoutest; joint 1 semi- globose, one-half the length of joint 2; the latter is stouter than the former, barrel-shaped, equal in length to joint 5, and a little shorter than joints 3 or 4; these are robust, subequal in length and broadly obovate, the pedi- cel of joint 3 is short and slender; joint 5 is oval and less robust than the two immediately preceding; the remaining joints are sessile, together form IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 227 an elongate oval; joint 6 is longer than any other joint; joints 7 and 8 are short and of equal length, base of former narrower than apex of 6; apex of 8 is lanceolate. Bristles and hairs are of equal size, and arranged much as in T. tritici. The long sensorial spine on outer side of joint 6 originates below the middle of the joint. The prothorax is convex; its sides converge cephalad; its surface is nearly smooth , with a double median transverse groove or double impressed line and a few short and several long slender bristles, the latter arranged as follows: one at each anterior angle, two on intervening space of anterior border, one at middle of each side, one near and two at each posterior angle. The mesoscutum is longitudinally convex, its surface nearly smooth, furnished with two lateral bristles directed inward, and two smaller ones on disc and on posterior border, respectively. The scutellum is subrec- tangular, obtusely carinated, descending toward the apex; on basal margin provided with two distinct bristles which extend nearly to apex. The abdomen is slender at base, ovate, with few conspicuous bristles; those at apex of ultimate segment much shorter and weaker than those on preceding segment. Legs are moderately stout, bristly; anterior femora incrassate, their tibias stout; spines present at apex of posterior tibial and tarsal joints, on inner margin of tibiae replaced by bristles. The anterior wings are whitish, slender, rather thin, subfasciate with three dusky spots; the first near base of anal area, the other two dividing the remainder of the wing into three subequal parts; sometimes a faint spot may be detected near apex of wing; these spots are variable in distinctness and may be obsolete; ciliae of inner margin, light; of outer margin, sparse and scarcely longer than the spines with which they are interspersed. RadiaLvein is obsolete between base of wing and posterior basal cross vein, consequently it appears to originate in the cubitus. Both radius and cubi- tus terminate abruptly before attaining marginal vein. Cross veins con- necting costal and cubital veins are obsolete. The costal vein bears from 15-20 spines; the cubital, 10; radial, 5; anal, 4, and posterior marginal vein 1, placed opposite the posterior basal cross vein. The posterior wings are hyaline; proximal end of longitudinal vein incrassate. Male. Length .97 mm. Smaller than the female, but very similar in distinctive characters. Apex of abdomen is bluntly conical, less truncate than in male of T. tritici, partially trilobate, the lateral lobes are very narrow, shorter than the middle lobe, and terminate in a single long bristle. Penultimate segment terminates in a row of short sparse bristles, on dorsum, and single long spine on each side. Described from ten females and seven males. Taken on bean and elm at Ames, Iowa; on blackberry at Belle Plaine, Iowa, and on hop at Barraboo, Wis. Thrips pallida is a well marked species and is readily sepa- rated from the other species included in this paper by the small head, the presence of a bristle on middle of lateral margin of prothorax, the feeble armature of inner margin of posterior tibise and the number of spines on the front wings. 228 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. NOTE ON A NEW SPECIES OP PHLCEOTHRIPS, WITH DESCRIPTION. HERBERT OSBORN. In connection with the paper by Miss Beach on the Thri- pidas it seems desirable to describe a species which has for a long time been in onr collections, but has not received a techni- cal description. Pbiceothrips rerhasci, n. sp. Black, polished; head quadrate with a prominent post-ocular bristle; prothorax widened behind; first joint of anterior tarsi armed on inner side with a curved tooth. Pern lie: Head quadrate, very slig-htly constricted behind, a prominent bristle behind the eye; antennae light yellowish with dusky base and tip, joints 1 and 2 black, 3-6 yellow, 7-8 dusky, ending with two bristles; pro- thorax widening behind, with prominent angles, three lateral bristles; meso and meta-thorax subquadrate. Legs black except anterior tibiae and all tarsi which are yellow, the tarsi somewhat clouded with dusky. Anterior tarsi with a short curved tooth on inner side of first joint at mid- dle. Wings hyaline except base of anterior pair, which is fuliginous; anterior pair with no fringe at base; anal vein entire; median vein distinct at base, but becoming obsolete; three long spines in a row on the inner side of the median vein near base; posterior wings at base with two long, slender bristles near together on hind margin; abdomen at apex with six long and seven short bristles; tube reticulate. Male smaller than female and having two slender spines on a slight elevation at side of the anterior margin of the first segment of the abdomen. Length of male 1.50-1.60 mm., female 1.80-1.90 mm. This species stands near to nigra, Osb. , but differs decidedly from that species in the more quadrate head, prominent poste- rior angles of the prothorax, as also in the presence of two prominent bristles just behind the eyes and the different num- ber and character of bristles at apex of tube. It occurs almost invariably in mullein, hibernating in the stools, and may be found in early spring at the base of the fresh leaves, especially among the dense interior leaves. The whitish, cylindrical eggs are deposited during April, and larvae develop on the mullein leaves. The larvae differ decid- edly from the larvae of nigra, in being yellow or orange instead of deep red. Adults, bred forms of which matured June 20th to 26th, are found in mullein blossoms in midsummer (July), and probably produce a second brood. Adults have been taken in Septem- ber in the seed pods, and in November at the base of dead mullein stalks. This is the species referred to in my article on ‘‘The Pood Habits of the Thripidae ” (Insect Life, VoL I, p. 141) as Phloeo- thrips sp., the species being cited in evidence of an herbivorous di t for the Thripidce. iin:3Z)E>:?c Address, annual, of president, 17. Anatomical studies of the leaves of Sporobolus and Panicum, 148. Anatomy of SphEerium, 173. Andrews, L. W., on reduction of sulphuric acid, 37. Annual address of president, 17. Articles of incorporation, 8. Area of slate near Nashua, N. H., 66. Associate members, list of. 11. Bacteria, Chromogenic, 135. Bain, H. F., report of librarian, 14. Ball, E. D., a study of the genus Clastop- tera, 183. Baris confinis, 307. Baris dolosa, 210. Beach, Alice M., contributions to a knowledge of the thrlpidae of Iowa, 214. Biologic notes on certain Iowa insects, 202. Boston basin, geology of, 72. Buchanan gravels: An interglacial de- posit in Buchanan county, Iowa, 58. Calvin, S., the Le Claire limestone, 53. Buchanan gravels, 58. Carver, G. w. and Pammel, L. H., fungus diseases, 140. Carver, G. W., and Stewart, F. C., Inocula- tion experiments with Gymnosporan- gium macropus. Cephalopods, two remarkable,from upper Paleozoic, 76. Cercopidse, 183. Chironomus, sp., 211. Chromogenic bacteria, some notes on, 135. Cicadidse of Iowa, observations on the,195. Cicada dorsata. 193. septen-decim, 194. tibiccn, 193. Olastoptera, a study of the genus, 183. Clastoptera, 183. Clastoptcra dclicata, 184. ohtusa, 188. proteus, 186. xanthocepliala, 188. Clays of the Indianola Brick, Tile and Pottery works, 40. Combs, Eobt., and Pammel, L. H., Chromogenic bacteria, 135. Cone-in-Cone, nature of, 75. Constitution of the academy, 7. Corresponding members, list of, 11. County parks, 91. Cyclostome ear, homologies of, 29. Cosmos weevil, 307. Deep Wells in Des Moines county, some facts brought to light by, 63. Drew, G. A., Anatomy ot Sphocrium sulca- tum, 173. Ear of cyclostome, homologies of, 29. Encrinurus, variation in the position of the nodes in axial segments of pygi- dium of a species of, 79. Entomostraca, preliminary notes on the Iowa, 170. Epicccrus imbricatus .305. Flora of Western Iowa, 106. Fellows, list of, 10. Ferns, comparative study of spores of North American, 159. Flora of Western Iowa, 106. Forest distribution in Iowa, 96. Forest preservation, resolutions on. 15. Frisk, E. E , and T. P. Hall, mad stone, 45. Fultz, F. M., Recent discoveries of glacial scorings, 60. Some facts brought to light by deep wells, 63. Fungus diseases of plants at Ames, Iowa, 1895, 140. Geology of the Boston basin, 73. GclecMa sp., 303. Glacial scorings, recent discoveries of, in S. E. Iowa, 60. Grasses, anatomical study of, 150. Gravitation, physical theories of, 47. Ground cherry seed moth, 303. Gymnosporangium macropus Inoculation experiments with, 162. Hall, T. P., physical theories of gravita- tion, 47. Unit systems and dlmensions.‘45. Hail, T. P. and Frisk, E. E.,a mad stone, 45. Heliothrips, 216. Homologies of the Cyclostome ear, 29. Hendrixson, report of library commit- tee, 15. Inoculation experiments with Gymnos- porangium macropus, 163. Insects, biologic notes on certain Iowa, 203. Keyes, C. R., note on the nature of cone- in-cone, 75. Two remarkable Cephalopods from the Upper Paleozoic, 76. Lake preservation, resolution on, 15. Lead and Zinc mines, 64. Le Claire, limestone, 53. Leonard, A. G., recent developments in the Dubuque lead and zinc mines, 64. Librarian, report of, 14. Loess, a theory of the, 82. Mad stone, a, 45. Macbride, T. H., county parks. 91. Forest distribution in Iowa, 96. The nomenclature question among the slime moulds, 101. 230 INDEX. Melampsalta parvula, 302. Members, associate, 11. Corresponding, 11. Membership of the Academy, 10. Metazoa, sex in, 35. Myxomycetes, 101. f^autilus ponderosus, 76. Needed changes in scientific methods, 17, Nomenclature question among the slime moulds, 101. Norris, H. W , address by, 17. Homologies of Oyclostome ear, 39. Norton, W. H., variation in the position of the nodes on the axial segments of Pygidium of a species of Encrinu- rus, 79. Nutting, 0. O., origin and significance of sex, 33. Officers of the Academy, 5. Origin and significance of sex, 33. Orthoceras fanslerensis, 77. Osborn, H., Observations on the Cicadidae of Iowa, 195. Note on a new species of Phloeothrips with description, 338. Report of secretary-treasurer, 13. Osborn, H. and Mally, O. W., biologic notes on certain Iowa insects, 203. pammel, Emma, and Sirrine, Emma, some anatomical studies of the leaves of Sporobolus and Panicum, 148. Pammel, L. H., notes on flora of western Iowa, 106. Pammel, L. H., and} Carver, G. W., fun- gus diseases of plants at Ames, Iowa, 1895, 140. Pammel, L. H., and Combs, Robt., some notes on Chromogenic bacteria, 135. Panicum and Sporobolus, anatomical studies of the leaves of, 148. Panicum, 155. Panicum, capillare, 156. crus-galli, 157. proliferum, 156. Parks, county, 91. Phloeothrips, note on a new species of, with description, 338. Phloeothrips verbasci n sp., 328. Physical theories of gravitation, 47. President’s annual address, 17. Proceedings of tenth annual session, 13. Recent developments in the Dubuque lead and zinc mines, 64. Recent discoveries of glacial scorings in southeast Iowa, 68. Reduction of sulphuric acid by copper, as a function of the temperature, 37. Report of librarian, 14. Report of secretary-treasurer, 13. Resolutions on preservation of forests and lakes, 15. Ross, L. S., Preliminary notes on the Iowa Entomostraca, 170. Secretary-treasurer, report of, 13. iSalix amygdaloides, perfect flowers of, 89. Sericothrips? 216. Sericothrips? perplexa, 316. Sex, origin and significance of, 33. Shimek, B., A theory of the Loess, 83. Perfect flowers in salix amygdaloides Ands, 89. Sirrine, Emma, and Pammel, Emma, Some anatomical studies of sporo- bolus and Panicum, 148. Slate near Nashua, N. H., Area of, 66. Slime-moulds, Nomenclature question among, 101. Sphcerium sulcatum, Anatomy of, 173. Spores of North American ferns, study of, 159. Sporobolus and panicum, anatomical studies of the leaves of, 148. Sporobolus. 151. Sporobolus cryptandrus, 153. heterolepis, 151. hookerl, 153. vaginseflorus, 165. Stewart, P. 0., and Carver, G. W., Inocu- lation experiments with Gymnos- porangium macropus, 163. Sulphuric acid, reduction of, 37. Thripidae of Iowa, contributions to a knowledge of, 314. Thrips incequalis, 233. lactuccB, 224. maidis, 319. pallida, 326. variabilis, 220. Tibiccn rimosa, 300. Tilton, J. L , area of slate near Nashua, N. H., 66. Notes on the geology of the Boston basin, 72, Unit systems and dimensions, 45. Weaver, 0. B., comparative study of the spores of North American ferns, 159. Youtz, L. A., clays of the Indianola Brick, Tile and Pottery works, 40. Zinc mines, recent developments in lead and, 64. I PROCEEDINGS OF THE Iowa Academy of Sciences F'OFe 18Q6. VOLUME IV. EDITED BY THE SECRETARY. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE ■/ DES MOINES, IOWA: F. B. CONAWAY, STATE PRINTER. 1897. PROCEEDINGS OP THE Iowa Academy of Sciences I^OR-ISQS. VOLUME IV. EDITED BY THE SECRETARY. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE.. DES MOINES: F. B. CONAWAY. STATa PBINTEK. 189/. ■'1 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Agricultural. College, ) Ames, Iowa, January 28, 1897. ) To His Excellency, FRANCIS M. Drake, Governor of Iowa: Sir — In accordance with the provisions of chapter 86, laws of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly, I have the honor to transmit herewith the proceedings of the eleventh annual ses- sion of the Iowa Academy of Sciences. With great respect, ^your obedient servant, Herbert Osborn, Secretary Iowa Academy of Sciences. OFFJCERS OF THE ACADEMY. 1896. President —T. PROCTOR HalL. First Vice-President. — W. S. FRANKLIN. Second Vice-President.— T. H. Macbride. Secretary -Treasurer. — HERBERT OSBORN. Librarian.— B.. FOSTER Bain. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Ex-Omcio.—T. Proctor Hall, W. S. Franklin, T. H. Macbride, Her- bert Osborn. Elective.— W . S. Hendrixson, M. F. Arey, W. H. Norton. 1897. President.— W. S. FRANKLIN. First Vice-President. — T. H. Macbride, Second Vice-President. — B. FlNK. Secretary-Treasurer. — HERBERT OSBORN. Librarian. — H. FOSTER Bain. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Ex-Officio— S. Franklin, T. H. Macbride, B. Fink, Herbert Osborn. Elective— lu. S. Ross, J. L. Tilton, C. O. BATES. MEMBERSHIP OP THE ACADEMY. FELLOWS. Almy, P. F. - Iowa College, Grinnell Andrews, L. W - State University, Iowa City Arey, M. F State Normal School, Cedar Palls Bain, H. P Geological Survey, Des Moines Ball, E. D Agricultural College, Ames Barris, W. H - - Griswold College, Davenport Bates, C. 0._ Coe College, Cedar Rapids Beach, Alice M - Decorah Bennett, A. A. Agricultural College, Ames Beyer, S. W Agricultural College, Ames Bissell, G. W -Agricultural College, Ames Calvin, S State University, Iowa City Ch APPEL, George M Signal Service, Des Moines Combs, Robert Agricultural College, Ames Conrad, A. H Parsons College, Fairfield Cratty, R. I Armstrong Curtiss, C P Agricultural College, Ames Davis, Floyd - Des Moines Drew, Gilman Newton Ende, C. L. - Iowa City Fink, B.__ Upper Iowa University, Fayette Fitzpatrick, T. J .Lamoni Franklin, W. S. Agricultural College, Ames Fultz, P. M Burlington Gossard, H. A._ Ames Hall, T. P - .Minturn, Colorado Hansen, N. E. Brookings, South Dakota Hazen, E. H Des Moines Hendrixson, W. S Iowa College, Grinnell Heileman, W. H Pullman, Washington Holway, E. W. D - Decorah Houser, G. L State University, Iowa City Jackson, J. A. - Des Moines Kelly, H. V Mount Vernon Leonard, A. G Des Moines Leverett, Prank Denmark 8 MEMBERSHIP OP THE ACADEMY. Mally, C, W Marston, a Macbride, T. H Newton, G. W Niles, W. B Norris, H. W... Norton, W. H Nutting, C. C Osborn, Herbert-.... Page, A. C Pammel, Emma- Pammel, L. H. Reppert, P Ricker, Maurice Ross, L. S._.. Sage, J. R,.... Schaeffer, C. A Schlabach, Carl_..._ Shimek, B Stanton, E W Stookey, Stephen W, Tilton, J. L. Veblen, a. A...^ Walker, Percy H Weems, J. B WiNDLE, William S... Witter, P. M.. YouTz, L. A - Wooster, Ohio Agricultural College, Ames -State University, Iowa City - - -Cedar Falls Agricultural College, Ames Iowa College, Grinnell Cornell College, Mount Vernon - State University, Iowa City ^.Agricultural College, Ames -State Normal School, Cedar Falls ..Des Moines - - Agricultural College, Ames - -Muscatine - - Burlington -Drake University, Des Moines State Weather and Crop Service, Des Moines --State University, Iowa City High School, Clinton State University, Iowa City Agricultural College, Ames Coe College, Cedar Rapids --Simpson College, Indianola State University, Iowa City --State University, Iowa City -Agricultural College, Ames - Penn College, Oskaloosa Muscatine - --Simpson College, Indianola Ball, C. R Bartsch, Paul Beardshear, W. M. Blakeslee, T. M. _. Brown, Eugene Carter, Charles... Carver, G. W Gifford, E. H Johnson, P. W...... Miller, G. P Mills, J. S Osborn, B. F Owens, Eliza Reed, C. D. - Rodwell, W. W. Rolfs, J. A.- Schulte, J. I._- SiRRiNE, Emma Weaver, C. B ASSOCIATE members. ---Agricultural College, Ames - B urlington Agricultural College, Ames Des Moines - Mason City - Fairfield Tuskegee, Alabama - Oskaloosa Grinnell -.Des Moines - Eugene, Oregon Rippey - -..Bozeman, Montana Ames Marshalltown - - ----Le Claire -Agricultural College, Ames Dysart ---Ames MEMBERSHIP OP THE ACADEMY, 9 CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. Arthur, J. C LafayeUe, Indiana Barbour, E. H State University, Lincoln, Nebraska Beach, S. A .Geneva, New York Bessey, C. E State University, Lincoln, Nebraska Bruner, H. L Irvington, Indiana Call, R. E. Louisville, Kentucky Colton, G. H Virginia City, Montana Crozier, a. A._ Ann Arbor, Michigan Gillette, C. P._ Agricultural College, Ft. Collins, Colorado Halsted, B. D. - New Brunswick, New Jersey Haworth, Erasmus .State University, Lawrence, Kansas Hitchcock, A. S Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas Jameson, C. D... Keyes, C. R State Geologist, Jefferson City, Missouri Lonsdale, E. H Missouri Geological Survey, Jefferson City, Missouri Mally, P. W Hulen, Texas McGee, W. J. Bureau Ethnology, Washington, D C. Meek, S. E State University, Fayetteville, Arkansas Parker, H. W .New York City, New York Patrick, G. E. Department Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Rolfs, P. H. ..Lake City, Florida SIRRINE, F. Atwood Jamaica, New York Spencer, A. C Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland Stewart, P. C ...Jamaica, New York Todd, J. E ............State University, Vermillion, South Dakota Winslow, Arthur Kansas City, Missouri PROCEEDINGS OF THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE Iowa Academy of Sciences. The eleventh annual session of the Iowa Academy of Sciences was held in committee room No. 1 of the capitol building in Des Moines, December 29 and 30, 1898. In business sessions the following matters of general interest were acted upon. REPORT OP THE SECRETARY-TREASURER. Members of the -Academy — The past year has been one of substantial progress for the Academy. We have added five fellows and seven associate members. Our proceedings were duly printed and form a volume of 230 pages. It is my sad duty to chronicle the death of one of our most honored mem- bers, Dr. Chas. Wachsmuth, of Burlington, who died very soon after our last meeting. I would suggest that a committee be appointed to draft suitable resolutions to be published in our forthcoming volume of proceed- ings and to include, if possible, a sketch of his life. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Accounts and vouchers submitted herewith show receipts of $151.69 and expenditures of $79.72, leaving a balance charged to the treasurer of $71.97. 12 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. RECEIPTS. Balance from last year _$ 55.99 Membership fees 37 00 Annual dues from members 55. 00 Proceedings sold 4.70 Total _..$151.69 EXPENDITURES. Stamps and stamped enveloves $ 4.84 Printing programs, notices, receipts, etc.. 11.00 Reprints of author’s extra s 32. 00 Express and postage on proceedings 21.91 Miscellaneous items of expense 9 97 Total $ 79.72 The committee on treasurer’s accounts reported as follows: To the Iowa Academy of Sciences: Your committee appointed to examine the accounts of the treasurer find the same to be correct. (Signed) G. E. Finch, A. A. Veblen, A, G. Leonard, Committee. Resolutions urgently opposing the pending bill in congress for the restriction of experiments on living animals were passed, also one in support of the movement for a director of scientific bureaus in the department of agriculture. A subscription was voted for the Pasteur monument fund. In addition to the appended papers, read in full or by title and which were by vote of the council referred to the secretary for publication, the following subjects were presented: Mr. Charles Carter, of Fairfield, remarked upon the Iowa Odonata, calling attention to what had been done in the way of study of our native species and requesting the members to assist him by sending specimens of such species as they could with a view to the preparation of a catalogue of the species of the state. Prof. A. H. Conrad, of Fairfield, read some preliminary notes on the Ophidia of Iowa, indicating the extent to which the species of the state are known, the probability of the rapid extermination of many of the species and the desirability of a prompt study of our native fauna. He requests material and correspondence. Professor Conrad exhibited an archseological specimen recently unearthed near Fairfield: a small box hollowed from IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 13 two pieces of wood evidently hermetically sealed and which contained sheets of birch bark bearing aboriginal hieroglyphs. The committee appointed to prepare a memorial in honor of Dr. Charles Wachsmuth and consisting of Prof. Samuel Calvin and Dr. Charles R. Keyes, presented the following sketch, pre- pared by the long time friend and former co-laborer of Dr. W’achsmuth, Dr. Charles R. Keyes. The plate for the portrait was kindly loaned by Mr. Charles Aldrich, of the historical department. MEMORIAL OP CHARLES WACHSMUTH. Since our last annual gathering the Academy has lost one of its most illus- trious and honored members, the state one of its most distinguished citizens and American science one of its most indefatigable workers. By the death of Charles Wachsmuth an epoch in the history of Iowa science closes. To those of you who were intimately acquainted with our departed friend and associate no words that we can utter will seem extravagant. Yet it appears befitting at this time, especially for the consideration of those of you who were not so fortunate as to come in frequent contact with him, to give some estimate of his personality and worth. Charles Wachsmuth was born September 13, 1829, in the city of Hanno- ver, Germany. He was the only son of a lawyer of considerable reputation who was a member, in 1848, of the German parliament of Prankfurt, Prom early childhood he was always in feeble health. It was the wish of his father that he should study law, and he was accordingly sent at an early age to the high school of his native place to receive a classical education; but to his father’s great grief and his own, he was obliged, at the age of sixteen, to give up all studies on account of failing health, and on the advice of the attending physician to enter a mercantile career. In 1852 the young Hannoverian came to America, having been sent to New York as an agent of a Hamburg shipping house, in which capacity he served for a period of over two years. Severe illness compelled him to leave the sea coast, and upon the advice of friends he settled in Burlington. In 1855 Mr. Wachsmuth was married, and in the same year embarked on his own account. The dry, western country did not bring about the expected improvement in health, and his physician advised that as much time as possible should be spent in the open air, suggesting that the col- lecting of fossils, which abounded in the rocks of the neighborhood, would soon provide an incentive for sufficient exercise. It did not take long for him to develop into an enthusiastic collector, so that days at a time were spent in quarries and ravines around the city, his wife often looking after the store. The new mode of life at once produced a wonderful improve- ment of health. In the course of a few years a fine collection of crinoids had been brought together. It reached such dimensions that it attracted 14 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. the attention of eastern scientists. Prof. Louis Agassiz came to see it on his lecturing trip to the west, and Meek and Worthen asked the loan of specimens for description in the geological reports of Illinois, which were then being prepared. In 1865 Mr. Wachsmuth closed out his business and, accompanied by his wife, made a trip to Europe. On his way he visited Cambridge, upon invi- tation of Professor Agassiz, and saw the large collections in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Until then he had seen very few crinoids aside from those found at Burlington. His delight knew no bounds as he studied in Cambridge the fossil crinoids from other localities, and a number of speci- mens of living types. In Europe all sorts of invertebrate fossils were collected and visits made to the principal museums. When England was reached it was a great surprise to find that the reputation of the Burlington collection had already preceded him. On returning to Burlington, after an absence of almost a year, Mr. Wachsmuth resolved to devote the rest of his life to scientific pursuits, and to direct his whole attention to crinoids. Living far from scientific centers, and not having access to literature, he had to depend for study largely upon his own specimens. This, however, proved afterwards an advantage, rather than a drawback, for independent thought and original research. It was in 1873 that Professor Agassiz, on his return from the Pacific coast, paid a second visit to Burlington. He was greatly surprised at the enormous growth of the collection since he had last seen it, and, struck by the beauty and perfection of the specimens, he intimated that he was anxious to procure the collection for Cambridge, at the same time express- ing a desire to have Mr. Wachsmuth go with it and take charge of all the crinoids in the museum. The negotiations were soon completed, and a few months later Mr. Wachsmuth was installed in the Museum of Comparative Zoology as an assistant. It was Professor Agassiz who induced the new assistant to publish the results of his observations under his own name, on the ground that he was doing a great injustice to himself by placing them in the hands of others. The position, which was held until the death of Professor Agassiz, gave ample opportunity for Mr. Wachsmuth to become fully acquainted with the literature on the crinoids, and it was here that the foundation of the later great work was laid. After the death of Agassiz a second trip to Europe and a visit to the Orient, was made. On returning in 1874 Mr. Wachsmuth had not a single specimen in his possession. However, it took only a few years to make up another collection that was larger and much superior to the first. A year or two later he made the acquaintance of Mr. Prank Springer, then a young lawyer of Burlington, and an enthusiastic student of the natural sciences; a warm friendship soon sprung up between them. They studied together, and from 1878 the results of their researches were published under joint authorship. In the following years the collections increased rapidly by extensive purchases. Prom a trip to Europe Mr. Springer brought home a fine selection of Dudley crinoids, embracing nearly all of the species of that locality, and a large assortment of the Carboniferous species of England and Ireland. Among his acquisitions were also rare forms from Belgium, a majority of the Eifel species, fine specimens from Russia and Bohemia, and a large amount of material from the Mesozoic and later formations. The collection was enlarged further by extensive IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 15 exchanges with collectors in this country and Europe, and by having collectors in the field. Liberal purchases for the library were made, and when work was commenced on the monograph, nearly the whole crinoidal literature, from the time of J. S. Miller to date, was at hand. By examin- ing the titles of their publications it will be noticed that Wachsmuth and Springer took verj little pride in describing new species, their attention being directed mainly to the morphology, with a view to classification, and to the revision of the work of the earlier writers. As the work of the monograph was nearing completion. Prof. Alexander Agassiz, the present director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, offered to publish it, in the best style possible, as one of the memoirs of the museum, and in this series it now appears, a model of typographic art. Mr. Wachsmuth was at one time vice-president of this society. He was also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of the Geological Society of America, and of the Davenport Academy of Sciences. He was a corresponding member of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and a member of the Imperial Society of Natural Sciences, of Moscow, Russia. For many years he carried on an extensive and intimate correspondence with leading scientists of this country and Europe. That which passed between Dr. P. Herbert Carpenter, the most eminent European authority on Echinoderms, and Mr. Wachsmuth during the past ten years would alone fill a large volume. For many years Mr. Wachsmuth was in delicate health and was obliged to spend the winter seasons in the South. The early spring was usually passed in the mountains of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, where immense collections of both crinoids and blastoids were brought together. On all of these trips he was accompanied by his faithful wife, who is, her- self an excellent and indefatigable collector. The sudden demise of our associate took place on February 7, 1896. Although rarely able to be present at the meetings of our Academy no member took greater interest in its deliberations nor had greater solici- tude for its welfare and progress. From early childhood Mr. Wachsmuth possessed a frail constitution which continually threatened to give away, yet he withstood the inroads of an organic disease long enough to nearly complete the allotted span of human life, of three score years and ten. During the last three years his health gradually failed, until for several months previous to the end, hercu- lean efforts were necessary to enable him to work even for a short time each day. His last illness covered only a few days, and even the iron will, which had so often before overcome a long-standing ailment, finally had to give up to the physically weak heart. To within a day of his demise, with a zeal that is begotten only for love of the sublime, he continued to apply himself to the finishing stages of the crowning glory of his life — the Mono- graph of the Fossil Crinoids. The first half only was written and the final proofs of this part were barely read when the angel of death beckoned him. The triumphant joy of beholding the completed structure of a noble life’s work was not his lot. Deprivation of what he held dearest took the place of conquering satisfaction, in the very hour of victory. Few outside of the little circle of workers directly interested in the rather limited field of investigation can appreciate the great importance and originality of Mr. Wachsmuth’s work. Compared with the extent of 16 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. the great field of science itself the results may seem small; measured by the standard of individual achievement the outcome is stupendous. In the special department of knowledge which he represented no one person has done more to raise it to the high place that it now occupies. Wachsmuth belonged to that illustrious school of naturalists which Louis Agassiz founded in this country. His main efforts were entirely along the lines of inquiry pointed out by the Swiss savant. It was the establishment, upon a morphological basis, of a rational classification of a group of organisms. The group chosen was the crinoids, or sea lilies, a class of animals which is now all but extinct, but which in ages past was one of the most abundant forms of life. Most of the material was fossil and the difficulties surrounding the investigation were such as to students of living animals would be insurmountable. Although the work was far from fin- ished at the time of his demise the main and most important features of the scheme were fully established and the Wachsmuth classification of crinoids has been adopted the world over. In the Monograph of the Fossil Crinoids, which is a huge quarto of 800 pages in two parts and an atlas of eighty plates, is contained the mature reflections of thirty years’ continuous thought and reflection. Twenty years ago, when at Cambridge with Agassiz, the foundations of his life’s work were laid, In a little paper “ On the Internal and External Structures of Paleozoic Crinoids,” published in 1877, was stated the essential proposi- tions on which rested all subsequent work. The ancient crinoids were divided into three primary groups, the separation being based chiefly upon the structure of the tegmen. The effects of Wachsmuth’s work has been completely to revolutionize the ideas which prevailed concerning the crinoids and to place the whole systematic arrangement of the groups upon an enduring basis. The stages in the development of those changes are easily traced in the various publi- cations which were issued from time to time and culminated in the monu- mental monograph. THE STATE QUARRY LIMESTONE. BY SAMUEL CALVIN. At the state qaarries, or North Bend quarries, in sections 5 and 8 of Penn township, Johnson county, Iowa, there is a body of limestone of Devonian age, possessing marked char- acteristics which set it off sharply from the rest of the Devo- nian in the upper Mississippi valley. The formation has a thickness of about forty feet. At present there is some uncer- tainty as to its exact taxonomic relations. On fresh fracture the state quarry rock is light gray in color. In texture it varies somewhat in different beds, but IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 17 near the middle of the formation it is composed of coarse, imper- fectly comminuted fragments of brachiopod shells cemented together, the spaces being filled with interstitial calcite. Among the recognizable species of shells Atrypa reticularis is the most common, but some beds contain very large numbers of Terebra- tula {Grancena) iowensis. At some horizons shells of an Ortho- thetes are common. Orthis impressa is not rare, and Rynclionella pugnus {Pugnax pugnus) occurs occasionally. The shells, or fragments of shells, making up the limestone are not embedded in a matrix. They are simply piled on each other and cemented together in a manner illustrated by the formation of the mod- ern coquina along the east coast of Florida. The rocks near the middle of the state quarry beds are a brachiopod coquina having the interstices completely filled with crystalline calcite. Near the middle of the formation the rock consists of thick ledges which, some years ago, were worked extensively. From these beds came the large limestone blocks used in the founda- tion of the new state capitol. Although the ledges show no definite lamination, and split as readily in one direction as another, the weathered surfaces on opposite sides of the num- erous joints often show obscure signs of oblique bedding. The material was evidently swept into place by moderately strong currents. The ledges worked in connection with the building of the new capitol are the heaviest afforded by the formation. The lowest one is four feet in thickness. It is made up of rather finely triturated brachiopod shells, the most common species being Atrypa reticularis. This bed, it seems, did not furnish satisfactory material for it was quarried only to a limited extent. The ledge furnishing the greater number of available blocks lies directly above the first. It is five feet in thickness, and is intersected by numerous joints. Among the great mul- titude of unrecognizable fragments of which it is chiefly com- posed it contains large numbers of entire detached valves of Atrypa and Orthothetes. The next ledge in ascending order to furnish usable stone is separated from the last by a talus- covered space of two or three feet. It also is five feet thick, and in it Atrypa and Terebratula are the prevailing brachio pods. In a fourth ledge, four feet in thickness, the reck is fine grained, the materials are very perfectly comminuted, species cannot be recognized, but it is evident that the bed is composed of debris from brachiopod shells mingled with triturated frag- ments of crinoids. Above the fourth ledge the layers yb^vj 2 18 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. from six inches to two feet in thickness, and toward the upper part of the exposure the rock is made up almost wholly of the remains of crinoids. Below the first ledge noted above the beds vary from a few inches to a foot or more in thickness, the thinner beds prevail- ing near the base of the formation. Brachiopod shells con- stitute the major part of the material of which they are com- posed. Among the waste material of the main quarry there are many large blocks, eighteen inches thick, through which masses of chert are irregularly distributed. The position of the bed from which the chert- bearing blocks were obtained was not determined, though it is probable that it lies in the talus -covered space between ledges two and three of the main workable portion of the quarry. Whatever its position, it is a bed of remarkable interest, for it is in places crowded with fish teeth that lie embedded in the chert or among triturated brach- iopod shells in the calcareous portions of the layer. It looks as if an entire fish fauna had suffered death at once. Such gen- eral fatality may have been produced by any one of several probable causes; and, furthermore, the cause was doubtless in some way related to the crustal movements recorded in the region, and to be noted further on. Changes in oceanic cur- rents attended by rapid elevation or depression of temperature, earthquake shocks even, or concentration of sea water in an isolated basin, would be competent to produce the observed result. Whatever the cause, it was effective, and every square yard of sea bottom received its quota of dead fishes. Several genera and species are indicated amid the profusion of fish remains interred in this old cemetery. One of the most common forms is the well known Devonian type, Ptyctodus. Teeth of this genus are sometimes literally crowded together to form a sort of fish tooth conglomerate. These teeth, or tri- tors, vary in size and shape and in the degree of wear to which they were subjected before the death of their owners; but in the opinion of experts to whom they have been submitted, they probably ail belong to - the single species, Ptyctodus calceolus. Along with Ptyctodus are remains of one or more species of Devonian Placoderms, as indicated by great numbers of imper- fect dermal plates. The Dipnoan genus, Dipterus, is repre- sented by a number of the interesting wing shaped teeth char- acteristic of this very old but persistent type; and there are IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 19 teeth evidently related to Dipterus, but so different as probably to make generic separation necessary. But more interesting than all the rest, and far outnumbering the teeth that could at first sight be referred to Dipterus or to related genera, is a vast assemblage of teeth of varying shapes and dimeusious, that bear a striking external resemblance to the crushing teeth of certain genera of sharks. In the opinion of Dr. C. R. Eastman, however, it is doubtful if there are any Selachian teeth in the entire lot. He finds that, microscopi- cally, they all, so far as sections have been made, are identical in structure with the teeth of Lung fishes, or Dipnoans. They seem, indeed, to be primitive Dipnoans exhibiting a stage of evolution not far removed from the point whence the Dipnoan and Elasmobranch types diverged; and their careful study will doubtless throw much light on the nature of the relationships existing between these two groups of fishes. Dipterine fishes have long been known from the Devonian of eastern Europe, but it is only recently that this type has been found in the Devonian of America. Until the discovery of the State quarry fish bed, our Devonian Dipterines all belonged to a single genus and came from the upper Devonian formations of Pennsylvania. Now we find the type in the Mississippi valley, and here it is represented by several genera, and is connected by intergrada- tions with exceedingly primitive Dipnoan forms. The material has been placed in the hands of Dr. Eastman, whose full report on the subject will be awaited with much interest. Distribution. — At present the state quarry limestone is known only in Johnson county, Iowa, though it doubtless occurs at other points in Iowa and adjacent states. The main body occurs in sections 5 and 8 of Penn township (T. 80 N. , R. 6 W.). It is found in the bluffs on the west side of the Iowa river from the north line of section 5 to a little more than one- fourth of a mile below the north line of section 8, the principal development occurring near the south side of the first named section. The width of the area occupied by the formation in this region is less than half a mile. In fact in following up the small tributary valleys the state quarry stone is in most cases found to disappear in less than one- fourth of a mile. A second body of state quarry limestone is found near the southwest corner of section 20, of Graham township, at which point the formation is almost exclusively crinoidal as to com- position; a third body of this limestone, but of no great thickness. 20 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. is seen near the top of the hill southeast of the bridge over Turkey creek in section 23, Newport township; and another body of the same stone occurs in rather puzzling relations to the Megistocrinus beds in section 23, Big Grove township, southwest of Solon. At the last named locality Rynchonella, or Pugnax, is the prevailing fossil. The very fossiliferous limestone seen near the base of the quarry south of Shueyville is of a very different character and belongs to a different horizon.* Taxonomic Relations. — As already intimated, the taxonomic relations of the state quarry stone are not very clear. At first it seemed that it might possibly represent local deposits made contemporaneously with the Cedar valley beds, but later investigations indicate that it is younger than the Cedar valley and was laid down on a deeply eroded surface. In support of this view it may be noted that at the mouth of the ravine below the south quarries in section 5 of Penn township, the state quarry stone rests on the Megi- stocrinus beds of the Cedar valley stage. In following up the ravine the quarry stone rises higher and higher in the bluffs and soon disappears, while the members of the normal Cedar valley section appear successively in the bottom of the creek. The contact of the two formations cannot, however, be definitely traced. On Rapid creek, in section 20 of Graham township, the relations are nearly the same. The state quarry stone occurs only a short distance above the Megistocrinus beds. At Solon the equivalent of the quarry stone occurs on the west side of a small ravine, while on the east side of the ravine, ouly four or five rods distant, the typical Megistocrinus beds, wholly different in character and with an entirely differ- ent fauna, occur at the same level. The quarry beds at the last named locality are composed largely of shells of Pugnax (Rynchonella). They extend westward along the north side of the valley of a small creek for about one- eighth of a mile and then suddenly disappear, their place in the low bluff being taken by the norma,! Megistocrinus beds of the Cedar valley section. In the bluffs above the bridge over Turkey creek, at the point already noted, in section 23 of Newport township, these beds occur above the white limestone at the top of the Cedar valley formation. No Devonian beds of any kind have so far been *McGee: Tenth Census Kept. Vol. X, Quarries and Building Stone, p. 262. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 21 found above the state quarry stone. The anomalous relations of this formation, the limited areas to which it is confined, the abrupt manner in which it appears and disappears, sometimes at the level of one member of the Cedar valley section and some- times at the level of another, all lead to the conclusion that it was deposited uncomformably on the Cedar valley limestone after the lapse of a considerable erosion interval. The same view is even more strongly suggested by the fact that in certain respects the fauna of the state quarry beds is unique. The deposit near Solon furnishes Pugnax pugnus Martin, Melocrinus calvini Wachsmuth, and a very peculiar Strom atoporoid, none of which are found in the other Devonian formations. Of other species that have a greater vertical range, as for example Atrypa reticularis^ there is sufficient variation to distinguish them from individuals of the same species found at other horizons. The Orthothetes, so common in the beds in section 5 of Penn township, is associated with Pugnax, and like it is limited to the state quarry stage. The great mass of cemented crinoidal debris composing the beds in (^aham township and the upper ten or fifteen feet of the formation at the state quar- ries has no parallel in any other stage of the Iowa Devonian. The presence of Dipterus, which elsewhere occurs only in the U pper Devonian, is likewise indicative of an interval between this stage and the Cedar valley beds below. In this connection it may be noted that the affinities of Pugnax pugnus is with the Carboniferous rather than the Devonian. These facts, coupled with the evidence of unconformity, would seem to place the formation near the closing stage of the Upper Devonian system, while the faunas of the Cedar valley stage correlate it with the Middle Devonian. The known phenomena concerning the state quarry limestone and its interesting fauna evidently require for their interpretation a number of crustal movements and a long period of erosion in the Iowa Devonian heretofore unsuspected. 22 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. STAGES OF THE DES MOINES, OR CHIEF COAL- BEARING SERIES OF KANSAS AND SOUTH- WEST MISSOURI AND THEIR EQUIV- ALENTS IN IOWA. BY CHARLES R. KEYES. The principal coal-bearing formation of Iowa and other parts of the western interior basin is the lower coal measures, or Des Moines series as it is now termed. Although the formation has been long recognized in practically its present geologic limits it has been only very recently that any attempt has been made to even suggest subdivisions of the series. It is to these minor distinctive parts that have been made out clearly in southwest Missouri and the adjoining portions of Kansas that attention is directed. Over the whole of its areal extent in the western interior coal field the Des Moines series, or productive coal measures, is clearly limited above by the Bethany limestone and below by the Mississippian limestones, or earlier formations. Until very recently no attempt has been made to subdivide the principal coal-bearing series of the region. Minor divisions have been vaguely recognized, however, in different parts of the area occupied by these rocks. In the southwestern extension of the belt the most definite information in regard to the detailed rela- tions of the various strata has been obtained. In that part of western Missouri south of the Missouri river three stages have been traced out. They are known to extend northeastward into other parts of the state. Since these have been deter- mined very similar lines have been recognized in Kansas, where special names have been applied.* The three stages that are capable of more or less clear demarkation in Missouri and Kan- sas are the Cherokee shales, at the bottom, the Henrietta lime- stones, and the Pleasanton shales at the top. Cherokee Shales. — The term Cherokee as a designation for the lower part of the coal measures was first applied by Haworth *Univ. Geol. Sur., Kansas, vol. I, p. 150, 1896. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 23 and Kirk.* While it was not formally nor properly defined as a formation name subsequent description f leaves practically no doubt as to its extension. The name had been previously used by Jenney for the lead- bearing formations of the Mississippian series of southwest Missouri but only incidentally, and before it was proposed formally to use the titlej thus, the term had been appropriated in another sense. Moreover, Cherokee, as applied to the lead-bearing rocks, covers an indefinite sequence of beds for which specific titles that are not well defined have been already adopted, so that even if the term in this sense had been formally suggested it could scarcely be considered as hav- ing priority. In this sense also the term has nowhere been accepted as a geological name, while it has been practically refused recognition by all who have had occasion to refer to it, either directly or indirectly. The Cherokee contains a number of minor formations to which special names are applicable locally. These require no definition. They refer more directly to the coal seams, and thick sandstones. Henrietta Limestone.~~^h.Q name Henrietta was used by Marbut§ for a subdivision of the coal measures which gives rise, in southwestern Missouri, to a prominent physiographic feature called the Henrietta escarpment. It consists of several limestone beds of great persistency separated by shales, but presenting a sharp contrast to the underlying and overlying formations which consist of shales and sandstones. In southeastern Kansas it embraces of Swallows sections! essentially numbers 203 to 217, or from the top of the Pawnee limestone do wn to the cement rock under the Fort Scott lime- stone. In the more recent references! to these beds the same limestones are recognized but the lower bed is termed the Oswego limestone. The Henrietta formation, in southwestern Missouri and south- eastern Kansas at least, is a three fold division, having an upper and a lower limestone separated by shale thirty to fifty feet thick and carrying thin beds of limestone. To the lower or calcareous number the term Fort Scott lime- stone is properly applied. This is the name used by Swallow, ^Kansas Univ. Quart , vol. II, p. 105, 1894. +Univ. Geol. Sur., Kansas, vol. J, p. 150, 1896. 4;Trans. American Inst. Min. Eng., vol. XXII, p. 171, 1894. §Missouri Geol. Sur., vol. X, p. 44, 1896. II Kansas Geol. Sur., Prel. Rep., pp. 34-25, 1866 ^University Geol. Sur., Kansas, voL I, p, 151, 18S6. 24 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. whose meaning can be easily defined. More recently another title has been given to practically the same formation, but as the two are essentially coterminous it seems that the earlier of the two can be retained with advantage. The latter term includes only a few layers additional, which are also well exposed at the typical locality. The latter term is Oswego, which, thouirh used previously without definition, was described only very recently.* The medial shale member may be designated as the Marmaton formation from the stream of the same name in Vernon county, Missouri, and Bourbon county, Kansas, where the shale may be considered as typically developed. The Pawnee limestone forms the upper member of the Hen- rietta. The term was first used by Swallow f for a heavily bedded limestone occurring in southeastern Kansas. Pleasanton Shales. — The name Pleasanton was first applied by Haworth. J; There is, however, some difficulty in determining just what title is the proper one to use in this connection. Swallow § seems to have had essentially the same idea in apply- ing to the principal coal-bearing shales immediately overlying the Pawnee limestones in southeastern Kansas, the term “Marais des Cygnes coal series.” He, however, appears to have gotten the upper part considerbly mixed, especially the limestones, if later work is to be relied upon. Only the lower half of this coal series can be regarded as forming the equiva- lent of the Pleasanton, or numbers 194 to 202 of Swallow’s section. These beds are typically exposed in Bourbon county, and along the Marais des Cygnes river in Linn county, Kansas, the locality being practically the same as that in which the town of Pleasanton is situated, so that the original localities for both are essentially the same. The “series,” however, evidently embraces so much more than it should to form a com- pact, easily defined formation, and the upper part, moreover, is so far from being correct that it would seem best not to attempt to restrict and redefine the limits of the formation in order to retain the name. For the strata lying between the Pawnee and Bethany lime- stones Haworth and Kirk|| first suggested the name Laneville *Univ. Geol. Sur., Kansas, vol. I, p. 151, 1896. tKansas Geol. Sur., Prelim. Rep., p. 24, 1866. ^Kansas Univ. Quart., vol. Ill, p. 274, 1895. §Kansas Geol. Sur., Prelim. Rep., pp. 22-24, 1866. !l Kansas Univ. Quart., vol. II, p. 108, 1894. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 25 shales. Had this teroi been defined in any way it would prob- ably have to be adopted as the designation of the formation. Subsequently Haworth* without the slightest reference to this title, and without a very much, better definition for the new name changed it to Pleasanton shales. As in a later publicationf the latter term has been more clearly limited and applied, it should probably be regarded as the proper designation of the formation. In Iowa there are recognizable in the Des Moines series (1) an upper shale bed of considerable thickness, which lies beneath the Bethany or Winterset limestone, (2) a lower shale bed, 300 to 400 feet thick which rests on the Mississippian and older strata, and (3), between the two, a seii of beds that includes limestone layers which, though comparatively thin, rarely more than four to six feet, are of relatively great lateral per- sistency and carry at least one seam of workable coal. In southern Iowa the last mentioned beds appear to be best developed in Appanoose county and the adjoining districts. The Mystic coal, the seam having the greatest areal extent of any in the state, is included in this median member. The lime- stone beds are closely associated with the coal. The strata have a total thickness of perhaps seventy- five feet. They indi- cate an epoch, during which temporarily, marine cor ditions pre- vailed to a greater extent than during any other time between the secession of Mississippian deposition in the region and the introduction of the Missourian. The exact relation between these particular subdivision lines of the strata of Iowa and of southwest Missouri have, of course, not been directly traced in detail, but the close resemblance of the vertical sections is so striking and the probabilities of their being equivalent are so great that it seems worth the while, at this time, to call attention to the facts, while the top and bot- tom of the Des Moines series, as a whole, has been clearly made out over the entire region. ^Kansas Uaiv. Quart., vol. Ill, p. 274, 1895 tUniv. Geol. Sur., Kansas, vol. I, p. 153, 1896. 26 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. VERTICAL RANGE OP FOSSILS AT LOUISIANA. BY CHARLES R. KEYES AND R. R ROWLEY. Owing to peculiar phases in the erosion of the Mississippi river in northeast Missouri the basal portion of the Lower Carboniferous rocks is exposed to better advantage than per- haps anywhere else in the whole interior basin. In Pike county, Missouri, and in the contiguous parts of Illinois, not only does the lower part of the Carboniferous crop out along the streams, but vertical sections from the Hudson shales up to the Upper Burlington are obtainable in single exposures. In this locality the bluffs are high and the outcrops of the rocks under consid- eration are practically continuous along the great river for a distance of more than seventy- five miles. The section at Louisiana, which may be regarded as typical, is given below, essentially as when first published several yeas ago,* except that for the present purpose, smaller zones are recognized. SECTION OP ROCKS EXPOSED AT LOUISIANA, MISSOURI. TSRRANBS. Number FORMATIONS. Feet, Pleistocene. 21 Soil, and red residuary clay, with abundant chert frag- ments 4 Upper Burlington limestone. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 Limestone, brown, rather thinly bedded and cherty.. Limestone, compact, thin-bedded, encrinital, with much gray chert in bands and nodules Limestone, yellowish-brown, rather soft, encrinital... 28 18 4 Lower Burlington limestone. Limestone, bluish, fine-grained, siliceous Limestone, massive, white, encrinital, coarse-grained flipper whil.e ledp^ei 4 12 20 9 6 Limestone, brown, encrinital, with irregular chert bands and nodules, a^d occasional thin clay partings Limestone, white, very heavily bedded, encrinital, some white chert (lower white ledge) Limestone, brown, encrinital, heavily bedded Chouteau(?) limestone. 12 Limestone, yellow, massive, or heavily bedded, rather soft, fine-grained 9 Hannibal shales. 11 10 Shale, brown, very sandy, passing into soft sandstone locally 12 60 Shale, green, sandy above *Am. Jour. Sci., (3) vol. XLIV, p. 443, 1893. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 27 SECTION OP ROCKS EXPOSED AT LOUISIANA— Continued. TEBBANES. 43 a 0 EOBMATIONS. +3 CD fa Louisiana limestone. 9 Limestone, buff to gray, compact, very fine-grained, in layers four to six inches thick, simiiar to lithographic stone in texture 8 Limestone, similar to above 7 Limestone, similar to above, layers thicker and sepa- rated by buff sandy partings 6 Shale, buff, sandy, two to six inches 31 8 6 ^4 Western Hamilton. Niagara? 5 Shale, green or dark blue 4 Shale, black, fissile 3 Limestone, magnesian, buff, massive, 2 Oolite, white, massive Hudson, 1 Shale, blue, with thin bands of limestone, near Louisi- ana 2 4 2 8 40 The basal member of the section is the Hudson shale. When fully exposed in the neighborhood it attains a thickness of about seventy feet. It rests on a heavy magnesian limestone carrying characteristic Trenton fossils. The next two higher members, Nos. 2 and 8, are provision- ally referred to the Niagara. The oolite appears to be some- what of a local phase, but is present not only in the vicinity of the town but all the way to Paynes ville, a distance of eighteen miles. The formation appears to be represented elsewhere in the vicinity by fossiliferous limestones which are not oolitic. The organic remains contained are rather abundant. The buff massive layer is very thin at Louisiana, being only two feet in thickness in the river bluff in front of the town. Two miles southward, at the mouth of Buffalo creek, it increases to nine feet, and still further southward, on both sides of the Mississippi river, and southwestward toward Bowling G-reen, it attains a measurement of twenty-five to thirty feet in a distance of fifteen to twenty miles. It is almost destitute of fossils. The next two, Nos. 4 and 5, belong to the Devonian. The lower black shale contains a characteristic fish fauna. Numbers 6 to 9 form the Louisiana division of the Kinder- hook. It is the lithographic limestone of the older state reports. For a long time the lithographic limestone has been regarded as the basal member of the Lower Carboniferous in the Mississippi valley. Recently* some doubt has been thrown upon the interpretation of the age of the formation. Regard- ing this question the following statements were made: ^American Geologist, vol. X, pp. 380-384, 1892; also Missouri GeoL Sur., vol. IV, pp. 54-55, 1894. 28 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Marion and Pike counties, Missouri, at Hannibal, Louisiana and Clarks- ville principally, were the leading localities for a large proportion of the “Kinderhook ” fossils originally described by Shumard, Hall, White, and Winchell. Most of these forms have a very decided Devonian aspect which gives a peculiar and characteristic physiognomy to the faunas of the three beds. Heretofore little mention has been made concerning the exact horizon of the fossils in question, mere reference to the “ Lithographic ” limestone, or Kinderhook bids, being considered sufficient. Lately, how- ever, extensive collections of fossils have been made at all three places just mentioned, as well as many intervening and neighboring exposures. Everywhere the Lithographic, or Louisiana limestone has been found to be essentially devoidi of organic remains, except an occasional form in the thin sandy partings above the bottommost layer, which is less than one foot in thickness. At the very base of the limestone is a thin seam of buff, sandy shale, seldom over three or four inches in thickness. This seam is highly fossiliferous. It contains the Productella pyxidata (Hall), Cyrtina aeutirostris (Shumard), Chonetes ornata (Shumard), Spirifera barmibalensis (Shumard), and a host of other forms, many indistinguishable from species occurring in undoubted beds of the western Hamilton. Lithologically, the thin sandy layer is more closely related to the under- lying shales than with the overlying limestone. Faunally, it has very much nearer affinities with the western Hamilton (Devonian) than with the Kinderhook (Lower Carboniferous). In Iowa the “Devonian aspect” of the Kinderhook faunas has disappeared largely, since Calvin’s recent discovery that the “ Chemung ” sandstones of Pine creek, in Muscatine county, Iowa, are in reality true Devonian. In Missouri the same Devonian facies of the fauna contained in the lowest member of the Carboniferous is lost from view, almost completely, by eliminating the species found in the thin sandy seam at the base of the Louisiana or lithographic limestone. The faunas of the Devonian and Carboniferous of the upper Mississippi val- ley thus become more sharply contrasted than ever. The apparent min- gling of faunas from the two geological sections, manifestly was based upon erroneous assumptions rather than upon the detailed field evidence. Depriving the “ Lithographic” limestone, almost entirely of the exten- sive fauna commonly ascribed to it, and which, as has been seen, comes from a thin seam lying below the calcareous layers its geological age be- comes a problem yet to be solved. The few fossils known from the lime- stone itself have, been heretofore rarely met with. It is not at all unlikely that the lower limestone of the Kinderhook eventually may prove to be of Devonian age. But until abundant evidence to this effect is found, it seems advisable to still consider the Louisana (Lithographic) limestone as the basal member of the Carboniferous. Since these remarks were made the organic remains which were found only in the thin basal shale (No. 6) have been obtained from higher levels, as is clearly brought out in the accompanying table. The whole formation is thus more closely related to the strata below than those above. The Hannibal shales (Nos. 10 and 11) are almost wholly devoid of fossils in Missouri, but farther north, at Burlington, IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 29 where the beds have always been regarded asnon fossiliferons, an extensive fauna has been lately disclosed.* Its facies is very decidedly Devonian. The thin, soft, earthy limestone (No. 12), which is nine feet in thickness at Louisiana, is believed to be the attenuated por- tion of the Chouteau limestone, though it is so closely associated with the lower beds of the Burlington, that it might be termed the Chouteau-Burlington. Toward the southwest the undoubted Chouteau limestone, before leaving Pike county, has a thickness of thirty feet, and still farther in the same direction in central Missouri the thickness increases to over 100 feet. The lower Burlington limestone is separated upon lithological and faunal grounds into five zones, and the rj|)per Burlington, as represented in the section, into three zones. Nearly all of the strata are highly fossiliferous. The vertical section and the exposures are so extensive for a single locality that the facilities for determining the exact range of the various faunas stand unrivalled in the whole region. Moreover, a key to the stratigraphy of the entire province is furnished. Owing to unusually favorable opportunities for forming extensive collections of the fossils which are representative of the different horizons, the results are very complete. The deter- mination of the faunal zones and their most important relation- ships as bearing upon the stratigraphy of the region are therefore of great interest. The subjoined tabular arrangement displays the more salient features in the distribution of the faunas. TABLE SHOWING VERTICAL RANGE OF FOSSILS. SPECIES. 1 J Hudson. Niagara. Hamilton. Louisiana. | Hannibal. d a sS o3 a a ‘3 "a a aj 3 o3 O pq ^p*^ X X Retzia? sp*^ X KotzlBj? sp? - X X X Rhynchonella boonensis, Swallow X X X Rbynchonella capax, Conrad X Rhynchonella missouriensiSjShumard Rhynchonella sp? X X X X X litiyiich^Ti ^ sp? X X liliy 1 sp? . * . X X Rhynchonella white!? Winchell X KhyDCtioii^l 1 *'^1 sp? X Spirifera forbesi, Norwood & Pratten fepirifera hirtus White «& Whitfield. . . X X X X X Spirifera imbrex, Hall X X Spirifera .Ha, 11 X X Spirifera liTiP'at'^iORs, Swa.llow X X X Spirifera marionensis, Shumard X X X X SpirifcrB. 1 X S pirif era peculiaris? Shumard X X X Spirifera plena, Hall X i^pirifcrHj X spirifera s<^lid<^rr>stris, White X X Spirifera striatiformis, Meek X X X X Spirifera s^ihretunriJitH., Ha.ll X Spirifera grimesi. Hall X X X X X X X X X Spirifera tern er^i.T'i a? Miller X X Spiri/opci no n ^ T?.nwlfty X X Spirif^PH sp? X X Spirifer?!. sp? X X Spiriferina hipt^enta. winehell X X Spiriferina clarksvillensis, Winchell. Spiriferina a Pewley X Y Y X xj . . X Spiriferina subtexta, White X IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 35 TABLE SHOWING VERTICAL RANGE OF FOSSILS— CONTINUED. o +3 o "So p p SPECIKS. 1 Hudson. Niagara. Hamilton. S3 c3 "tfl 'B o Hannibal. 1 Chouteau. '^1 p cq ^ ■ o 'S <0 p* ft p 1 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Sbreptorhynchus crenistriatus? Phil- X X X X X X Streptorbynchus planumbonum(Ball) ytreptorbyncbus subplanum (Conrad) X X X X X X X X Stropbomena rbomboidalis, Wilkens. IStropbomena rbomboidalis var X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Terebratula burlingtonensis, White.. X X X X X X Terebratula sp?. X X X Terebratula sp? X X X X Lameulibranchs : Aviculopecten burlingtonensis, Meek & Wortben X X Aviculopecten circulus, Sbumard X Cardiomorpba sp? X Oardiopsis sp? X Conocardium sp? Crenipecten sp ? X X Orenipecten sp? X Cypricardella sp? X Oyprlcardia sp? X Dexiobia sp? X Edmondia burlingtonensis, White & Whitfield X Edmondia nuptialis, Winchell X Grammysia bannibalensis (Sbumard) Nuculites sp? X X X Pernopecten cooperensis (Sbumard).. X Pernopecten sp? X Protbyris meekl, Winchell Sanguinolaria sp? X Sanguinolltes burlingtonensis, Wor- tben .... X X Sanguinolltes sp? X Sanguinolltes sp? Sphenotus sp? X Litbopbaga occidentalls. White & Whitfield X Pteropods: Oonularia sp? X Oonularia sp? X Oonularia victa? White X Tentacuiites sp? X Gasteropods: Belleropbon sp? Belleropbon bilabiatus. White & Whitfield X X Callonema sp? X X Oyclonema sp? X X O /rtolites sp? X Oentalium sp? X .. .. Planerotinus paradoxus, Winchell. . . . X Ompbalotrocbus springvalensis (White) X X Straparollus latus. Hall X X X X X X Straparollus ammon (White & Whit- field) X X 36 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. TABLE SHOWING VERTICAL RANGE OP FOSSILS— Continued. SPKCIES Straparollus roberti, White Straparollus obtusus, Hall Straparollus sp? Loxonema delphicola (Hall) Loxonema prolixa, White & Whitfield Soleniscus sp? Soleniscus sp? Sphaerodoma penguis ( Winchell) Murchisonia pygmaea, Rowley Murchisonia sp? Murchisonia sp? M urchisonia sp? Igoceras quincyense (McOhesney) Igoceras capulus (Hall) Capulus latus (Keyes) Oapulus paralius (Keyes) Capulus biserialis (Hali) Capulus oDliqunas (Keyes) Capulus tribulosus (White) Capulus sp? Capulus sp? Orthonychia formosus (Keyes) Orthonychia pabuliformis (Owen) Strophostylus reversus (Hall) Pleurotomaria sp?. Pleurotomaria sp? Pleurotomaria minima, Rowley. Pleurotomaria subcar bonaria, Keyes. Pleurotomaria sp? Pleurotomaria sp? Pleurotomaria montezuma, Worthen, Holopea subconica? Winchell Porcellia nodosa, Hall Cbphalopods : Cyrtoceras sp? Goniatites sp? Goniatites sp? Goniatites osagensis. Swallow Goniatites sp? Goniatites sp? Goniatites louisianensis, Rowley Nautilus sp?. Orthoceras sp? Hall Orthoceras sp? Orthoceras sp? Orthoceras sp? Orthoceras sp?. Worms: Oornulites carbonarius, Gurley — Spirorbls kinderhookensis, Gurley. Crustaceans : Asaphus megistos (Locke) Calymene callicephala. Green Calymene niagarensis. Hall Dalmanites sp? Lichas sp? Phillipsia swallovi? Shumard Phillipsia Insignis, Winchell Phillipsia tubercalata. Meek & Wor- then. Phillpsia sp? Vertebrates: Fish teeth Fish teeth and bones Fh h spine bc 3 3 f3 O 6 718 a a d W 10111 X xl X 13 14 15 16117 18 19120 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 37 The above table embraces all the evidence thus far obtained at the locality in question. In considering the faunal features of the succession the inter- est centers in the characters of the fauna of the Kinderhook and of its several parts. Three problems are presented: (1) the general facies of the fauna as a whole, and the parts giving it its predominant phase; (2) the character and relations of the basal fauna, and (3) the upper limit, if any can be made out, of the fauna most characteristic of the formation. (1) General Faunal Facies. — Heretofore the attempt has been always to treat the organic remains contained in the Kinder- hook, “Chouteau” or “Chemung,” as belonging to a single fauna. Owing to the heterogeneous beds that have been placed together in the formation it has been the chief mission of later work to take out from time to time various parts which were originally correlated with this terrane. Thus gradually the formation at its typical localities has finally come to be more clearly understood. Regarding the “Kinderhook” as made up of three subdivi- sions, the Louisiana limestone, the Hannibal shale and the Chouteau limestone (in its original sense) the fauna contained when deprived of elements which have in reality no relation to it whatever, presents a very different facies from that generally ascribed to it. With the light of definite zonal distribution of the organic forms there appears to be, instead of a single com- pact and characteristic group of forms, two very distinct faunas, as is nowhere more clearly shown than in the locality which can be regarded as typical and in which the faunal zones have been determined with considerable accuracy and corroborated by evidence from other districts. Owing to indefinite knowledge regarding the exact horizons from which the various genera and species have been found in the past the general launal faces of the “Kinderhook” has heretofore borne a composite and not a pure physiognomy. A tabular arrangement of all the species of fossils that are recognized at a typical locality for the Kinderhook, and that range from the Hudson to the Upper Bariington, has disclosed very clearly some important facts which heretofore have been overlooked. The first of these features is the close affinity of the faunas, from the lower two members of the Kinderhook, with the underlying Devonian, and the second is the sharpness with which the lower fauna stops at the base of the Chouteau, 38 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. and the abruptness with which an entirely new fauna begins at that level. (2) Character and Relations of the Lower Fauna.^ — The compo- nents of this fauna comprise those forms which, as already noted, occur in the Louisiana limestone and the Hannibal shales. For the present only the species from the former need occupy attention. As a whole the fauna is clearly closely related to that occur- ring in the Western Hamilton. Some of the species, though bearing different names, are in reality identical with typical forms from that formation. Heretofore the fossils have been found, with few exceptions, perhaps, only in the basal portion of what is called the Louisiana limestone, in number 6, a thin sandy layer which is lithologically similar to the partings in the limestone itself. The results of the latest investigatons show that many of the forms extend upward, some of them passing practically unchanged through the whole Louisiana to the top of the Hannibal. Not a single species of this fauna appears to occur in the overlying layer which has been regarded as the equivalent of the Chouteau. Many of the forms also range downward into the dark colored shale below, which is regarded as of Devonian age and which is here separated into two parts. A short distance away the shale becomes much thicker. The general impression derived from the table is that the zones 5 to 8 inclusive are faunally very closely related, and that the higher ones, 9 to 11, also have close affinities with the lower zones. It may be noted in this connection that no special effort has been made to determine the full faunas of the higher beds, as the critical evidence that was needed was in regard to the fauna of the Louisiana (Lithographic) limestone. The shales have, however, proved to be remarkably barren in organic remains. Towards the top where they become sandy a number of the lower species are found. That the shales do not appear to be fossiliferous is not remarkable. Since they manifestly do not contain abundant remains in a good state of preservation they have not been searched so carefully by fossil collectors as have the other beds. At Burlington, Iowa, where there are excellent exposures and numerous active local col- lectors, besides a host of transient ones, the same shales remained for half a century without a fauna to be ascribed to them. But of late they have been shown to be abundantly IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 39 supplied with fossils. Without exception they appear to be characteristic Devonian forms. As yet, however, the fauna has not been studied sufficiently to be specifically listed, but the brachiopods are mostly very similar to, if not identical with, the species found in undoubted Devonian shales farther north- ward in the same state. The cephalopods are represented by large forms of Cyrtoceras, Gomphoceras, and Phragmoceras. One belonging to the latter genus may prove to be Winchell’s P. expansus. Another very characteristic phase of the fauna is the non-trilobitic crustaceans, of which a very considerable number have been found. They have very close affinities to Tropidocaris and Amphipeltis. It appears, then, that a well defined Devonian fauna extends up to the top of the Hannibal shales in northeastern Missouri, at Louisiana especially, and that the “Kinderhook” shales of southeastern Iowa, as typically developed at Burlington, and as corresponding in great part to the Hannibal shales, carry no other remains than those of pronounced Devonian types. The upper part of the section usually regarded as Kinderhook at Burlington, in fact all the thin limestone and sandstone bands down to the great body of argillaceous shales may be more properly regarded as the equivalent of the Chouteau limestone, that is, the uppermost member of the so-called Kinderhook in Missouri. (S) Upper Limit of the Louisiana Fauna. — One reason that the fauna of the Chouteau (original) limestone has not been better understood than it has, in its relation to the faunas occurring lower in the so-called Kinderhook, and higher in the Burling- ton limestone, has been that in the localities where the lower Carboniferous has been most thoroughly and widely studied along the Mississippi river, the Chouteau, as commonly recog- nized, nowhere crops out along the great stream, except, per- haps, in the vicinity of the town of Louisiana where, under the typical Burlington, there are nine feet of earthy limestone which has been considered a part of the latter, but which is now believed to be the attenuated edge of the Chouteau, or its equivalent. In the same county the Chouteau attains a maxi- mum thickness of twenty -five to thirty feet. In the table given there is: (1) The species that come up from below to the base of the Chouteau, (2) those starting in the Chouteau and ranging upward, (3) the forms starting in the basal member of the Burlington limestone, and (4) the 40 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. species which comprise a lower fauna in the midst of a higher. The most striking features in the vertical distribution of the fossils shown in the table given are: (1) The upper fauna nowhere extends beneath the base of the Chouteau (No. 12) and the lower fauna nowhere rises above the same line; (2) all the species belonging to the fauna beginning in the Chou- teau extend upward into the Burlington; (3) while in the Burlington many new forms appear there is no immediate replacement of the older forms; (4) the many new species which appear in the second bed of the Burlington (No. 14) are largely so-called Kinderhook forms, not altogether from the Chouteau, but from the limestones which occur just beneath the Burlington limestone at the city of Burlington. Prom a consideration of both tabular arrangements the fol- lowing general conclusions are deduced: 1. The most marked change in the succession of faunas in the entire sequence of rocks commonly known as the Lower Carboniferous, or “ Subcarboniferous ” as represented along the Mississippi river is at the base of the Chouteau limestone (limited). At this horizon there is so great a faunal hiatus that there is scarcely a species that is common to the beds on either side. 2. That instead of the so-called Kinderhook containing in its fauna a mingling of Devonian and Carboniferous types there are really two faunas that are perfectly distinct, well- defined and not merging into each other. The one is charac- teristically Devonian in character and the other as strikingly Carboniferous in its general facies. 3. That the basal line of the Lower Carboniferous or Mis- sissippian series is the base of the Chouteau limestone and the lower member of the four-fold series contains only one forma- tion instead of the three heretofore commonly ascribed to it. 4. That the early reference of a part of the so-called Kinderhook or “Chemung” to the Devonian was correct in fact, though made through erroneous correlations. 5. That the evidence afforded by the faunas of the region is in close accord with the facts obtained regarding discordant sedimentation, and the strati graphical and lithological charac- ters of the formations. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 41 NATURAL GAS IN THE DRIFT OF IOWA. BY A. G. LEONARD. The finding of natural gas in the Pleistocene deposits of the state has been noted from time to time during the past decade. The first mention of its occurrence, as far as known, appeared in the report of the state mine inspector"* for the years 1886 and 1887. A brief account is therein given of its discovery at Herndon, Guthrie county, in 1886, while boring a hole for water. Six wells are reported as yielding a good flow of gas, which was utilized for cooking and heating purposes. The presence of gas at Herndon is also mentioned by McGee in the Eleventh Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey, f In the proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences for 1890-1891 Mr. F. M. WitterJ reports the discovery of natural gas near Letts, Louisa county. Seven wells sunk for water yielded it, and the gas from one furnished fuel and light for four families. Its probable source is stated to be from the vegetable matter buried in the drift. R. Ellsworth Call in the Monthly Review of the Iowa Weather and Crop Service for November, 1892, § reports that there are many instances of the discovery of natural gas in the drift of the state while exploring for coal or for artesian waters. The wells at Herndon and Letts are noted as are also those at Dawson, in Dallas county. In all cases the gas is thought to have come from the veget* able debris of the glacial deposits. Among the other localities where this natural fuel has been found may be mentioned one about seven miles northeast of Des Moines and another not far from Stanhope, in Hamilton CDunty. For several years gas from the well at the latter place has been utilized for fuel. ^Report state mine inspector, 1887, pp. 169-170. tEleventh Ann. Rept., 1889-1890, part I, p. 595. tiowa Acad. Sci., vol. I, part IE, pp. 68-70. §Monthly Rev. Iowa Weather and Crop Serv., vol. Ill, Nov., 1892, p. 6-7. 42 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. From the above it will be seen that the occurrence of natural gas in the glacial deposits of the state is not an uncommon event and that a number of different localities have yielded it in small amounts. Before taking up the subject of the source and origin of the natural gas it will be well to describe more in detail some of the localities mentioned above, in order that the conditions under which the gas is found may be clearly in mind. Only after such a careful review of the facts connected with the various occurrences is it possible to form an opinion as to the probable source. A comparison of the Iowa localities with those of other states will also prove helpful in this connection. The Herndon wells were the first in the state, so far as known, to yield gas in any considerable amount. Its discovery is thus described in the mine inspector’s report already referred to: In the month of October, 1886, Mr. G. Gardner was boring a hole for water and had reached a depth of about 120 feet. Work had been stopped for the night and the family was at supper when suddenly a loud noise was heard like that made by steam escaping from a boiler, and on going out to the well it was found discharging large quantities of gas, sand and gravel. This first well was not used on account of the difficulty experi- enced in getting it tubed so as to shut out the sand. A second was abandoned for the same reason, but the third, put down by by Mr. H. C. Booth, was more successfal. The gas was con- ducted into the house and used for heating and cooking pur- poses. Six wells have been bored here and a good strong flow obtained in all of them. In two of these the flow still con- tinues but the others have become choked up with sand. The depth of the wells varies from 120 to 140 feet. The gas is found in a layer of sand and above this the following beds occur: TEET. Black loam - 6 Yellow clay 6 Blue clay 108 One well at this locality is reported to have reached a depth of over 219 feet and went a considerable distance into the coal measures, but it yielded no gas. Another well, which for a time had a good flow of gas, was located near the town of Yale, five miles south of Herndon. The only direct evidence of any considerable accumulations of vegetable material in the drift of this region is furnished by IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 43 the record of an old water well near Yale, where a forest bed some three feet in thickness was passed through. It was over- laid by forty-two feet of yellow, blue and red clay and beneath was four or five feet of blue clay. Below the latter there is from two to ten feet of sand. The gas at Herndon is found in a layer of sand at the base of the drift and probably directly overlying the coal measure shales. During the past summer the wells near Dawson were visited and a few additional facts secured concerning them. Dawson is located near the northern border of Dallas county and about eight miles east of Herndon. The wells are three-quarters of a mile south of town and the gas occurs under much the same conditions as at the locality already mentioned. Five holes have been drilled here, one being put down in 1888 and the other four in 1891. They have a depth of from 110 to 115 feet, passing through the drift clay into a bed of sand and gravel. The gas is found in the gravel layer below a compact blue clay. A coal shaft just east of Dawson shows sixty -four feet of this blue clay. During the past summer the first well, bored eight years ago, was tested to find the pressure, the result being that this was ascertained to be 24 to 25 pounds to the square inch. The gas burned with a flame 15 to 20 feet high. It was piped to town, and for a time supplied one of the houses with fuel. It was also used in the kilns of a brick plant a short distance east of the station. Three of the wells still have a good flow but are no longer used. In this connection mention should perhaps be made of the gas found in considerable quantity in the water supply of Perry, six miles east of Dawson. Perry secures its supply from four wells located in the southern part of town. These wells have a depth of 115 feet. Gravel is struck 70 feet below the surface and the lower 45 feet is through this material. The water for a time came to the surface and overflowed, but after a number of wells were sunk and it had been pumped from the city wells the head was lowered, and now the water rises only to within 5 or 6 feet of the surface. The amount of gas in the water is so great that Mr. J. W. Rodefer has for some time been experimenting for the purpose of extracting it for use in heating and lighting. He has succeeded in doing this on a comparatively small scale, and the gas thus separated is utilized to furnish fuel and light to his office. Can it be extracted by a sufficiently inexpensive method, and in large enough quantity, 44 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. this natural gas contained in its water supply may yet furnish Perry with a convenient fuel. In the case of the wells near Letts, Louisa county, the con- ditions appear to be slightly different. They have a depth ranging from 90 to 125 feet, but do not reach the base of the drift, since in a number of iu stances the rock in this region has not been struck at 280 feet below the surface. “ At a depth of from 6 to 25 feet below the gas a good, constant supply of water is obtained. It seems to be very easy to shut off the gas by the rapid sinking of the casing in a sort of blue clay with some sand, in which the gas is thought to be stored. The clay seems to form a tube as the drill and casing descend, and this prevents the gas from getting into the well unless it is given a little time at the right place. The country for miles around is full of wells which are all believed to be sunk to the water below the gas, without discovering the latter for reasons given above.” Prom the foregoing statements it is apparent that the gas at this locality does not occur in a well defined sand bed, but is distributed through the upper portion of the Pleistocene deposits, being usually found at a depth of about 100 feet. There seems to be abundant evidence of the presence of extensive accumulations of vegetable material in the drift of this region. But Iowa is not the only state where natural gas is found in the surface deposits, for it occurs also in the drift of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Its occurrence in Ohio is mentioned by Orton.* On the southern margin of the drift of that state and for twenty to forty miles back from its border there are in many parts of the state considerable accumulations of vegetable matter covered by later deposits of the drift period. Wells dug into these deposits often strike quite extensive accumulations of one or the other of the two gases given off by the decomposition of this buried vegetation, namely, carbon dioxide and marsh gas. Sometimes carbon dioxide, or carbonic acid gas as it is com- monly called, is found in all the wells of the neighborhood and no water well can be completed on account of its presence. It is not an uncommon thing for well diggers to lose their lives from this deadly choke damp.” Calvin has noted several instances in Iowa where this gas escaped with considerable force from holes bored for water. *Geol. Surv. of Ohio, vol. VI, pp, 773-775. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 45 Much, more frequently marsh gas is struck in the vegetable deposits (of Ohio) and sometimes escapes in large volume and with great force when first released. It not infrequently gives rise to a small but persistent supply. Gas wells are of com- mon occurrence in all the border areas above mentioned. In Illinois natural gas in the drift has been found in com- mercially valuable quantities at Bloomington, Kankakee, Men- dota, and other points. The reports of the Irdiana survey also contain accounts of the discovery of gas in the superficial deposits of that state. From what has been said above it will be seen that it is by no means an uncommon thing to find gas in the Pleistocene deposits. It has been discovered at a number of different points in at least four states and doubtless there are unrecorded occurrences in other parts of the country. We are now prepared to consider the question as to the source of this natural gas and later its origin. There are two possible sources of the gas found in the drift. (1) It may have been derived from the underlying rock and the drift then serve simply as a reservoir for its accumulation and storage, or (2) it may have been derived from the vegetable accumulations of the drift and thus have its source in the Pleistocene deposits where it is now found. The latter source is doubtless much the more common and in most instances there is little doubt that the gas has been derived from the decomposition of the vegetable remains in the drift. But examples of the drift serving as a reservoir only, are occasion- ally found. Thus, Orton mentions several such instances in Ohio and it is possible, though hardly probable, that at Hern- don and Dawson the gas has been derived from the underlying coal measures shales. That it may have such a source the gas-bearing rocks must be overlaid by porous beds of drift. Then during the long periods since they have had this relation the porous beds have become charged with gas when there were suitable conditions of level. As we have already seen the arrangement of the beds at Herndon and Dawson are such that it is possible that the gas might be derived from the rocks underlying the drift sheet. At both of these localities the gas occurs in a stratum of sand and gravel at the base of the drift and apparently directly overlying the coal measures. As already stated the wells have a depth 46 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. of from 110 to 140 feet. Nowhere in this immediate neighbor- hood is the drift known to have a greater depth than this. At Ddwson a coal shaft shows the superficial deposits to be eighty feet thick at that point. At Angus, a few miles northeast of Dawson, there is a thickness of fifty to 100 feet and in southern Greene county borings show between sixty and seventy feet of drift. There seems to be considerable evidence, therefore, that the gravel is at the base of glacial deposits and that it rests directly on the coal measure shales. In this case it would be possible that the gas, originating in these black carbonaceous shales, may have passed up into and accumulated in the gravel and sand beds above. But it seems much more probable that the gas at Herndon and Dawson has its source in the vegetable accumulations of the drift, as is undoubtedly true for the gas at Letts. It is not necessary to suppose that it has been formed directly in the place where it is now found. It may have originated from the decomposition of vegetable material some considerable distance off and later have diffused itself laterally through the gravel beds until reaching a place favorable for its accumulation. There is another interesting fact concerning the distribution of these gas wells. They are found not far from the border of the upper drift sheet of the region. Thus, for example, at Dawson and Herndon the wells are only a few miles back from the edge of the Wisconsin lobe and at Letts the Illinois ice seems to have extended but a short distance in the west. Orton mentions the same fact concerning the distribution of wells in Ohio, where as already stated, they are found along the border of the glacial deposits or back twenty to forty miles. The most favorable conditions for the preservation of forest beds and like accumulations of vegetable material would seem to be near the edge of the ice, where it was the thinnest, and where, during its advance, there would have been less disturb- ance of the materials beneath. During its advance only a com- paratively few miles of the ice sheet would pass over the drift near its border, while back 50 or 75 miles the ice would doubt- less be considerably thicker and a vastly greater amount of ice would pass over the surface, and as a result the underlying deposits would be more disturbed. The forest bed, if present, might be carried away or mingled with the clay of the drift. Concerning the origin of natural gas little need be said. It is now generally admitted by all geologists and most chemists IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 47 that the various bitumens, including natural gas, are genetically connected with and are closely allied to marsh gas, and that they are produced by the natural decomposition of organic tissue. Natural gas closely resembles in composition the inflammable marsh gas which is often observed coming from the muddy bottoms of stagnant ponds. The following analysis, giving the mean results of seven analyses made for the United States Geological survey by Prof. C. C. Haward, will show the composition of natural gas: Marsh gas 93.30 Nitrogen 3 28 Hydrogen 1.76 Carbon monoxide. .53 Oxygen 29 Olefiant gas .28 Carbon dioxide.... ... .25 Hydrogen sulphide 18 Total 100.03 Marsh gas, the principal constituent, is a simple compound of carbon and hydrogen in the proportions of 75 per cent of the former to 25 per cent of the latter. The natural gas of the Pleistocene deposits of Iowa is then simply the product of the decomposition of the vegetable remains buried in the drift. RESULTS OF RECENT GEOLOGICAL WORK IN MADISON COUNTY. BY J. L. TILTON. OUTLINE. 1. The geological formations of the county. 2. The distribution of the alluvium, loess and drift. 3. The relation of present drainage to preglacial drainage. 4. Terraces. 5. The areas occupied by the Des Moines and Missourian stages of the coal measures. 6. The transition from the Des Moines to the Missourian stage. It is intended in this paper to state briefly some of tie geological features of Madison county as obseived during the 48 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. past summer. For a more detailed description, reference may- be made to the complete report in the next volume of the “Iowa Geological Survey.” The county is thoroughly drained, the uplands well dis- sected by ravines that have left no swamps. The streams have well established grades over loess and drift. Only at the heads of smaller ravines is present erosion still in progress. Such a drift topography is again approaching maturity. Above the flood plains of the streams a line of low, rounded knolls rises about six feet. These constitute a river terrace in the normal development and mark the highest limit of spring fl3ods. About fifty feet above the bed of Middle river the remains of a second terrace are found in various places along the stream. At various points terrace-like places appear along the hillsides. Some of these are undoubtedly dependent on the resistant character of underlying strata. As a whole they bear so little relation one to another and to the river bed, that they are judged not to be terraces dependent on former stages of water in the stream, but of local character dependent on the differential weathering of the hillsides. The geological formations of the county are given in the fol- lowing table: CLASSIFICATION OP FORMATIONS IN MADISON COUNTY. GROUP. SYSTEM. SERIES STAGE. SUBSTAGE. Cenozoic. Pleistocene. Recent. Alluvium. Glacial. Iowan. Loess. Kansan. Drift. Paleozoic. Carboniferous Upper. Missourian. Represented by the Winter set limestone. Des Moines. Alluvial deposit is to be found iu the broad river valleys. It generally lies on loess extending down into the river bottoms. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 49 The loess deposit of the county occupies the divides, and extends over the hillsides into the river valleys. It is quite thin over the entire county, excepting east of Barney, where large hills of loess are banked against the adjacent Missourian limestone. The loess here is stratified, seeming to be made up of wash from the unstratified loess. In the east central and northeastern parts of the county the loess is more sandy than as usually found. The loess consists of two parts, an upper and a lower; the lower is more clayey than the upper, but no soil line has been observed between the two parts within the bounds of the county. The line between the two may have some relation to the soil line first observed at Churchville, War- ren county, by Bain, and to the line of separation between the upper and lower loess at Indianola described in the report on the “Geology of Warren county.”* The Kansan drift is very heavy in the northeastern, south- eastern and southwestern parts of the county. It consists of the usual reddish-brown gravel containing subangular water- worn pebbles of various light colored granite and quartz, together with greenstone and reddish quartzite pebbles and boulders. Below this gravel is a clay with numerous pebbles scattered through it, that, under the action of running water, form numerous little pot-holes in the beds of ravines that cut into this clay in the southeastern part of the county. There are no characteristics at present known whereby the relation of this lower part of this Kansan drift to the sub-Aftonian, or Albertan, drift may be determined. There is no Wisconsin drift within the limits of the county, but the loess on the hills in the northeastern part of the county is quite sandy. Near the boundary between Lee and Jefferson townships, the northeastern townships, various outcrops of Des Moines strata protrude from the hillsides, while in the western part of Jefferson township they are concealed by the drift. The loess lies unconformably on the Kansan drift, and the drift unconformably on the Carboniferous strata. The relation of the drift to the underlying strata reveals the general plan of the preglacial drainage as contrasted with the present drainage. * “Geology of Warren County,” in Iowa Geological Survey, vol. V, p. 318. 4 50 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. The dotted line represents the boundary line between the sur- face outcrops of the Des Moines strata on the east and the Winterset strata on the west. The main points of difference FJg. 1. Present drainage of Madison county , are as follows: The drainage of Jefferson township was south- eastward along the front of the Winterset limestone to North river. Because of the drift, Badger creek now flows northeast- ward over the drift across Jefferson township, then southeast- ward across the pre-Kansan divide, then eastward across Lee township. The stream seems to follow pre- Kansan ravines, but does not cut through the drift. A preglacial valley extends southwestward from the western part of Lincoln township across the southeastern part of Web- ster township and thence across Grand River township. This old valley is now completely filled by drift, and the drainage, which was formerly turned toward Middle river, is now turned IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 51 southeastward into Grand river, a stream that is post Kansan in Madison county. Middle river, west of Lincoln township, formerly uniting in section 21 of Lincoln township with the stream from Grand River township, flowed in a large curve northward and then eastward, leaving in the bow thus formed that delightful and somewhat romantic “Devil’s Backbone.” East of Barney the main part of Clanton creek seems to have flowed northward across section 35 of Walnut township. The following streams are in preglacial valleys of their own: North river. Middle river, South river, Clanton creek, and the principal parts of Cedar creek, Jones creek and Steels branch; but the valleys are all much modifled by the drift, and there is evidence of long- continued erosion during the time that was post- Kansan and preloessal. The smaller ravines forming the heads of the larger ra^vines are post-glacial. 52 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The geest, the weathered coal measure surface of preglacial times, forms no important part of the soil. It is completely obscured by drift and loess, excepting where exposed by erosion. The strata underlying the drift in the eastern part of the county belongs to the Des Moines stage of the coal measures. The strata underlying the drift in the western part of the county belongs to the Missourian stage of the coal measures. The dividing line between the surface outcrops of these stages may be traced as an irregular line across Madison township, the northeastern part of Jefferson, the central part of Douglas, Union and Lincoln townships, the eastern part of Scott and the central part of Walnut townships. (See figure 1.) The general surface of the limestone to the west of this line is higher than the surface of the shales east. This difference in elevation, together with the presence of preglacial valleys along the eastern margin of the Missouri limestone except in the divide just south of Patterson, make the limestone form an escarp- ment across the county. East of the dividing line the strata are generally clayey or sandy shale, but there are outcrops of a layer of limestone from one and a half to two and a half feet thick, especially important in the neighborhood of Truro, hence here called the Truro lime- stone. It outcrops along South river at an altitude of seventy feet above the river bed, and on both sides of Clanton creek valley. It outcrops along the hillsides in Crawford township, and appears near the crests of divides between Lee and Jefferson townships. Its distance below the base of the Winterset limestone is eighty feet. While in the Des Moines shales, unconformity is common, and in the sandy shales south of Patterson ripple-marks are to be found only forty feet below the Winterset limestone, there is no unconformity whatever between the base of the Winterset limestone and the uppermost Des Moines shales. This gives evi- dence that, j ust prior to the time when the Winterset lim estone was deposited in the county, the shore line was farther inland (east or northeast) of the present limits of the limestone, and, with the gradation from sandy shales with ripple-marks, through clayey shales to Winterset limestone, sustains the conclusion previously advanced by Keyes that the Missourian limestone was formed in an advancing sea. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 53 The succession of strata in the Winterset limestone is as follows, with uniform general characteristics throughout the county: 13 ft. Limestone, very shaly above, lower part heavier but with vary- ing- thickness of marly partings. This forms the base of the Missourian limestone. 2 ft. 8 in. Shale, clayey, gray above, black below, 4 in. Limestone; dense, jointed. 9 in. Shale, clayey, gray. 6 in. Limestone, irregular, gray, fossiliferous. 2 ft. 6 in. Shale, clayey, gray. 1 ft. 9 in. Limestone, irregularly concretionary. 9 ft. 6 in. Sandstone, shaly, gray. In section 22 of Lincoln township the shales that are clayey in outcrops found in the northern part of Scott township, are calcareous shales, giving evidence clearly visible that the uppermost part of the Des Moines shales gradually changes into limestone toward the southwest. This necessary condition has been generally recognized concerning the Des Moines shales as a whole, but no transition now visible has to my knowledge been pointed out, unless it be in the deep well rec- ords of Montgomery county. While there may be a marked difference in fauna between that of the Des Moines stage and that of the Missourian,* such distinctions as exist in the fossils seem satisfactorily referred to oscillation causing varying conditions of depth in the water with no very marked break. When the bottom of the sea was depressed, the deeper water fauna migrated into this deepening water. When the bottom was elevated, the deeper water fauna moved farther out to conditions more favorable, while their place was taken by a shallow water fauna. Of course if the Winterset limestone, and its shore equivalent, were laid down in an advancing sea, there must have been unconformity beneath the deposits somewhere, but not where the strata are still exist- ing in Madison county. The changes in depth of water are accompanied by changes in the character of the strata. These ♦University Geological Survey of Kansas, vol. I, p. 181. 54 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. changes, based on the succession of strata within the county, may be represented in the on following diagram: Fig. 3. Diagram representing the relative positions of the shore lines as indicated hy the general character of the strata within Madison county. Note.— A later comparison of outcrops proves that those shales in the upper Des Moines which are mentioned in this paper as calcareous, lie a few feet above those to the east with which they were compared; hence the local evidence mentioned that the upper part of the Des Moines shales becomes calcareous toward the west is want- ing.—Author. DRIFT SECTION AT OELWEIN, IOWA, BY GRANT E. PINCH. Just outside the limits of the growing town of Oelwein, Iowa, to the southeast, the Chicago Great Western Railroad company, in order to lessen a troublesome grade, have excavated a cut nearly a mile in length. At the end farthest from the town, where it passes diagonally through a lidge, it has a maximum thickness of thirty-two feet. This ridge has a northwest- southeast trend, and is one of the ordinary gentle swells char- acteristic of the drift of this region. To pass along the front of so extensive a section, twice the depth of ordinary drift cuts, fresh and untarnished by sun and rain, is a pleasure to any one, whether geologist or not. The great variety of colors — strata black, brown, gray, blue, green, and several shades of yellow; the distribution of boulders like plums in a Christmas pudding; the intricate twistings and turnings of some layers and the unexpected, fantastic intrusion of others, all could not help but hold the eyes of both trained and untrained observers. Though of great interest throughout its entire length, the section exposed where the cutting pierces the before-mentioned IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 55 ridge proved most interesting to me, and I shall therefore attempt its description somewhat in detail. Beneath the eighteen inches or so of black soil at the sur- face, covering the top and slopes of the hill, is a yellow clay with a liberal admixture of sand, gravel, pebbles and bculders. Many of the boulders show striated and polished surfaces. Numerous small, angular fragments of limestone are every- where present. In one of these was a number of specimens of Nucula levata, a lamellibranch which is found in the Maquoketa shales. There are great variations in the composition of this bed, but they occur in the form of irregular, curling drifts rather than of definite strata. This lack of any definite plan of structure combines with the great variety of materials found to give the yellow clay the heterogeneous look of a dumping ground. At an average depth of about eight feet below the surface the yellow clay shades almost imperceptibly into a blue, which is so tenacious and compact as to require the use of the pick instead of the shovel in digging it. It offers an effectual bar- rier to water, which readily penetrates the loose, sandy clay above. It is everywhere broken up into polyhedral, usually cubical, fragments, whose angles project conspicuously in the face of the exposed section. This tough blue clay fills a trough under it, and rises in a broad curve above, determining the form of the hill; hence, it varies much in thickness. Below the highest point of the hill it is fully eighteen feet thick; three hundred feet either side, about one-fourth as much. Its structure is fairly uniform throughout. Boulders are very few aud much decayed. Limestone fragments are found, as in the bed of yellow clay above, but there are also small fragments of wood and peat sparsely scattered through the whole bed, sev- eral fragments of both being found within eight feet of the surface of the ridge. Next below this lenticular bed of clay is a bed of grayish- blue clay which has a nearly uniform thickness of about four feet. This bed curves downward at the center, its lowest point being about under the crest of the ridge. While the face of the section was fresh and unaffected by exposure, no distinction was noticed between this and the lenticular layer of clay above, but after repeated visits, the last one after the clay had been washed by the heavy rains and repeatedly frozen by night and thawed by day, a dim yet definite line of demarkation was visible. 56 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Under the action of weathering this lower blue clay became distinguishable too, by reason of its smoothness of surface, from the upper blue clay, the face of which it has been already stated is covered with rough right-angled projections. This difference would seem to be caused by a greater propor- tion of sand in the lower clay, which may be seen by close inspection to be the case. Thus, while weathering dims the attractive colors, while it mutilates and must soon destroy the exposure, its immediate effect is to reveal stratification and texture that in the fresh surface of the glacial section are sometimes concealed. This lower blue clay also shows a liberal number of angular fragments of limestone, one being observed which was a foot square and three inches thick. The entire bed, too, is found to be strongly impregnated with lime. Fragments of wood are abundant throughout this four feet of sandy clay with its mixture of lime. Though the wood is fairly uniform in distribution in the different parts of the stratum, there seems to be no observable system in its dis- tribution, no definite forest bed corresponding to the numerous instances given by McGee. This would seem to indicate that these woody fragments had been borne in from elsewhere rather than overwhelmed in situ. The woody remains consist of stumps, trunks, branches and twigs. Such short roots are found only as remain attached to the stumps. The tree trunks are most frequently in a hori- zontal position, and in that case are fl.attened out of the cylin- drical, thus showing the effects of pressure from above, since the vertical diameter is the shorter one. The maximum thick- ness of the trunks observed was eight inches, in a much decayed specimen. The length was uncertain. Preservation of the bark was observed in very few instances. Nearly all the specimens found appear to belong to the same species. Its lines of growth are very close together, an indica- tion that it grew slowly. It is apparently some soft wood. All of the wood when found was saturated with water, which dried out very slowly on exposure to the air. Though wood is found in both strata of the blue clay, fifty fragments may be found in the lower to one in the upper. Besides, the fragments in the lower bed are by far the larger. It seems worthy of notice that the lower blue clay was deposited so evenly over the undulating sides as well as the IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 57 bottom of an irregular, basin-like depression. Taking this into account, and the difference in the occurrence of the wood of the two strata and their definite line of separation, one won- ders whether the relation of the lenticular layer of clay may not be closer to the yellow clay above than to the blue below. The gradual blending of the upper into the middle stratum has been noticed, and the fact that wood occurs even in the trausi- tion between the two beds leads one to question whether it might not have been found up through the yellow clay were not that bed so loose of texture. Next below the four feet of blue clay occurs a peaty bed that shows the same saucer- shaped depression as the clay above. On its upper surface, separating it from the clay, is a sheet of incoherent white sand which is fairly pure and shows irregular lines of sedimentation. Its thickness varies from nothing to six inches but it is fairly constant over most of the surface of the peat. The peaty formation has at the center a thickness of four feet, but it thins out and disappears within 300 feet in either direction. Its brown color makes it the best defined bed of the exposure, yet it is in structure far from uuiform. The planes of stratification are frequently irregular, rising through the bed to the eastward. Such parts are clearly the results of sedimentation. Other layers are pure peat in regular and extensive sheets composed of closely compressed laminse of moss as plain as if it was fresh from the botanist’s press. These are certainly in situ. Other vegetal remains than moss are wanting. Repeated and careful search discovered but one fragment of wood which was found in a sandy loam that underlies a small part of the peat. No roots are found except small ones, apparently those of the moss. Below the peat is a greenish colored clay, the lowest formation found. At the middle of the section it is invisible because below the bed of the cut, 300 feet either way it rises to a height of six or eight feet. It is a compact clay containing a considerable amount of sand and quartz, and other crystalline pebbles, but no limestone fragments, neither does this formation, nor the peat, show any impregnation with lime. In the depression in this green glacial clay must have existed the swamp where the peat bogs formed during a great pause in the Ice Age. Upon this peat marsh came a fiood of clay and sand bearing in its embrace the forest debris and limestone fragments. Next came a huge windrow of drift building a hill 58 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. over the ancient marsh; lastly, the mantle of yellow clay on which another soil has formed and now bears another growth of vegetation. Thanks are due to Professor Calvin for kind encouragement and for the photographs of the section; to Professor Sardeson, of Minneapolis, for helpful suggestions, and to Engineer Wil- kins, of the Chicago Great Western railroad, for use of the profile map. EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. Section of Pleistocene deposits as shown in the railway cut at Oelwein. 1. Thin layer of Iowan drift. Materials unoxidized, and boulders fresh and sound. 2. Kansan drift, oxidized and leached near the top. Many of the boulders in an advanced stage of decay. Grades downward into unoxidized blue till. 3. Sand boulders in Kansan drift. Upper ends are included in oxidized portion of this drift sheet; lower ends extend down into unoxidized portion. 4. Lower phase of Kansan drift which here shows physical character- istics resembling Number Y. 5. Thin layer of stratified sand, of Aftonian age, overlying peat. 6. Peat bed of Aftonian age. 7. Sub- Aftonian drift. EVIDENCE OF A SUB-APTONIAN TILL SHEET IN NORTHEASTERN IOWA. BY S. W BEYER. Until very recently, geologists working in Iowa have been content to refer the various boulder clays represented in the state to two till sheets, a so called “upper” and “lower,” sep- arated in many places by the “forest beds” of McGee, or in other localities by gravels, often in conjunction with a vegetal horizon, the Aftonian of Chamberlin. Early in the present year it was suspected by the assistant state geologist of Iowa that the lower till in central Iowa was not the equivalent of the lower drift sheet at Afton Junction. Later in the season Mr. Bain, in company with Prof. T. C. Chamberlin of the University of Chicago, revisited the Afton section, and what was at first a suspicion rapidly became a con- viction. It was clear that the then recognized lower till of central and northeastern Iowa, extending southward into Kansas IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE I. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 59 and currently known as the Kansan, must be correlated with the upper till at Af ton Juncton. The Aftonian gravels were demon- strated to lie below the Kansan instead of above it, and the lower boulder clay at their type locality must be rechristened. Professor Chamberlin,* in an editorial on the series of glacial deposits in the Mississippi valley, designates the lower till at Afton by the term sub- Aftonian and suggests its probable equivalency with the Albertan of Dawson. This fortunate discovery and happy recognition of a sub- Aftoiiian drift sheet in south central Iowa naturally suggested its probable presence in other portions of the state. During the present autumn one and perhaps two sections in northeastern Iowa have been brought to light which afford additional evidence of a pre-Kansan ice sheet. Oelwein Section. — The cut on the Chicago Great Western railway, east of the town of Oelwein, in southern Fayette county, exhibits the following series of glacial deposits: 5. Boulder clay, rather dull-yeilow in color; the upper portion is modified into a thin soil layer. Large boulders, mainly of the granitic type, are present, often resting on or par- tially imbedded in the deposits lower in the series. (Iowan) 0-10 feet. 4. Sand and gravel— -not a continuous deposit; often shows water action expressed in parallel stratification lines and false bedding. The gravels are usually highly oxidized and fine textured. (Buchanan) 0-2 feet. 3. Till, usually bright-yellow above, graduating into a gray- blue when dry or a dull-blue when wet, below. This deposit is massive and exhibits a tendency to joint when exposed. Decayed granitic boulders are common. (Kan- san) 3-20 feet. 2. (a) Sand, fine-white, well water-worn; often with a slight admixture of silt and clay. (Aftonian) 0-6 inches. {b) Vegetal layer and soil, from two to four inches of almost pure carbonaceous matter, with one to three feet highly charged with humus. The peaty layer often affords specimens of moss (Hypnum) perfectly preserved. (Aftonian) 0-4 feet. 1. Till, greenish-blue when wet or gray-blue with a greenish cast when dry. Greenstones and vein quartz pebbles predominate. (Sub- Aftonian or Albertan.) Exposed 10 feet. The Oelwein hill trends northwest and southeast and is bilobed. The divisions will be referred to in the present paper as east and west lobes. * Journal of Geology, vol. IV, No. 7, p. 873 et seq., 1896. 60 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The Iowan reaches its maxinmni development near the summit of the west lobe, where it attains a thickness of some ten feet. The deposit thins eastward. At the crest of the east lobe little more than a foot of Iowan till is present, while at the extreme eastern limit of the cut Iowan boulders are partially imbedded in the Kansan. The till varies from a pale yellow to a moderately bright yellow color, and is not thoroughly leached nor oxidized. The Iowan shows a tendency to crum- ble on exposure, which is in striking contrast to the older drift sheets. The line of separation between the Iowan and Kansan is not as well marked, in all cases, as could be de- sired but in most instances can be traced with some degree of confidence. ^ In the west lobe a layer of sand g sharply divides the two sheets for a distance of 100 feet, but when followed in either direction becomes much dis- arranged by the latter and in some places entirely loses its identity. The Kansan is the predominant sheet in the cut and the topographic features of the region are faithfully depicted by the stiff boulder clay of this deposit. Its maximum exposure is in the east lobe, where it exhibits a thickness of twenty feet. The upper portion is oxidized to a bright yellow, sometimes brownish-yellow, often closely resembling the Iowan in color. The most distinctive feature in its sepa- ration from the latter are the char- acter of the included boulders and the greater tenacity of the Kansan till. The Iowan pebbles and boulders are prevailingly of the granite type and IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 61 well preserved, while in the Kansan, greenstones are common and many of the granites are in an advanced state of decay. A granitic boulder more than a foot in diameter was noted which had been cleaved by the steam shovel without being loos- ened from its matrix. Sand boulders, lenses and wedges anom- alously distributed through the oxidized portion and often extending into the upper portion of the blue till are common features. The wedges usually maintain a more or less vertical position with their apices pointing downward. The filling material in all cases very closely resembles the sand layers between the Iowan and Kansan. Oftentimes the position of the various sand forms is such as to suggest their common origin with the Buchanan. In many instances stratification lines are common. In the trough of the hill the lower portion of the Kansan contains lime concretions similar to the loess- kindchen and ptippchen in great numbers. The lower three or four feet of the blue till contains wood fragments in con- siderable abundance in a state of almost perfect preservation. The physical properties of this portion of the Kansan are very similar to the sub-Aftonian. The dividing line between the Kansan and sub-Aftonian is more sharply marked than between the upper two drift sheets. In the major portion of the section the sand layer and the peat bed are continuous, demonstrating the extreme gentle- ness of the advance of the Kansan ice. It seems remarkable that perhaps the greatest ice sheet that ever appeared in the Mississppi valley could override a peat-bog with no percepti- ble disarrangement of materials. The pertinence of Prof. T. C. Chamberlin’s remark is apparent ‘ ‘ that a glacier builds its own causeway.” The surface of the sub-Aftonian is much more even than that of the Kansan; in fact it is not unlike that ascribed to our more modern peat-bogs. In certain places the upper part of the sub-Aftonian has been shifted and spheroidal masses of the peaty soil appear at the junction line imbedded in a Kansan matrix. Tne drift sheet below the Kansan is represented by a mass- ive gray -blue till with a marked greenish tone when unoxi- dized. The upper portion contains much humus and gives ofi a characteristic marsh-like odor when wet. The distinctive characters which serve to distinguish this boulder clay from the preceding are its color, the predominance of greenstone, and vein quartz pebbles and a less tendency to joint on 62 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. exposure. Granitic pebbles and boulders are, almost if not entirely, wanting. The pebbles in this as in the Kansan often exhibit polished, striated and facetted surfaces. The sub- Aftonian shows oxidation only where the superficial deposits are thin and the indications are that such oxidation took place after the deposition of the Kansan. At the extreme east end of the cut, beyond the peat-bed, there is an apparent exception to this rule. Blue till boulders of the Kansan are imbedded in an oxidized matrix of the basal drift sheet. Albion Section, — Another section has come to the writer’s notice during the past year which bears additional testimony to a drift sheet older than the Kansan. At the Albion mills on the Iowa river about ten miles northwest of Marshalltown, the following series of deposits may be observed: 6. Loess, stratified sands below 20 feet. 5. Till, yellow in some places apparently wanting and often rep- resented by characteristic boulders, only. (Iowan) 0-1 foot 4. Gravel, some boulders four or five inches in diameter; granitic members often much decayed; limestone pebbles are common and boulders of Kansan till decorated with pebbles were noted. (Buchanan) 2 feet. 3. Till, the upper portion highly oxidized to a deep reddish- brown, unoxidized portion a gray-blue, exhibiting a jointed structure. (Kansan) 4 feet. 2. Sands and gravels, stratified and coarser below; oxidized in streaks, and bands approximately parallel to bedding planes; certain bands contain a considerable percentage of silt and clay. (Aftonian) 10 feet. 1. Till, blue. (Sub- Aftonian).. 10 feet. The Kansan at this point is more highly oxidized than at Oelwein, while the gravels between the Iowan and Kansan are very sharply defined. The Aftonian does not present the iron- stained appearance usual to such deposits. Many of the pebbles and boulders are, however, in an advanced stage of decay. EXPLANATION OP PLATES. Plate II. The Oelwein Section. 1. Sub- Aftonian. 2. Aftonian. 3. Kansan, composed of an upper oxidized and a lower unoxidized portion. 5. Iowan. Plate III. The Albion Section. 2. Stratified sands and gravels of the Aftonian. 3. Kansan till oxidized in part. 4. Buchanan, consisting of coarse gravel. 6. Loess, with stratified sands and silts below. IOWA ^ ( ADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. IV IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 6B A PRE- KANSAN PEAT BED. BY T. H. MACBRIDE. In making an excavation through a low ridge just east of Oelwein, in Fayette county, the workmen of the Chicago Great Western railway have recently brought to light some very interesting superficial or quaternary deposits. As to the nature, age and significance of these deposits taken as a whole, our geologists are no doubt ready to give early and accurate account. It is for me in this brief paper to discuss, from the standpoint of the botanist, a single member of the series of strata thus fortunately brought to light. By way of description it is sufficient to say that the railway cutting mentioned displays on the face of an almost vertical wall a succession of well-defined deposits in which have been recognized the two principal drift sheets with which Iowa is known to be more or less covered, the Iowan and the Kansan, and at least one more, prior to the Kansan and, of course, under- lying it. These drift sheets or deposits are separated from one another in the Oelwein exposure, as elsewhere, by thin carbon- aceous strata, the evidence of the vegetation which at one time covered the surface of the older deposit. At Oelwein one of these carbonaceous division sheets, and that the lowermost, is of remarkable prominence and thickness, and to this particular layer your attention is now invited. Those who have had experience in such studies, and who have attempted to trace the limits of superficial deposits, know that contact lines are often exceedingly obscure ; the strata are recognized by more or less abrupt change of color, or, at best, by simply a darkened trace; but here we have a stratum in some places nearly a foot in thickness, so purely organic as to form almost a brown coal, an unusually pure quality of peat, and so striking in appearance as to have won the attention of even the men of pick and shovel. The deposit is actually more dense than the clay or drift layers above and below, so that weathering brings it out as a distinct ledge to-day on the face 64 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. of the exposure. The stratum from the point of best exposure dips to the west, and, so far as I could observe, can be followed in that direction no more than twenty or thirty rods when it dips below the present level of the excavation. Eastwardly it thins out, and at length becomes only a trace, obscure, or van- ishes entirely. For the greater part of the entire distance the structure and composition of the bed varies from rod to rod, but everywhere where the exposure is thickest the purity of the seam is greatest below. Indeed, in the most favorable case examined the purity of vegetable accumulation near the bottom of the formation is remarkable in the extreme, there being no admixture, so far as can be discovered, of any other substance whatsoever. Upwards the materials are less pure, the amount of inorganic matter increasing until the seam blends above with the over- lying blue clay or drift. It is a little surprising to find the lowest, that is, the oldest part of the bed, exhibiting organic objects in most perfect condition. The bottom of the seam is a compact mass of moss, compacted and pressed together no doubt, but absolutely untouched by putrefaction or decay, per- fect in every leaf and fibre as any herbarium specimen in the world. Specimens you may examine show this perfectly. You may see the stem, the attachment of the leaves, the inno- vations, the form of each leaf, nay, the very areolation of leaf apex and base, quite as absolutely defined as in the case of any freshest specimen one may bring in now from any living turf or forest bed. For this reason we are able with much confi- dence to identify the species concerned although, so far, we have seen no smallest sign of capsule or fruit. So far, also, all the material seems to represent but a single species, Eypnum, probably Hypnum Huitans Linn. , a common moss which creeps out from shore or clings to fioating objects, itself immersed or semi- floating in ponds, marshes or peat- bogs around the whole northern world. Above the compacted moss which altogether makes up an inch or two of solid matter, lies a still more solid mass of vege- table detritus several inches thick. In this case the vegetation, whatever it was, appears to have undergone pretty thorough decomposition and disintegration before it was compacted. The microscope reveals simply cells and fragments of cells with considerable admixture of sharp, white sand, but nothiag identifiable. This pulpy layer blends rather abruptly above IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 65 with a crude admixture of sand, mud and fragmentary vege- table detritus which, as said, becomes at length indistinguish- able from the overlying drift. In the very lowest portion of the (upper) drift, and often resting directly on the peat seam proper, are quantities of half- decomposed wood, not rotten wood at all, rather wood which has lost 'its lignin and of which only the cellulose basis remains, but showing ail the original structure elements and features with perfection absolute. The wood seems identical with that of Larix americana Mx. The facts before us would seem to warrant the following conclusions in reference to the state of affairs or conditions under which the peat bed was laid down: The Hypnum fluitans^ free from all foreign matter of every kind, bespeaks a wide, clear, open marsh or peat- bog to which anything like muddy drainage from the surrounding regions never came. Here for a long period, probably centuries, the moss must have flour- ished undisturbed, but was at length completely submerged and drowned, probably by the closing of the drainage outlets. In the deeper water that succeeded flourished a difl!erent flora, probably a surface aquatic flora such as the Lemnas, filamentous algae, Anacharis, possibly, whose dying fronds and filaments settled through other centuries to form at last the second layer of our peat bed seam. Over this, as has been stated, lies a mixture of organic and inorganic matter. Whether this was deposited in situ by another change in the depth of the water and local surface conditions or whether this represents the low- est part of the drift sheet as it came is difficult to say. In this particular layer there are evidences not a few of the presence of higher plants, monocotyledons chiefly. These may have been pushed in from other shallower parts of the same marsh. However this may be, the final catastrophe is not a matter of doubt. The whole region was slowly frozen up and at length whelmed by an icy deluge of frozen mud, fragments of swamp - loving trees wrenched and broken as they came, sand boulders, detritus of all the surrounding surface soils, whatever their variety, their flora or formation. Once this process complete, our peat bed remained hermetically sealed, unaffected, doubt- less, by subsequent surface changes of any sort until stirred by the plowshare of the railway engineer. Considering the assumed great age of the deposit the state of preservation in which the plant remains occur is truly noteworthy. But then 5 66 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. we recall the notorious fact that peat-bogs and marshes, whether by the abundance of humic acid or from other causes, are pronouncedly aseptic. If moss, developed under such con- ditions, was finally buried at a low temperature and sealed up, its preservation is explained. But again, the wood fragments referred to are saturated with a solution of ferrous sulphate. The occurrence of this salt in this condition is a problem to which the attention of the chemist, rather than of the botanist, may be invited. In closing, one other fact may be mentioned. Some years since well diggers of Washington county, in the town of Wash- ington, brought up from great depth, some hundreds of feet, a perfectly preserved and uninjured cone. This I identified at the time as the fruit of Larix americana. If our determinations are therefore to be trusted, the Oelwein peat bed and the Wash- ington cone represent the same horizon. As the only drift in Washington county is Kansan, the position of the Oelwein peat as pre-Kansan is to this extent rendered more certain. SUMMARY OP DISCUSSION^. BY PROP. S. CALVIN. The discussion following the preceding papers on the Oel- wein section was participated in by Calvin, Fink, Bain, Shimek, Beyer, Finch and others. The facts developed during the dis- cussion may be summarized as follows: A few years ago geologists were content to look upon the glacial period as a unit, and the drift mantle of Iowa was regarded as the effect of a single invasion and retreat of glacial ice. Some time ago, however, McGee demonstrated that in northeastern Iowa there are two distinct drift sheets separated by a soil horizon and forest bed which represent an interglacial period of considerable length. The two sheets of drift were then named respectively the lower and the upper till. Later two distinct drift sheets were recognized in Union county, near Afton Junction. They are separated by a soil bed and by motion that Professor Calvin be requested to summarize this discussion was carried unanimously. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 67 extensive deposits of water- laid gravels. It was at once assumed that the two drift sheets at Af ton J unction were the upper and lower till of McGee. Within the past year or so Mr. Bain, of the Iowa Survey, studied the Afton deposits and became convinced that the till above the gravels and soil bed was equivalent to McGee’s lower till, that the upper till was not present in that part of Iowa, and that the lower bed at Afton is distinct from any ol the drift sheets recognized in northeastern Iowa. The locality was afterward visited in com- pany with Professor Chamberlain and others and Bain’s con- clusions were fully confirmed. Here is a drift sheet older than McGee’s lower till. In the meantime a lobe of drift, crossing the northern boundary of the state with a width reaching from Worth to Dickinson counties and narrowing toward its apex at Des Moines, was recognized as younger than the upper till of McGee. This youngest drift has been named Wisconsin by Chamberlin, McGee’s upper till Chamberlin calls Iowan, and the lower till Kansan. The drift beneath the Aftonian soil and gravels is so far unnamed, but it is provisionally called sub- Aftonian. Mr. Leverett has recently shown that a bed of till occupying a small area in southeastern Iowa was deposited by glaciers coming from the northeast through Illinois. These glaciers spread a characteristic sheet of till over a large part of the state last named, and this drift sheet, which is younger than the Kansan and older than the Iowan, is called the Illinois. There is therefore in Iowa a record of five ice invasions separated from each other by interglacial periods of consider- able duration. The drift sheets corresponding to the several ice invasions are named in the order of age: 1, sub- Aftonian; 2, Kansan; 3, Illinois; 4, Iowan; 5, Wisconsin. The interglacial deposits between the first and second are called Aftonian. Kespecting the length of the interglacial periods it may be shown that many of them were many times longer than the period that has elapsed since the retreat of the Wisconsin ice. The Oelwein cut to which reference is made in the papers under discussion is particularly interesting for the reason that it shows three of these drift sheets, the sub-Aftonian, Kansan and Iowan, in their normal relations. The first and second are separated by the peat bed which represents the Aftonian inter- glacial period. The second and third are separated by a zone of oxidation. The Iowan drift at the top of the cut is thin, but it contains boulders fresh as when they left the parent ledge. 68 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The Kansan drift is thicker. It is deeply oxidized at the sur- face, and its granite boulders are so far decayed that the steam shovel has cut through individuals a foot or more in diameter without encountering as much resistance as is offered by the surroundiug clay. The sub-Aftonian contains small pebbles of very hard crystalline rocks, many of the pebbles being of vein quartz, but there are few granites. Concerning the climate of the Aftonian interglacial period the wood aud peat would indi- cate conditions similar to those that may exist in northern Maine. Iowa is now classic ground for the study of Pleistocene deposits, andfgeologists the world over, if they would study these deposits to best advantage, must come to Iowa to do it. ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS ON SURFACE DEPOSITS IN IOWA. BY B. SHIMEK. During the past summer the author made a series of observa- tions, at the request of Prof. S. Calvin, upon the surface deposits of the northern part of the state, the results of which may be worthy of record. Borings were made with a two and one-half inch auger attached to gas pipe, and in addition to this cuts along railways and wagon roads and exposures along creek and lake shores were examined. The chief observations were made at the fol- lowing points: a. At Clear Lake, in Cerro Gordo county, three borings were made in the timbered ridge east of the lake, as follows: One within five rods of the lake shore and two on the topmost part of the hill to the east. &. At Forest City the following work was done: 1. Eleven borings were made due east from Forest City on the timbered ridge which extends north and south, parallel with Lime creek and just east of it, beginning at the top of the ridge north of the road, and thence at Irregular intervals for 450 yards to the south. Nine of these borings were made at or near the summit of the ridge and two, one on each side, were made near the foot. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 69 2. Two borings were made on a little plateau about one-half mile east of Lime creek, and notes on a well near by were taken. 3. Two borings were made on the timbered ridge south of Forest City, and several cuts along the Minneapolis & Sfc. Louis railroad and at the gravel pit two miles south were examined. 4. Two borings were made between Forest City and Lake Edwards (in Hancock county), one near the top of a hill on which a few bur oak shrubs had gained a foothold, and one on lower ground. Observations w'ere also made in cuts along wagon roads west of Forest City. 5. Well diggers were consulted at Forest City. c. At Spirit Lake, in Dickinson county, exposures along the lake shores and cuts along railways and wagon roads were studied. d. Near Granite, in Lyon county, five borings were made at various altitudes, about one mile west of Granite and south of the railroad, and observations were made in the railroad cuts between Granite and the Big Sioux river. The results were fairly uniform and are here briefiy sum- marized. The succession of strata in the great majority of cases was as follows: 1. A fine black surface soil, sometimes mingled with fine sand, varying in thickness from six inches to two feet. 2. A compact yellowish layer of clay resembling loess, but sometimes with grains of sand and very small pebbles inter- mingled, and devoid of fossils. This is sometimes quite absent, but again reaches a thickness of nearly two feet. 3. A layer of yellow boulder-clay, with numerous boulders, these often several inches in diameter, occasionally much larger. 4. The boulders interfered with the borings, but where deeper sections could be observed it was found that this layer varied from five to fifteen feet in thickness.* Where borings were made in low or fiat grounds it was found that strata 1 and 2 averaged a little greater in thickness, and stratum 1 was rather more frequently mingled with sand. The borings at Clear Lake and east of Forest City were made in the timber. In all these stratum 1 was greater in thickness and was mostly made up of finer material. * Beneath this layer at Forest City occur pockets of sand, underneath which is a blue boulder-clay of great thickness, said by the well diggers at Forest City to vary from sixty to 100 feet in that vicinity. 70 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. The yellow boulder- clay — stratum number 3 — has boulders scattered throughout its thickness, but, as a rule, on slopes and near the tops of hills these are much more abundant in the upper part, immediately under strata 1 and 2. This is strikingly shown in some of the cuts and exposures at Forest City, Spirit Lake and Granite. It appears as though this stratum had at sometime been much thicker upon the hills, forming their barren surface immediately after the recession of the glacial sheet. By the action of winds and water the finer material at the surface was sifted out and carried away before the hills were covered with vegetation, the heavier boulders being but little disturbed, excepting as they were undermined. As a result the hills were cut down and the boulders were brought closer together at the surface. Their accumulation retarded the surface disturbances and the vegetation peculiar to barren grounds was enabled to gain a foothold. Finer material, brought hither by the winds, ^ was retained by this vegetation and a new surface soil was formed — the stratum number 2 — of which a vegetation more abundant then took pos- session. This retained still finer material, mingling with it its own decomposed substance, and the present surface soil — stratum number 1 — was gradually formed. It may here be noted that the finest part of the material from stratum number 3 seems to be in all respects like our loess. The conditions which probably prevailed before the forma- tion of strata 1 and 2 are still illustrated by comparatively barren prairie hills west of Forest City and in the vicinity of Granite, where stratum number 3, or mere indications of num- ber 2, form the surface, whose vegetation, as incidentally noted in the following paper, is quite different from that of the more fertile surrounding prairie. The occurrence of the scrub bur oak groves on some of these hills is interesting. The plants are chiefly shrubs, sel- dom more than five feet in height, and usually not closely crowded, and they seem to prosper best on the leeward side of the hills and in ravines. This is strikingly shown near Granite. The observer may stand on one of the hills west of Granite, and looking to the * Even such small pebbles as those which occur in stratum number 3 could be rolled a considerable distance by winds. The author saw, last spring, an accumulation of sand on a hill in the southern part of West Cedar Rapids which completely covered a fence fully five feet high. In the deposit were small pebbles, yet the wind had clearly formed the stratum full five feet in thickness since the fence had been built. When the workmen were removing a portion of the deposit for the purpose of opening a road it was observed (by the author) that the sand was quite regularly stratified, the num- erous lines following the surface configuration. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 71 south and southwest, and also to the west and northwest across the Big Sioux river into South Dakota, he may locate almost every one of the little ravines with which the slopes bordering the deeper ravines are scarred, by the dark lines of bur oaks. The number of these smaller ravines which are tributary to some larger one is often so great that a pinnate arrangement of these dark lines results. The shrubs in that vicinity are found generally on the northern and eastern slopes, where they are best protected from the prevailing strong southwesterly winds, and the surface soil on these slopes is much deeper and finer, and is also covered with a richer fiora. On the other hand, many of the western and southern slopes are strewn with granite boulders, and a scant vegetation barely covers the sur- face, which almost lacks a finer soil— stratum number 3 form- ing the surface. These groves would probably have formed nuclei of greater forests had not man interfered, for, in the northern part of the state at least, the bur oak seems to be the pioneer among trees, being followed by the red oak, which now forms the greater part of our northern and northwestern upland groves. The conclusion seems warranted that while soil largely determines the character of a fiora, the converse is equally true that the fiora will in time affect the character of the soil, and that the influence of vegetation upon superficial geological changes should not at least be disregarded. The conclusions drawn from the observations here briefly recorded are the following: 1. The boulder-bearing stratum marked 3 formed the sur- face at one time throughout the region studied. Before vege- tation had taken possession of it the finer material was sifted from the upper part of the stratum, concentrating the boulders. 2. Subsequestly a comparatively scant vegetation took pos- session, making possible the retention of a somewhat coarse soil, — stratum 2. 3. A richer vegetation then followed, enabling the retention of a finer soil, — stratum 1. 4. Forests, where occurring, followed next in order, being ushered in in the manner suggested by the present bur oak scrub-tracts. 5. The agency concerned chiefly in accumulating the finer surface soils was wind, the material being retained in place by vegetation. 72 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 6. The action was probably not simultaneous over the entire area, the fine material removed from the most barren parts being deposited in places already prepared for its retention. THE FLORA OP THE SIOUX QUARTZITE IN IOWA. BY B. SHIMEK. The Sioux quartzite is exposed in this state only in the extreme northwestern corner of Lyon county. Other and greater exposures however are found in the adjacent parts of South Dakota. The chief exposure on the Iowa side is located only a few rods south of the state line and about one and three-quarters miles east of the Big Sioux river. It occupies a depression in the rolling prairie, which is bordered by hills on the north, east and south, and slopes gradually to the Big Sioux bottoms to the west. It is best seen at and near the junction of two streamlets, one coming from the east and the other from the south, the course of the resulting stream being westward. At the time that the observations herein recorded were made (August 4 and 6, 1896), these streamlets were almost dry, there being only a. few disconnected pools of water. The greater portion of the exposure is horizontal, vertical ledges not exceeding six feet in thickness being found only along the streamlets for a few rods above their juncture. The exposure is in part barely disguised by a scant surface soil upon which, and upon the bare rock, flourishes a flora in some respects unique, and strikingly different from that of the surrounding prairie, a fact already noted by Prof. J. C. Arthur, who in the “Contributions to the Flora of Iowa,” No. VI.,* says: “The extreme northwestern corner (of Iowa) is geolog- ically and botanically very unlike the rest of the state.” The list of plants herein given is undoubtedly far from com- plete, being the result of a rather hasty survey. It shows a flora which is sufficiently unique, however, to be of interest to the student of plant distribution. * Proc. Davenport Acad. Sci., vol. IV., p. 73. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 73 The plants in the first list seemed to be restricted to the exposure and have not been collected anywhere else in the northwc stern part of the state by the author, nor have they been reported from that section excepting from the immediate locality under consideration. They are:* Talinum teretifolium Pursh. Abundant. Also reported from Woodbury county. Hosackia purshiana Benth. Abundant. In fruit. Also reported from Henry and Woodbury counties. Opuntia fragilis Nutt. Common. A few fruits were found. Aphyllon ludovicianum Gray. Not common. Not heretofore reported from the state. IsantJius cmruleus Mx. Not common. A stunted unbranched form. The species occurs in Henry, Muscatine and Johnson counties, in the eastern part of the state. Polygonum tenue Mx. Common. Also reported from Linn and Muscatine counties. Buchloe dactyloides Eng. Staminate plants were not rare. Woodsia scopulina Eaton. Rather common. Pound in crev- ices of the rock. This has not been reported from the state. The specimens, which were collected with fruit in all stages of development, are typical. Selaginella rupestris Spring. Common. The species is also reported from Muscatine, Winneshiek and Benton counties. Aster ella Jiemisplicerica Beauv. Not common. Abundant in the eastern part of the state. With the exception of the liverwort Asterella all of the species in the list are distinctly dry and bar- ren ground plants, and even the exception commonly occurs in places which are wet only during a short period each year. It will be noticed also that the species belong largely to the flora of the dry western and northwestern plains. The second list includes plants which occur on this exposure, but are also found upon dry, sandy, or gravelly hillsides on the prairies throughout the northwestern part of the state, and also in isolated localities in other parts of the state upon sandy, barren tracts. These also belong to the western flora. They are: Astragalus lotiflorus Hook. Not common. Pound also on the barren hills near Granite. Heretofore reported only from Pre- mont county. * The nomenclature here employed, excepting that of the lichens, is, like that of most of the Iowa lists heretofore published, that of Gray’s Manual. Without regard to the merits of the nomenclature controversy, this will make the notes more convenient for comparisons. 74 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Liatris punctata Hook. Not rare. Chrysopsis villosa Nutt. Rather common. Not reported from Iowa. Aster dblongifolius Nutt. Not rare. Aster ptarmicoides T. and G. Not common. Artemisia canadensis Mx. Not common. Artemisia frigida Willd. Not common. Not reported from any other part of the state. Lygodesmia juncea Don. Not common. Cuscuta arvensis Beyr. Common, chiefly on the two species of Artemisia mentioned. Pentstemon gracilis Nutt. In fruit. Not common. This is the first report of its occurrence in the state. Pentstemon grandijiorus Nutt. Rare on the exposure, but very common on the barren hills west of Granite. Verbena angustifolia Mx, Not common. Plantago patagonica Jacq., var. gnaphaloides Gray. Common. Reported from several counties in the western and southwestern part of the state. Oxybaphus hirsutus Sweet. Not common. Salsola kali L., var. tragus (L.) Moq. A dwarf form not exceeding eight inches in height, with mostly simple stems, was quite common. Bouteloua oligostachya Torr. Common. Bouteloua hirsuta Lag. Not rare. Both of these species are quite common near Granite, and also near Rock Rapids, in Lyon county, Carex stenophylla Wahl.* Not uncommon. A rare species, heretofore found in this state only in Emmet county. Placodium vitellinum (Ehrh.) Naeg. and Hepp. f Not uncom- mon. Placodium vitellinum var. aurellum Ach. Rather rare. Placodium elegans (Link) D. C. Rare. Placodium cerinum (Hedw.) Naeg. and Hepp. (?) Not common. Lecanora cinerea (L.) Sommerf. Not common. Lecanora rubina (Vill.) Ach. Quite common. Lecanora muralis (Schreb.) Sch^r., var. saxicola Schs0r. Quite common. Rinodina oreina (Ach.) Mass. Very common. * The species of Carex, mentioned in this paper, were partly identified or verified by Prof. R. I. Cratty. + The lichens were identified or verified by Prof. Bruce Pink. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 75 Parmelia conspersa (Ehrh.) Ach. The most common lichen on the exposure, covering large areas of rock. Physia ccesia (Hoffm.) Myl. Not common. Omphalaria . An undescribed species found in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. Not common. Pertusaria sp. (?) Not common. Endocarpon miniatum (L. ) Schaer. Rare. Probably a variei y. The lichen flora of the exposure, very conspicuous by its abundance and variety, is an exceedingly interesting one. The rock in many places is fairly covered with these persistent forms, and the species are, for the most part, identical with those which occur on surface granite boulders in the northern or northeastern part of the state. In addition to the species given in the preceding list, there are several which may be found almost anywhere on the prairies, and which readily adapt themselves to new surround- ings, yet are properly dry ground species. They are: Delphinium azureum Mx. Not common. Psoralea argophylla Pursh. Not rare. Psoralea esculenta Pursh. Rather rare. Gastilleia sessiliflora Pursh. Rare. Hedeoma pulegioides Pers. Very common. Juncus tenuis Willd. Common. Gar ex cephalophora Muhl. Not common. Garex straminea Willd. , var. hrevior Dewey. Quite common. Garex stramineal^iWdi., YBX. Not common. Andropogon scoparius Mx.* Common. Stipa spartea Trin. Common. Muhlenbergia glomerata Trin. Not common. Spordbolus cuspidatus Torr. Common. Galamagrostis canadensis Beauv. Common. Galamagrostis longifolia Hook. Common. This report would be incomplete without a list of the species which were found along the edges of the pools left by the streamlets. They do not properly belong to the flora of the rock-exposure, but their presence is of interest, especially as some of them were observed nowhere else in Lyon county. They are: Botala ramosior Koehne. Not common. Known heretofore only from Benton and Henry counties. *For the identification of some of these grasses thanks are due to Prof. L. H. Pammel. 76 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Ammannia coccinea Rottb. Not common. Reported only from Story county. Veronica anagallis L. Not common. Juncus nodosus L., var. megacephalus Torr. Not rare. BecJcmannia erucceformis Host,, var. unijlora Scrib. Quite common near two of the pools, but not found by the author at any other point. It is also reported from Story (introduced) and Plymouth counties. As has been noted, the plants which constitute this flora are for the most part inhabitants of dry and more or less barren regions. The flora may be duplicated in part in several barren isolated spots in other portions of the state. One of these is found in Muscatine county, and many of its interesting forms have already been reported by Mr. Fred Reppert; another is in Dubuque county; and still others are mentioned by Prof. L. H. Pammel.* It is probably the remnant of a flora which once covered the greater part of the north half of the state. It is closer in its relation to the western than to the eastern flora, and its evolu- tion probably took place to the west and southwest beyond the limits of the glacial sheet. The recession of the glaciers left a barren surface, for the most part covered with sand and boulders, and seamed and scarred by the vast sea of ice. The depressions were occupied by water, and upon the bleak hills this flora slowly established itself. But its own presence gradually caused an accumulation of finer surface soil, and other plants, more vigorous and rapid growers, took possession of the now fertile spots. The fertile area thus increased until only a remnant of the original flora was left in the few spots which presented conditions most nearly like those which prevailed soon after the disappearance of the ice sheet. The distribution of the lichen flora probably differed from that of the higher plants. The wonderful vitality of the lichens, especially as illustrated by their habits far to the north, admits of the belief that they were able to exist even through the glacial period. It is probable that the ledges of the Sioux quartzite, then much more prominent, were covered with lichens even before the glacial epoch, and that the same force which ground out the boulders from the solid rock carried fragments of lichens out over the state eastward and southward. It is *Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., vol. Ill, p. 106. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 77 probable that the glaciers advanced and receded with the changes of seasons, and with each recession of the ice the lichens were given a new lease of life. Thus while the higher plants from the east and the west met on the barren prairies of Iowa, those from the west at first predominating, and while their advance was probably respectively from the southeast and southwest, the lichens of the rocky ledges and boulders came to us from the north and represent the oldest flora in the state. NOTES ON AQUATIC PLANTS PROM NORTHERN IOWA. BY B. SHIMEK. The aquatic flora of northern and northwestern Iowa is of great interest, and it deserves especial attention because the occupancy of that part of the state by agricultural man is rapidly transforming the ‘‘ Thousand Lake Region of Iowa,” as the early settlers called it, into thousands of pastures, flax flelds and wheat fields. The lakes and ponds are being drained either artificially or by the changes in surface conditions, and while it is probable that the aquatic flora will persist in the larger lakes for a long time, it will certainly be restricted; it is, in fact, already restricted, and if these large lakes change as rapidly as Clear lake. Spirit lake and Lake Okoboji (to say nothing of smaller ones) have in the past few years, Iowa will soon know no lakes. It is important, therefore, that the history of the aquatic plants of the northern part of the state be as complete as possible, and that specimens of these plants be preserved for future reference. Various scattered notes on this flora have been published, but thus far only one paper specially devoted to it has appeared. Early in the year Mr. R. I. Cratty published’^ an admirable paper on the aquatic flowering plants of Iowa, and these notes are practically merely supplementary to that paper. A part of the field work at Spirit lake and Lake Okoboji, the results of which are here given, was made in company with Mr. Cratty, and his experience and enthusiasm added much to the interest and the value of the work. * Bulletin Lab. of Nat. His., State Univ. of Iowa, vol. HI, No. 4. 78 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. The collections on which the notes are based are deposited in the herbarium of the State University of Iowa. To avoid repetition the dates of collecting are here given for the several localities: Mason City— July 6-9, 1896. Clear Lake — July 10th-13th. Forest City, Lake Edwards and the northern part of Hancock county*^— July I7th-21st. Spirit and the Okoboji lakes— July SOth- August 3d. Rock Rapids and Granite — August 3d-7th. The following is an annotated list of the species which were collected:! Nymplicea reniformis D. C. Pound in Clear Lake and in the Big Sioux river near Granite. These localities have not been noted heretofore. Nupliar advena Ait. f. Additional localities: Mason City, Forest City, Spirit Lake. MyriopTiyllum spicatum L. Additional localities: Lake Oko- boji, common. Mostly in bud. Clear Lake, very common. All in bud. Growing in two to four feet of water. Myriopliyllum heterophyllum Mx. Clear Lake. Rather more common than the preceding. Forest City, not common in Lime creek. Utricularia vulgaris L. Rather rare at Forest City, in Lime creek. Geratophyllum demersum L. Very common in West Okoboji lake, forming beautiful branching tufts in water three to six feet deep. Elodea canadensis Mx. Very common in Lake Edwards and in the Okoboji lakes. New localities: Rock Rapids, in Rock river. Not common. Clear Lake, very common. Vallisneria spiralis L. This interesting species was very com- mon in Clear Lake, especially at the west end, but none were found in flower. In Spirit Lake, along the western shore, small specimens of pistillate plants were collected in shallow water. These grew on a gravelly bottom. A splendid lot of specimens were collected at the lower end of East Okoboji lake, near its juncture with the west lake. The leaves ranged in length from one to at least four feet, and * Partly made in September, 1895. + For convenience in making comparisons the nomenclature is largely that of Mr. Cratty’s paper. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 79 hundreds of pistillate flowers in all stages of development were found. A fine series of the staminate flowers were collected. These, so far as observed, were restricted to a small area, seemingly not more than a square yard in extent, in which staminate flowers only were found. These were at a depth of about two feet, growing like the others on a mud bottom. Heterantliera graminea Vahl. This species is distributed throughout the state. It was common at Mason City, Forest City, Lake Edwards, Lake Okoboji, Rock Rapids, in Rock river, and in the Big Sioux river near Granite. Spirodela polyrrJiiza Schleid. Common at Forest City in Lime creek. Lemna trisulca L. Very common in Lake Edwards, and also found at Forest City. Lemna minor L. Abundant in the Big Sioux river near Granite, and in Rock river at Rock Rapids. Potamogeton natans L. Not rare in the west end of Clear lake. Some were in fruit, others in flower. Specimens col- lected in Spirit lake were finely fruited. Potamogeton nuttallii Cham, and Schl. This rare species, which has hitherto been reported in Iowa only from Muscatine county, was found in a small pond in northern Hancock county south of Forest City near the intersection of the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad. It was mostly in fruit. A month later Mr. Cratty collected it in fine fruit at the same place. Potamogeton spirillus Fuck. Found with the preceding. The species had been reported from Muscatine and Poweshiek counties. It is rare. Potamogeton loncMtes Fuck. This was common, in fiower, in the Big Sioux near Granite, and in Rock river at Rock Rapids. The submersed leaves were abundant. Potamogeton amplifolius Fuck. Common in the west end of Clear lake, mostly in fiower. A form with narrower, nearly green leaves was not rare. Common and well fruited in Lake Okoboji and Spirit lake. Rare in Rock river at Rock Rapids. Potamogeton prcelongus Wnef. Rather common in Clear lake. Fine specimens, 8 or 10 feet long, were abundant in deep water. Rare in East Okoboji lake. No flowers or fruit were collected. Potamogeton perfoUatus L. , var. ricliardsonii A. Benner. Com- mon in flower in the west end of Clear lake. Very abundant in Okoboji lakes in flower and fruit. A form found in Spirit 80 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. lake, growing on gravelly bottom along the west shore, approaches the type in the character of the leaves. Potamogeton zosteroefolius Schum. Common in Clear lake, in flower. Also common in Lake Edwards. Common in the Okoboji lakes, some finely fruited, but most of them in flower. Not common in Rock river at Rock Rapids. Potamogeton foUosus Raf. Abundant in Lime creek near Forest City, mostly in flower. Mr. Cratty found it a month later in fine fruit. Potamogeton major (Pries) Morong. Common in Clear lake, some in fruit, but most of it in flower. Very common in the Okoboji lakes at their juncture. In good fruit, but flowering specimens were common. Potamogeton pussillus L. Rare in Clear lake at west end. Some in fruit, others flowering. Not common in East Okoboji lake near its northern extremity. The glands at the base of the leaf are well shown in most of the specimens. Potamogeton pectinatus L. Common, mostly in flower, in Clear lake. The specimens growing on sandy bottom at the east end of the lake were slender and few-leaved. Also com- mon in Lake Edwards. Very fine and in excellent fruit in East Lake Okoboji. Rare in Rock river near Rock Rapids. JSfais Jlexilis (Willd) R. & S. Very common in rather shallow water in Lake Edwards, Clear lake and Spirit. Growing on sandy or mnd bottoms. Zannichellia palustris L. Quite common and in fruit in shal- low water on gravelly bottom along the west shore of Spirit lake. Much finer specimens were found in East Okoboji lake in somewhat deeper water. The leaves were in excellent con- dition for collecting, and many species of aquatic plants which seldom fruit were found in splendid condition. The following algae, identified by Miss Lucy M. Cavanaghwere also collected : Chcetophora pisiformis (Roth) Ag. Common in West Lake Okoboji. GhcetopJiora monolifera Kg. Common on Gladophora in Clear lake. New to the state. Gladophora oMgoclona Kg. Common in Clear lake. Gladophora glomerata Kg. var. Common in West Lake Okoboji. Gladophora fracta Kg. Common in West Lake Okoboji. IOWA ACADEMY OP, SCIENCES. 81 Cladophora fracta var. gossypina Kg.(?) Common in West Lake Okoboji. Cladophora fracta Kg. var. In West Lake Okoboji. Eydrodictyon utriculatum. Very common in Lime creek, at Forest City. SPERMAPHYTA OP THE FLORA OP FAYETTE, IOWA. BRUCE PINK. INTRODUCTION. A considerable amount of work has been done on the flora of the vicinity of Fayette since the early settlement, and during the last five years the writer has explored the region thor- oughly. Nearly 200 of the plants of this list have been care- fully compared by the writer and other persons at the herbaria of the University of Minnesota and Harvard university. I have also had the aid of specialists on five difficult genera, and altogether the list of a few more than 700 species and vari- eties has been carefully worked out. The early work was done by Dr. C. C. Parker who, previous to 1876, had collected and preserved nearly 500 specimens of our herbaceous plants. Dr. Parker’s herbarium contains twenty- eight plants not found by the writer, which are listed. They may be known, as he is given credit for the collecting. I am also indebted to him for the use of his herbarium in pre- paring this record, and for valuable aid in finding several rare plants. As to territory covered, the list is approximately complete for the region within five miles of Payette. A few plants are included which were collected ten or fifteen miles away, but the work is doubtless quite incomplete for some portions of Fayette county. This region furnishes a good field for the study of the higher plants, as the topographical features are quite varied. Prairies, woods, rivers, springs, marshes, ponds, hills and limestone ledges all abound. The woods, even after so much clearing has been done, are a more inviting field for study than the limited amount of unbroken prairie. Twenty years ago the prairie grasses and sedges were surely much more abundant than now, but unfortunately they were not 6 82 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. studied till quite recently, after the prairies had been largely brought under cultivation. This accounts for the small num- ber of grasses and sedges listed, after I have collected them as carefully as other genera — except the genus Carex^ which needs more study. I wish to express my thanks to Dr. B. L. Robinson, and to Prof. Conway MacMillan, for the use of the herbaria mentioned above, in comparing plants. The late Mr. M. S. Bebb named the species of Salix, Mr. M. L. Pernald those of Garex (except four species collected by Mr, A. S. Skinner and Miss On a M. Rounds in 1896, which were determined by Mr. R. I. Cratty), Prof. C. S. Sargent those of Quercus, and Mr. R. I. Cratty those of Sagittaria and Potamogeton. Mr. A. A. Heller and Mr. J. W. Blankinship also aided in the determination of a number of species. To all of these gentlemen I am greatly obliged for the aid freely given. That the unrest in botanical synonomy is to continue for some time is certain, if, indeed, all features of it can be perma- nently settled. I have used the arrangement and synonomy of Gray’s Manual, sixth edition, which doubtless is not to stand long without radical change. The work has grown up under this system, and it will serve its purpose so that this record can be used in the future study of this vicinity or a somewhat larger one. Furthermore, this manual has commonly been used in Iowa in making general lists. The plants herein recorded will be found in the herbaria of the persons who are credited with the collections. The herbarium of the Upper Iowa university contains nearly all the species also, and the writer has collected 640 of them for the United States National Herbarium. These last were delivered in 1894. Nearly ali the species listed were collected by the writer. Other collectors are given credit for the plants collected by them. Besides, Dr. C. C. Parker, Mr. J. R. Gardner, Mr. A S. Skinner, Mr. R. B. Wylie, Miss Gem E. Rounds, Miss Ona M. Rounds, Miss Etna Burrette and Mr. W. P. Baker have each added to the work by their collecting. I am under obligations to ail of them for this help. Several species are herein reported for the first time in Iowa, as is indicated with the names of these plants. Further study of this vicinity will bring out new information regarding the families here treated. If this list shall aid in such investiga- IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 83 tion or prove helpful to the botanists of other parts of Iowa, I shall feel well rewarded for the many days spent in collecting and studying the plants and in the final preparation of this paper. LIST OP SPECIES. RANUNCULACE^. Clematis virginiana L. Banks and low thickets, infrequent. Anemone patens L , var. nuttalUana Gray. High prairies, common A. caroUniana Walt. Prairies, rare. A. cylindrica Gray. Woods, frequent. A. pennsylvanica L. Low prairies, common. A. nemerosa L. Dry woods, common. Hepatica acutiloha D. C. Woods, common. H. triloha Chaix is frequently reported here, but does not occur. Anemonella thalictroides Spach. Woods, abundant. Thalictrum dioicum L. Woods, common. T. purpurascens L. Low prairies, infrequent. Ranunculus circinatus Sibth. Ponds, probably rare. The leaves are sessile or nearly so, have stipules and are more rigid than those of the next. R. aquatilis L., var. tricJiopliyllus Gray. Ponds, infrequent. Coll. Mr. R. B. Wylie. R. multifidus Pursh. Ponds, rare. R. rhomboidens Goldie. Prairies, frequent. R. abortivus L. Low open woods, common. R. fascicularis Muhl. High prairies and open woods. Com- mon. R. septentrionalis Poir. Borders of swamps; infrequent. R, hisjoidusKook. Woods, apparently frequent; but probably R. repens L. or R. pennsylvanicus L. occurs and has been con- fused with the above. Not before reported in Iowa. Isopyrum biternatum Torr. and Gray. Low woods, frequent. Galtlia palustris L. Wet ground, infrequent. Aquilegia canadensis L. Along blufis, frequent. Delphinium exaltatum Ait. Low prairies, rare. D. ajacis L. Sparingly escaped. Actcea spicata L. var. rubra Ait. Woods, frequent. A. alba Bigel. Woods along bluffs, rare. Hydrastis canadensis L. Rich woods, rare. 84 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. MENISPERMACE^. Menispermum canadense L. Along sandy river banks, rare. BERBERIDACE^. Caulophyllum thalictroides Michx. Woods, frequent. Podophyllum peltatum L. Woods, common. NYMPH^ACE^. Nymphcea odorata Ait. Ponds, infrequent. Nuphar advena Ait. Ponds, infrequent. PAPAVERACE^. Sanguinaria canadensis L. Woods, common. PUMARIACEvE. Dicentra cucullaria Torr. Woods, common. D. canadensis Gvij. Woods, rare. Fruit collected here in 1894^byMiss Etna Burrette. Only reported elsewhere in Iowa by Mr. E. W. T>. Holway, at Decorah. Single spot a few rods square known here. CRUCIFERtE. Dentaria laciniata Muhl. Woods, common. Gardamine rliomhoidea D. C. Wet ground, common. C. hirsuta L. Wet ground, frequent. Arabis loevigata Poir. Wooded hillsides, rare. Leaves usually entire except those at the base. A. canadensis L. Open woods, frequent. A. dentata Torr. and Gray. River banks, frequent. Draba caroliniana Walt. Waste ground, infrequent. D, caroliniana dll. , micrantha Grduj. Waste ground, common. Nasturtium officinale R. Br. Streams and springs, rather rare. N palustre D. C. Wet ground, frequent. N armoracia Pries. Escaped, rare. Hesperis matronalis L, Escaped , rare. Erysimum cheiranthoides L. Low ground, infrequent. Sisymbrium canescens Nutt. A single spot known here in a sandy opening. S. officinale Scop. Waste ground, common. Thehjpodium pinnatifidum Watson. River banks, rare. Brassica nigra Koch. Waste ground, common. Capsella bursa-pastor Is Moench. Waste ground, common. Lepidum intermedium Gray. Waste ground, common. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 85 CAPPARIDACE^. Polanisia graveolens Rxf. (?) Probibly P. trachyspermum Torr. and Gray. Sandy ground, rare. CISTACE^. Helianthemum canadense Michx. Dry hills, infrequent. Lechea minor L. Dry prairies, infrequent. VIOLACE^. Viola pedata L. Prairies and open woods, common. V. pedatijlda Don. Prairies, frequent. V. palmata C., var. cucullata Gray. Low prairies, common. V. sagittata Ait. Pound only in the first railroad cut two miles south of Fayette. V. Nanda Willd. Moist prairies, rare. Mr. W. P. Baker, coll. V. pubescens Ait. Woods, common. V. tricolor L. Rarely escaped. CARYOPHYLLACE^. Saponaria officinalis L. Frequently escaped. Silene stellata Ait. Woods, frequent. S. nivea Otth. Low prairies and woods, frequent. 8. antirrJiina L. Dry ground, frequent. 8, noctijlora L. Rarely escaped. Lychnis githago Lam. In fields, rare. Arenaria michauxii Hook. Dry prairies, infrequent. A. lateriflora L. Low prairies, rather infrequent. 8tellaria media Smith. Low woods, infrequent. 8. longifolia Muhl. Borders of swamps, rare. Cerastium vulgatum L. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Marked in herb. G viscosum L. G. arvense L., var. oUong I folium Britt and Hall. Dry woods, rare. PORTULACACE^. Portulaca oleracea L. Cultivated and waste ground, abundant. Glaytonia virginica L. Moist woods, common. HYPERICACE^. Hypericum ascyron L. Banks of streams, infrc quent. H. maculatum Walt. Wet prairies, frequent. H. canadense L., var. majus Gray. Banks and low prairies, common. Elodes campanulata Pursh. Borders of swamps, infrequent. 86 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. MALVACE^. Malva Totundifolia L. About yards, frequent. M. sylvestris L. About yards, rare. Also collected by Dr. C. C. Parker. Ndpcea dioca L. Low sandy soil, very rare. Abutilon avicennce Gsertn. Waste ground, frequent. Hibiscus trionum L. Waste ground, rare. TILIACE^. Tilia americana L. Woods, frequent. LINAGES. Linum sulcatum Riddell. Dry prairies, frequent. L. usitatissimum L. Occasionally escaped. GERANIACE^. Geranium maculatum L. Woods, common. G. carolinianum L. Waste ground; only two plants have been collected here. Oxalis violacea L. Waste ground, etc., abundant. 0. corniculata L., var. stricta Sav. Woods and waste ground, common. Impatiens pallida Nutt. Wet shady places, frequent. /. fulva Nutt. With the last, frequent. PUTACE^. Xanthoxylum americanum Mill. Woods, common. CELASTRACE^. Calastrus scandens L. Wooded river banks, infrequent. Euonymus atropurpureus Jacq. Woods, rare. RHAMNACE^. Ceanothus americanus L. Open woods, common. VITACE^. Vitis riparia Michx. River banks and low woods, common. Ampelopsis quinquefolia Michx. Woods, infrequent. SAPINDACE^. Acer saccharinum Wang. Woods, common. A. saccharinum Wang., var nigrum Torr. and Gray. A single tree known in low woods. A. dasycarpum Ehrh. River banks, infrequent. Negundo aceroides Moench. Low woods, infrequent. Staphylea trifolia L. Woods, infrequent. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 87 ANACARDIACE^. Rhus typhina L. Common five miles east of Fayette. Proba- bly rare further west in Iowa. B glabra L. Woods, common. The form with laciniate leaves is represented by a specimen (herb. Dr. C. C. Parker) marked var. laciniata. R. toxicodendron L. Rocky river banks, common. The climbing form, R. radicans L , has been noticed but once. POLYGALACE^. Poly gala senaga L. Woods, common. P. incarnata L. Dry ground, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. P. sanguinea L. Prairies, common. P. verticillata L. Prairies, probably rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. LEGUMINOS^. Baptisia leucophcea Nutt. Prairies, frequent. B. leucantha Torr and Gray. Prairies, frequent. Trifolium pratense L. Cultivated and spontaneous, common. T. repens L. Cultivated and spontaneous, common. T. procumbens L. Rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Melilotus officinalis Willd. Waste ground, rare. M. alba Lam. Waste ground, infrequent. Amorpha canescens Pursh. Prairies, infrequent. A. fruticosa L. River banks, frequent. Petalostemon violaceus Michx. Prairies, common. P. Candidas Michx. Prairies and open woods, common. Tephrosia virginiana Pers. Rare. Collected by Miss Gem E. R )unds near Clermont. Robinia pseudacacia L. Cultivated and rarely escaped. Wistaria frutescens Poir. (?) Rare. Miss Gem E. Rounds, coll., whose specimen was too fragmentary for certain deter- mination. Whether this or not, the plant is no leguminous plant ever reported in Iowa. Astragalus caryocarpus Ker. Prairies, frequent. A canadensis L. Borders of woods, infrequent. Desmodium acuminatum D. C. Woods, common. D illinoense Gray. Prairies, frequent. D. paniculatum D. C. Low prairies, rare. Approaches D. dillenii, Dari. D. canadense D. C. Wv ods and prairies, common. D. sessilifolium Torr. and Gray. Prairies, infrequent. 88 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Lespedeza leptostachya Engelm. Dry woods, a single speci- men collected. L. capitata Michx. Prairies, frequent. Vida caroliniana Walt. River banks, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. V. americana Muhl. River banks, rare. Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook. Prairies along borders of woods, rare. L, venosus Muhl. Wooded hillsides, frequent. L. palustris D. Borders of swamps, infrequent. AmpMcarphce monoica Nutt. Woods, probably rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. A. pitcheri Torr. and Gray. Woods, probably common. First reported in 1892 by Prof. B. Shimek, Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist, State University 3: 202. P. 1896. Mr. R. B. Wylie showed me the same species from Jackson county. Cassia chamcecrista L. Sandy ground, frequent. Gymnocladus canadensis Lam. Woods, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll., who has a tree in his yard transplanted from the woods. Oleditschia tricanthos L. Woods, rare. ROSACEA. Prunus americana Marsh. Thickets and woods, frequent. P. pennsylvanica L. Woods, rare. P. virginiana L. Woods, frequent. P. serotina Ehrh. Woods, infrequent. Spirce salicifolia L. Low prairies, frequent. Physocarpus opulifolius Maxim. Rocky banks, frequent. Rubus strigosus Michx. Woods, infrequent. P. occidentalis L. Woods, frequent. R villosus Ait. Woods, infrequent. Geum album Gmelin. Woods, frequent. G virginianum L. Woods and borders, infrequent. G. trifloTum Pursh. Dry hills, rare. G, strictum Ait. Low ground, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coil. Fragaria virginiana Mill. , var. illinoensis Gray. Low prairies and woods, common. F. vesca L. Rocky ground, infrequent. Potentilla arguta Pursh. Prairies, frequent. P. norvegica L. Low ground near streams, common. P. rivalis Nutt. Sandy ground, probably rare. P. canadensis L. Waste ground and open woods, common. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 89 Agrimonia ewpatoria L. Woods, common. Rosa Uanda Ait. Prairies and open woods, common. B. arkansana Porter. Prairies, rare. Pijrus coronaria L. Woods, frequent. Gratcegus coccinea L. Woods, common. Varieties may occur. C. punctata Jacq. Woods, frequent. G. tomentosa L. (?) Woods, infrequent. Plant collected not satisfactory. Amalanchier canadensis Torr. and Gray. Along streams, fre- quent. A. canadensis Torr, and Gray, var. oUongifolia Torr. and Gray. With the last, infrequent. SAXIPRAGACE^. Saxifraga pennsylvanica L. Low prairies, common. Mitella dipkylla L. High woods, common. Heuchera Jiisrida Pursh. Prairies, common. Prrnassia caroliniana Michx. River banks, rare. BiToes cynosbati L. Woods, frequent. B. gracile Michx. Woods, frequent. R. floridum L’Her. Woods, infrequent. CRASSULACE^. Penthorum sedoides L. Wet ground, frequent. UMAERLLIPER^. Ly thrum alatum Pursh. Low ground, common. ONAGRACE^. Ludioigia polycarpa Short and Peter. Borders of swamps, infrequent. L. palustris Ell. Swamps, common. Epilohium lineare Muhl. Bogs, rare. E. coloratum Muhl. Low ground, common. Oenothera biennis L. Waste ground, frequent Oe. rhombipetala Nutt. Dry soils, infrequent. Oe. serrulata Nutt. Dry prairies, frequent. Girccea lutetiana L. Woods, common. CUCURBITACE^. Echinocystis lobata Torr. and Gray. Banks of streams, infre- quent. PICOIDE^. Mollugo verticillata L. Sandy ground, common. 90 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. UMBELLIPER^. Daucus carota L. Occasionally escaped. Heracleum lanatum Michx. Woods and openings, frequent. Pastinaca saliva L. Occasionally escaped. Thaspium aureum Nutt. Low prairies and woods, frequent. Pimpinella integerrima Benth. and Hook. Rocky hills, rather rare. Oryptoncenia canadensis L. Woods, common. Sium cicutcejolium Gmelin. Low prairies, frequent. Carum carui L. Frequently escaped. Gicuta maculata L. Borders of ponds, infrequent. Osmorrliiza brevistylis DC. Woods, frequent. 0. longistylis DC. Woods, frequent. Eryngium yuccoefolium Michx, Low prairies, common. Sanicula marylandica L. Woods, common. ARALIACE^. Aralia racemosa L. Woods, infrequent. A, nudicaulis L. Woods, frequent. A. quinquefolia D. and Planch. Woods, rare. CORNACE,®. Cornus circinata L’Her. Woods, frequent. G. sericea L. Low woods, infrequent. G. stolonifera Michx. Low grounds, rare. G. paniculata L’Her. Wooded river banks, frequent. G. alternifolia L. Wooded river banks, infrequent. CAPRIPOLIACE^. Adoxa moschatellina L. Growing about old stumps, rare. Only other locality known in Iowa is at Decorah, where Mr. E. W. D. Hoi way finds it. Sambucus canadensis L. Low woods and clearings, frequent. S. racemosa L. (?) Dr. C. C. Parker says this plant has occurred here, but I have not seen a specimen. Viburnum opulus L. River banks, rare. V. pubescens Pursh. Rocky woods, infrequent. F. lentago L. Woods and clearings, frequent. Triosteum perfoliatum L. Woods, common. Symplioricarpos occidentalis Hook. Borders of woods and prairies, infrequent. Lonicera tartarica L. Two or three plants along the Volga river. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 91 L. sullivantii Gray. Woods, common. L, glauca Hill. Woods, common. Diervilla trijida Moench. A single plant was collected along the Volga river by Mr. A. S. Skinner. Elsewhere reported in Iowa only at Decorah by Mr. E. W. D. Holway. RUBIACE^. Galium aparine L. Low woods, common. G. boreale L. Low prairies and banks of streams, common. G. trifidum L. Low ground, common. G. trijidum L. , var. latifolium Torr. Low ground, infrequent. G. trijlorum Michx. Woods, frequent. May be G. asprellum Michx. instead. VALERIANACE^. Valeriana edulis Nutt. Wet prairies, common. COMPOSITE. Veronia fasciculata Michx. Low ground, frequent. Eupatorium purpureum L. Low ground, common. E. serotinum Michx. Borders of woods, rare. E. altissimum L. Dry ground, infrequent. E. perfoliatum L. Low ground, common. E. ageratoides L. Woods, common. Kuhnia eupatorioides L. Dry prairies, abundant. K. eupatorioides L. , var. corymbulosa Torr. and Gray. With the last, probably frequent. Liatris cylindrica Michx. Prairies, common. L, scariosa Willd. Prairies, frequent. L. pycnostachya Michx. Prairies, common. Solidago latifolia L. Woods, common. S. speciosa Nutt. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. , probably rare. S. ulmifolia Muhl. Open woods and prairies, frequent. S. missouriensis Nutt. Prairies, infrequent. S. serotina Ait. Prairies, infrequent. S. serotina Ait. , var. gigantea Gray. Prairies, common. S. nemoralis Ait. Dry prairies, infrequent. S. canadensis L. Prairies, common. 8. rigida L. Dry prairies, common. 8. lanceolata L. Low prairies, infrequent. Dr. C. C. Parker and Mr. J. R. Gardner have both collected the plant. Aster oblongifolius Nutt. , var. rigidulus Gray. Dry prairies, rare. 92 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. A. novce-anglice L. Low prairies, frequent. A. sericeus Vent. High prairies, frequent. A. sJiortii Hook. Prairies, rare. Has the hary petioles of A. azureus Lindl. , and the leaves are also slightly pubescent above. A. undulatus L. Prairies. J. R. Gardner, coll. Specimen not very satisfactory. A. cordifolius L. Borders of woods, infrequent. A. sagittifolius Willd. Borders and open woods, common. A. IcBvis L. Prairies and open woods, common. A. multijlorus Ait. Dry prairies, abundant. A. diffusus Ait. Low ground, common, A. paniculatus Lam. Low ground, abundant. A. novi-belgii L. (?) Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Specimen frag- mentary. A. prenanthoides Muhl. Low ground, rather rare. A. umbellatus Mill. Low woods and prairies, frequent. Erigeron canadensis L. Waste ground, abundant. E. annuus Pers. Waste ground, common. E. strigosus Muhl. Waste ground, frequent. E. hellidifolius Muhl. Moist woods, common. E. pMladelphicus L. Moist woods, frequent. Antennaria plantaginifolia Hook. High woods and prairies, common. Gnaplialium polycephalum Michx. Fields and open woods, frequent. Polymnia canadensis L. Shaded moist places, infrequent. Silphium laciniatum L. Prairies, common. 8. integrifolium Michx. Low prairies and open woods, fre- quent. S. perfoliatum L. Along streams, infrequent. Parthenium integrifolium L. Prairies and open woods, com- mon. Ambrosia trifida L. Moist ground, common. A. trifida L , var. integrifolia (Muhl.) Torr. and Gray. With the last or in dry places, infrequent. A, artemisicefolia L. Waste ground, abundant. A. psilostachya D. C. Waste ground, only two small patches known here. Xanthium canadense Mill. Waste ground, frequent. Heliopsis scabra Dunal. Prairies, frequent. Echinacea augustifolia DC. Prairies, frequent. Rudbeckia laciniata L. Low ground, common. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 93 B. triloba L. Dry prairies, common. R. subtomentosa Pursh. Prairies, infrequent. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. R. Mrta L. Prairies, frequent. Lepachys pinnata Torr. and Gray. Prairies, common. Helianthus annuus L. Waste ground, infrequent. E. rigidus Desf. Prairies, frequent. E. occidentalis Riddell. Prairies, common. E. Icetijlorus Pers. Prairies, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. E. grosse-serratus Martens. Prairies, frequent. One plant placed here after comparison must be a very unusual form, or a different species; others are the usual form. E. giganteus L. Low ground, rare. E. giganteus L, var. ambiguus Torr. and Gray. Prairies, frequent. The plant may be E. maximiliani Shrad. instead. E. divaricat'us L. (?) Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Specimen not certain. E^. hirsutus Raf. Dry prairies, frequent. E. strumosus L. Low ground, frequent. E, tracheliifolius Willd. Low thickets, rare. E. tuberosus L. Prairies and borders, frequent. Coreopsis palmota Nutt. Prairies, common. Bidens frondosa L. Low ground, abundant. B. connata Muhl. Wet ground, common. B. connata Muhl. , var. comosa Gray. With the last, frequent. B. cernua L. Wet ground, probably common. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. B. chrysanthemoides Michx. Wet ground, frequent. Eelenium autumnale L. Moist ground, common. Anthemis cotula L. Waste ground, abundant. Achillea millefoliun L. Prairies, common. Tanacetum vulgar e L. Occasionally escaped. Artemisia caudata Michx. Sandy soil, common. A. dracunculoides Pursh. Sandy river banks, infrequent. A. serrata Nutt. Low prairie, rare. A. ludoviciana Nutt. Prairie, common and variable. A. biennis Willd. Sandy soil, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. A. absinthium L. Rarely escaped. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Senecio aureus L. Low ground, common. S. aureus 'Ll. ^ balsamitce (Muhl.) Tarr. and Gray. With the last, probably rare. Cacalia suaveolens L. Borders of woods, infrequent. 94 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. G. reniformis Muhl. Open damp woods, frequent. G. tuber osa Nutt. Low prairies, frequent. Erechtites Meracifolia Raf. Moist ground, rare. Dr. C. C Parker, coll. Arctium lappa L. Waste ground, common. Probably vari- eties occur. Gnicus lanceolatus Hoffm. Pastures and waste ground, com- mon. G. Altissimus Willd. Low woods, frequent. G. Altissimus Willd., var. discolor Gray. Waste ground, frequent. G. Arvensis Hoffm. Mr. C. F. Paine reports this plant from two places in Payette county. Krigia amplexicaulis Nutt. Woods, common. Gichorium intybus L. Roadsides, infrequent. Tragopogon pratensis L. A single specimen collected in a street of Payette. Not before reported in Iowa. Hieracium canadense Michx. Open woods and prairies, fre- quent. H, scabrum Michx. Woods, rare. Mr. R. B. Wylie, coll. Prenantlies racemosa Michx. Low prairies, infrequent P. aspera Michx. Prairies, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. P. alba L. Woods and borders, frequent. Troximon cuspidatum Pursh. High prairies, rare. Taraxacum officinale Pastures, yards, etc., abundant. Lactuca scariola L. Waste ground, rare. First collected in 1895. Will probably soon become common. L. canadensis L. Waste ground, common. L. floridana Gaertn. Rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. L. leucophcea Gray. Rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Sonchus oleraceus L. Waste ground, common. S. asper Vill. Waste ground, rare or confused with the above. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. LOBELIACE^. Lobelia cardinalis L. Along streams, rarely occurs in the western part of Fayette county. L. syphilitica L. Low ground, common. L. spicata Lam. Prairies, frequent. L. spicata Lam., var. hirtella Gray. With the last, seldom observed. L. inflata L. Open woods and borders, infrequent. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 95 CAMPANULACE^ Specularia perfoliata A. D. C. Open woods, frequent. Campanula rotundifoUa L. Rocky places, common. G. aparinoides Pursh. Borders of swamps, infrequent. G. americana L. Moist places, common. ERICACE^. Ghimapliila umbellata Nutt. Woods, only a dozen plants known in one place. Pyrola eUiptica Nutt. Woods, common. Monotropa unijlora L. Woods, rare. PRIMULACE^. Dodecatheon media L. Prairies, common. Steironema ciliatum Raf. Low ground, common. S. lanceolatum Gray. Low ground, common. 8. longifolium Gray. Low ground, common. Lysimachia stricta Ait. Low ground, rare. L. thyrsijiora L. Swamps, rare. OLEACE^. Fraxinus americana L. Woods, infrequent. F. viridis Michx. Low woods, apparently rare. F. quadrangalata Michx. A single tree known to me. APOCYNACEAE. Apocynum androscemifolium L. Borders of woods, common. A. cannabinum L. Moist ground, common. ASCLEPIDACE^. Asclepias tuherosa L. Prairies, common. A. incarnata L. Low ground, common. A. cornuti Decaisne. Waste ground, common. A. sullivantii Engelm. Low ground, frequent. A. phytolaccoides Pursh. Low ground, rare. A. ovalifoUa Decaisne. Prairies, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. A. verticillata L. Prairies, infrequent. Acerates longifolia Ell. Prairies, infrequent. A. viridiflora Ell., var. lanceolata Gray. Prairies, rare. GENTIANACE^. Gentiana crinita Froel. Rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. , wha assures me that the plant was common ten years ago. Mr. J R. Gardner collected it in 1896. 96 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. G. quinqueflora Lam., var. occidentalis Gray. Borders of woods, becoming common. G. puberula Michx. Dry prairies, rare. G. andrewsii Griseb. Low prairies, infrequent. G. alba Muhl. Low ground, rare. POLEMONIACE^. Phlox paniculata L. Rare and probably escaped. Mr. J. R. Gardner, coll. P. maculata L. Low ground, infrequent. P. pilosa L. Low prairies, common. P. divaricata L. Woods, common. P. subulata L. In cemetery, probably escaped. Polemonium reptans L. Woods, abundant. HYDROPHYLLACE^. Hydrophyllum virginicum L, Woods, abundant. H. appendiculatum Michx. Low woods, rare. Ellisia nyctelea L. Moist, shady ground, common. BORRAGINACE^. Echinospermum virginicum Lehm. Woods, common. E, lappula Lahm. Waste ground, common. Mertensiavirginica (L.) D. C. Woods, abundant. Lithospermum officinale L. Border of woods, one patch known. Not previously reported in Iowa. L. latifolium Michx. Rare, Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. L. hirtum Lahm. Prairies, infrequent. L. canescens Lahm. Prairies, common. L. angustifolium Michx. High prairies, common. The form formerly considered a distinct species under the name of L. longijiorum Spreng, occurs commonly on hillsides and is quite distinct. Onosmodium carolimanum A. D. C., var. molle (Michx.) Gray. Waste ground, common. CONVOLVULACE^. Ipomoea coccinea L. Rarely escaped. I. purpurea Lam. Frequently escaped. Convolvulus sepium L. Low ground, frequent. G. arvensis L. In yards, rare. Guscuta injlexa Engelm. On various plants, infrequent. G. tenuiflora Engelm. On willows in low ground, frequent. G. glomerata Choisy. Low ground, probably rare. Mr. J. R. Gardner, coll. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 97 SOLANACE^. Solanum trijiorum Nutt. A single plant collected along the Volga river in 1895. Not before reported in Iowa. S. nigrum L. Low ground, common. 8. heterodoxum Dunal. Growing along a street in Fayette. Doubtless introduced. Not before reported in Iowa. Phy sails pliiladelphica L. A single plant collected in a field in 1896. P. puhescens L. Waste ground, common. P. virginiana Mill. Waste ground, frequent. P. lanceolata Michx, Waste ground, infrequent. Datura stramonium L. Waste ground, infrequent. D. tatula L. Waste ground, infrequent. SCROPHUL ARIACE^. Verhascum thapsus L. Waste ground, frequent. Linaria vulgaris Mill. Waste ground, infrequent. Scrophularia nodosa L. var. marilandica Gray. Low prairies, common. Ghelone glahra L. Wet ground, frequent. Mimulus ringens L. Wet ground, common. Gonobea multijida Benth, A single plant collected in 1891. Reported by J. C. Arthur from Lee county. Gratiola virginiana L. Low ground, frequent. Jlysanthes riparla Raf. Wet ground, common. Synthyris houghtoniana Benth. Prairies, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Veronica virginica L. Woods and prairies, common. V. anagallis L, About springs, infrequent. F. peregrina L. Low waste ground, common. Gerardia auriculata Michx. Low prairies, infrequent.. G, purpurea L. Low ground, common. G tenuifolia Vahl. Dry prairies, rare. Gastilleia coccinea Spreng. Woods and prairies, common. Flowers commonly yellow on the prairies. G. sessiliflora Pursh. High prairies, infrequent. Pedicularis canadensis L, Prairies and open woods, common. P. lanceolata Michx. Moist woods, infrequent. LENTIBULARIACE^. Utricularia vulgaris L. Ponds, infrequent. 7 98 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. VERBENIACE^. Yerbena urticcefolia L. Low ground, common. F. Jiastata L. Low ground, common. F. stricta Vent. Prairies, frequent. F. bracteosa Micbx. Waste ground, common. .Fhryma leptostachya L. Low woods, frequent. LABIATE. Isanthus cceruleus Michx. Dry hills, frequent. Teucrium canadense L. Moist ground, abundant. Mentha canadensis L. Moist ground, abundant. Ly copus virginicus L. Moist ground, common. L. sinuatus Eli. Moist ground, common. Pycnanthemum laneeolatum Pursh. Prairies, infrequent. Hedeoma pulegioides Pers. Dry hills, rare. H. hispida Pursh. Dry ground, common. Salvia lanceolata Willd. Specimen collected in 1894, but lost. S. officinalis L. Persisting after cultivation. Monarda Jistulosa L. Prairies and woods, common. Blephilia hirsuta Benth. Moist woods, infrequent. Lopanthus nepetoides Benth. Borders of woods, infrequent. L. scrophularicefolius Benth. Borders of woods, infrequent. Nepeta cataria L. Waste ground, common. N. glechoma 'BmYh., Yards, etc., common, S. versicolor Nutt. River banks, infrequent. Scutellaria lateriflora L. River banks, frequent. S. parvula Michx. High prairies, frequent. S. galericulata L. Wet shady ground, rare. Prunella vulgaris L. Open woods and waste ground, com- mon. Physostegia virginiana Benth. Low ground, common. Marrubium vulgare L. Probably escaped, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Mr. R. B. Wylie also collected it in Jackson county in 1896. Not before reported in Iowa. Leonurus cardiaca L. Yards, etc., frequent. fStachys palustris Ju. Wet ground. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. S. aspera Michx. Wet ground. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. S. aspera Michx., var. glabra Gray. Wet ground. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. Probably all three species of the genus are rare. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 99 PLANTAGINACE^. Plantago major L. Waste ground, common. P. rugelii Decaisne. Waste ground, frequent. P. lanceolata L. Yards, rare. Miss Gem E. Rounds, coll. P. 'patagonica Jacq., var. gnaphalioides Gray. Sandy ground in western part of Fayette county and common in parts of Bremer county. Hitherto only reported from western Iowa. (Proc. Iowa Acad. Science, 3:129, 1895.) NYCTAGINACE^. Oxybaplius nyctagineus Sweet. Sandy river banks, frequent. AMARANTACE^. Amarantus albus L. Waste ground, common. A. Uitoides Watson. Waste ground, frequent. A. retroflexus L. Cultivated fields, etc. , frequent. Acnida tuberc>jlata Moq. Low waste ground, frequent. CHENOPODIACE^. Ghenopodium hoscianum Mcq. Waste ground, frequent. G. album L. Waste ground, common. G. hybridum L. Cultivated fields and waste ground, frequent. G. bonus-henricus L. (?) Waste ground, rare. Specimen immature, carefully compared. G. botrys L. Sandy river banks, rare. Salsola kali L., var. tragus D.-C. Introduced along the railroad. One specimen collected in 1895 and another in 1896. Likely to become common in a few years. POLYGONACE^. Rumex patientia L. A single patch known. Pound in 1894 by Dr. C. C. Parker and the writer. New to Iowa. Determined by Mr. John K. Small. P. altissimus Wood. Moist ground, frequent. P. salicifolius Weinmann may occur here also. The above determined by Mr. John K. Small. P. verticillatus L. Swamps, rare. P. crispus L. Waste ground, etc., common. P. acetosella L. Waste ground, common. Polygonum aviculare L Waste ground, abundant. P. erectum L. Waste ground, common. P. ramosissimum Michx. Moist, sandy ground, frequent. 100 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. P. lapathifolium L. Wet ground, frequent. P. pennsylvanicum L. Moist ground, common. P. muhlenlDeTgii Watson. Swamps, rare. P. orientate L. Escaped. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. P. persicaria L. Waste ground, frequent. P. liydropiperoides Michx. Wet ground, infrequent. P. hydropiper L. Moist ground, infrequent. P. acre H B K Wet ground, common. P. virginianum L. Rich woods, common. P. sagittatum L. Moist ground, frequent. P. convolvulus L. Waste ground and fields, common. P. dumetorum L., var., scandens Gray. Moist thickets, infrequent. Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. Occasionally escaped. ARISTOLOCHIACE^. Asarum canadense L. Wooded hillsides, frequent. THYMEL^ACE^. Dirca palustris L. Dry prairies, common. SANTALACE^. Gomandra umbellata Nutt. EUPHORBIACE^. Euphorbia serpyllifolia Pers. Waste ground, frequent. Seems to run into E. glyptosperma Engelm. E. maculata L. Waste ground, common and variable. E. preslii Guss, Waste ground, infrequent. E. corollata L. Prairies and open woods, common. E. heterophylla L. Rocky river banks, rare. E. cyparissias L. Rarely escaped. Acolypha virginica L. Waste ground, common. URTICACE^. Ulmus fulva Michx. Woods, frequent. U. americana L. Low woods along streams, frequent. U. racemosa Thomas. Several trees known in one place in low woods. Celtis occidentalis L. Open woods along the Volga river, infrequent. Cannabis saliva L. Waste ground, frequent. Humulus lupulus L. Open woods, infrequent. TJrtica gracilis Ait. Moist ground, frequent. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 101 Laportea canadensis Gaudichaud. Low moist woods, com- mon. Pilfa pumila Gray. Low woods, frequent. Boehmeria cyHndrica Wiild. Low woods, frequent. JUGLANDACE^. Juglans cinerea L. Woods, frequent. J. nigra L. Woods, frequent. Cary a alba Nutt. Woods, infrequent here, but common along streams in Bremer county. G. amara Nutt. Woods, frequent. CUPULIPERAS. Betula payyrifera Marshall. Woods, infrequent. B. nigra L. Woods, frequent on the Turkey river. Corylus americana Walt. Thickets and open woods, common. Ostrya virginica Wiild. Woods, frequent. Garpinus caroliniana Walter. Woods, along streams, fre- quent. Quercus alba L. Woods, frequent ten miles northeast of Fayetie. Q. macrocarpa Michx. Woods, common. Q mulilenbergii Engelm. Woods on the Turkey river, infre- quent. Q. rubra L. Woods, frequent twelve miles northeast of Fayette. Q. coccinea Wang. Woods, common. Q. coccinea Wang,, var. tinctoria Gray. Woods, infrequent. SALICACE^. Salix nigra Marsh. Along streams, frequent. 8. amygdaloides Anders. Low ground, frequent. 8. lucida Muhl. Low ground, frequent. 8. fragilis L., X alba L. Low ground, rare and probably introduced and escaped. Not before reported in Iowa. 8. longifolia Muhl. Low ground, common. 8. rostrata Richardson. Low prairies, infrequent. 8. discolor Muhl., var. prinoides Anders. Low ground, com- mon. Perhaps not the variety. 8. humilis Marsh. Prairies, frequent. 8. sericea Marsh. Low ground, frequent. Mr. Bebb expressed surprise at finding this here, especially a “pure form,” which he said replaces 8. petiolaris Smith. 102 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. S. sericea Marsh, X cordata Muhl. Low ground, apparently frequent. S. sericea with serrate leaves. Not before reported in Iowa. S. cordata Muhl. Low ground, rare. S. cor data yivilal., X. sericea Low ground. Not before reported in Iowa. Mr. Bebb wrote that S. myricoides Muhl. is a synonym. Leaves nearly entire and a different plant from the second above. Populus tremuloides Michx. Woods, common. P. grardidentata Michx. Woods, common. P. monilifera Ait. Frequently coming up from seeds of planted trees. Dr. C. C. Parker feels sure that it occurs along our streams. If so, I have failed to notice it. CER ATOPH YLL ACE^ . Geratophyllum demersum L. Ponds infrequent. CONIFERS. Pinus strobus L. Woods, occasionally seen about Wadena. Juniperus communis L. Wooded hills along streams, common. J. virginiana L. At top of wooded bluffs, frequent. Taxus canadensis Willd. At the base of wooded bluffs, fre- quent. HYDROCHARIDACE^. Elodea canadensis Michx. Ponds, infrequent. Vallisneria spiralis L. In Volga river, rare. ORCHIDACEtE. Aplectrum hiemale Nutt. Woods, frequent. Spiranthes cernua Richard. Prairies, rare. Mr. J. R. Gardner, coll. Galopogon pulchellus R. Br. Prairies at Wadena, rare. Pogonia pendula Lindl. Rich woods, rooting in decayed wood and bloomirg in August or September, rare. Orchis spectahilis L. Woods, frequent. Habenaria tridentata 'Kook.. Prairies at Wadena, rare. First reported for Iowa by the writer. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci., 1: 103, 1893. H. bracteata R. Br. Woods, rare. H. liookeri Torr. Woods, rare. H. hookeriToTT.j var. oblongifoliaKdAne. Woods, rare. First reported for Iowa by the writer. Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. , 1 : 103, 1893. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. lOB H. leucophcea Gray. Woods, rare. Dr. C. C. Parker, coll. H. psy codes Gray. Woods, three plants collected in 1893. First reported for Iowa by the writer. Proc. Iowa Acad, Sci.„. 1: 103, 1893. Gypripedium candidum Muhl. Low prairies, rare. O. pubescens Wilid. Woods, infrequent. C. spectaMle Ssilisb. Low woods and prairies, rare. IRIDACE^. Iris versicolor L. Wet prairies about ponds, frequent. Sisyrinchium angustifolium Mill. Low prairies, common. AMARYELIDACE^. Hypoxis erecta L. Prairies, common. DIOSCOREACE^. Dioscorea villosa L. A single plant was collected in 1894 along border of woods. LILIACE^. Smilax lierbacea L. , var. pulverulenta Gray. Woods, rare. S.ecirrhata Watson. Woods, frequent. Apparently uncom- mon in Iowa as it was not reported till 1896. Prof. B. Shimek in Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. Iowa State University, 3: 199, P. 1896. Our most common smilax. S, liispida Muhl. Moist woods, infrequent. Allium tricoccum Ait, woods, frequent. A, canadense Kalm. Moist river banks, frequent. Polygonatum biflorum Ell. A single plant collected along a wooded hillside. P. giganteum Dietrich. Low open woods, infrequent, Asparagus officinalis L. Occasionally escaped. Smilacina racemosa Desf. Woods, common. S. stellata Desf. Low prairies, infrequent. Mianthemum canadense Desf. Upland woods, frequent. Uvularia grandifiora Smith. Woods, frequent. Oakesia sessilifolia Watson. Woods, frequent. Erythronium albidum, Nutt. Woods, common. Lilium philadelpiiicum L. Low prairies, frequent. L. canadense L. Low prairies, frequent. Trillium erectum L Low woods, common. The form called T. erectum L. , var. declinatum Gray, occurs here and is mistaken locally for T. recurvatum Beck. T. cernuum L. Low woods, infrequent. 104 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. T. nivale Riddell. Several plants were collected in 1895 by Miss Etna Burrette. XYRIDACE^. Xyris flexuosa Muhl. Low prairies, apparently rare. COMMELINACE^. Tradescantia virginica L. Low prairies, common. Flowers frequently rose-colored or nearly white. JUNCACE^. Juncus tenuis Willd. Prairies, woods and pastures, abundant. J. nodosus L. Low, sandy ground, common. TYPHACE^. Typha latifolia L. Sloughs, common. Sparganium eurycarpum Engelm. Swamps, infrequent. S. simplex Huds. Swamps, infrequent. AR ACE-^ . Arisoema tripliyllum Torr. Woods, common. A. dracontium Schott. Low woods, infrequent. Symplocarpus foetidus Salisb. One patch known near Wadena on wet ground. Apparently a rare Iowa plant. Acorus calamus L. Swamps, frequent. LEMNACE^. Spirodela polyrrhiza Schleid. Ponds, abundant. Lemna trisulca L. Ponds, infrequent. L. minor L. Ponds, common. ALISMACE^. Alisma plantago L. Ponds, common. Sagittaria heteropJiylla Pursh. Wet ground or in water, common and very variable. Mr. Cratty writes of the speci- mens sent him, ‘‘What a maze of forms.” 8. variabilis Engelm. Wet ground or in water, probably infrequent. For the sake of uniformity I have followed Gray in synonomy here instead of Mr, Cratty’s paper. Bull. Lab. of Nat. Hist., State University of Iowa 3: 136, F. 1896, though the latter doubtless offers many improvements. The same is true of all the aquatic plants. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 105 NAIADACE^. Potamogeton pennsylvanicus QhMR. In water, frequent. P. fluitans Roth. In streams, frequent. P. mucronatus Schrad. In still water, frequent. Mr. Cratty writes, “probably this, but too imperfect for correct determina tion.” CYPERACE^. Cyperus diandrus Torr. Low sandy ground, frequent. C. diandrus Torr. , var. castaneus Torr. With the last, prob- ably rare. G. aristatus Rottb. Low sandy ground, common. G. schweinitzil Torr. Sandy ground, frequent. G. Jiliculmis Vahl. Sandy soil, infrequent. G. esculentus L. Low ground and cultivated fields, frequent. G. strigosus L. Low, sandy ground, frequent. Eleocharis ovata R. Br. Wet ground, infrequent. E. palustris R. Br. Wet ground, abundant. E, acicularis R. Br. Wet ground, abundant. Scirpus lacustris L. Swamps, common. S. atrovirens Muhl. Wet ground, common. Eriophorum cyperinum L. Low ground, frequent. E. polystachyon L. Wet ground, rare and variable. Gar ex lupulina Muhl. Sloughs, frequent. G. retrorsa Schwein. Miss Ona M. Rounds, coll. Deter- mined by Mr. Cratty. G. stricta Lam. Sloughs, common. G. stricta Lam. , var. decora Bailey. Sloughs, infrequent. G. longirostris Torr. Low sandy ground, frequent. G. aquatilis Wahl. Wet -ground in mud or water, frequent. The plants examined were young. G. laxiflora Lam. Some doubt as to habit, and Mr. Cratty writes that is an unusual form of the species. G. pedunculata Muhl. Shaded bluffs, infrequent. G. varia Muhl. Mr. Fernald says the plant was too young to be certain. G. pennsylvanica Lam. Woods and prairies, common. G. stipata Muhl. Wet ground, common. G. vulpinoidea Michx. Miss Ona M. Rounds, coll. Deter- mined by Mr. Cratty. G. rosea Schkuhr. Woods, common. 106 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. (7. interior Bailey. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 20: 426, N. 1883. Probably common. Probably confused formerly in Iowa as some form of G. ecMnata Murray. Not before reported from Iowa. C. cephalophora Muhl. Mr. A. S. Skinner, coll. Determined by Mr. Cratty, G. tribulo'des Wahl. Wet ground, frequent. G. tribuloides Wahl., var. reducta Bailey. Wet ground, probably frequent. (7. tribuloides Wahl, yar. bebbii Bailey. Mr. A. S. Skinner, coll. Determined by Mr. Cratty, who also saw the other two forms of the species. G. scoparia Schkuhr. Low ground, frequent. G. straminea Willd. Low ground, frequent. GRAMINE^. Spartina cynosuroides Willd. Low prairies, common. Panicum glabrum Gaudin. Waste ground, frequent. P. sanguinale L. Cultivated and waste ground, common. P. proliferum Lam. Waste ground, infrequent. P. capillare L. Waste and cultivated ground, common. P. virgatum L. Low prairies, infrequent. P. latifolium L. Woods, frequent. P. dicliotomum L. Woods and waste ground, common. P. crus- gain L. Waste ground, common. Setariaglauca'Bed^VLY. Cultivated and waste ground, abundant. S. viridis Beauv. Cultivated and waste ground, abundant. S. italica Kunth. Frequently escaped. Genchrus tribuloides L. Sandy soil, common. Leersia virginica Willd. Wet ground, frequent. L. oryzoides Swartz. Wet ground, frequent. Zizania aquatica L. Ponds, infrequent. Andropogon furcatus Muhl. Prairies, common. A. scoparius Michx. High prairies, frequent. Glirysopogon nutans Benth. Prairies, frequent. Phalaris arundinacea L. Wet ground, infrequent. Stipa spartea Trin. High prairies, infrequent. Oryzopsis melanocarpa Muhl. Rocky woods, infrequent. Mulilenbergia glomerata Trin. Low ground, common. M. mexicana Trin. Low ground, frequent. M. sylvatica Gray. Woods, frequent. M. diffusa Schreber. Woods, infrequent. Brachyelytrum aristatum Beauv. Rocky woods, frequent. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 107 Alopecurus geniculatus L., var. aristulatus Torr. Swamps, infrequent. Sporobolus heterolepis Gray. Dry ground, frequent. S. neglectus Nash., Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 22: 463, N. 1896. Waste grounds and probably prairies, frequent. Not before reported in Iowa, but confused with S. vagincEjlorus Vasey. Determined by George V. Nash. Phleum pratense L. Commonly escaped. Agrostis alba L. Meadows and roadsides, common. A. alba L., var. vulgaris Thurb. Probably common as the last. A. scabra Willd. Dry ground. Ginna arundinacea L. Moist, wooded ravines, frequent. Galamagrostis canadensis Beauv. Wet prairies, frequent. Bouteloua Jiirsuta Lag. Sandy ground, rare. Mr. A. S. Skinner, Coll. B. racemosa Lag. Dry prairies, common. Phragmites comrnunisTvm. Wet ground, rare. Koeleria cristata Pers. Prairies, common. Eragrostis reptans Nees. Sandy river banks, common. E. major Host. Waste ground, common. E. franMi Meyer. Sandy river banks, infrequent. E. petinacea Gray. Sandy river banks, infrequent. Melicca mutica Walt. Open woods, rare. Dactylis glomerata L. Yards, rare. Poa pratensis L. Meadows and roadsides, common Glyceria nervata Trin. Low ground, common. Festuca nutans Willd. Woods, frequent. Bromus kalinii Gray. Dry ground, infrequent. B, ciliatus L. Woods, common. B. ciliatus L., var. purgans Gray. Woods, infrequent. Agropyrum repens Beauv. Waste ground, infrequent. Hordeum jubatum L. Waste ground common. Elymus virginicus L. River banks, abundant. E. canadensis L. River banks and waste ground, common. E. striatus Willd. Woods, common. Asprella hystrix Willd. Woods, common. 108 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN PLANTS. T. J. FITZPATRICK. The following plants are new or little known to the flora of Iowa: Lechea tenuifolia Mx. Van Buren county. Common in sandy soil. July. Girccea alpina L. Clayton county. Deep woods along the Mississippi river. Rare as compared with G. lutetiana L. July. GolUnsia verna Nutt. Jefferson county. Frequent. Gilia linearis Gray. Decatur county. Frequent in prairie soil. June. Inula Jielenium L. Johnson county. Common locally where it has been observed for many years. Gorallorliim odontorhiza Nutt. Reported in Natural Science Bulletin of the State University of Iowa (Vol. 3, No. 4) as new and rare. The species was very common in several localities in Johnson county during the month of August, 1896. It occurred in deep upland woods where there was a considerable depth of decaying leaves. The plants occurred singly or col- lected in tufts. Often only one or two were able to pierce the mat of leaves, the remainder blooming beneath. The speci- mens from beneath the leaves were frequently dwarfed as well as pale in appearance, though many good specimens were found in that position. This habit of growth probably prevents the specimens from being observed by the collector. The time of gathering was from the 16th to the 30 th of August, which is a month later than the limit given by Gray. About 200 speci- mens were collected. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 109 MECHANISM FOR SECURING CROSS FERTILIZATION IN SALVIA LANCEOLATA. G. W. NEWTON. This plant was found growing abundantly about Grand Island, Nebraska, especially in waste places where the sod had been removed. It is 6 to 18 inches high, has lanceolate to linear, sparsely serrate leaves. The racemes are 1 to 4 inches long. The corolla is about three- eighths of an inch long and of a deli- cately blue tint, the upper lip forming a pubescent hood enclos- ing stamens and style. The lower lip is comparatively broad, three lobed and by its protrusion affords an excellent landing place for insects. The style is nearly glabrous and is bifurcated, the upper branch being exserted and curved upwards. The lower branch is slightly flattened at the end forming the stigma, which extends a little beyond the anthers in such a position that it is quite sure to come in contact with the insects entering the flower. The stamens, two in number, are peculiar. The filaments are short and attached to the lower lip of the corolla. The anthers are long, yoke shaped, one celled at the upper ends, and are attached by hinges near the middle to the filaments. They curve backward, are united the lower third of their length and rest their lower extremities on the corolla. There is a groove down the center of the lower lip along which the insect’s proboscis will be directed in searching for nectar. By this act the sterile ends of the anthers will be raised and the anther cells will descend like the ends of an old fashioned well sweep, and come into con- tact with the head or proboscis of the invading insect. The pollen thus secured is quite sure to be deposited on the stigma of the next flower visited, thus securing cross fertilization. After being tilted, the anthers are under tension and readily return to their former position. A little below the middle of each anther is a slightly curved projection which fits 110 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. into a groove in the lower lip of the corolla. This mechanism may thus assist the anthers to return to their normal position, or may prevent the proboscis of the insect from being thrust down the side of the corolla, and thus evading the pollen. Many small bees were seen to visit these flowers on bright days. The plant blossoms during July and August and a few flowers were found in the latter part of September. NOTES OF SOME INTRODUCED PLANTS OF IOWA. L. H. PAMMEL. Since the settlement of Iowa many changes have taken place in our flora, especially with reference to introduced plants, and the disappearance of many indigenous species owing to break- ing up of prairies, and the destruction of some timber areas, and the draining of ponds and lakes. It is with difficulty that species of Potamogeton have been enabled to retain their hold in water, or that Gypripedium spectabile should maintain itself in the wooded and much pas- tured timbers of Iowa. With the early settlement of Iowa there came a host of European weeds. They are so well naturalized that it is no longer possible to state whether they are introduced or indigenous, nor are we able to state when they were introduced. In fact there are no early collections, and in many cases early collectors failed to note whether the plant was introduced or indigenous. We have no early records for such common weeds as Portulaca oleracea^ Verbascum thap- sus, Anthemis cotula, Malva rotundifolia, Ghenopodium album. Indeed, we are unable to say how rapidly these weeds have spread. In fact when we look over our introduced plants we find that there are but few cases in which there are statistical records such as we now have for Lactuca scariola, Salsola kali, var. tragus or Solarium rostratum, Eieracum aurantiacum and a few others. Those who are connected with our experiment station have frequent requests to identify weeds, and it would IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Ill seem to me proper to make a record of all such plants in a card catalogue where the specimens cannot be preserved. It is an interesting fact to -note that it frequently takes years for a weed to become so well established as to attract attention. Some years ago Dr. Halsted, while connected with the Iowa Agricultural college, noted that Solarium rostratum had been reported to him. This plant has long occurred in western Iowa but it is only recently that it has been reported from many parts of the state, showing increased tendency to spread. It is no longer considered worth while by the average farmer to report Lactuca scariola^ it is so thoroughly naturalized, and yet some few years ago it was seldom seen. It has undoubtedly become thoroughly acclimated over a large extent of our terri- tory, occurring not only in streets and timbers of our own state but in the heart of the Rocky mountains far away from any habitation. In the appended list the species are arranged according to Gray’s Manual, sixth edition, also adopting the nomencla- ture of that work. RANUNCULACE^. Ranunculus acris'Li. College campus in Ames. It is scarcely persistent. DelpMnum consolida L. Corning, 1895 (Ellen Bettonier.) PAPAVERACE^. Argemone alba L. Southern Iowa near Ottumwa. CRUCIFERS. Camelina saliva Crantz. Ames, 1891 (Hitchcock). Hazleton (Koight.) Brassica alba Boiss. Ames. Corbett in Hitchcock. (Antho- phytaand Pteridophy ta of Ames, 1891, p. 486) 1896. Dooryards north of agricultural building, I. A. C. campus. Geo. Carver, 1896. Erysimum asperum D. C. Ames, 1896, along railroads undoubtedly from the west (G. W. Carver.) Sisymbrium altissimum L. Ames, 1895, G. W. Carver. To this should be added the localities given by L. H. Dewey, Davenport, Blue Grass, Dickqns. (Circular No. 7, Division of Bot. U. S. Dept, of Agr. 112 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. CAPPARIDACE^. Gleome integrifolia Torr. & Gray. Only indigenous to western Iowa, has become a common weed in Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Sioux City and Onawa. CARYOPHYLLACE^. Saponaria vaccaria L. Little Rock (C. R. Ball). A weed of wheat fields. Silene cucubalus Wibel. Ames. Silene noctiflora L. Ames, 1896. Lychnis vespertina Sibeth. Ames, 1896, R. Combs, C. R. Ball, Geo. Carver. Red Oak, 1896, C. G. Patten. L. githago Lam. Rock Valley, 1896 (J. P. Jensen and W. NewelJ). Little Rock (C. R. Ball). Ames (Hitchcock). This weed has shifted with wheat culture. I have never seen a specimen growing in central Iowa. ^ MALVACE^. Malva rotundifolia L. Abundant in some parts of Iowa. It is frequent in central Iowa. Common in western Iowa in cities and along the Missouri river and in eastern Iowa along the Mississippi river. Little Rock, 1893 (C. R. Ball). Hibiscus trionum L. Ames, 1890-1896. Has scarcely escaped to fields, usually about flower gardens. Muscatine (F. Rep- pert). LeClaire in fields (P. H. Rolfs). Trifolium arvense L. Collected by Professor Bessey in 1871, has not been found since. T. agrarium L. Reported by Hitchcock from Ames in 1886, has not been found since. T. procumbens L. Ames, 1882 (Hitchcock). Occurred in Ames in 1886. Iowa city 1884 (Hitchcock). It is now fre- quently collected every spring. Melilotus officinalis Willd. As yet is not common in central Iowa though abundant in Sioux City, 1895, and Council Bluffs, 1895. Also occurs in Muscatine, 1891 (P. Reppert). Iowa City, 1889 (A. S. Hitchcock). Dakota City, 1896 (L. H. Pammel). M. alba Lam. Iowa City, 1889 (A. S. Hitchcock). Ames, frequent, 1890 (J. P. Rolfs). (P. C. Stewart) 1891. Abundant at Moingona, 1895. Boone, 1895. Council Bluffs, 1895. Sioux City, 1895, (L. H. Pammel). Iowa City, 1887 (A. S. Hitchcock). Muscatine, 1891 (P. Reppert). IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 113 Medicago sativa L. Ames occasionally, now frequent in Council Bluffs, Muscatine, 1891 (P. Reppert). Sioux City, 1896 (L. H. Pammel). M. lupuUna L. Ames, 1871 (C. E. Bessey). Has not been found since Hitchcock (Cat. Anthenphyta and Pteridophyta of Ames, p. 491) says occasionally found in waste places. Hosackia pursMana Benth. Indigenous loess of Iowa along the Missouri river. Sioux City. Naturalized. Boone, 1895 (G. W. Carver.) Ghjcyrrhiza lepieota Nutt. Ontario, 1886 (Hitchcock). Ames (A. S. Hitchcock) 1889. Greenfield, 1891 (P. C. Stewart). Spreading at near Greenfield, undoubtedly introduced indige- nous to western and northwestern Iowa. It is spreading at Hull, 1895 (W. Newell). Little Rock, 1893 (C. R. Ball). Logan, 1895. Council Bluffs, 1895. Spreading at Le Mars, 1896 (W. J. Newell). Lenox, 1896 (J. L. H.). Grand Junction, 1872 (C. E Bessey). Harrison county, 1875, Rev. Burgess. Cassia tora L. Ames, along C. & N.-W. R. R., 1894 (C. R. Ball, Robert Combs). Not found since. COMPOSITE. Orindelia squarrosa Dunal. Indigenous to western Iowa and is rapidly spreading in contigious territory, and has been reported from Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Boone and Moin- gona, abundant in borders of woods along C. & N.-W. R. R., 1890. Battle Creek, 1895 (E. G. Preston). Osgood, 1895, C. A. Wells. Carbonado, 1895 (John H. Smith). Smithland, 1895 (J. M. Wrapp). Iva xanthiifolia Nutt. I have given its distribution as far as Iowa is concerned quite fully in another connection. It is^ however, spreading. Reported from Keokuk 1891. Lawler, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Missouri Valley, 1894. Ontario, 1890. Sioux City, 1872. Ames, 1895 (G. W. Carver). Boone, 1870. Charles City, 1876 (J. C. Arthur). Woodbine, 1894. Vale, 1894. Boone, 1890 and 1894. Turin, 1894. Onawa, 1894. Carroll, 1894. Humboldt (P. L. Harvey). It will not be many years until this weed is as common in western part of Iowa as Ambro- sia trifida; originally a plant of northern and western Iowa,, from whence it has spread east and south. Eclipta alba Hassk. Keokuk, 1877 (George E. Ehinger).. 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Lepachys columnaris Torr. & Gray. Boone, 1889. In 1896 it was found by George W. Carver. 8 114 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Helianthus annuus L. Ames and other parts in central Iowa occasional, but in western Iowa indigaaous and very abundant, becoming frequent as far as Carroll, Denison and Boone. Ames, 1882. It is scarcely abundant except in a few localities in central Iowa. I am inclined to think it is an introduced plant with us. Boone, 1871 (C. E. Bessey). Grinnell, 1891 (M. E. Jones). Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Muscatine, 1891 (Rep- pert). Marshalltown, 1891 (F. C. Stewart). Helianthus maximiliani Schrad. Indigenous to northern and western Iowa, confined originally in western part of the state to the loess hills and adjoining bottoms, but now occurs along some of the great trunk lines extending across the state. A sm.all patch has persisted at Ames for several years. 1894 (G. W. Carver). Gaillardia aristata Pursh. This western plant has been found at Ames, 1896 (G. W. Carver). Too soon to say whether it will become naturalized. Dysodia cJirysanthemoides Lag. Boone, 1890. Ackley, 1878 (B. E. Canavan), Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Muscatine, 1891 (F. Reppert). This striking weed has been known for some time at Ames, though said to be frequent by Hitchcock (Anth. Pteridophyta of Ames, p. 503). It is more or less periodic in its appearance, some years frequent, others it is not so common. It is, however, always abundant in w’estern and southwestern Iowa, which leads me to believe that the plant is not indigenous to central Iowa, but introduced, although now occurring in timber and along river banks. Anthemis cotula D. C. This European weed is by no means as common in dooryards, along. roadsides and in streets as in Wis- consin, Illinois and Minnesota. It shows evidence, however, of being widely distributed in the state, and early introduced. Chrysanthemum leucanthemum L. For a long period of years occasional specimens of this weed have been found in the vicinity of the college, and it is an occasional introduction in meadows, but except in one place some four miles from Ames it shows no evidence of being naturalized. It has also been reported from Muscatine (Reppert). Atlantic (S. O. Hamill). Ames, 1871 (C. E. Bessey). Ames, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Shel- dahl, 1885 (L. V. Harpel). Ackley, 1878, (B. E. Canavan). Tanacetum vulgare L. Although escaped here and there from gardens there are but few places where it is naturalized. Cnicus lanceolatus Hofim. This is a frequent weed, especially eastern, southern, northern, western and central portions of the IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 115 state, and found as an occasional plant in every part of the state, especially in pastures where timber has been cut. It shows evidence of having been introduced a long time. Boone, 1890. Lawler, 1890. Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Muscatine, 1891 (F. Reppert). Iowa City (A. S. Hitchcock). G. altissimus Willd., var. Jllipendulus Gray. Indigenous in Western Iowa, loess hills, is spreading to cultivated fields east- ward. Reported from Ruthven (Daniel Ghafiie). Atlantic, 1895. Marcus, 1895 (N. E. Willey). G. arvensis Hofim. Widely distributed in the state, but gen- erally confined to small areas. It is reported more frequently than any other Gnicus^ though the least common of our species, it is interesting to record the fact that occasionally seed is produced. Lawler, 1890 (P. H. Rolfs). Greenfield, 1891 (P. C. Stewart). Marcus, 1890 (Willey). Winterset, 1896. Corning, 1895 (A. B. Shaw). 1896 (Chas. B. Collman). Chase, Johnson county, 1874 (O. G. Babcock). Taylor, 1895 (J. B. Matthews). Maple River Junction, 1895 (L. Barnholtz). Far- ragut, 1895 (C. Collman). Randall (C. and G. P. Christianson). Redding (Dr. W. A. McClanahpm). Griswold (R. E. Pierce). Conrad Grove, Cresco, 1892, with “seed” (C. V. Johnson). Oel- wein (J. Thompson). Chickasaw county (P. H. Rolfs). Mus- catine (F. Reppert). Barnes City, 1896 (J. W. Jones). GicJiorium intyhus L. Corning, 1895 (Ellen Bettonier). Mid- way, well established, 1896. Das Moines, 1895. Tmgopogon porrifoUus L. Ames, 1896 (C. R. Ball). T. ]oratensis L. Ames, in meadow, 1894. Iowa City, 1889, Newton, 1889 (A. S. Hitchcock). Hieracium aurantiacum L. Ames, 1894, meadows, not estab- lished. Lygodesmia juncea Don. Indigenous only to western and northwestern part of the state, becoming a bad weed in north- western Iowa. (C. R. Ball.) Armstrong (R. I. Cratty). Most abundant on loess hills; has appeared at Carroll, 1895, Logan, and other points along the C. & N. - W. R. R. Lactuca scariola L. Abundant everywhere in Iowa except northwestern and possibly northeastern. Marshalltown, 1891 (P. C. Stewart). Ames, 1889 (A. S. Hitchcock). Muscatine, 1891 (P. Reppert). L. pulchella D C. Indigenous to loess hills of western Iowa. Has become abundant along roadsides and streets in Sioux City. Showing tendency to spread. Ames, 1887, 1889 (A. S. 116 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Hitchcock). Fremont county (A. S. Hitchcock). Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). BORRAGINACE^. Echium vulgare L. Ames, 1894 (G, W. Carver). Not since observed. CON VOL V UL ACE^ . Convolvulus arvensis. Ames. Since 1837 well established. Ladora, 1895 (John Hiltbrummer). Des Moines, 1896 (C. N. Page). Very likely occurs in other places. First introduced as a cultivated plant. This may become one of our most pesti- ferous of perennial weeds. SOLANACE^. Solanum carolinese L. This weed has been well established on the college farm since 1887. As it started in an experi- mental plot, I am inclined to think it was introduced acci- dentally with some cultivated plants. It has been reported to me from many other places in the state. Certainly showing an extension northward and that acclimation has occurred. The following are the localities for this state: Zearing, 1896 (J. S. Bartley). Indianola, 1895 (A. D. Field). Mapleton, 1895 (Abjh. Lamb). Story City (C. C. Johnson). Central City, 1894 (Herman Finson). Fayette, 1894 (Mrs. M. E. Williams). Logan, 1895, Council Bluffs, 1895. (L. H. P.) Pro- fessor Bessey informs me that he observed it here many years ago. It is well established at this point. Ogden, 1894 (John Wil- liams). Plattsville, 1894 (J. B. Studley). Des Moines, 1894. Woodbine (Erastus Childs, Geo. Phillips). Muscatine (F. Rep- pert). Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Taylor county, 1894 (C. O. Pool). Grand Junction, 1890. Solanum rostratum Dunal. This weed has been reported from many widely scattered localities. It was not common in 1887 or up to 1890, since Professor Hitchcock, a diligent col- lector, does not report it in catalogue of the Anthophyta and Pteridophyta of Ames, Iowa, 1891. It has been long known in western Iowa, as Professor Todd informs me. Ames, 1895 (John Arrasmith, Turner McClain). Montezuma, 1895 (J. M. ^ Bryan). Aspinwall, 1895 (C. H. Laughlin). Woodbine, 1895 (R. B. Boustead). New Hartford, 1895 (J. W. P). Maple Grove, 1895 (Mitchell). Gilmore City, 1895 (Van Alstine). Rowley, 1895 (J. G. E. McDonald). Creston, 1895 (Mrs. Mary A. Mc- Clure). I observed it common in the streets at this place in IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 117 1894. Newell 1894, Corning, 1894, Ainsworth, 1894, Per lee, 1894 (D. M. Carty). Ladora, 1896 (Whitlocker and Fields). Emmetsbnrg, 1896 (McCarty and Lindermann). New London, 1895. Guthrie Center (W. M. Ashton). Whitmore, 1894 (J. E. Albin). Morrison, 1894 (A. E. Allen). Elliott, 1895 (Adam Lentz). Renwick, 1895 (Bell and Thiel). Dysart (Emma Sirrine). Des Moines, Carson (J. A. Bass). Perry, 1895 (Geo. O. Roberts). Gilmore City, 1895 (D. Van Alstine). Hamburg, 1888 (A. S. Hitchcock). Agency, 1887 (Mrs. Richman). Coun- cil Bluffs, 1883. Mt. Ayr, 1894 (J, W. Sale). Carroll county, Des Moines fair grounds (A. G. Lucas). Solarium Torreyi Gray. Southern Iowa, 1895. SCROPHULARIACE^. Verbascum Thapsus L. This weed is common in eastern, central and southern Iowa. Probably early introduced. It is not, however, spreading rapidly. V, Blattaria L. Ames, 1889 (Hitchcock). And several times since (F. A. Sirrine). Not, however, a permanent weed. Mus- catine, 1890 (F. Reppert). Linaria^ vulgaris Mill. Ames. I am unable to learn when first introduced, Weil established. LABIATE. Salvia lanceolata Willd. Indigenous to western Iowa. Coun- cil Bluffs, Fremont county, Missouri Valley, Ames, 1890 (F. A. Sirrine). Des Moines, 1895. Well established. Muscatine, 1890 (F. Reppert). PLANTAGINACE^. Plantago lanceolata L. Ames, 1874 (C. E. Peterson). Well established in fields. Milton (J. C. Holland). CHENOPODIACE^ Cycloloma platyphpyllum Moquin. Not indigenous in Iowa. Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, 1894 (G. W. Carver). Muscatine, 1890. Des Moines, 1867 (A. S. Hitchcock). Hamburg (A. S. Hitchcock). Ghenopodium urbicum L. Nevada, 1880 (A. S. Hitchcock). Iowa City 1887 (A. S. Hitchcock). Keokuk, 1887 (A. S. Hitch- cock). Ames, 1891 (A. S. Hitchcock). Muscatine, 1889, Daven- port, 1889 (A. S. Hitchcock). Muscatine, 1890 (F. Reppert). Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). 118 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. C. glaucum L. Iowa City, 1839 (Hitchcock). Muscatine (P. Reppert). C. Botrys L. Ames, 1883; Iowa City, 1887 (A. S. Hitchcock). G. ambrosioides L. Keokuk (J. C. Arthur). Muscatine, 1876 (Burgess.) Muscatine 1890 (F. Reppert). C. Rubrurn. Keokuk, P. H. Rolfs, 1891. Atriplex patulum L., var. hastatum Gray. Keokuk, 1891 (P. H. Rolfs). Ames, 1896 6. It has become well established. Iowa City, 1887 (A. S. Hitchcock). Var. littorale. Iowa City, 1887 (A. S. Hitchcock). A. argenteum Nutt. Ames, 1895 G. W. Carver). PHYTOLACCACE^. Phytolacca decandra L. Grinnell, 1889 (A. S. Hitchcock). Mus- catine, 1891 (F. Reppert). POLYGONACE^. Rumex Patieutia L. Boone (G. W. Carver). Established. Escaped from cultivation. Polygonum orientale L. Muscatine, 1890 (P. Reppert). Onawa, 1894. EUPHORBIACE^. Euphorbia marginata Push. Indigenous to western Iowa. Little Rock, Sioux City, Onawa, Council Bluffs and Hawarden. Naturalized east. At Denison abundant, 1894. Woodbine, 1894. Vale, abundant, 1894. Missouri Valley, Carroll, 1895, abun- dant (W. Newell). Hamburg, 1883 (A. S. Hitchcock). Iowa City, 1887 (A. S. Hitchcock). IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 119 A STUDY OP THE LEAP ANATOMY OP SOME SPE- CIES OP THE GENUS BROMUS. EMMA SIRRINE. The species of genus Bromus are sometimes difficult to dif- ferentiate; hence, a study of the leaf anatomy was undertaken with a view towards a help in differentiation. BROMUS ASPERT.^ (PI. V. Fig. 5; PI. vii, Fig. 8.) Epidermis. — The cuticle in this species is quite thick. The epidermal cells are large, but are smaller and thicker walled above and beneath the primary mestome bundles than else- where. Stomata frequently occur on both surfaces. The upper and lower surfaces of leaf, as well as edges, are provided with trichomes, sometimes in the form of small conical pro- jections. Bulliform --These occur on superior surface, and vary in number from three to five, and are not as thick walled as the epidermal cells. They occur between the mestome bundles, but this arrangement is not uniform, that is, they are not pres- ent between all mestome bundles. Mestome bundles. — Twenty-nine mestome bundles occur across middle portion of leaf. The bundles are of three types: Pirst, the primary type numbers eleven bundles. These open on both superior and inferior surfaces of leaf, i. e. , the leptome and hadrome are in direct contact with the stereome or sep- arated from it only by colorless parenchyma cells; they vary in size (from the midrib to the margins of leaf); the one of the midrib is the largest. Bundles of the secondary type number seventeen. These are entirely closed, i. e. , chlorophyll bearing *This was determined later as Bromus patulus. M. & K., by F. Lamson-Scribner. There is an apparent repetition in papers by Miss Sirrine and Miss Pammel, in fact the same species were studied. They appeared distinct, but Professor Lamson-Scribner determined them as above. L. H. Pammel. 120 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. parenchyma enclose the leptome and hadrome. They alternate with the primary bundles, except at the margins of the leaf, when three occur in succession on one side of the large pri- mary bundle in the carene. Two of the secondary bundles are present; on the opposite side of the primary bundle in the carene, a bundle occurs which is intermediate between the pri- mary and secondary bundles; this intermediate bundle is open interiorly only, i. e., the leptome only is in contact with the stereome. This is the only bundle of this type found in this species, but it was constant in all the asper sections examined. The primary bundles are enclosed by thick-walled cells, the mestome sheath; outside of this is a row of thinner- walled cells, the parenchyma sheath. In the bundles of the secondary and intermediate types, the mestome sheath occurs, while the parenchyma sheath disappears. Carene. — The carene consists of only one bundle, which is the primary type; this conforms to the description given to others of this kind, except that it is the largest bundle. The hadrome is separated from the sterome by colorless parenchyma cells, while a single row of thick walled sells, resembling stere- ome, separates the leptome from the hadrome. Two large pitted ducts and two spiral ducts with an intercellular space are present. The bundle is enclosed by mestome and parenchyma sheaths. Trichomes in the shape of conical projections occur on the inferior surface of leaf above the primary mestome bundle. To one side of this a secondary bundle occurs, with pitted and spiral ducts. On the opposite side of the primary bundle the intermediate bundle occurs. This is open interiorly only. The leptome is in contact with the stereome by means of two rows of colorless parenchyma cells, while the mestome sheatn surrounds the mesophyll. In other respects it is the same as the secondary bundle. Stereome. — Stereome occurs both on superior and inferior surfaces of the primary bundles. None is present in the bundles of the secondary type and only a very little on the inferior side of the intermediate bundle. Stereome occurs in groups of from four to six cells on the margins of the leaf. The walls of the stereome are frequently stratified. Colorless parenchyma is found beneath ail the primary bundles; it fills the space between the hadrome and the stereome, while a single row of cells enclose the whole mestome bundles. In the bundles of the secondary type it disappears entirely. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 121 Mesophyll — This surrounds the bundles of the secondary type and occurs between all bundles. It is made up of irregular cells, but quite uniform in size. The chlorophyll granules are quite large and numerous. BROMUS PATULUS, M. & K. (PI. V., Fig. 3; PI. vi. Fig. 6.) This is a small early form determined as B. nivilis. Epidermis. — The epidermal cells of this species are large, regular, thick- walled with a strong, well developed cuticle; the cells above and beneath the carene are smaller and thicker than elsewhere; the leaf is more involute than that of any other species studied, unless possibly Bromus racemosus. Trichomes are numerous, — some very long and slender, others are short and thick. Stomata occur on both surfaces of the leaf. Bulliform cells. — The bulliform cells vary in number from three to five, and are not as apparent as in some of the other species studied. These cells occur on superior surface of leaf between the mestome bundles. Mestome bundles. — These number from twenty- five to thirty and are of two kinds. The bundles of the primary type num- ber from nine to eleven, represented by the principal bundle of the carene. This is open both to the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf, i. e. , the leptome is in direct contact with the stere- ome, while the hadrome is separated from it only by colorless parenchyma cells. The secondary bundles number from six- teen to eighteen. The leptome and hadrome are entirely sur- rounded by chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma. In the largest bundle of the primary type the stereome is very abundant, while in the smaller ones, it is reduced in some instances to a single row of cells; the leptome and hadrome are well developed in these bundles and they are separated- from each other by-thick- walled cells resembling stereome. Both spiral and pitted ducts, as well as the intercellular space, are well defined. The secon- dary bundles are surrounded by colorless parenchyma without stereome. The leptome and hadrome are differentiated. Two secondary bundles occur on margins of leaf. Carene. — The carene consists of one typical primary bundle with leptome and hadrome well developed and separated from each other by thick- walled parenchyma cells; the pitted and spiral ducts are well developed and also the intercellular space is conspicuous. On one side of this bundle is another primary 122 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. bundle, smaller than the mid-bundle but open superiorly and inf eriorly, i. e. , the leptome and hadrome are in contact with the stereome, but this bundle differs from the first described, in that it has interiorly only a single row of stereome running from the bundle to the epidermal cells, while in the first one there is a large amount of stereome on inferior surface. The stereome beneath this second bundle conforms with that found in the other primary bundles of this species. All these primary bundles are surrounded by two sheaths: an outer, thin- walled colorless row of cells, the parenchyma sheath and inside] this a thick- walled row of cells, sometimes incomplete, the mestome sheath. The bundle on the other side of the central bundle is one of the secondary type. No stereome occurs in connection with these bundles; they are entirely closed, that is, wholly surrounded by chlorophyll- be ar ing parenchyma . These bundles are enclosed by a mestome sheath but the parenchyma sheath is absent. The leptome and hadrome fill the entire space inside the mestome sheath unless possibly a few thick- walled cells between them. Stereome. — This occurs only above and below the primary bundles, and on the margins of the leaf. Colorless parenchyma occurs below the stereome of all pri- mary bundles, and forms a sheath for the 'whole primary mes- tome bundle. Mesophyll. — This surrounds not only the secondary bundles but occurs between all the primary and secondary bundles. BROMUS INERMIS. (PI. V, Fig. 4; PL vii, Fig. 10.) Epidermis.— ixi this species we find large, regular, and well developed epidermal cells with a thick cuticle; the cells are smaller and the cuticle thicker under and above the mestome bundles than elsewhere. The epidermal cells are slightly longer on superior surface of leaf than on inferior surface. Trlchomes absent. Stomata occur on both surfaces of leaf, but especially between the buliiform cells. Bulliform cells. — These are large, varying in number from three to seven, only present on superior surface of the leaf. Mestome bundles. — These number thirty-five, and are of three types, as in some specimens of Bromus asper. First, those of the primary type; these are open both on anterior and inferior surfaces of the leaf, i. e., the leptome is in direct con- tact with the stereome and the hadrome, separated from it only by IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 123 colorless parenchyma cells. These primary bundles are enclosed by the parenchyma and mestome sheaths. Those of the sec- ondary type are entirely closed and surrounded by chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma. Third is an intermediate type, open only interiorly; the leptome is in contact with the stereome, while the hadrome is surrounded by chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma cells. These intermediate bundles occur in only two places in the leaf, — one is found in the carene and one at the margin of the leaf. Carene. — The carene -consists of one mestome bundle. A large bundle open above and below, i. e., the leptome and hadrome are in contact with the stereome. The pitted ducts are irregular. The stereome is more abundant above than below the bundle. This is true of all the open bundles in this species; the leptome is separated from the hadrome by a layer of thick-walled parenchyma cells, while the whole bundle is enclosed in both parenchyma and mestome sheaths. On one side of this primary bundle a secondary bundle occurs; this is entirely closed by chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma cells. Lep- tome and hadrome are present with a few thick -walled cells between them, and the whole enclosed by a mestome sheath. On the opposite side of the primary bundles is one of the inter- mediate type. Stereome. — This occurs on the margin of leaf above and below the primary bundles, and above the intermediate bundles. Colorless parenchyma is more or less developed below all the bundles of the primary type. Mesophyll is found between all bundles, surrounding the sec- ondary and below the intermediate bundles. It consists of elon- gated cells filled with chlorophyll. BROMUS SEC-ALINUS. (PI. vi, Fig. 2; PL viii, Fig. 9.) Epidermis. — In this species, the epidermal cells are large and regular on inferior surface with an occasional cell projecting outwardly. On the superior surface of the leaf the cells are somewhat smaller and of same general shape. The leaf is somewhat involute. Small trichomes in the shape of conical projections are present on the inferior surface of the mestome bundles. Epidermal cells are smaller where it covers the primary mestome bundles in this species, as in all studied. Stomata present on both surfaces. 124 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES, Bulliform cells. — These occur only on superior surface of leaf and vary in number from three to seven. These cells are large and well marked, especially the central cells of the group; the outer are smaller and blend with the epidermal cells. The cuti- cle is not so strongly developed over the bulliform cells as else- where. Mestome bundles. — These number from thirty -three to thirty- five and are of three types. First, primary, in which superior and inferior surfaces of leaf are open, i. e., the leptome is in direct contact with the stereome and the hadrome separated from it only by the uncolored parenchyma cells. From thir- teen to fifteen of these bundles are present, varying in size from the carene to the tip of leaf. In the secondary type, lep- tome and hadrome are entirely surrounded by chlorophyll parenchyma. The bundles in this type number from fifteen to seventeen; they alternate regularly with those of the primary type except between the sixth or seventh primary bundles counting from the mid-rib where two of the secondary type occur in succession. Only two bundles of the intermediate type occur. These are found near the margins of the leaf. They have leptome in contact with stereome only. Surrounding all the bundles occur both parenchyma and mestome sheaths. Carene. — Only one bundle present in the carene. It is of the first type and is remarkable for the large amount of stereome on the superior surface of leaf. The leptome and hadrome are separated from each other by two rows of thick- walled paren- chyma cells. The leptome is separated from stereome only by the parenchyma and mestome sheaths, while the hadrome is separated from the stereome by a large number of colorless parenchyma cells. On either side of the carene, the small sec- ondary bundles occur. In these the leptome and hadrome seem to be in direct contact with each other. Both sheaths are present. Stereome. — No stereome occurs around the secondary bundles. It is abundant on superior and inferior surfaces of the primary type and on superior surface of the intermediate bundles. A group of Ihese cells also on margins of leaf. Stereome cells are marked with small canals. Colorless parenchyma. — This occurs beneath all primary bundles, while a sheath encloses all the bundles. Mesophyll. — This surrounds all the secondary bundles and occurs between the other two types, and on inferior portion of the intermediate type. IOWA ACADEMY OP 8CIE.SCB8, VOL. IV. PLATE IV. IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE V. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE VII. ut' 'y IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL IV. PLATE VIII. Car. j: wp IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 125 BROMUS BREVIARISTATUS. (PI. iv, Pig. 1; PI. vii, Fig. 7.) Epidermis. — The epidermal cells are large and nearly rectan- gular, with a thick cuticle. The cells are a trifle smaller on inferior surface of leaf than on anterior, while on superior and inferior surfaces of mestome bundles they are much smaller than elsewhere. Conical projections occur both anteriorly and interiorly on primary mestome bundles. Stomata are present on both surfaces, while trichomes are long and quite abundant. Bulliform cells. — The bulliform cells are large and vary in number from three to six. Mestome bundles. — Forty-one bundles present, of two types. Those of the primary type are open on both inferior and supe- rior surfaces, i. e., leptome is in direct contact with stereome, while hadrome is separated from it only by colorless paren- chyma. These primary bundles vary much in size, and also in the amount of stereome and colorless parenchyma. The sec- ondary bundles are somewhat better developed in this species than in other species studied, in that both mestome and paren- chyma sheaths are present, also spiral and pitted ducts. There is an indication of an intermediate bundle at the margin of the leaf. Oarene. — Carene consists of only one bundle, and with the exception of size, the large amount of stereome and colorless parenchyma is exactly the same as those in the other species. Colorless parenchyma. — The colorless parenchyma occurs beneath all primary bundles, while a sheath encloses all the bundles. Stereome. — This is abundant on both inferior and superior surfaces of the primary type of bundles and on superior surface of the intermediate bundles. Mesophyll. — This surrounds all the secondary bundles and occurs between the other two types, and on the inferior portion of the intermediate type. EXPLANATION OP PLATES. All drawings made with a camera and drawn to the same scale. The abbreviations used are; 0., cuticle; E., epidermis; E. O., epidermal cells; Sto , stomata; Tr., tri- chomes; B. 0., bulliform cells; Ste., stereome; Mes., mesophyll; 0. B. P., chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma; Oar., carene: M. B., mestome bundles; H., hadrome; L,, leptome;^ Unc. Par., uncolored parenchyma; T. W. P., thick-walled parenchyma. Plate iv, Fig. 1, Bromus breviaristatus. Pig. 2, Bromus secalinus. Plate v., Fig. .3., Bromus patulus. Fig. 4, Bromus inermis. Pig. 5, Bromus asper. Plate vi. Pig. 6, Bromus patulus. Plate vii, Fig. 7, Bromus breviaristatus. Fig. 8, Bromus asper, Plate viii, Fig. 9, Bromus secalinus. Fig. 10, Bromus ineimis. 126 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE LEAVES OF LOLIUM, FESTUCA, AND BROMUS. BY EMMA PAMMEL, There are some striking differences in the leaves of Festuca and Lolium. One of the most essential in the species studied is the presence or absence of hairs and the involute character of the leaf of Festuca tenella. LOLIUM PERENNE. (PL ix, Fig. 3; PL xi, Fig. 8.) Eindermis.—'Th.e cuticle is quite-strongly developed on super- ior and inferior surfaces of the leaf, but more so on the inferior surface. The epidermal cells are rather large, but vary some in size; the largest occur on inferior surface of leaf and are nearly as large as the bulliform cells. The smallest epidermal cells occur chiefly at the tip of leaf. The epidermal cells above and below the stereome are smaller and are strongly thickened. Bulliform cells. — The conspicuous bulliform cells number from four to five. The central are large and one or two on either side occur between each mestome bundle. The epider- mal cells on the inferior surface of leaf are more uniform in size. Mestome bundles. — These number eighteen, of three types. Primary bundles, those which are open on superior side of leaf, i. e. , where hadrome is either in direct contact with stereome or separated from it by colorless parenchyma cells, and secon- dary bundles or such as are closed, i. e., the leptome and had- rome entirely surrounded by chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma; and third the intermediate type. The secondary mestome bundles are more numerous. The leptome and hadrome of the mestome bundle of carene are well developed. The mestome bundle of carene is of the primary type with well developed pitted ves- sels and spiral ducts. Two rows of thick-walled cells separate hadrome and leptome. The hadrome is separated from the IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 127 stereome by several rows of thin-walled parenchyma cells. The stereome is more strongly developed on the inferior sur- face of mestome bundles of carene than than on superior surface of bundle. In carene the stereome is not in contact with lep- tome. A thin- walled parenchyma sheath surrounds the entire bundles of secondary type. Thick-walled cells occur on the inside of this parenchyma sheath, which thus forms a sheath around the leptome and hadrome. Two kinds of mestome bundles of secondary type occur, one in which leptome and hadrome are perfectly developed, and a second in which leptome and hadrome are not so strongly marked. Those of the second type alternate with the large bundles. These bundles are surrounded by a chlorophyll-bear- ing parenchyma sheath. To the inside of this sheath is a sec- ond sheath which consists of thick-walled cells (mestome sheath) surrounding the leptome and hadrome, and hence is closed. The mestome bundles of intermediate type are four in number, and do not vary from the mestome bundle of prim.ary type except that they are closed, and there are only two pitted ves- sels. Stereome.— stereome is found on margin of leaf on super- ior surface of all bundles of intermediate and primary types, and on the inferior surface of some of the mestome bundles of secondary type. Mesopliyll.—This, occurs between the mestome bundles, and is in contact with the epidermis on both faces. The cells are irregular, some are nearly round, others are oblong. The chlorophyll grains are large. The cells of the mesophyll on margins of leaf are somewhat smaller than in other parts. PESTUCA. Two species of Festuca were studied. Festuca elatior^ variety pratensis, and Festuca tenella. Beal quotes Hackel’s statement as to the different forms of Festuca: “Hackel finds the mesophyll and fibro vascular bun- dles quite uniform with all sorts of treatment of the plants, but the epidermis offers remarkable differences, especially that on lower surface of leaf. This difference is apparent in the thick- ness of the outer walls, the size of the cavities, and the exist- ence or absence of projections on the partition walls. The dry cultivated plants had their epidermis strongly thickened toward the outside, the cavities diminished and over the partition wall 128 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. had developed cuticular projections. The moist cultivated plants produced slightly thickened epidermal cells, broad cav- ities, and no trace of cuticular projections. The sclerenchyma, or bast, varies much with different soils and amounts of mois- ture. Species of moist, shady habitats, show in their leaves a clear preponderance of the assimilating over the mechanical system.” These views coincide with the observation made in a study of the species here considered. FESTUCA ELATIOR, VAR. PRATENSIS. (PI. lx, Fig. 1; PI. xi, Fig. 9.) Epidermis. — The epidermis is quite strongly developed in this species; the cuticle is more strongly developed on the inferior than superior surface. Small conical projections occur only on the superior surface of leaf. These are not very numerous. They are most numerous near the carene. The epidermal cells are quite uniform in shape; some variations occur, mostly on the superior surface. The cells of epidermis over the stereome on both superior and inferior surfaces are strongly thickened and are smaller than the unthickened epidermal cells. BulUform cells. — The bulliform cells are similar in size to those found in Lolium perenne. They are five in number, three large cells in center and one smaller one on either side. These are much more strongly developed toward the middle of leaf than on the margin. On approaching the margin of the leaf the bulliform cells can hardly be distinguished from ordinary epi- dermal cells. Mestome bundles.— number of mestome bundles in a single cross section in middle of leaf is twenty-four, and are not so close as in Lolium. There are three types. First, primary type, open on inferior and superior sides. Secondary type, those that, are entirely closed, and these are most numer- ous. Third, the intermediate type, which are open only on superior side. The bundles of secondary type are most numer- ous. Three of the closed bundles occur near the margin of leaf. One bundle of the primary type is found next to the closed bundles. The third type is found to the left of mestome bundle of carene, and to the right of carene is found a mestome bundle of second type. One primary mestome bundle occurs in carene. In the carene leptome and hadrome are well developed. The pitted vessels are large. Stereome is well developed on inferior IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 129 and superior surfaces of the bundle. In the carene, leptome and hadrome are separated from each other by thick* walled cells. The cells in leptome are somewhat more thick- walled than in hadrome. In some of the mestome bundles of third type the hadrome is not so well developed; the intercellular space is not evident. This is not the case with mestome bundles of first type, in which this space is very conspicuous. The leptome is in direct contact with stereome, but hadrome is separated by thin- walled parenchyma cells. The bundles of second type are small; lep- tome and hadrome are but slightly developed, most of the bun- dles containing only thick- walled cells, while occasionally there is a bundle which has an indication of one or two pitted vessels. In the mestome bundle of third type, the leptome is separated from the stereome by thin- walled parenchyma cells. In Festuca elatior var. pratensis, as in Lolium perenne, a thin- walled parenchyma sheath surrounds all bundles of the second type, but in all cases thick- walled cells form a closed sheath around leptome and hadrome just inside of parenchyma sheath. Stereome. — This consists usually of six cells at the margins of leaf and occurs on superior surfaces of all bundles of the first and third types, and occasionally on superior surface of the mestome bundles of second type. It is not, however, strongly developed. Greatest development is reached on superior and inferior surfaces of mestome bundles of carene. Mesophyll. — This is found between all mestome bundles. The mestome bundles are found not so close as in Lolium perenne. The cells are smaller. The smaller occur on superior face. The epidermal cells of stereome region are thick- walled. FESTUCA TENELLA WILLD. (PI, ix, Pig. 3; PI. X, Pigs. 5 and 6.) Epidermis. — The epidermis is as strongly developed as in Festuca elatior var. pratensis though not as large as in Lolium. The smaller cells occur on superior surface. The cuticle is thicker on inferior surface than on superior surface. The epider- mal cells covering the stereome are thick- walled and not as large as the other epidermal cells. This dry soil grass has involute leaves and, as Hackel says: “In grasses that do not have such fan-shaped cell groups (bulli- form cells) the blade remains always folded or rolled up, or at least open but a little.” Bulliform cells do not occur, or only^ as slight differentiation of epidermal cells. 9 130 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Trichomes are conspicuous, but only on the superior surface, one to three to each bundle. Mestome bundles . — There are twelve mestome bundles in a leaf, of three types. First, primary type, open both on infer- ior and superior surfaces of leaf, i. e., those which have had- rome and leptome respectively in contact with stereome, either in direct contact or are separated from it by several rows of thin-walled parenchyma cells. Second, the secondary type. These are entirely surrounded by chlorophyll-bearing paren- chyma. Third, intermediate type. These open interiorly. Only one bundle of primary type occurs and this is in the carene. The leptome and hadrome are in direct contact with each other. The leptome is separated from the stereome by thin- walled parenchyma cells. Quite a development of thin-walled paren- chyma cells occurs above the mestome bundles of carene. Two bundles of the third type occur near the margin of leaf. The cells separating the leptome from stereome are in this case somewhat thicker- wailed than those in carene. The mestome bundles of second type are of two sizes, the larg- est ones having leptome and hadrome poorly developed, and the smallest having no thick- walled cells. The thin- walled parenchyma, with its inner closed sheath does not differ from that described in Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne. Stereome. — This seems to be more strongly developed in this species than in Festuca elatior, variety pratensis and Lolium perenne. It occurs on the margin of leaf, and also on inferior surface of all bundles of first and third types, and on inferior surface of all large bundles of secondary type. Mesophyll occupies a small area in this species since the mes- tome bundles are close together. BROMUS PATULUS M. & K. (PL ix, Fig. 4; Pi. X, Fig. 7.) This was thought to be B. racemosus. Epidermis. — The large epidermal cells are thicker- walled than in Festuca or Lolium perenne — O ^er the stereome they are smaller and thicker-walled. The cuticle is thicker on superior than on inferior surface. The leaves are very hairy, and tri- chomes occur both on inferior and on superior surface, but are more numerous on superior surface. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL IV. PLATE IX. IOWA ACADEMY OB SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE X. IOWA academy of sciences, VOL. IV. PLATE XI IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 131 Bulliform cells. — The bulliform cells are not greatly differen- tiated. In a great many cases the cells are hardly to be distin- guished fro m epidermal ceils proper. They occur between each mestome bundle and number three. In the middle of the leaf there are from thirty to thirty-three mfestome bundles of three types: primary, secondary and inter- mediate. The mestome bundles of secondary type are most numerous, sixteen in each leaf. These bundles are rather small, and occur near the margin of the leaf. Those of the secondary type consist mainly of thick-walled cells with poorly developed pitted vessels. One mestome bundle of second type occurs on each side of mestome bundle of carene. Three sizes of mestome bundle of first type occur. One is found in the carene. This is the largest; other sizes follow in numerical order, beginning from margin. The smallest is shown in plate IX. In the two larger, the leptome and hadrome is well developed, aad in the smallest bundle the spiral duct in some instances is wanting. Stereome. — This is quite conspicuous in the carene. Hadrome separated from stereome by colorless parenchyma cells. In carene the stereome is more strongly developed on inferior than on superior surface of mestome bundles. The mestome bundle of second size has the stereome not so well developed on its superior and inferior surfaces as is found in carene. The mestome bundle of third type is of the same size as the smallest of the first type, only they are more numerous. Stereome is found on the margin of leaf, and numbers from four to six cells; it also occurs on superior and inferior surfaces of all bundles, except those of the second type. It does not occur on either superior or inferior surface of the bundles of second type. Mesophyll. — ^This occurs between all mestome bundles. The cells are quite uniform in size. EXPLA.NATION OF PLATES, All drawings were made with the camera, and are drawn to the same scale. The abbreviations used are: 0., cuticle; E, epidermis; E. C., epidermal cells; Sto., stoma; Tr , trichomes; B., bulliform cells; Ste., stereome; Mes., mesophyll; 0. B. P., chloro- phyll-bearing parenchyma; Oar., carene; M., mestome bundles; H., hadrome; L., leptome. Plate ix, Pig, 1, Festuca elatior, var. pratensis. Fig. 2, Festuca tenella; Fig. 3, Lolium perenne; Fig. 4, Bromus patulus. Plate x, Pigs. 5 and 6, Festuca tenella; Fig. 7, Bromus patulus. Plate xi. Fig. 8, Lolium perenne; Fig. 9, Festuca elatior, var. pratensis. 132 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. AN ANATOMICAL STUDY OP THE LEAVES OP SOME SPECIES OP THE GENUS ANDROPOGON. BY C. B. WEAVER. The purpose of the followiag paper and accompanying fig- ures is to make an additional contribution to the work already done toward our knowledge of the leaf anatomy of grasses. Reference to valuable literature along this line of scientific research may be found in the papers by Misses Pammel and Sirrine, on the genera Sporobolus and Panicum, published in vol. IIIj of the proceedings of Iowa Academy of Sciences for 1895. ANDROPOGON PROVINCIALIS. (PI. xii, Figs. 2, 3 and 4; PI. xiv, Fig. 12.) In this species the epidermal cells (E. C.) are large, nearly round and variable in size. The cuticle (C.) is well developed. The stomata (Sto.) occur in small depressions. The bulliform cells (B. C.) vary in number from two to six. They seem to merge gradually into the epidermal cells and vary considerably in size. These cells occur between the secondary veins and below the mestome bundles. In this species four types of bundles occur, viz. : (1) carene, (2) entirely closed, (3) open, (4) larger secondary bundles with stereome (Ste.) both above and below. The carene (Car.) consists of three large bundles open above and below. The central bundle is but little larger than the secondary bundles. In the hadrome (H) occur the conspicuous pitted and spiral ducts. The chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma cells surrounding the larger bundles are not as conspicuous a& those of the smaller mestome bundles. The stereome (Ste.) above the carene is well developed and is wider than the middle larger bundle, while opposite on the lower side of the leaf occur but few stereome cells, and these latter are in direct con- tact with the epidermal cells. The cells composing the leptome portion (L) of the middle carene bundle are uniform in size.. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 133 The uncolored parenchyma cells which occur below and to the side of the middle carene bundle, are large. These cells are in contact with the three large bundles of the carene (Car.) The smaller mestome bundles (M) on either side of the carene occur close together. The chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma cells (C.B.P.) surrounding them are conspicuous. These bundles are not uniform in number on both sides of the mid- rib, which goes to show that the development of the leaf is unequal. On each side of the carene occur four of the larger secondary bundles. The edges of the leaf are provided with stereome (Ste.) The stereome about the bundles varies in the number of cells. The cells of the mesophyll (Mes.) occur as dense masses with numerous intercellular spaces. They vary in shape from elon- gated to spherical. An occasional small trichome (Tri.) (Fig. 4) may be seen. ANDROPOGON NUTANS. (PI. xii, Figs. 1 and 5; PL xv, Figs. 14 and 15.) In this species, as in A. provincialis, the epidermal cells (E.C.) are large, nearly round and vary in size. The cuticle (C) is well developed. The conical projections (C. P.) are conspicu- ous, and more so on the lower than on the upper surface. Th bulliform cells (B. C.) vary in number from two to five. They ai e more uniform in number than A. provincialis^ and do not vary so much in size. They occur between the secondary veins and below the smaller closed mestome bundles (M). In this species, as in A. provincialis, occur four types of bundles, (1) carene, (2) entirely closed by surrounding chlorophyll-bearing cells, (3) open, (4) large bundles with leptome (L.), and hadrome (H.), more strongly developed. There occasionally occurs a short and sharply pointed trichome emerging from the mes- tome bundle of the secondary vein. The secondary bundles are open above and below. Stereome (Ste ) occurs on both sides of these bundles. The carene differs from that of A. provincialis in the number of pitted and spiral ducts. Its parts are all well developed. The stereome below the carene is not so abundant as in A. provincialis, but the reverse is true of the stereome above the carene. The uncolored parenchyma cells between the bundles and upper stereome are more numerous than in A. p)rovincialis. The mestome bundles are not so close together in this spe- cies as in A. provincialis. The larger bundles vary in number 134 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. on either side of the carene, while the number as a whole is uniform, forty-one and forty- nine. The edges of the leaves are completely filled with stereome (Ste.). The stereome occurs only on the lower side of the smaller closed bundles, and in sections of this species is not so abundant as in A. pro- vincialis. The mesophyll (Mes.) is more abundant in A. nutans than in A. provincialis. In shape and size the cells are about the same. In this portion we find small intercellular spaces. The uncolored parenchyma cells about the carene occur in about the same proportion as in A. provincialis. ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS. (PI. xiii, Figs. 6 and 8; PI. xv, Fig. 13.) In this species the epidermal cells (E. C.) do not differ in detail essentially from A. provincialis and A. nutans. They are quite variable in size. Cuticle (C.) is well developed. Tri- chomes (Tri.) are scattered but conspicuous. The bulliform ceils (B. C.) are sufficiently characteristic to distinguish it from all other species studied. They occur as an almost continual row the entire breadth of the leaf with the exception of above secondary bundles, this space is occupied by stereome. Stereome occurs in groups of from three to eight cells, more uniform in size than in the other species studied. The prin- cipal distinguishing feature between this and other members of the genus studied lies in the continuous row of bulliform cells which occurs across the upper portion of the carene (Car.) this, in other species, is occupied by sterome. The four types of bundles occur in this species as in others studied. The carene is bulged below. Stereome (Ste.) is abundant. The epidermal cells on the lower surface of the leaf below the carene are somewhat irregular with reference to the cell wall, the latter is also stratified. The uncolored parenchyma occupies the space between the bulliform cells and the bundles of the carene, forming more or less of a continuous row up to and slightly beyond the first sec- ondary bundle, except for such interruptions due to the devel- opment of stereome of bundles of third type. Beyond this it is confined to from two to six cells above the mesophyll. Stereome does not occur above carene as in other species stud- ied. Pitted and spiral ducts are large and well developed. Leptome (L.) and hadrome (H.) are well developed in this species. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 135 The mestome portion is compact. The larger secondary mestome bundlts occur in sets of three on either side of the carene. The bundles number twenty-four and twenty -eight on either side of carene. The mestome portion extends nearly to the edge of the leaf, where stereome occurs. The edges of the leaf are rounded. The stereome portion is quite generally distributed and varies not essentially from this portion in other species. The sec- ondary mestome (M.) bundles are not characteristic. ANDROPOGON SORGHUM. (PL xiii, Fig. 7; PL xiv, Fig. 10.) Cuticle (C.) and epidermal cells (E. C.) are not characteristic. Bulliform cells (B. C. ) vary in number from two to eight. Their size is somewhat variable. These cells merge so gradually into the smaller ones which are usually found above the mestome bundles that it is difficult to distinguish them from the epider- mal cells on this side of the leaf. The four types of bundles common in other species studied occur also in this species. The carene is distinguished from that of other species studied in that the chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma cells (C. B. P.) are small, not so regular, and do not contain as much chlorophyll as in other species studied. The intercellular space adjoining the ringed duct is large. The stereome (Ste.) above and below carene bundles is conspicuous. Epidermal cells directly below carene are rectangular in shape. The mestome (M.) bundles are not characteristic in this species. The rectangular chloro- phyll-bearing parenchyma cells surround the bundles. The mestome bundles are numerous and occupy the same relative position as in other species studied. Edges of leaf have a well- developed stereome. The number of cells varies. The meso- phyll (Mes.) is not so dense as in other species. The shape and size of the cells varies considerably. The uncolored parenchyma cells occur above and to sides of upper half of carene. These cells are unusually large, and occupy a large portion of the mid-rib. They gradually become smaller toward the edges of the leaf. Stereome above parenchyma occurs in from two to three rows. The contents of bundles are not essentially dif- ferent from others already studied. The breadth of the leaf as well as the large mid rib is sufficient to characterize it. 136 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. ANDROPOGON SORGHUM, VAR. HALEPENSE. HACKED. (PI. xiii, Fig. 9; PI. xiv, Fig. 11.) The epidermal cells (E. C.) in this species have a thick cell wall and vary somewhat in size, not as much, however, as in some of the other species. Many of the cells, especially the larger ones, are somewhat elongated. The cuticle is well developed. The bulliform cells (B. C.) vary in number from two to four. These gradually blend into the epidermal cells. The carene (Car.) consists of five bundles, the large bundles of the mid-rib and two smaller closed mestome bundles on each side; the bundle next to the mid-rib is very small and without stereome. Below the second bundles on each side is found a small group of cells. The large central bundle of the carene does not differ from those of other species. In this variety the leptome (L.) consists of large cells, nearly uniform in size. The pitted ducts occur singly; annular duct is rather large. The interior of the bundle contains very little stereome. Chlo- rophyll-bearing parenchyma cells surround the bundles and are average in size. Stereome (Ste.) occurs on upper side of leaf, and large bundles are in direct contact with the epidermal cells and consist of two quite regular aud distinct layers of cells. The uncolored parenchyma cells are large. The lower surface of mid-rib in this species is decidedly convex. This is also true of M. sorghum, but not so marked. The surfaces of the leaf are smooth with the exception of an occasional sharp trichome or conical projection which occurs on the upper surface of the leaf and only in vicinity of the mid-rib. The usual four types of bundles occur. The mestome bundles are not character- istic. The cells of the mesophyll (Mes.) directly surrounding the bundles are elongated. The bundles on either side of the carene occur quite close together. The stereome is confined principally in the vicinity of the carene and larger secondary bundles. The mesophyll portion does not differ materially from that of other species studied. Below stomata (Sto.) occur large intercellular spaces. The edges of the leaf contain conspicuous cells of stereome. COMPARISON. A comparison of the species of the genus Andropogon which have been studied at this time shows general similarity in ana- tomical arrangement of paits, and yet, in each species occur characters sufficient to distinguish it. The bundles have the same general arrangement and structure, except some minor L' IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL, IV. PLATE XIII. IOWA ACADEMY CF SCIENCES, VOD IV. PLATE XIV. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIESCEfs, VOL IV. PLATE XV. C.B.T’ IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 137 characters. The opened and closed bundles are variable in number and difficult to distinguish, as many of the smaller mes- tome bundles are very small and close together. These species can be distinguised by the following key: Bulliform cells in groups of two to four, occasional short tri- chomes. A. provincialis, Bulliform cells narrow and long, two to five in number, in some cases decidedly unequal, short trichomes very numerous. A. nutans. Bulliform cells three to eight, uniform in size, forming an almost continuous row, also above the carene, trichomes con- spicuous. A. scoparius. Bulliform cells vary in number from two to eight, in definite groups, gradually merge into the epidermal cells; smooth. A. sorghum. Bulliform cells vary in number from two to four, grandualiy blending into the epidermal cells. Trichomes few and small near carene. A. sorghum, var. Halepense. CONCLUSION. In conclusion it may be said that each species of the genus presented here has individual peculiarities which are strong enough to distinguish it from other species of the genus. I believe also that a study of the anatomical characters offered in grasses will show characters enough to distinguish genera and, in many cases, species and even varieties, as for example, in A. sorghum and A. sorghum, var. Halepense. By these studies one may receive material aid in the classification and the determina- tion of many grasses. Thanks are due to Mr. Barnes of Blue Grass, who kindly sent the leaves of A. sorghum, var. Halepense. EXPLANATION OF PLATES, The same letter is used for the same character in all of the figures, 0., cuticle; E., epidermis; E. O., epidermal cells; Sto , stomata; Tri., trichome; 0. P., conical pro- jections; B. C., bulliform cells; Unc. Par., uncolored parenchyma; 0. B. P., chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma; Mes., mesophyll ; Ste., stereome; M , mestome; Oar., carene; H., hadrome; L , leptome. The figures are all drawn with camera to the same scale. Low power with one half inch Beck objective; detailed drawings with one-sixth inch Beck objective. Figs. 1-9 are reduced three times; Figs. 10-15 not reduced. Plate xii. Figs 1 and 5, Andropogon nutans; Figs. 3, 3 and 4, Andropogon pro- vincialis, Plate xiii. Figs 6 and 8, Andropogon scoparius; Fig. 7, Andropogon sorghum. Fig. 9, A. sorghum, var. Halepense. Plate xiv. Fig. 10, A. sorghum; Fig. 11, A. sorghum, var. Halepense; Fig. 13, A provincialis. Plate xv, Fig. 13, A. scoparius; Figs. 14 and 15, A. nutans. 138 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. AN ANATOMICAL STUDY OF THE LEAVES OP ERAGROSTIS. BY CARLETON R. BALL. This study was undertaken in order to ascertain if the anat- omical characters in the leaves of this genus were sufficiently well marked and constant to be of value in identifying the dif- ferent species. The results of similar studies by others have been encouraging. Prominent among these is the series of excellent papers by Theodore Holrn^ who has studied six genera- Uniola, Distichlis, Fleuropogon, Leersia, Oryza, and AmpMcarpum^ and considers the anatomical characters of all except Distichlis to be a reliable basis for determining the different species. Emma Sirrine and Emma Pamme? have studied Sporobolus and Panicum and conclude that the species in these genera, so far as studied, may be differentiated by means of their anatomical structure. In this paper the author has considered six species of Era- grostis, viz, : E. reptans Nees, E. pectinacea Gray, E. purshii Schrad., E. franlcii Meyer, E. mexicana and E. major Host. In these species three structural types of mestome bundles occur: primary or open bundles (PL XVII, Fig. 8.) in which the chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma sheath is found only at the sides of the bundles and is wanting above and below them; sec- ndary or closed bundles (PI. XVII, Fig. 13, vein 3,) in which this sheath completely surrounds the bundle, separating the lep- tome from the stereome below and the hadrome and thick- walled parenchyma from the stereome, mesophyll, or paren- chyma above; intermediate bundles in which this sheath is interrupted either above or below the bundle. 1 A Study of Some Anatomical Characters of No. Am. Graminece, Bot. Gaz., Vol. XVI, pp. 166, 217, 275; Vol. XVII, p. 358; Vol. XX, p. 362; Vol. XXI, p. 357; Vol. XXII, p. 403. 2 Some Anatomical Studies of the Leaves of Spo obolus and Panicum, Proc. la. Acad. Sci., 1895, Vol. Ill, p. 148. (An extended bibliography of this subject may be found in this paper.) IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 139 These different types do not always occupy the same relative position in the leaves of the different species. In the species studied, these bundles are found to occur in three distinct sizes with constant positions. This would have afforded a basis of nomenclature for the bundles but for the fact that it does not hold good for other genera, and hence is not used. However, for convenience in locating the structural types described above, their position in the leaf is indicated by the parenthesis “(carene)” which is the largest vein in the leaf and always central; “(vein 2)” the next smaller veins, occur- ring at nearly regular intervals between the carene and the edge of the leaf (PI. xvi, Pig. 2); and “(vein 3)” the smallest veins, which occur in groups of three to six between the medium veins (vein 2) and also between them and the carene. ERAGROSTIS REPTANS NEES. (PI. xvi, Fig. 1; PI. xviii, Figs. 17 and 18.) Epidermis — This, the smallest of the species studied, pre- sents the most striking variations from the general type, espe- cially in the epidermal characters. The walls of the epidermal cells on the superior surface are quite thin, while those of the inferior surface are thicker. The inferior epidermal cells are nearly equal in size, as are those of the superior surface, but these latter are much larger in proportion than those of any other species. Stomata occur frequently on both surfaces, on either sideof the mestome bundles. Trichomes are long, slender, pointed, one -celled hairs, occurring in single rows on all bundles. The two adjacent epidermal cells, in some cases, extend obliquely upwards beside the base of the trichome. Bulliform cells. — The bulliform ceils are two or three in num- ber, and in some cases not easily distinguishable from the epi- dermal cells. Mestome l)undles. — The mestome bundles are thirteen in num- ber, and are all of the intermediate type. The chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma sheath is composed of four or five large ^ cells and is open below. Leptome, hadrome and thick- walled parenchyma are well developed in all the bundles. In the bundles of the carene and vein 2 the mestome sheath is inter- rupted above by the stereome, but in the other bundles (vein 3) it is continuous. The carene bundle differs from the other bundles only in being slightly larger, and in having the leptome entirely sur- rounded by thick- walled parenchyma. 140 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The mesophyll is normal, and the stereome rather small in quantity. ERAGROSTIS PECTINACEA GRAY. V (PI. xvi, Fig. 5; PI. xvil, Figs. 9 and 11.) Epidermis. — The cuticle of both surfaces is well developed. Walls of superior epidermal cells thicker than those of inferior cells. Epidermal cells of both surfaces more nearly equal in size than in any other species except E, replans. Stomata occur on both surfaces as in the preceding species. Trichomes short, thick, mostly blunt, of irregular size and occurence above the bundles. Bulliform cells. — From three to five in number, the central pne much the largest and flask* shaped, the long neck lying between the adjacent cells. Mestome trundles. — These are about fifty- seven in number. Forty- six are of the secondary type (vein 3) and eleven of the intermediate type (carene and vein 2). The chlorophyll- bear- ing parenchyma sheath of the secondary bundles is the most striking character in this species. It is distinctly triangular in outline, with the apex directed toward the superior surface. The lateral cells are elongated transversely to the section, and the inferior or basal cells are small and nearly round. Hadrome, leptome and thick-walled parenchyma are well developed. The intermediate bundles (carene and vein 2) are open below, with the leptome surrounded by stereome. The chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma sheath in these bundles does not have the triangular outline. Hadrome and thick-walled parenchyma are strongly developed. The mestome sheath in both types is interrupted above the bundles by stereome. The carene can be distinguished from the other intermediate bundles only by its position. /S'^ereome.— Stereome occurs below all bundles as a compact group of large cells, twenty to thirty in number, and above the bundles in small groups of three to six large cells. In some of these cells the cavity is in the form of an elongated oval. Stereome also surrounds the leptome in the intermediate bundles and extends upwards partiall}^ around the hadrome. The mesophyll presents no distinctive characters and col- orless parenchyma is absent. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 141 ERAGROSTIS PURSHII SCHRAD. (PI. xvi, Fig. 2; PL xviil, Figs. 16 and 16.) Epidermis. — The epidermal cells of both surfaces have thinner walls than in E. pectinacea. The cells vary considerably in size, those directly above or below a bundle being much smaller than those adjacent to the mesophyll. Stomata occur fre- quently on both surfaces, and the air spaces are large. Tri- chomes are longer than in any species except E. reptans^ and are thick, usually pointed. Above the intermediate bundles they occur in two or more rows. Bulliform cells. — These, four to seven in number, are large and quite evenly graded in size from the large central cell to the smaller outer cells. Mestome bundles number twenty one, of which sixteen are sec- ondary and five are intermediate in type. In the secondary bundles (vein 3) the chlorophyll bearing parenchyma sheath is nearly round in outline and composed of seven or eight subcir- cular cells. Hadrome, leptome and thick- walled parenchyma are not so well developed as in the preceding species. The intermediate bundles (carene and vein 2), five in number, are open below. Hadrome, leptome and thick-walled paren- chyma are well developed, the latter especially so. The chlo- rophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath is composed of from ten to fifteen cells. The mestome sheath is continuous above and sometimes below the secondary bundles, but is interrupted by stereome above the intermediate type. The carene is but little enlarged and not easily distinguished from vein 2 except by its position. Stereome is present in quantity both above and below the intermediate bundles and occurs in small groups of three or four cells in the secondary bundles. The mesophyll passes beneath some of the secondary bundles as a single layer of cells. ERAGROSTIS FRANKII MEYER. (PL xvi, Fig. 6; PL xvii, Figs. 10, 12 and 12a.) Epidermis. — Walls of the epidermal cells slightly thinner than in E. purshii. The epidermal cells of the inferior surface vary greatly in size, those beneath the bundles being much smaller than those beneath the mesophyll. Stomata are less frequent in this than in the other species. Trichomes are short, rounded or pointed, and occur on all bundles. Bulliform cells. — These are five or six in number, are more evenly graded in size than in any other species. 142 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Mestome bundles. — The mestome bundles are thirty -five in number, representing all three types. Of the primary type (vein 2) there are four bundles, in which the leptome, hadrome and thick-walled parenchyma are well developed. These veins (vein 2) are enlarged on the superior face but not on the infer- ior face. The chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath consists of four or five cells on each side of the bundle, being interrupted below by stereome and above by a few cells of thick- walled parenchyma. There are thirty secondary bundles (vein 3) containing normal leptome, hadrome and thick- walled parenchyma. The chloro- phyll-bearing parenchyma sheath is subpyramidal in outline and composed of five to seven large, subcircular cells with two smaller cells below. The intermediate type is found only in the carene and is open below. Leptome, hadrome and thick- walled parenchyma are strongly developed, the latter passing down to the side of the leptome, which is surrounded by stereome. The mestome sheath is continuous above the secondary bundles, but above the primary bundles it is interrupted by stereome and above the intermediate bundles by colorless paren- chyma. ' Carene. — The carene, already discussed as the intermediate bundle, is much enlarged on the inferior side and somewhat so on the superior side. It contains much mesophyll and stereome and some colorless parenchyma. Stereome occurs in small quantities both above and below the primary and secondary bundles and in much larger quantity in the carene. Directly beneath the center of the carene the stereome is normal in appearance (at x pi. xvii, Fig. 12a) but on either flank it is curiously modified (z pi. xvii, Fig. 12a.) The cell wall is much thinner and does not have the strong greenish yellow color of the normal cell wall. The inner por- tion of the cell is dark colored and in the very center is a small black dot or cavity. This modified stereome is also found in the same part of the carene of E. mexicana and E. major. Stere- ome also surrounds the leptome in primary and intermediate bundles. Mesophyll is abundant in the enlarged carene and normal elsewhere in the leaf. Four or five cells of colorless paren- chyma are found in the carene between the stereome and the chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 143 ERAGROSTIS MEXICANA. (PL xvi, Fig. 3; PL xvii, Figs. 7 and 8.) Epidermis. — The walls of epidermal cells intermediate in thickness between those of E. purshii and pectinacea. Epider- mal cells, small below the bundles and large below the meso- phyll. Stomata frequent on both surfaces. Trichomes short, thick, one-celled, occurring on all bundles. Bulliform cells, five to six in number, the central one large and broad. Mestome bundles. — There are forty-one mestome bundles, of the primary and secondary types. The primary bundles (carene and vein 2) are nine in number, with well- developed hadrome, thick- walled parenchyma and leptome, the latter surrounded by stereome. In the carene the chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma sheath is interrupted above the bundle by colorless parenchyma, but in the other primary bundles (vein 2) by thick- walled paren- chyma. The thirty-two secondary bundles are surrounded by a chlo- rophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath composed of eight or nine large cells, the two inferior cells having less chlorophyll than the rest. Leptome, hadrome and thick- walled parenchyma are not strongly developed. The mestome sheath is continuous above the secondary bundles (vein 3) but is interrupted in the primary bundles (vein 2) by stereome or, in the carene, by colorless parenchyma. The carene is very large, the bundle being in the inferior part of it and subtended by a large quantity of stereome, while the upper part of it is filled by fifteen or twenty large cells of colorless parenchyma, flanked by mesophyll. Stereome is present in the usual quantity about the secondary bundles (vein 3) and in greater quantity above and below the primary bundles. Mesophyll is found abundantly in the carene, and as usual between the secondary bundles. Colorless paren- chyma occurs only above the carene bundle. ERAGROSTIS MAJOR HOST. (PI. xvi, Fig. 4; PI. xvii, Figs. 13, 14, 19 and 20.) Epidermis. — The walls of inferior epidermal cells are thick; those of the superior surface, as in E. mexicana. Stomata occur regularly on both surfaces. The trichomes are like those of the preceding species. 144 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. On the margins of the leaves, and on the median nerve of the sterile and flowering glumes occur numerous small button- shaped projections — the scent glands. (PI. xvii, Pigs. 19 and 20.) Prof. Wm. Trelease^ says of these glands: “Morphologically the glands are epidermal structures consisting of a single layer of cells, the outermost of which are but little different from those of the adjacent epidermis, but gradually elongating ver- tically. Those at the center of the gland are considerably elongated at right angles to the surface, as is usual in epidermal secreting cells, but occasionally septate. While the peripheral cells have thick-pitted walls, and resemble the other cells of the epi- dermis in having transparent, watery contents, those at the cen- ter are much thinner- walled, and filled with coarsely granular yellow protoplasm. As compared with the unmodified epi- dermal cells, these elongated glandular cells are also thin- walled at top, where, in common with the other elements of the epidermis, they are invested with a rather heavy cuticle. In some cases this membrane is seen to be free from the crater of the gland in the form of a blister, while in others it had been ruptured, so that only fragments are present.” BulUform cells. — These are small in proportion, especially above the carene, and vary from four to six in number. Mestome bundles. — Thirty-one in number, of the secondary and intermediate types. Of the secondary tjpe (vein 3) there are twenty-four, surrounded by a chlorophyll-bearing paren- chyma sheath of eight or nine large cells, and containing lep- tome, hadrome, and thick-walled parenchyma. The intermediate bundles (carene and vein 2) are seven in number, open below, and contain strongly developed hadrome and thick-walled parenchyma, with leptome in greater quantity than usual, and entirely surrounded by stereome. The mestome sheath is continuous above the secondary bun- dles, but interrupted by stereome above the intermediate bundles of vein 2 and by colorless parenchyma above the carene bundle. • The carene is much enlarged and contains a few cells of col- orless parenchyma and considerable mesophyll. The latter is normal in quantity in the rest of the leaf. s The Glands of Eragrostis major, Host, Proc. Soc. Prom. Agr. Sci , 1889, p 70. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 145 There is more stereome above and below the secondary bun- dles, than in E. mexicana, and strong groups are found about the intermediate bundles. CONCLUSIONS. The results of this study are embodied in the analytical key which follows. The characters given will clearly separate the different species, though, with the exception of the peculiar glands of E. major ^ the differences between E. mexicana and E. major are not well marked. For instance, the number of cells of colorless parenchyma is constant in neither species, nor is there an absolute line of demarcation between these cells and the mesophyll. Again, while the carene bundle of E. mexicana is classed as an intermediate bundle, it will be noticed that the three large cells which form the superior part of the chloro- phyll-bearing parenchyma sheath resemble very closely, in their shape, cell- wall, and the almost entire absence of chloro- phyll, the adjacent cells of colorless parenchyma. In conclusion, the author wishes to acknowledge his obliga- tion to Prof. L. H. Pammel, under whose efficient direction the work has been done, for his invaluable assistance and advice; also to Miss Charlotte M. King, artist for the botanical depart- ment, for kind suggestions and assistance. Thanks are also due to Mr. P. R. Clements, of Lincoln, Neb., and Mr. W. D. Barnes, of Blue Grass, Iowa, who kindly furnished specimens for study. ANALYTICAL KEY. All mestome bundles provided with a chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath; mestome sheath composed of a single row of cells radially arranged; stereome above and below all bundles. A. Superior epidermal cells of nearly equal size and all larger than the largest of the inferior epidermal cells; trichomes one-celled, long, slender, pointed. E. reptans. B. Superior epidermal cells unequal in size and not larger than the inferior cells; trichomes short and thick. I. Chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath in bundles of secondary type (vein 3) distinctly pyramidal in outline, apex directed toward superior surface; lateral cells of sheath elongated transversely to the section. E. pectinacea. II. Chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath in bundles of secondary type (vein 3) round or oval in outline, a. Carene not enlarged (or but little), especially on inferior side, not easily distinguishable from vein 2; trichomes equal in length to 10 146 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. one-fourth or one- third the width of section; no colorless paren- chyma. E, pursbii. b. Carene enlarged preceptibly, especially on inferior side, easily dis- tinguishable; trichomes equal in length to one-tenth or one-sixth of the section; colorless parenchyma present. 1. Leaf small; upper surface presents a fluted appearance in section; carene and vein 2 strongly developed, the latter on superior side especially; chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath in secondary bundles (vein 3) subpyramidal in outline; cells of same subcircular and the inferior cells much smaller than the rest. E. frankii 2. Leaf large, fluted but little on superior surface; carene enlarged ‘ on inferior side only; vein 2 not enlarged; chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma sheath circular in outline; cells subcircular, equal in size. t Colorless parenchyma, fifteen to twenty cells, interrupting the mes- tome and chlorophyll- bearing parenchyma sheaths above the bundles in the carene. E mexicana. ft Colorless parenchyma, three to five cells, interrupting the mestome sheath above the bundle in the carene; small button-shaped scent glands, numerous on the margins of all leaves and on the median nerve of both sterile and flowering glumes. E. major. EXPLANATION OP PLATES. All the figures were drawn from nature by the author and prepared for the engraver by Miss Charlotte M. King, artist for the bov.anical department. The abreviations used are: 0., cuticle; E. 0 , epidermal cells: Tr., trichome; Sto , stoma; B., bulliform cells; Ste., stereome; Mes., mesophyll; M. S., mestome sheath; 0. P., colorless parenchyma; O. B. P., chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma; H., hadrome; L., leptome; Sup., superior; inf., inferior; Oar., carene; Vein 2, vein next smaller than carene; Vein 3, smallest veins. PLA.TE xvi. All drawings on this plate were made with camera, and drawn to the same scale. Fig. 1. E. reptans, carene to margin: Fig. 3, E. pursJiii, carene to second vein 2; Fig. 3, E. mexicana, carene to first vein 3; Pig. 4, E. major, carene to first vein 3; Pig. 5, E. pectinacea, carene to first vein 3; Pig. 3, E. /mn/cn, carene to first vein 3. Mesophyll and epidermis colored black. PiiATB xvil. All drawings on this plate, except Fig. 13a, made with a one-sixth inch objective. Fig 13a, drawn with a one-tenth inch oil immersion objective. All reduced one-half. Pig. 7, E. mexicana, carene and vein 3, primary and secondary types, respectively; Fig. 8, E. mexicana, vein 3, primary type; Fig. 9, E. pectinacea, carene, "intermediate type, and vein 3, secondary type; Pig. 10, E. pectinacea vein 3, interme- diate type; Fig. 11, E. frankii, vein 3, primary type; Pig 13, E. frankii, carene, interme- diate type, and vein 3, secondary type; Pig. 13a, E. frankii, inferior part of carene; X, normal stereome; Z, modified stereome. Plate xviii. All drawings on this plate made with a one- sixth inch objective; all reduced one-half. Fig. 13, E. major, vein 3, secondary type, vein 3, intermediate type; Fig 14, E. major, carene, intermediate type; Pig. 15, E. purshii, vein 3, intermediate type; Fig. 16, E. purshii, careae, intermediate type and vein 3, secondary type; Pig. 17, E. reptans, veins 3 and 3, intermediate type; Fig. 18, E. reptans, carene and vein 3, intermediate type; Pig. 19. E. major, scent gland, superficial view; Fig. 30, two scent glands on leaf margin, E. major. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLAn E XVI. Ve,\ 3 J i J IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE XVII. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 147 THE USES OF FORMALDEHYDE IN ANIMAL MOR- PHOLOGY. BY GILBERT L. HOUSER. By the term formaldehyde^ I wish to designate a 40 per cent solution of the gas formaldehyde in water. Several articles answering to this description have been placed on the market under trade names such as the “Formalin” of Sobering, the “Formol” of Merck, and the “Formalose”of Richards & Co. So far as I have tested these various preparations, they all agree as to composition, and yield perfectly similar results. My attention was first directed to formaldehyde as a morpho- logical reagent in July, 1894, and I have been using it in my work, and have experimented with it in various directions since that time. It certainly possesses several most remarkable properties; so remarkable, in fact, that certain phases of lab- oratory work in animal morphology are ultimately destined to undergo a revolution through its use. I. FORMALDEHYDE AS A GENERAL PRESERVATIVE. It has been urged many times that the zoological specimens placed in the hands of students for class-work are too often mere caricatures of the living animals themselves, and that various erroneous conceptions about nature are thus sure to arise. Granting that we should, as far as possible, use fresh material for study, the fact remains that there are many animals which must be preserved if we are to study them at all. The whole of the group Echinoderma, and, with one exception, all the members of the Coelentera, are cases in point. Such ani- mals have to be preserved at some distant point and transported to us. Now, formaldehyde has its most important and its most far reaching application in this particular field of morphological work. It is the best general preservative of material for class- work that has yet been discovered. The peculiar qualities which confer upon it this distinction are as follows : 148 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. First — It does not extract water from the tissues and conse- quently it does not shrink them. The distortion of an animal will be in direct proportion to the shrinkage of its tissues, and this, in turn to the amount of water extracted. Hence it was that our attempts to preserve such watery forms as medusae, ctenophores, etc., with our old media were always failures; our preserving fluids dehydrated them. Formaldehyde, however, will preserve almost every form of animal life known without any distortion. Such a fact opens up possibilities for class instruction which are almost ideal. Second. — Most of the pigments of the animal body are not extracted by formaldehyde. This quality ranks next in impor- tance to the preceding one. Natural coloration enters so largely into our conceptions of animals that bleaching during the pro- cess of preservation is always to be deplored. With alcohol as the preserving fluid, all parts are certain to be brought to the same level of dingy yellow after a time. But with formalde- hyde, we can hope to show our students the colors which actually characterized the animals during life. Third. — It does not render tissues opaque. On the contrary it retains the transparency of the living parts, or may even add to it. Nerves are aften more readily traced after preservation than during life. Fourth. — It leaves tissues as flexible as it is possible for them to be. The natural elasticity of the parts is usually perfectly retained, and brittleness never occurs. Fifth. — It is a very convenient reagent for collectors to use. The preserving medium is a dilute solution of the commercial article in water. A collector can carry enough formaldehyde in a bottle -which will slip into his coat pocket to make several gallons of the preservative. The water used in diluting it should always be that from which the collection is made, either salt or fresh, as the case may be. Sixth.— li is a very cheap reagent. The commercial article is imported duty free by the State University of Iowa in 100- pound lots at a cost of 40 cents per pound. When made up in a 4 per cent solution the cost of a gallon is thus only 12 4-5 cents. We might, in fact, summarize the various desirable qualities of formaldehyde as a preserving medium as being ‘ ‘ very close to the ideal.” A reagent which preserves faithfully all natural features just as they were during life. That it is infinitely IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 149 superior to alcohol is the verdict of everyone who has thor- oughly tested it. It is true that it was severely criticized soon after its introduction into America, by certain workers who failed to secure permanent preservation with it. In all such cases of failure the solutions employed were very weak ones. A proper strength of solution is a very important detail. A solution of 4 per cent strength — that is, one containing Commercial formaldehyde 4 volumes, Water... 96 volumes, is perfectly safe for most objects. Of course, stronger solutions are required for special cases, and slightly weaker ones for others. Certain precautions in the use of this reagent require notice here: First. — The gas is quite volatile, and the containing jar must be kept tightly sealed. If it be impossible to entirely prevent evaporation, changing the solution occasionally will answer per- fectly well. Second. — The solution being an aqueous one it is liable to freeze. This probably appears, at first, a very serious matter, because we are so used to alcohol as a preservative, and this does not become frozen. Third. — The gas is irritating to the eyes, nose and throat. The effect, however, is merely temporary. Prolonged washing in water before a dissection is to be made will remove much of the reagent and reduce the annoyance to a minimum. Alcohol of 70 per cent strength appears to extract formaldehyde more rapidly than does water, but it is not always practicable to use it. II. THE USE OF FORMALDEHYDE IN FIXING AGENTS. In cellular biology the choice of a fixing agent means a great deal, All the conceptions which we build up about the cell appear to rest primarily upon the character of the reagent which was used in killing it. While we constantly seek to keep in our preparation the features of the living cell, how far short of the ideal we often fall every histologist knows. It is prob- able that certain recent investigations in cell structure will have to be gone over again because of too blind a faith in the fixing agents which were used. Formaldehyde alone is not suitable for general cytological work. It has a tendency to produce a vacuation in protoplasm 150 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. which is very deceptive. It may, however, be combined with other reagents with superior results. When added to picric acid there is given one of the most delicate fixing agents yet imag- ined; one which appears to faithfully preserve every detail of structure, and which also permits of subsequent treatment in any desired way. Mixtures of formaldehyde, chromic acid, and acetic acid; or of formaldehyde, platinic chloride, and acetic acid are also very desirable. The principle involved here appears to be that formaldehyde may often be advantageously substituted for osmic acid in such mixtures on account of its superior penetration and the absence of a tendency to over- fixation. In all these cases formaldehyde is to be used pure, not diluted. III. FORMALDEHYDE IN NEUROLOGICAL WORK. I have been impelled to make a critical examination of neuro- logical methods in connection with a certain line of investigation in which I am engaged. Of course the technique employed in the study of any nervous system is necessarily highly special- ized, but the following notes have a general application. For- maldehyde may justly claim a place in neurological methods. Its chief uses are: First — It is an excellent hardening agent for the brain, where anatomical methods alone are to be employed. It hardens with surprising rapidity, so that after a week or ten days a fairly large brain can be thoroughly studied. It also preserves the form and color of the several parts. Its only undesirable effect lies in the increase in volume which is given by a solution of just moderate strength. This tendency to swell the parts may be lessened by the use of a strong solution, one containing 10 to 20 per cent of the commercial article. It has also been recommended by various workers that a mixture of formaldehyde and alcohol be used, the tendency of the latter to shrink tissues, offsetting the swell- ing action of the former. Messrs. Parker and Floyd believe that they have struck the proper balance in the following mix- ture: 95 per cent alcohol 6 volumes, 2 per cent formaldehyde. 4 volumes, in which a barely perceptible increase in the size of the brain occurs. I believe that it is well to double the strength of the formaldehyde in this mixture, and I am accustomed to do so in my own work. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 151 Second. — Formaldehyde has an application in those methods used for tracing the course of medullated nerve fibers. All such methods, whether the original Weigert or some modifica- tion of it, are usually long and tedious, the time required fre- quently being some months. This length of time is often a very serious objection. Formaldehyde can be introduced in these methods for the purpose of rapidly giving firmness to the nervous tissue, and then subsequent steps may follow in quick succession. In this way the time may be reduced to ten days for the whole process. Third. — In the study of nerve cells formaldehyde may now claim a place in the beautiful impregnation method of Golgi. The application is made in Golgi’s “rapid” method, and con- sists in the substitution of pure formaldehyde for the 1 per cent csmic acid of the hardening mixture. The advantages result- ing from this substitution may be an increased clearness of the subsequent silver impregnation, or in the slightly wider lati- tude of time during which hardening may occur. The physio- logical condition of the nervous tissue appears to be a very important factor in all Golgi work; and perhaps formaldehyde is less sensitive to these differences than osmic acid. However that may be, osmic acid in this method cannot be dispensed with. Workers should use both hardening mixtures side by side. The results attained by one will supplement those of the other in a most valuable way, thus virtually doubling the effi- ciency of the study as a whole. THE NERVE CELLS OF THE SHARK’S BRAIN. ^ BY GILBERT L. HOUSER. The sharks are of the greatest interest to the morphologist on account of the many ancestral characters of their organiza- tion. The researches of recent years indicate that they represent quite well the primitive stem of the jaw-bearing vertebrates. With this fact in mind, the importance of the study of the shark’s brain is at once apparent. For obvious * The following brief notes are to be considered as in the nature of a mere pre- liminary communication on this subject. 152 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. reasons modern neurological investigation has been largely con- cerned with the mammalian brain in general and the human brain in particular. But the structures here are highly special- ized, and their significance cannot always be thoroughly under- stood. In order to unravel the tangled threads of the complex neurological skein, the study of some primitive type of brain is an absolute necessity. The brain of the shark is the one to which we naturally turn for this purpose because of the mor- phological position which it occupies. The several parts of the brain are arranged in almost perfect longitudinal series, and are well separated from each other. The prosencephalon is a relatively large, unpaired, globular mass. Its ventricle is imperfectly divided into lateral ventricles. A very prominent olfactory apparatus projects anteriorly. On the dorsal surface there are to be seen two slight swellings which may be taken as the anlages of the cerebral hemispheres of higher forms. The thalamencephalon is narrow, open dorsally, and the choroid plexus passes in to form a thin roof. The epiphysis arises just behind this point. It is long and slender, and ends in a dilation which is attached to the membranous roof of the skull. Both the optic lobes and the cerebellum retain the primitive condition of hollow outgrowths. The cerebellum is relatively quite large, and is thrown into transverse folds. The large size is evidently related to the swimming habits of the animal. The fourth ventricle of the medulla oblongata is widely open. Its sides are thickened, and project anteriorly as the restiform bodies. The microscopic structure of the shark’s brain was investi- gated by a few of the older workers, Viault, Rohon, and San- ders requiring especial mention here. The application of silver impregnation by Golgi to the study of nerve cells has, however, opened a new era in neurology, and has made necessary the reinvestigation of every species of nervous system. While the older methods of research had brought out certain general facts about the structure of the shark’s brain, it is only through the application of the Golgi method that we can hope to acquire a thorough knowledge as to its ultimate cellular structure. I will enumerate briefly the most important results which I have already reached. In the fore-brain the nerve ceils are large and very conspicu- ous. They are not arranged in layers, neither do they have a pyramidal form. The prevailing type presents an oblong cell IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 153 body from which three or four dendrites radiate indifferently in every direction. The dendrites do not branch very much, but there are so many of them that a very tangled complex is given. In the mid-brain the ependyma cells are highly developed. Their processes run straight out through the whole of the nervous matter, giving a characteristic appearance to this part of the brain. The nerve cells appear to be somewhat better differentiated than in the fore- brain. Near the outer surface there are cells which send their dendrites in a tangential course. At a deeper level there are somewhat larger cells whose dendrites spread out in all directions. Still another type of cell may be found having long dendrites passing over the greater part of the distance between ependyma and outer sur- face. The cerebellum has a structure which appears to foreshadow in its general plan the details of structure of a higher brain. It has a series of well defined layers, and the same layers are present in the same relations to each other as are found in the human cerebellum. There is a wide nuclear zone lying next the ependyma. A molecular layer lies next the outer surface. Between the two there is a crowded row of Purkinje cells. These cells have the familiar dendrites forming an arborization in the outer zone, but the degree of branching of the dendrites is far less marked than in the mammalian cerebellum. The medulla oblongata exhibits a most beautifully reticulated system of fiber tracts. In this reticulum the microscope reveals neuroglia cells, processes of ependyma cells, and an occasional nerve cell. Whether the nerve cells are present except in con- nection with the nuclei of the cranial nerves which arise here is a fact which I have not yet determined. Summarizing the above results, we see that mid-brain, cere- bellum, and medulla oblongata foreshadow in organization the human type; but that the fore-brain does not. Coupling this fact with the suggestion to which I have already alluded as to the significance of the dorsal eminences of the fore-brain, and we have grounds for the hypothesis that the cerebral cortex proper is of secondary development. 154 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. SOME MANITOBA CLADOCERA, WITH DESCRIPTION OP ONE NEW SPECIES. BY L. S. ROSS. No record is to be found among the literature upon Ento- mostraca, of any systematic work done upon this interesting division of the Crustacea in Manitoba, or any of the provinces of Canada. The region is yet open to the student of the distri- bution of the group. A short stay in the province of Manitoba in June, 1895, was utilized by the author in making a few col- lections from the region about Portage la Prairie on the Cana- dian Pacific railroad, fifty-five miles west "of Winnipeg. Before leaving the province some vials of alcohol were left with a resi- dent of the town to be filled with collections. A vial was received every second week from the time of the visit until cold weather, the latest being filled October 21, 1895. One vial remained to be filled the following spring. Collections were taken by the author from the Assiniboin river, from a deep, weedy slough which was once the channel of the Assiniboin river, from railroad ditches, and from prairie sloughs and ponds. A hurried visit to Lake Manitoba gave opportunity for a few hauls of the net among the rushes along the shore. An examination of the material obtained shows the presence of thirty species and varieties, one of which, and possibly two, is a new addition to the list of described species. The forms found belong to the following families: Sididse - 1 Daphniidas 9 Bosminidae - 1 Macrothricidse.__ 4 Lynceidae 13 Polyphemidae 1 Leptodoridae 1 Total 30 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 155 The distribution of the species is given in the following table: ASSINIBOIN RIVER. Daphnia pulex De Geer. Ceriodaphnia censors (?) Birge. Iliocryptus sp ? Chydorus sphsericus O. F. Muller. Graptoleberis testudinaria var. inermis; Birge. RAT CREEK AT M’DONNELE ON PORTAGE PLAINS. Daphnia pulex De Geer. Ceriodaphnia censors (?) Birge. Simocephalus vetulus O. F. Muller. Simocephalus serrulatus Koch. Scapholeberis angulata Herrick, Scapholeberis mucronata O. P. Muller. Eurycercus lamellatus O. P. Muller. Alona costata Sars. Graptoleberis testudinaria var. inermis, Birge. Pleuroxus procurvus Birge. Pleuroxus excisus Fischer. Pleuroxus sp ? Chydorus sphaericus O. P. Muller. Acroperus leucocephalus Koch, Polyphemus pediculus Linn. PRAIRIE SLOUGH NEAR PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE. Daphnia pulex var. pulicaria, Forbes. Ceriodaphnia consors (?) Birge. Simocephalus vetulus O. F. Muller. Simocephlus serrulatus Koch. Scapholeberis mucronata O. F. Muller. Lathonura rectirostris O. P. Muller, Macrothrix laticornis Jurine. Bunops scutifrons Birge. Eurycercus lamellatus O. P. Muller. Graptoleberis testudinaria var. inermis, Birge. Dunhevedia setiger Birge. Pleuroxus denticulatus Birge. Pleuroxus procurvus Birge. Pleuroxus sp ? Chydorus globosus Baird. Chydorus sphaericus O. F. Muller. Alonopsis latissima var. medir, Birge. Acroperus leucocephalus Koch. Polyphemus pediculus Koch. DEEP WEEDY SLOUGH AT PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE. Sida crystallina P. E. Muller. Daphnia pulex DeGeer. 156 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Ceriodaphnia censors (?) Birge. Ceriodaphnia reticulata Jurine. Ceriodaphnia acanthinus n. sp. Simocephalus vetulus O. F. Muller. Scapholeberis mucronata O. F. Muller. Lathonura rectirostris O. F. Muller. Bosmina longirostris O. P. Muller. Eurycercus lamellatus O. P. Muller. Alona quadrangularus O. P. Muller. Pleuroxus denticulatus Birge. Pleuroxus procurvus Birge. Chydorus sphaericus O. P. Muller. Camptocercus rectirostris Schoedler, Polyphemus pediculus Linn. LAKE MANITOBA. Bosmina longirostris O. P. Muller. Chydorus sphtericus O. P. Muller. Leptodora hyaulina Lilljeborg. CERIODAPHNIA ACANTHINUS, N. SP. The body is large, round, with the valves of the shell forming a well developed posterior spine. The head is separated from the body by a very deep depression. Head is low, small, rounded in front of the eye, sinuous above and angled between the eye and the antennules; the lower margin is nearly in a line with the lower margin of the valves of the shell The shell is very strongly reticulated with small, very sharply-marked hexagonal reticulations measuring about .016 to .021 mm. across. Small sharp spines project from the angles of the reticulations, many at nearly right angles with the surface of the shell. In the possession of these spines this species closely resembles C. setosa, Matile. No spines were seen on the rounded front of the head as are usually present in C. lacustris, Birge. The dorsal margin of the shell is arched, curving gradually into the pos- terior margin. The posterior spine of the shell may be near the dorsal margin, or one- third the distance from the dorsal to the ventral margin. When the spine is situated low the posterior shell margin above is slightly concave. The spine is as well developed as in C. lacustris, Birge, and often ends in blunt teeth, but is not divided into two parts at the end as is sometimes the case in that species. The posterior margin of the shell curves gradually into the strongly convex ventral margin. The fornices are greatly developed, extending almost the width of the shell. They are almost as broad but are not so sharply angled as in C. lacustris, and do not end in sharp teeth. The antennules are short and thick, reaching to or a very little beyond the angle behind the eye. Setae are present toward the distal end. The antennae are long and rather slender; the setae reach nearly to the posterior margin of the shell. The post abdomen is of moderate size, slightly tapering toward the end and is armed with nine to eleven strong recurved spines of nearly equal size, except the first and last, which are smaller. The anal claws are long, IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 157 curved, and denticulate on the inner side with minute teeth of two sizes. The teeth of the basal two- fifths of the claw, some forty or fifty in number, are two or more times longer than those of the distal portion. The eye is of moderate size, situated near the margin of the head or back a short distance from the margin. The lenses do not project far from the eye pigment. The pigment fleck is small, rounded, and situated above the posterior portion of the eye at a distance approximating half the diam- eter of the eye. In general shape the species resembles C. rotunda, Straus. The poster- ior spine is not as near the dorsal margin as Kurtz figures it in C. rotunda, but is in nearly the same position as in a specimen examined of that species identified by G. O. Sars of Norway. The reticulations are as distinct and the double contoured markings (due merely to depth of reticulated areas) mentioned by Herrick and used in his key, are fully as prominent as in C. rotunda. The reticulations and the minute spines on the surface of shell are very like those described and figured in C. setosa by Matile. The measurements of C. setosa are but little over half those of C. acanthinus. Matile’s descrip- tion of C. setosa gives the length .42 to .64 mm. and the height .27 to .36 mm., while C. acanthinus measures from .80 to 1. mm. in length, and .70 to .77 mm. in height. The head of C. acanthinus is larger and extends nearer to a level with the ventral margin of the shell. Some specimens of C. reticulata taken from the same slough at the same time have the reticu- lations nearly as distinct as in C. acanthinus, and also possess minute spines upon the surface of the shell. The two species are distinct, however, because of differences in the shape of the body, and of the difference in the armature of the anal claws. The males were not seen. The mature females measure from. 80 to 1. mm. long and .70 to .77 mm. high. Pound in abund- ance in a weedy slough in late May, 1896, at Portage la Prairie. NOTES ON SOME OP THE SPECIES. Sida crystallina. — Was taken only from a deep weedy slough at Portage la Prairie. Ceriodaplinia reticulata. — Was in a bottle sent in May, 1896, from the slough at Portage la Prairie. The specimens have the reticulations very sharply marked. Some show numerous short spines at the angles of the reticulations. The number of spines on the anal claw varies somewhat. This species was found with C. acanthinus. It differs from the typical C. reticu- lata in the distinctness of the reticulations and in the presence of spines on the shell in some individuals. Ceriodaphnia censors. — Numerous specimens were found at various places which are with much hesitation referred to this species. Scapholeberis angulata. — Was taken only in small numbers, a few being found in Rat Creek on Portage Plains. 158 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Daphnia pulex var. pulicaria — Was found in small numbers in a prairie slough near Portage la Prairie. Simoceplialus daplinoides (?). — The body is robust, with great- est height a little behind the middle. The head is rounded in front and has no spines. Lower margin of the head is slightly concave, straight, or even slightly convex to the base of the short beak which may project at nearly a right angle to the lower margin of the head. The head is separated from the body by only a very slight depression. Depth of the head in one specimen is .77 mm., length from the posterior margin of the base of the antennae .52 mm. The head has a daphnia-like appearance. The ventral margin of the shell has few very short blunt teeth. The posterior margin from short blunt pos- terior spine toward dorsal margin has teeth better developed than those on the ventral margin. The dorsal margin teeth continue forward a shore distance. The posterior spine is very short, blunt, armed with short teeth and is situated little above the middle of the posterior margin. The eye is of moderate size, situated near the front of the head, or at a short distance from the front, and at a distance from the lower margin equalling one-half the diameter of eye, or at a distance slightly greater than diameter. Pigment fleck is irregular in shape; elongated, rhomboidal and oval forms were seen, Pigment fleck is small, situated near the posterior margin of the head. Specimens measured vary in length from 2. 04 mm. to 2. 53 mm. in depth from 1.20 mm. to 2.04 mm. The description of S. daphnoides as given by Herrick in American Naturalist, May, 1883, and in Entomostraca of Min- nesota, is rather brief. Herrick states that the form is found only south of the Tennessee river; but a comparison of speci- mens taken in Manitoba, with the original drawings and brief description in the American Naturalist, makes it probable the form is found even in that northern province. Lilljeborg’s ‘‘Crustaceis” published in 1853, gives drawings of S. vetulus, with the lower margin of the head as yearly straight as in the figures by Herrick, and the general outline of the body almost as daphnia-like in appearance. Eylmann in the ‘ ‘ Berichte der Naturforschenden Gesellschaf t zu Freiburg” Zweiter Band, Drittes Hefc, published in 1886, figures the lower margin of the head of S. vetulus straight to the short beak, and the body with greatest height at the middle. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 159 A specimen of S. vetnlus identified by G. O. Sars of Norway, and examined by the author, has the lower margin of the head straight to the very short beak, and the eye situated at a dis- tance from the lower margin, equal to about one-half the diam- eter of the eye. Herrick says in his description that the curved spines pres- ent in the other species at the caudo- ventral angle of the shell are absent from S. daphnoides. If this be constant it seems to be the only character not possessed by S. vetulus. The specimens taken in Manitoba, and also in Iowa, vary in size and shape of the head and of the body, — there are such grades of variation, and authors figure such differences of form in S. vetulus that it seems very probable that S. daphnoides is merely an extreme form of S. vetulus. Bosmina longirostris. — Found in only two collections: one from Lake Manitoba and the other from a slough at Portage la Prairie. Macrotlirix laticornis. — This species was met with only in a shallow prairie slough, and was by no means abundant. Bunops scutifrons. — This beautiful species was found rather frequent in the shallow prairie slough at Portage la Prairie. lliocryptus sp? — A few shells and one individual of this genus were taken from the Assiniboin river. The species is probably longiremis, Sars. Alona quadrangular is; Alona costata. — There is some ques- tion as to the identification of these two species. Only a single individual of each was found. The specimen that may be Alona costata is not strongly striated, but other characteristics agree with descriptions of this species. Graptoleberis testudinaria var. inermis. — Although taken at three different places this species was rare. A few individuals were found in Rat creek, one in the collection from the Assin- iboin river, and one individual, and a few shells from a prairie slough. Dunlievedia setiger. — This species is apparently rare during the season of the year the collections were taken, as few indi- viduals were found. They were taken from a prairie slough. Birge, in‘ his “List of Crustacea Cladocera from Madison, Wisconsin,” mentions the fact of D. setiger being one of the rarest of Cladocera in that region, but that in the month of August he found them in immense numbers, both males and females. 160 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Pleuroxus sp ?. — The shell is long and low, in some specimens evenly arched from the posterior dorsal angle to a point a little in front of the brood chamber, from which the curve is flattened slightly to a distance including the basal third of the long sharp rostrum. In others the dorsal margin is evenly arched from the postero- dorsal angle to the rostrum. The head is small, high, with the long, sharp, curved rostrum far from the ante- rior margin of the shell, parallel with it, and reaching nearly to a line with the ventral margin of the shell. The ventral margin is straight for two-thirds of its length from the anterior margin; the remaining third curves gently upward and has a single small tooth pointing backward, a little in front of the sharp curve into the posterior margin. The ventral margin has long pectinated setso, becoming shorter toward the posterior end of the shell. The anterior margin has setae for a short dis- tance from the ventral margin. A blunt posteriorly directed pro- jection is formed by the postero -dorsal angle of the shell. The post abdomen is long, slender, truncate, tapering toward the end. The posterior edge is slightly concave, and is armed with eighteen to twenty or more small spines; the spines at the distal end of the series are much the longer and stronger. Anal claws are pectinated, long, and slightly curved. The second basal spine is longer than the first. The eye is of moderate size. Pigment fleck is about one-half as large as the eye, and is situated one-fourth the distance from the eye to the end of the rostrum. The antennules are cylindri- cal, with setae at the end, and a lateral seta. Length of anten- nules about equals the distance between the eye and the pig- ment fleck. Antennae are short, small, with long setae. The specimens do not agree in all respects with the descrip- tion given by Birge of Pleuroxus gracilis var. unidens, but do agree in many points. The largest specimen found measures .60 mm. in length by .38 mm. in height; another measures .60 mm. long and .33 mm. high. Birge gives a measurement of .85 mm. by .46 mm., and states that the species is the largest yet seen. The original description of P. gracilis var. unidens states that, “the striation is very plainly marked.” The speci- mens found by the author are only very faintly striated, and that most distinctly at the anterior part of the shell, where the lines of striation are approximately parallel to the anterior margin. The larger part of the surface is free from markings, either striation or reticulation as far as could be observed. The IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 161 shell is more arched dorsally than P. gracilis is figured by Matile. Birge’s description of P. gracilis var. unidens says: “The upper posterior angle is prolonged into a projection, quite characteristic, seen, I believe, in no other species.” In the specimens found there is a slight projection at the angle, but not so pronounced as figured by Birge and by Herrick. The lower posterior corner is rounded and has a small tooth anterior to it as in P. gracilis var. unidens. It seems improbable that the differences between the speci- mens and the description and drawings of P. gracilis var. imi- dens should fall within the range of variation of a variety. The males were not seen. Collected in small numbers in June, 1895, from a shallow slough and a small creek. Pleuroxus excisus. — Only one or two individuals were observed. These were taken from Rat creek, a sluggish stream flowing into Lake Manitoba. Alonopsis latissima var. media.— The specimens resemble the species described by Birge, but have some points of difference. Birge’s description is as follows: “Rostrum prolonged, and shell sharp, somewhat quadrangular in shape, marked by striae. The dorsal margin is convex, the hinder margin nearly straight. Its lower angle is rounded and without teeth. The lower margin is concave and has long plumose seise. The front margin is strongly convex. The post abdomen is long and slender, resembling that of Camptocercus, and is notched at the distal extremity; it has two rows of fine teeth and some fine scales above them. The terminal claws are long, slender, with a basal spine in the middle, and are serrated. The anten- nules are long and slender, but do not reach to the end of the rostrum. They have each a flagellum and sense hairs. The antennae are small and have eight (|^?) se" ae and two (l-gg) spines. The labrum 'resembles that of A. leucocephalus, but is slightly prolonged at the apex. The intestine, caecum, and color resem- ble those of Acroperus. There is a trace of a keel present on the back.” Herrick’s statement, in part, is as follows: “The specimens seen in Minnesota resemble this species [A. latissima var. media] very nearly, apparently, but there are some differences. The terminal claw has an increasing series of spines to the middle; there seems to be no lateraJ row of scales beside the anal teeth; the abdomen is rather broad at the base and nar- rows toward the end. The shell is not square behind. The 11 162 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. lower margin has a few long hairs anteriorly which are followed by a series of teeth, and in the concave part a somewhat longer set to a point just before the lower curved angle.” In most respects the Manitoba specimens agree more nearly with Herrick’s description than with Birge’s. A few points of difference are noted. In the Manitoba specimens a few long hairs are present on the lower margin anteriorly, then at a little distance posteriorly from the hairs are short, sharp bris- tles, hardly heavy enough to be called teeth, becoming largest on the concave part of the margin. In one specimen the end of the abdomen is deeply cleft, the posterior lobe bearing four very strong teeth of nearly equal size. Herrick says that hex- agonal reticulations are seen upon the shell of the embryo yet in the brood sac. In several sexually mature females observed faint reticulations are present, more distinctly seen near the ventral margin. Polyphemus pediculus. — This species was found to be quite common in the Portage Plains region. It has not been reported from Iowa. Although reported from Georgia it seems to be more commonly found in the north. A NEW SPECIES OP DAPHNIA,^ AND BRIEF NOTES ON OTHER CLADOCERA OF IOWA. BY L, S. ROSS. A few collections taken from West and Eist Okoboji Lakes and Spirit lake in June, and from the sloughs of the Des Moines river in the fall of 1896, have added six more species to the list of Cladocera in tbe state, as given in the “Proceedings” of the Academy for 1895. Five of the species are common to the country, and one is an hitherto undescribed species of Daphnia. A few individuals of a form of the difficult genus Bosmina were found which may be the young of Bosmina longirostris, O. F. Muller. If not the young of this species then seven instead of six species will be added to the list. The species taken the past summer and fall not reported in the “Preliminary Notes” are; Daphnia pulex De Geer. Daphnia hybus n. sp. Bosmina longirostris O. P. Muller. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 163 Pleuroxus exiguus Lilljeborg. Alona guttata Sars. Graptoleberis testudinaris var. inernis, Birge. This gives a total list of thirty-one species of Cladocera reported from the state. DESCRIPTION OP A NEW SPECIES— DAPHNIA HYBUS. The body is large, robust, with a prominent keel- shaped pro- jection on the dorsal margin immediately anterior to the brood chamber; the projection rises at a rather low angle anteriorly, approximately 20 to 25 degrees, but falls posteriorly at a greater angle, approximately 40 to 50 degrees. It is present on the ephippial females and also on those bearing summer eggs. The measurement of the projection on one specimen gave the length of .14 mm. and a height of .05 mm. On one specimen a 'second projection is present, located on the dorsal margin above the base of the antennae. Measurement showed its length to be .28 mm. and height, .09 mm. In yet another specimen the pro- jection above the base of the antennae is evident under the shell, and it would apparently have become external at the next moult. The dorsal margin of the shell is convex, minutely spined from the posterior shell spine nearly to the front of the brood cham- ber. In one or two specimens the spines were not observed. The ventral margin is strongly convex, and is armed with small spines about one-half the distance forward from the posterior shell spine; the margin is sinuous below the posterior spine, which is situated usually about half wmy between the median line of the body and the dorsal margin, but sometimes nearly on the median line. Spine is straight, slender, directed slightly upward, .77 mm. long in one specimen, and has scattering, feeble spinules. The head is broad, not helmeted, strongly arched dorsally, and is not separated from the body by a depression. The ven- tral margin of the head is slightly concave below the eye, mid- way between the front of the head and the end of the long beak. Depth of the head is about two times the length from the base of the antennso. The eye is of medium size, with few prominent crystalline lenses, and is situated at a distance from the front of the head, about equal to the diameter of the pigmented portion. Dis- tance of the eye from the posterior margin of the head is little greater than diameter of the eye. The transparent orbit reaches to the front of the head. Pigment fleck is small, not 164 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. more than one* fourth the diameter of a crystalline lens. It is situated near the median line, about midway between lower half of eye and the posterior margin of the head. The antemisB are moderately developed, the setae reaching nearly to the posterior margin of the shell. The first joint of the setae is longer than the second. The post abdomen is rather slender, tapering toward the pos- terior end, and is armed with about fifteen strong curved spines, which become gradually smaller anteriorly. Anal claws are pectinated, and armed with a strongly developed basal comb of two groups of spines of about six in each group. Spines of upper group much smaller than those of lower. Processes of the post abdomen are separate, first longest, not haired, second and thii d haired. Some measurements are as follows: Length 2,30 mm. Height 1.32 mm. Length 2.00 mm. Height 1.27 mm. Length 2,77 mm. Height 185 mm. Depth of head 1.00 mm. Length of head .46 mm. Depth of head 1.07 mm. Length of head .50 mm. Depth of head .88 mm. Length of head .44 mm. Posterior spine, .70 mm. to .77 mm. The species is evidently very closely related to D. minnehaha, Herrick, and may have only varietal rank. The general outline of the body of old females is similar to that of D. minnehaha, including the angle or projection in. front of the brood chamber. None of the specimens examined showed any evidence of teeth upon the dorsal angle as are present in males and young females of D. minnehaha. No broad projection on the dorsal margin above the base of the antenE80 is mentioned in descriptions of D. minnehaha or fig- ured in the drawings. The beak is longer in D. hybus, and is slightly curved toward the end. The eye in D. hybus is farther from the front margin of the head, and the lenses much larger than are figured in D. minnehaha. The posterior spine is longer in D. hybus. In D. minnehaha “the anal spines are eleven or more in full grown females, and decrease only mod- erately upward.” In D. hybus the anal spines vary from about fifteen to nineteen. Herrick says of T>. minnehaha: “ The size is small but variable; 1.8 mm. is a common measurement.” In addition the following measurements are given: “Female, length, 1.44 mm.; spine, .33 mm.; head, .26 mm.; depth of IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 165 head, .46 mm. Ephippial female, length, 1.64 mm.; spine, .20 mm.; head, .35 mm.; depth of head, .80 mm.; greatest depth of shell, .94 mm.” A comparison with the measurements given of D. hybus shows the latter to be a much larger form, in some instances approaching a length and depth double that of D. minnehaha. In the “ Preliminary Notes on the Iowa Entomostraca,” pub- lished in the proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, vol. Ill, I followed the classification of Birge and Herrick, and placed Daphnia retrocurva, Forbes, in the list as a va^riety of Daphnia kalbergiensis, Schoedler. At that time I had not seen the original description of either species. In Forbes’ description of D. retrocurva first published in the American Naturalist, vol. XVI, page 642, August, 1882, he says: ‘ ‘ The shell is reticulate and its spine long and straight, there is no macula nigra, and the caudal claws have a row of teeth at their base.” The row of teeth referred to is the accessory comb. The teeth of the comb are often very small and hard to distinguish, but in all the specimens of D retrocurva. I have examined they are present. In ‘‘Die Cladoceren des PVischen Haffs,” published in 1886, Schoedler gives his origiD.al descrip- tion of D kalbergiensis under the ii ime Hyalodaphnia kalber- giensis. The statement in regard to an accessory comb is: “Die Schwanzklauen sind ohne secundare Zahnelung.” The presence or absence of the accessory comb is recognized by sysiematists as a specific character. Hence D. retrocurva cannot be ranked as a variety of D. kalbergiensis but as a dis- tinct species. In his “Notes on Cladocera Crustacea at Madi- son, Wis.,” Birge suggests the propriety of separating the American forms from the European D. kalbergiensis, because of the pectinated caudal claw, and says: “ Tnis would prob- ably bear the name D. keruses, Cox.” The note by Cox in the American Monthly Microscopical Journal of May, 1883, in which the name of D. keruses is pro- posed for this remarkable form is an incomplete description and the illustration is not accurate. The description of the species with -the proposed name D. retrocurva was published in August of the preceding year. It is evident that the form described under the names D. retrocurva and D. keruses is not a variety of D. kalbergiensis, but is species D. retrocurva, Forbes, of which D. keruses, Cox, is a synonym. 166 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Note. “Since writing the above upon D. retrocurva the “ Kevision of the Genus Daphnia,” by Jules Richard of Paris, has been published, in which D. retrocurva is recognized as a species because of pigment- spot and caudal claw characters, and D. keruses as a synonym of it. Fig. 5. (a) Oeriodaphnia acanthinus, n. sp. (b) Daphnia hybus, n. sp. (c) Daph- nia hybus, post abdomen. Note— The reticulations in a are somewhat too regular. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 167 THE ILLINOIS BIOLOGICAL STATION. BY L. S. ROSS. In Europe there are twenty- seven or more marine biological stations, one in Japan and five in the United States. The atten- tion of biologists has been given mostly to the study of marine life, but some of the inland scientists are taking to the fresh water, leaving the marine life to be salted down by those near at hand. But it is only of late years that a few zoologists have bethought themselves to halt in their rush to the marine stations and cast a microscopic squint at the myriads of forms dashing and crowding through the water of the lakes and streams, and even inviting the hauls of a net in order to relieve the pressure of an overabundant surplus of population. Germany possesses two fresh water biological stations, one on Lake Plon in the northern part of the country, and the other upon Mtiggle lake, near Berlin. There is one station in Prance and a peripatetic one in Bohemia. The Allis private laboratory at Milwaukee was the first fresh water station in this country. The University of Minnesota had for several years a summer station at Gull lake, and for the past two years the University of Indiana has maintained a summer school of biology at Turkey Lake. The Michigan Fish Commission and the University of Michigan have been studying the waters of the state for sev- eral years with special reference to fish culture. The station established at Havana, IQ., on the Illinois river, is the first fresh water university biological station with ade- quate equipment and working force in the country, and is the only station in the world having as its subject of investigation the life of a river system. The region about Havana has long been noted as a sportsman’s paradise because of the wide bot- tom lands of the river and the many sloughs and swamps; and it has proved to be equally the paradise of hunters of water deas and the like more minute game than water fowl. The amount of microscopic animal life of the water is much more 168 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. in individaais than in any other water in the world examined to determine quantity. And the number of forms of life is nearly twice as great as that in an equal amount of water from the great lakes or from the lakes of northern Germany. The station is located at the foot of Qaiver lake, a sheet of water separated from the chrmnel of the river by a low bar, about two miles up the river from Havana. A rented house- boat was used for two years from the time the station was opened in the spring of 1891. Last spring the laboratory was moved into a new boat specially designed and built for the station at a cost of $1,260. The new boat has a deck 20 by 60 feet, on which is a cabin 16 by 56 feet, divided into an office for the laboratory staff, a main laboratory with a long tank and sink, shelves and tables for fifteen students, and a small kitchen. The laboratory equipment includes microscopes, reagents, etc., necessary for microscopic work; nets, dredges and seines for collecting, and working libraries. Three or four row boats belonging to the station are at the disposal of the workers. Besides these the station owns a 25-foot steam launch licensed to carry seventeen persons. One of the lines of work receiving especial attention is the determination of the plankton of the river, that work being done by the sup crintendent of the station. Besides the principal station there are seven sub- stations where the plankton is taken at stated intervals through the year. To collect the plankton a certain amount of water is pumped into a net of the finest silk; then careful determination of the quantity, species, and even numbers follows the collecting. The station has received for its support during the past two years the sum of $10,400 from the following sources: Appropriation April, 1894, from the University of Illinois $ 1,800 Appropriation by last legislature for two years, expiring July 1, 1897: Equipment 2,500 Running expenses, $3,000 per year 6,000 Income from fees 100 Total.. $ 10,400 Only a small number of students can be accommodated at present, but it is the earnest desire of the director. Dr. S. A. Forbes, to enlarge the facilities sufficiently to establish a sum- mer school of biology for the teachers of the secondary schools of the state. Is it not possible for Iowa to organize and conduct a station similar to that supported by the state of Illinois? Perhaps a IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 169 thorough investigation of the situation, and careful thought, might suggest some plan more feasible for our state than that followed in our sister state. Illinois has a state laboratory of natural history that is studying the life of the state. We have no such authorized laboratory. But we have our State univer- sity, our Agricultural college, and other colleges broadcast over the state whose scientists are interested in biological problems, and who would certainly agree that the study of the life in our own lakes and streams, and the solving of oe^ologieal problems of our own fauna and flora are of paramount impor- tance. Some work is being done along these lines by members of the teaching forces of the various schools. But more wide- reaching and better results could be obtained by organized effort. The life of our lakes and streams is comparatively unknown. S uch a station could be made of great value to the educational interests of the state. Provision could be made for a summer school of biology, where students could study our common every day forms of life in the midst of their activities. Not all in regard to an animal or plant is learned by cutting up an alco- holic specimen. The station should have a course of stuly so arranged that a student from any college in the state upon tak- ing it would receive credit for it as actual college work. If he is far enough advanced to conduct original investigations let him receive credit for work done. Another course should be arranged that would bring the station more closely in touch with the broad educational interests of the state; that is, a course for the benefit of the public school teachers, a course supplying more directly the needs of science teachers over the whole state. If the colleges of the state would combine in agreeing to accept work done by their students at the station during the summer under competent direction, as college work, it would encourage some to accept of facilities which may now be beyond their reach. And the colleges might do more; some Dwight equip and support a table at the station for the most worthy students desiring to take advantage of the opportunity. The scientific and educational possibilities of such a station are many. If financial possibilities were as many and as bright as the educatimil, then a biological station in Iowa would be easy to found. But how could it be founded and maintained without money ? And under the control of what body should 170 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. it be? These are questions harder to answer. The first, how- ever, is really not hard to answer. Financial support is a neces- sity first and other things follow. Much valuable work may be done without very expensive apparatus, but all apparatus costs something. Perhaps there is no method but that of appealing to the state to lay the foundation by an appropriation, then per- haps some of the superstructure could be erected from fees. As an answer to the second question, regarding the control of the station, one that offers itself is that the State Academy of Sciences should have control by whatever means seemed most desirable. NOTE ON PROBABLE LIFE HISTORY OF CREPIDOD- ERA (EPITRIX) CUCUMERIS, HAM. BY P. A SIRRINE. During the winter of 1894 and 1895 a trouble known as “Pimply potatoes,” among potato growers, was brought to our attention. As the trouble appeared to be some skin disease, it was turned over to Me. F. G. Sbewart, the mycologist. At the time he came to no definite conclusion as to what the trouble might be. Early in the fall of 1895 Mr. Stewart obtained a quantity of “Pimply potatoes” for microscopic examination. It was found that the pimples covered what appeared to be a brown “sliver” in the fiesh of the potato. This “sliver” proved to be a tube lined with broken starchless cells, the starch grains usually occurring free within the tube. Our natural conclusion was that the trouble was caused by the punc- ture of some insect and that the pimple resulted as an effort of the growing potato to heal the puncture. No trace of castings could be found within the tube, hence it appeared that the tube was not the result of larval mining, nor could it have been made for the deposition of an egg, for in such a case the tube would have shown larval castings. Thus it appeared as if the puncture must be the work of some “ snout beetle,” or of some hemipterous insect. A close watch for the depredator was maintained during the past summer. I had my eye on the adult of a new seed stalk weevil Centorhynchus seriesetosus Dietz, of kale, turnip and cabbage. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 171 On July 7th Mr. Stewart found a small thread-like white worm, about one-sixth of an inch long, burrowing into potatoes. He also found small white bodies in the soil around the pota- toes. The white bodies were found to be pupae of some of the flea beetles. They were bred, issuing in about eight days as adult Grepidodera cucumeris. About two weeks after the grubs were found mining the potatoes they issued as adult beetles and proved to be Grepidodera cucumeris. There is a leaning to the theory that the potato flea-beetle is double brooded in this section, Long Island. I think that this is based on the fact that the beetles appear quite numerous in April and early in May on plantain and various other weeds. I have seen no evidence of their pairing at this season — in fact they were not observed pairing until June. Further- more they were very destructive to potato and tomato vines the past season from the time the plants came up until the middle of June, at which time the beetles commenced to dimin- ish in numbers. From the middle of July until August they appeared again in such numbers that they soon made the potato fields appear as if a hot wind had struck them. A close watch was kept for signs of another brood after the July brood. No signs of pairing were noticed. The adult beetles appeared to gradually disappear, until late in October scarcely a single beetle could be found. As the facts stand there is probably but one brood of the potato flea- beetle a year. The eggs are probably dropped dur- ing the month of June to the ground from whatever plant the adults are feeding upon. The larva hatch and work their way to the roots and tubers of the plants upon which they feed. The pupa stage is passed in a naked state in the surrounding soil. The adults issue in July and August, feeding awhile, then scatter to hibernate. They come out early the following spring, feed on various plants until the latter part of May, or until June, at which time they begin to pair and deposit their eggs. The larvse are only about one- sixth of an inch long. They are provided with three pairs of true legs and a single anal leg. They have a peculiar habit of resting at nearly right angles to the object on which they are feeding. They will remain in this position even after the root or tuber upon which they are feed- ing has been removed from the ground. They rarely mine more than the length of the body into the root or tuber. These 172 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. mines are barely large enough to more than admit of the larva getting into them — in fact it requires considerable effort on the part of the larva to back out of one of these mines, when dis- turbed. It was found that some varieties of potatoes contained more pimples than other varieties. It was also found that varieties which did not contain many ‘\pimples” often contained as many “ slivers ” or tubes as the more “pimply” varieties. At the same time potatoes in all varieties could be found with “slivers” where no pimples had been formed. Whether “pimples” are formed only at certain stages of growth of the potato, or whether some varieties form “ pimples” while others do not, is still a question. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HEMIPTEROUS FAUNA OP IOWA. BY HERBERT OSBORN AND E. D. BALL, I. ON THE LIFE-HISTORY OP JASSID^. (With descriptions of new species and a review of the genus Deltccephalus.) In various papers published during the past five years the senior author has called attention to the injuries caused in grass lands and pastures by the numerous species of Jassidae, which swaim, often by millions to the acre, upon various species of grasses. In these papers it has been shown that the loss, though sel- dom noticed, must be really enormous, and that by the use of the tar pan or “hopper-dozer” the insects may be to a great extent destroyed. P urther than this, however, our knowledge has been too meager to furnish a certain basis for remedial measures. It is true studies were made of a few species and some facts learned as to their life-history which warranted the belief that burning, mowing, etc., might be of service, but still so much remained unknown regarding even the most common species, that there seemed a necessity for a more exhaustive study. At the beginning of the present season (1896) a study was planned, the essential features of which were: Pirs'u, a determination of the life histories of as many as possible of the species known to feed upon grasses. Second, the determination of the range of IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 173 the food plants for each species, especially in the larval stages. Third, the collection of all species occurring on grasses and their careful identification with a close study of the specific lim* its of each, as a basis for further life history studies. Any facts suggestive of successful treatment have been care- fully noted, and suggestions as to treatment of individual spe- cies made, but it has been deemed essential in this study to hold in reserve general conclusions as to treatment and to gather, first, all facts possible bearing on the life and habits of the species. These will undoubtedly furnish a scientific basis for economic treatment. Insectary studies have consisted in rearing, as far as possible, all species in breeding cages, consisting of glass globes or netted frames over grass in large pots, along with continuous field study, the one as check to the other. In the investigation some sixty species have come under observation as grass feeders, not to mention some sixty more referred to other food plants, and their study has involved the examination of many thousands of individuals in all stages Of a number of species we are able to present sufficient details of life history to warrant positive conclusions, while of others the record is yet too fragmentary to be more than a starting point for future work. While this study was undertaken primarily with reference to its eco- nomic aspects, and this phase has been dealt with particularly in a paper, duplicating this in part, to be published in bulletin 34 of the Iowa experi- ment station, so much matter of a technical nature has been accumulated which seems of importance in the systematic study of this group that it has been deemed desirable to publish it, with full technical descriptions of new species, where it will reach students of systematic entomology, and those interested in the biological questions discussed. We have as a basis for work in this group, aside from the large mass of material collected in Iowa, types of all the Homoptera described by Mr. E. P. VanDuzee as well as the entire collection of Hemiptera which he made, and which formed the basis for his numerous contributions to American Hemipterology. The college collections contain, further, a large amount of material in Hemiptera from Colorado, South Carolina and Georgia collected by Morri- son; from New Mexico, Arizona, California and the northwest, collected by Wickham; from Mexico, collected by Osborn and Townsend, besides numer- ous smaller series received, in exchange or for determination. Also series of European species, embracing representatives of a large proportion of the genera. Also some exotic material from the Bahamas, West Indies, etc. The plates are photo-reproductions of drawings made by Miss Charlotte M. King, under personal direction and supervision of the authors. It has not been our purpose to prepare a full list of species, but only to include such as we have studied. We have followed in arrangement, however, the “Catalogue of Ja?soidea,” by Mr. E. P. VanDuzee, and that catalogue may be consulted for additional references, synonomy and bib- liography. Types of the new species are deposited in the National museum. 174 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Some of the results which seem to be general in nature may- be mentioned here. The species of Jassidse have, as a rule, a decided limitation as to food plant, usually holding closely to one species of plant, almost invariably limited to one plant for breeding, but feeding more indiscriminately in maturer stages. So far as known, all the species deposit eggs upon the stems under the leaf sheaths or in the leaves of the plants used as food. There is a wide difference in life-histories, some having one brood, the majority of the grass-feeding species two, and still others three in a season, and the successive stages occurring at widely different times. Except in the case of adult hibernation the ordinary life of a brood of adults does not exceed two months, and for the indi- viduals of a brood rarely over one. The males appear a week to ten days before the females and disappear as much earlier. In general, one brood of adults will have disappeared before the larvae of the next have matured, so that individuals col- lected at any time may be referred with assurance to a partic- ular brood. It follows also that eggs for each brood are deposited within a limited time and that a period may be defined during which all eggs of a given brood for a given species will have been deposited, and during which time measures for their destruction may be applied. Observations were made to ascertain whether simply cutting the grass and leaving it in the field would prevent hatching, and in no case were eggs observed to hatch from stems cut green. Part of the stems from a plant in which eggs were fully devel- oped were cut and left to dry. The second day after the eggs hatched in the uncut stems but no larvae issued from those that were cut and, on examination, the eggs were found to be crushed and distorted from the shrinking of the plant tissues and by the curling of the edges of the sheaths in drying. Even if hatched they would have been unable to escape from the rigid incurved edge. It has been learned that the larvae present definite characters which are of specific, and in some cases generic, value. These, along with what prove to be constant characters in large series of adults, enable us to combine some forms hitherto considered IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 175 as distinct species, and also to separate as distinct some forms hitherto included with other known species. Colorational characters in certain genera are of very little value, since it is found that summer broods and species occur- ring in shaded localities are pallid or unicolorous, while autumn broods or exposed individuals assume darker and more definite markings, often varying to black. Another feature of considerable interest and of value in the discrimination of species is presented in the fact that for a number of species there are distinct long and short winged forms with consequent variations in venation (usually given generic importance) the long winged condition apparently asso- ciated with a migrant habit. The grasses which have been more particularly under obser- vation during the season and which seem to have each its par- ticular jassid fauna, are: Blue grass {Poa pratensis)^ Anclro- pogon scoparius and provincialis, Elymus canadensis and virginicus^ Bouteloa hirsuta and cutipendula, Stipia spartea, Spartina cynosuro- ides, Sporobolus liookeri, heterolepis^ asper and cryptarrorate with fulvous brown, disk of pronotum usually clouded with fus- cous; vertex and face yellow, finely irrorate, almost clouded with fulvous, usually without pattern of marking except the white margined ocelli and a white spot on the upper angle of the lorse; elytra pearly white, washed with yellowish and irrorate with dark fulvoas, except for numerous spots, venter yellowish-brown; legs brown with dark markings. Genitalia: Ultimate ventral segment of female longer than penulti- mate; middle half of posterior margin truncate, with a deep median slit and a minute lobate indenture on either side; lateral half of either side produced as a semi-circular lobe against the side of the pygofers; male valve large, longer than ultimate segment, broadly lobate, margin indented on either side of the apex; plate broader than the valve, rapidly, convexly narrowing to the middle, then slightly produced, roundingly pointed; ven- tral surface convex, disk apparently raised, lighter. Described from sixty specimens. This species has been collected at Ames and Little Rock, Iowa, and specimens are at hand from West Point, Neb. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 229 (Bruner). It belongs to the group of Phlepsids with the head as broad as the pronotum, but may be readily separated from all the other species of the group by its stouter form and flaring elytra, as well as by the genitalia. PHLEPSIUS MAJESTUS N. SP. (Plate xxvi, Fig. 6.) Form of spatulatus, nearly, but larger, with much longer elytra; color distinctly reddish brown with copper reflections; length, 9 to 10 mm.; width on costa, 3 to 3.50 mm. Head much narrower than the pronotum; vertex, flat, twice wider than long, one-fourth longer on middle than next to eye; front much narrower than in spatulatus, very nearly twice longer than wide, basal suture obso- lete; clypeus broadly spatulate, twice wider at apex than on middle of lorse; pronotum fully twice longer than vertex, anterior margin strongly produced, lateral margin as long as the vertex, carinate, strongly oblique; elytra long and narrow, much exceeding the abdomen, veins on clavus con- verging, united by a cross nervure, apical veinlets curved, central apical cell one-half longer than breadth at apex; a number of extra veinlets from the first anteapical cell to the costal margin, reticulations very strong, appearing almost as nervures; closely mimicing the appearance of Gypona octo-lineaia in this respect. Color: Cuprescent; vertex light yellow, with two approximate dots near its tip; a broad black band between anterior half of eyes, straight- margined in front, excavated either side of the middle, behind, and often interrupted medially with brown, and a spot on either side of base near eye brown; face pale yellowish, sutures and about nine abreviated arcs fuscous; pronotum fulvous with lateral margins, a Y-shaped mark behind either eye and numerous minute maculations on the disk, creamy white; scutellum fulvous yellow, disk with two brown spots, margin with alternate dark and light markings; elytra yellowish white, nervures and coarser irrorations, fulvous brown; tergum and venter yellowish, dark on the disk; legs yellow; anterior coxae with large brown spots; femora and hind tibiae with a series of minute, black dots. Genitalia: Ultimate ventral segment of the female broader than in spatulatus, lateral margins nearly straight, angles rounding, posterior mar- gins roundingly emarginate either side of two large, divergent, acute points, which extend beyond the lateral angles, and are separated by a broad deep notch extending over half way to the base; male valve round- ingly produced apex broad, nearly equaling the ultimate segment in length; plates rather narrow, elongate, three times the length of the ultimate seg- ment. Described from five females and four males. Two females of this species were included by Mr. Vo>n Buzee in his description of spatulatus rem^Yk.ing, however, that they were larger and fulvous brown in color and might easily be mistaken for Gyponas. A larger series of both species show them to be decidedly distinct. Spatulatus is much 230 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. smaller, nearly cinereus in color and has much finer irroratlons on the elytra. Specimens are at hand only from Texas, Arizona and California, indicating a southwestern distribution; majestus is much larger, fulvous red with coppery reflections, being the largest and most highly colored species of the genus. It closely mimics Gypona scarloMna in size and appearance, and occurs in similar situations. Specimens have been collected at Ames, and one specimen received from Philadelphia and another from Mississippi. None have been received from the known habitat of spatulatus and it would seem to be an eastern form although its scarcity in collections may be due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to catch. PHLEPSIUS DECORUS N. SP. (Plate xxvi, Fig. 7.) Form very broad and short; elytra flaring; color milk-white, sparsely irrorated with deep fuscous or black giving it a dark, maculate appearance with scarcely a trace of fulvous. Length, 6 mm; width, on center of costa, 2.50 to 3 mm. Head narrower than the pronotum; vertex flat, similar to rnsjestus, twice wider than long, slightly longer on middle than next eye, acutely angled with the front; front broad, flat, sides straight, twice wider above than at apex, about one-third longer than wide, basal suture well marked; geuce broad, outer angle distinct; pronotum short, about half longer than the vertex; lateral margin oblique, carinate, two-thirds the length of the vertex, posterior angle well marked; elytra short, scarcely twice longer than wide, veins on clavus nearly touching in the middle, united by a short cross nervure, central apical cell half longer than wide. Color: Vertex pearly white with numerous fuscous irrorations which merge into an irregular transverse band between the eyes; face creamy white, irrorate with fuscous, the arcs nearly obliterated; clypeus fuscous on suture, two slightly divergent lines on disk; pronotum yellowish with fine fuscous irrorations, two crescentiform dashes near the anterior margin, black; scutellum soiled yellowish, two fuscous spots on the disk; elytra milk-white, nervures black, claval suture and margins of the nervures yellowish brown, irrorations fuscous to black, more or less definitely arranged in three transverse bands and a series of spots on the costal margin toward the apex; scuteliar and sutural margins broadly white. Genitalia: Ultimate ventral segment of female very broad and short, over four times wider than long, nearly truncate behind with a broad deep notch, extending half way to the base. Male: valve small triangular; plates broad, short and convex, scarcely half longer than ultimate segment, parallel margined at base, bluntly angularly pointed. Described from one maie from Lincoln, Neb. (Braner), and one female collected at Ames, Iowa. This and the preceding species belong to the section of the genus in which the head is narrower than the pronotum and which IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 231 includes spatulatus, ovatics, excultus, superbus and neomexicanvs. They may be readily separated from the other members of the group by their more definite colors as well as by their distinct genitalia. ADDITIONS TO THE FORMER LISTS OF IOWA SPECIES. The following list embraces the additions, not included in the preceding notes, that have been made to the Iowa fauna during the past year or two. HETEROPTERA. Perillus exaptus Say. This handsome species has been taken at Little Rock, Lyon county, and Ames. Podisus serieventris Uhl. Ames. Oebalus pucjnax Pab. This peculiar southern form was taken at Ames in some numbers the past summer. Lioderma belfragii Stal. A single specimen of this species has been taken by Mr. Ball at Little Rock, Lyon county. Alyd.us conspersus Montandon. This name should replace that of Alydus ater in previous list. Neides muticus Uhl. Ames, Iowa. Belonochilus nurnenius Say. Ames; not commom. Ilnacora divisa Reut. Ames. Phytocoris colon Say. Ames. Cor iscus piinctipes Ames; common. Coriscus inscriptus Kby. Ames. Pijgolampis sericea Stal. Ames; rare. Barce annulipes Stal. Iowa City and Ames. Ranatra ciuadridentata Stal. Common; fusca is less common if, indeed, it occurs in the state. HOMOPTERA. TJlopa canadensis Van D. Ames; rare. Bythoscopus distinctus V an D. Common on Hackberry at Ames. Idiocerus cratcegi Van D. Ames. Agcdlia novella Say. Ames. Pacliyopsis robustus Uhl. Not common. Oncometopia limbata Say. Little Rock and Hampton. Tettigonia similis Woodworth. Common at Ames. DiedrocepJiala angulifera Walk. Ames and LeClaire. Gijpona scarlatina Pitch. Ames. Gypona albiinarginata Woodworth. Ames. 232 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Strongylocephalus agrestis Fall. Ames; rare. Paramesus vitellinus Fitch. Ames. Athysanus extrusus Van D. Ames. Doratura argenteola U hi. Doratura minuta Van D. Ames. Athysanu% plutonius Van D. Ames. Athysanus gammaroides Van D. Ames; not common. Athysanus striatulus Fall. Ames. Eutettix lurida Van D. Ames. Eutettix soutliwichi Van D. Ames. Eutettix johnsoni Van D. Ames; rare. Phlepsius humidus Van D. Ames, Phlepsius incisus Van D. Ames. Phlepsius truncatus Van D. Ames. Phlepsius cinereus Van D. Ames. Fairly common in but probably a southern form. 1896, Ames; not common. Ames; rare. Ames. Ames. Ames. Ames. Ames. Phlepsius fuscipennis Van D, Scaphoideus intricatus Uhl. Scaphoideus luteolus Van D. Scaphoideus Idbatus Van D. Scaphoideus scalaris Van D. to California. Scaphoideus auronitens Prov. Thamnotettix inornata V an D. New York only, Thamnotettix longiseta Van D. from Colorado. Thamnotettix smithi Van D. Ames, from New Jersey. Thamnotettix fitchi Van D. Ames. Chlorotettix galbanata Van D. Ames; common Gnathodes abdominalis Van D. Ames. Gnathodes impictusYd>Pii'D. Ames. Gicadula variata Fall. Ames. Cicadula punctifrons Fall. Ames. Kyhos smaragdula Fall. Ames. Dicraneura abnormis Walsh. Ames. Dicraneura Jlavipennis^dA), Am.es; common. Empoasca obtusa Walsh. Ames. Clastoptera xanthocephala Germ. Ames. Monecphora bicincta Say. Ames. Hitherto credited only Hitherto recorded for Ames. Originally described Hitherto recorded only IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 233 Stenocranus croceus Van D. Ames. Liburnia vittatifrons Uhl. Not common except in particular locations. Scolops grossus Uhl. Common in 1896. Vanduzea arcuata Godg. Occurs on locust and usually very abundant where found, Ames and Albia. Telamona godingi Van D. Ames. Not common. Stictocephala lutea Walk. Common. Confused with inermis. Publilia modesta Uhl. Diaspis rosce. Muscatine. Very abundant and destructive to roses and other garden shrubs. A serious pest where it occurs. Ecematopinus pedalis Osb. An interesting parasite of sheep, occurring on the feet and lower part of legs, but not on wooly parts of the body. EuhcBmatopinus abnormis Osb. A very peculiar parasite of the common mole Scaloj^s argentatus. The femora of the hind legs bear disk-like processes which evidently oppose the tibiae of the middle legs as a clasping organ. I have described it in a bulletin on “The lasects Affecting Domestic Animals,” recently issued by the Div. Eat. U. S. Dep. Agriculture. EXPLANATION OF PLATES.* PLATE XIX. Fig. 1. Xerophloea viridis Fab. a, female, dorsal view; h, face; c, lateral view; d, larva; 6, male; /, female, genitalia. Fig. 2. Xestocephalus coronatus n. sp. female, dorsal view. Fig. 3, Euacanthus acuminatus Fab. a, female; b, larva, dorsal views. PLATE XX. Fig. 1. Doryceplialus platyrhynchus Osh. a, female; b, male, dorsal view; c, face; d. female, e, male genitalia; /, eggs in grass stem; g, eggs enlarged; h, eggs with larva nearly ready to hatch; i, newly hatched larva; j, larva after first moult; k, after second moult; Z, pupa. Fig. 2, Hecalus lineahis Uhl. a, female; b, male, c, larva, dorsal view; d, face; e, female, /, male genitalia. PLATE XXI. Fig. 1. Faraholocratus viridis Uhl. a, male; b, female; c, mature larva, dorsal views; d, female; e, male genitalia; /, eggs in grass stem; g, eggs enlarged; h, single egg much enlarged, showing young; i, larva newly hatched; j, after first moult. Fig. 2. Athysanus obtutus Van D. a, ventral; b, lateral; c, dorsal view of female; d, female; e, male, genitalia; /, pupa; g, eggs much enlarged; i, eggs in place under grass leaf sheath. PLATE XXII. Fig. 1. Deltocephalus reflexus n. sp. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female; e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva; h, face of larva. * All figures here given are photo-reproductions of drawings made by Miss Char- lotte M. King, under the personal direction and supervision of the authors. In plates xxii to xxv four species are shown on each plate, each one occupying one- fourth of the plate, and being lettered Independently, and in nearly every case the letters correspond for each species, notice of which will avoid any possible confusion in reference to figures. 234 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Pig. 2. D. inflatus n. sp. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female; e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, abdomen of male, lateral view. Fig. 3. D. pectinatus a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, male, e, female, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva. Fig. 4. D. abbreviatus n. sp. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva. PLATE XXIII. Fig 1. D. albidus n. sp. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex; d, female, e, male, genitalia*, /, wing; g, larva. Fig. 2. D. sayi Fh. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva. Fig. 3. D. conflguratus Uh. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva. Fig. 4. D. oculatus n. sp. a, dorsal view ; b, face ; c, vertex and pronotum ; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva. PLATE XXIV. Pig. 1. D. melscheimeri Ph. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva. Fig. 2. D. debilis Uh. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, lateral view of head. Fig. 3. D.inimicus Say. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing; g, larva. Fig. 4. D. minimus n. sp. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, 6, male, geniralia; /, wing; g, larva. PLATE XXV. Fig. 1. D. signatifrnns Van D, a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing. Fig. 2. D. weedi Van D. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, e, male, genitalia; /, wing. Fig. 3. D compaetusn. sp. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum: d, female, e, male genitalia; /, wing. Fig. 4. D. sylvestris n. sp. a, dorsal view; b, face; c, vertex and pronotum; d, female, 6, male, genitalia; /, wing. PLATE XXVI. Pig. 1. Platymctopius einereus n. sp. dorsal view la larva. Pig. 2. Athysanus magnus n. sp. dorsal view. Fig. 3. Athysanus colon n. sp, dorsal view, 3a wing, 3b larva. Fig. 4. Chlorotettix spatulata n. sp. dorsal view 4a female, ultimate ventral segment. Pig. 5. Phlepsius altus n. sp. female ultimate ventral segment 6a male genitalia. Fig, 6. Phlepsius majestus n. sp. ultimate ventral segment of female, 6a genitalia of male. Fig 7, Phlepsius decorus n. sp. ultimate ventral segment of female, 7a genitalia of male. NOTES ON THE ORTHOPTEROUS FAUNA OP IOWA. BY E. D. BALL. As a family the Orthoptera have long been regarded as among the most iDjurious insects of the state. Every addition, therefore, to a list of species adds one more to the number of possible depredators of a given locality. On the other hand, every fact in regard to distribution, life-history or food habits of a species, added to the general knowledge, aids in formulat- ing successful methods of treatment for the particular species. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOE. IV. PLATE XIX. Fig. L—Xerophloea viridis. Fig. 2.~Xestocephalas coronalus. Fig. 3.—Euacantliu8 acuminatus. IOWA ACADEMY OY SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE XX. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE XXI. 0, IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE XXII. IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES, VOL. IV. PLATE XXIII. ~\\ , Q t\)\ cAv^s IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES, VOE. IV. PLATE XXIV. PROCEEDINGS OF THE Iowa Academy of Sciences F'OR 18Q5. VOLUME 111. PUBLISHED BY THE STATE. DES MOINES: r. R. CONAWAY, STATE PRINTER^ \ t { : IOWA academy of SCIENCEo, VOL. IV. Elate xxv, PLATE XXVI IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES, VOL. IV. [OWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 235 In working over the additional materia] accumulated, and in rearranging the Orthopterous collection of the Iowa Agricul- tural college during the early part of the year several addi- tional species were found; these, with some material collected in Lyon and Mahaska counties several years ago, together with the collecting of the present season at Ames, have fur- nished the basis for an addition of some 30 species to the list published by Professor Osborn in the proceedings of this academy for 1891. Owing to the fact that there has been considerable revision in nomenclature and synonomy since the publication of the former list, thus rendering necessary a number of changes, and further that a majority of the species would be included in the notes, it has been thought best to make the list of species complete, although in a number of cases nothing additional can be given. The arrangement of families in the list is purely arbitrary, for as yet there seems to be no satisfactory arrangement based upon philogenetic deductions. Within the families the ordi- nary arrangement has been adopted except where there has been recently suggested changes. In the groups Tettiginse and Tryxalinas, Prof. A. P. Morse’s recent revision has been followed and in the Tettiginae he has kindly verified all the determinations. To Professor Scudder I am indebted for the determination of the Ceuthophilus listed. Y/hile to Professor Lawrence Bruner I am under obligations for the determination of a number of species and the verification of the greater portion of the remainder of the list. ORDER ORTHOPTERA. Fam. PORFicuLiD^— Earwigs. LaMa minor Linn, A few specimens taken each year. Pam. blattid.p: — Cockroaches Ectobia germanica Steph. Common in stores and houses in towns. IscJinoptera unicolor Scudd. Occasionally taken at Ames. Specimens were found abundantly in the timber around Oskaloosa in June. IscJinoptera pennsylvanica DeGeer. Abundant in the timber along the larger streams. Adults during earl^r summer, disap- pearing by the middle of July. Periplaneta orientalis Linn. This introduced species, which was formerly confined to a few of the larger cities, has spread 236 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. over the entire state and is becoming a veritable nuisance, even in the smaller towns of the prairie region. Periplaneta americana Linn. Specimens of this large south- ern form have been found at Carbonado, Grand Junction, Little Rock and Ames, but in every case in buildings where bananas were sold, and it is doubtful if they have gained a permanent foothold. Fam. PHASMiD^ — Walking Sticks. Diaplieromera femorata Say. Common throughout the tim- bered portion of the state. Either this or an allied species has been observed very commonly on the prairies of the north- western portion of the state, during August and September. Fam. Gryllid^— Crickets. Tridactylus apicalis Say. This small species was found rather commonly as nymphs, along the margin of a small stream in August and September, and again the following April. Adults were taken in July. * Gryllotalpa borealis Scudd. Gryllotalpa Columbia Scudd. This and the preceding species are found only in the southern portion of the state. Are they distinct? Gryllus abbreviaius Serv. The most abundant species in the state occurring everywhere. Sometimes occasions considerable loss in the grain raising sections by cutting the bands of the shocked grain. Grijllus luctuosus Serv. Rare. Gryllus pennsylanicus Barm. A few specimens of a broad headed cricket that has been referred here were taken from the timber in July. Nemobius fasciatus DeGeer. Occurs with abbreviatus in the fields. Nemobius carolinus Scudd. Common in the woods. Anaxiplius pulicarlus Sauss. A number of these small light colored crickets were taken while sweeping in the woods in July. Apithes agitator Uhl. One specimen of this southern form has been received from Lee county. (Ecanthus fasciatus Fitch. Abundant everywhere during the latter part of the season. (Ecanthus angustvpennis Fitch. Examples of this species appear several weeks earlier than any of fasciatus, and may be found rather commonly on the prairie. IOWA ACADEMY OE" SCIENCES. 237 (Ecantlius niveus Serv. Appears at about the same time as the preceding, but occurs more commonly in the woods. CEcanthus latipennis Riley. One specimen taken at Ames in September. Probably more common farther south in the state. Xabea hipunctata DeGeer. Rare. Fam. LOCUSTiDm — Katydids, etc. Ceuthophilus Natchleyi Scudd. A number found under boards, logs, etc., in July and August. Ceuthophilus vinculatus Scudd. Common. Ceuthophilus seclusus Scudd. Rare. Udeopsylla robusta Hald. Specimens from Little Rock and from the mines of Mahaska county. Udeopsylla nigra Scudd. Common in holes and cellars. Fterolepis pachymerus Burm. No specimens have been reported since the former list. Platyphyllum concavum Say. Rare at Ames. Amblycorypha oblongifolia Scudd. A few specimens taken each year. Amblycorypha rotundifolia Scudd. Rather common in the tim- ber, along with the preceding species. Amblycorypha brachyptera Bruner. Specimens of a much shorter-winged species than either of the above were taken from the prairie of northwestern Iowa some years ago and have been found this season on a few patches of prairie grass at Ames. Professor Bruner has kindly consented to describe it and proposes above name. Scudderia fuy^culata Brunner. Scudderia pistillata Bruner. Taken rather commonly from the woods. Scudderia curvicauda DeGeer. Our most abundant species. Scudderia furcata Brunner. Common. Smaller than the pre- ceding. Conocephalus attenuatus Scudd. Common, especially on the prairies. Conocephalus crepitans Scudd. A single specimen taken at Ames. Conocephalus ensiger Harr. Conocephalus nebrascensis Bruner. Fairly common, the brown form is more adundant on the prairies. Orchelimum nigripes Scudd. Common. Orchelimum vulgar e Harr. Abundant in meadows and low woods where the undergrowth is mainly grasses. ■238 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. XipMdium nemorale Scudd. Rather rare. Xipliidium fasciatum DeGeer. Abundant in meadows every- where. XipMdium attenuatum Scudd. Rare. XipMdium hrevipenne Scudd. Abundant in low woods and meadows in September and on into October. XipMdi'am nigropleurum Bruner, Rare. Fam. ACRiDiD.E — Grasshoppers. TETTIGINJE. Tettix ornatus Say. Abundant in woods and along the mar- gins of the streams. Tettix arenosus Burm. Common in the timber. More abun- dant in the early spring than the preceding species. Tettix granulatus Kirby. This slender form is rather rare. Paratettix cucuUatus Scudd. Adults abundant in the middle of the summer. Larvae have been taken in the late fall and early spring. Tettigidea parvipennis Harr. Abundant in low timber land, where the undergrowth is short. The long- winged form, pen- nata^ is much more abundant than the other. TRYXALIN^. Pseudopomala drachyptera Scudd. Small larvae of this species were taken May 12th, and from then until July 3rd, when the last, a full grown female pupa was found. The first adult, a male, was taken June 6th; the first female was taken July 3rd, and the last September 12th. All of these specimens were found on prairie grass principally Andropogon scoparius. Mermiria Mviitata Serv. One specimen. Dicrornorpha viridis Scudd. Rather rare. Adult males were taken July 4th and 30 th, the females mainly in August. Eritettix tricarinatus Thos. This species hibernates as nearly full grown larvae. Adults were first found April 24th and were taken from then until July 4th. Small larvae were first found the last of August and were abundant throughout the fall until into October. This species was also found on A. scoparius and occurred sparingly on the Bouteloas. Orpliula speciosa Scudd. Common from July until Septem- ber as adults on the prairie grasses. Larvae have been taken from the first of May until July. GMoealtis conspersa Harr. Adults were taken this seascn from June 17th until into September, from a moderately shaded pasture. IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 239 SteneMlirus citrtiimmis'E.d.-riv. Common; occurs at about the same time and in similar situations with 0. cequalis. Mecostitlius %)lGLtyi}terus Scudd. A single specimen collected at Little Kock, Lyon county. Swept from a meadow. Mecostitlius lineatus Scudd. Scott county. (MacNeil.) Boopedon nubilum Say. Rare. Two specimens taken in July, 189i Eremnus seudderi Bruner. Found in abundance on the top of a sandy knoll August 4th, and from then on until the middle of September. The grass on the knoll consisted almost entirely of B. Mrsuta. CEDIPODIN^. Chortophaga viridifasciata DeGeer. Adults appear by the 20 bh of April continuing abundant until the middle of the summer; larvae appear in August, becoming nearly full grown before winter. Encoptolophus sordidus Burm. Common on sandy and exposed places throughout the fall. Arpltia xanthoptera Burm. Common in open fields from the middle of August until October. ArpMa carinata Scudd. Common with the preceding. Arphia conspersa Scudd. Two specimens mentioned in the former list. ArpMa sulpMcreoj Fab. Rather rare. One male was taken May 15th, and another May 23rd. Hippiscus haldemanni Scudd. Common. Little Rock and Ames. Hippiscus tuberculatus Pal Beauv. Common in early summer. Hippiscus variegatiis Scudd. Specimens were taken abundantly from the sand knoll from August 20th to September 24tb, but were not found anywhere else. Very small larvae were found with the adults August 20th, so they must have appeared much earlier. The larvae were about one- third grown by the last of September. The smaller ones had deep red hind tibiae. Hippiscus (Xanthippus) zanotecus Sauss. Denison, July 15th; J. A. Allen (Scudder; Psyche 6-392). Dissosteira Carolina Linn. Common. Spliaragemon collare Scudd. Rare. Spharageinon Jjolli Scudd. Fairly common along margins of woods and in open places. 240 IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. Tracliijrhacliis cincta Thos. Common on sandy places and southern slopes from the middle of July until late in the fall. Trimerotropis citrina Scudd. Rather rare. Iowa City and Ames. ACRIDIAN^. BracMstola magna Girard. Only found in the western part of the state. Schistocerca americana Drury. Lee county. Probably occurs throughout the southern part of the state. Schistocerca ahitacea Harr. Isolated individuals have been found from the middle of August on through September. Schistocerca emarginata Uhl. Common along railway embank- ments and in hazel brush thickets in August and September. Either a very distinct variety of the above or else another larger species, with bright red or yellow hind tibiae, and sharply defined black lines under the eyes, was found very commonly in a low marshy place overgrown with willows the last of Sep- tember. Hesperotettix pratensis Scudd. Rare. A few examples taken from the sides of the gravel knoll from August 4th to Sep- tember 3d. Melanopjlus scudcleri Uhl. Common in dry open woods in August and September. Melanoplus occidentalis Bruner. Tnis and the two following species included for the western part of the state on the author- ity of Professor Bruner. Melanopus gracilis Bruner. Melanoplus albus Dodge. 3Ielanox)lus dijferentialis Thos. Common about roadways and margins of fields. Adults from August through October. Sometimes qaite destructive to corn. Melanoplus Mvitattus Say. Common as adults from July till October. Melanoplus packardi Scudd. One specimen August 1st. Melanoplus daivsoni Scudd. High open woods. Adults were taken from June 6th until July 7th, this season. Melanoplus amgustipennis Dodge. Iowa City and Ames. Taken from an open woods and along the margin of an adjoin- ing corn field, from the middle of August until the last of Sep- tember. Melanoplus minor Scudd. Rare. A few specimens taken August 1 Lth. IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 241 Melanoplus punctulatus Scudd. Rare. Des Moines and Ames in September. Melanoplus femur-rubrum DeGeer. Too common. Melanoplus Inridus Dodge. This species was taken abun- dantly from the knolls during July and August. Melanoplus abditum Dodge. This and the following species included on the authority of Professor Bruner. Melanoplus junius Dodge. Melanoplus atlanis Riley. Three specimens of this species were taken September 11th from a high gravel point. Melanoptlus spretus Thos. An occasional specimen of this species taken here. Phoctaloites nebrascensis Thos. Short-winged examples of this unique species fairly common on prairie grass during August and Septembei . ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Page 8, under associate members, add Grant E. Finch, West Union. “ 74, line 7, for not common read rather common. “ 75, line 3, for Physia read Physcia. “ 75, line 14, for list read lists. “ 80, line 14, for pussillus read pusillus. “ 84, bottom line, for Lepidum read Lepidium. “ 86, line 33, for Futacece read Rutacece. “ 88, line 11, for Amphicarphoe read Amphicarphma. “ 88, line 30, for Spirce read Spiraea. “ 89, line 23, for Umaerllifcroe read Lythracece. “ 90, line 7, for Cryptonoenia read Cryptotaenia. “ 91, line 16, for Veronia read Vernonia. “ 92, line 3 from bottom, for augustifolia read angustifolia. “ 113, line 10, for lepicota read lepidota. 119, line 5, for aspert read asper. “ 120, line 20, for sells read cells. “ 131, line 7, for nivilis read mollis. “ 173, line 17, for history read histories. “ 179, line 3, for synonym read synonomy. « 16 INDEX A Pre-Kansan peat bed, 63. Additional observations on the surface deposits in Iowa, 68. Anatomical study of the leaves of some species of the genus A.ndropogon, 133 AndropogOQ, anatomical study of the leaves of, 133. Anatomical study of the leaves of Era- grostis, 138. Aquatic plants from northern Iowa, notes on, 77. Ball, Garleton E. , article by, 138. Ball, E. D,, ariicle by, 334. Ball, E D., and Osb rn, H., article by, 173. Biological station, Illinois, 167. Brain, nerve cells of the shark’s, 151. Bromus, study of leaves of, 136 Bromus, a study of the leaf anatomy of some species of, 119. Calvin, S., article by, 16. Cherokee shales, 33. Oladocera, some Manitoba, with descrip- tion of one new species, 154. Oladocera of Iowa. Brief notes and new species of Daphnia, 163. Comparative study of the leaves of Lol- ium, Festuca and Bromus, 126. Contrioutions to the hemipterous fauna of Iowa, 173. Orepidoderacucumerls, probable life his- tory of, 170. Daphnia, new species of, and brief notes on other Oladocera of Iowa, 163. Deltocephalus, review of the genus, 195. Drifo section at Oelwein, 54. Eragrostis, anatomical study of the leaves of, 138. Evidence of a sub-\ftonian till sheet in northeastern Iowa, 50. Festuca, study of the leaves of, 136. Financial statement, 13. Finch, Grant E., article by, 54. Fink, B , article by, 81. Fitzpatrick, T. J., article by. 108. Flora of Fayette, Iowa, Spermaphyta of, 81 Flora of the Sioux quartzite in Iowa, 73. Formaldehyde, uses of in animai mor- phology, 147. Gas, natural, in the drift of Iowa, 41. Hemipterous fauna of Iowa, contribu- tions to, 173 0 Henrietta limestone, 33. Houser, Gilbert L , articles by, 147, 151. Jllinois Biological station, 167. Introduced plants of iowa, notes on, 110. Oassldae, life histories of, 17.3 Keyes, C. R , article by, 23. Keyes, c. R., and Rowley, R. R , article by, 36. Leonard, A. G , article by, 41, Letter of transmittal, 3. Life histories of Jassidae, 173. Lolium, study of leaves of, 136. Macbride, T. H., article by, 63. Madison county, results of recent geolog- ical work in, 47. Manitoba Oladocera, 164. Mechanism for securing cross-fertiliza- tion in Salvia lanceolata, 109. Membershio of the Academy, 7. Memorial of Charles Wachsmuth, 13. Natural gas in the drift of Iowa, 41. Mew or little known plants, 108. Nerve cells of the shark’s brain, 151. Newton, G. W., article by, 109. Notes on aquatic plants from northern Iowa, 77. Notes on some introduced plants of Iowa, 110. Officer s of the Academy, 5. Orthopterous fauna of Iowa, notes on, 334. Usborn, H., and Ball, E. D., article by, 173. Pammel, Emma, article by, 136. Pammel, L. H , article by, 110. Peat bed, Pre- Kansan, t3. Plants, new or little known, 108. Pleasanton shales, 34 Pre-Kansan peat bed, 63. Probable life history of Crepidodera cucumeris, 170. Recent geological work in Madison county, results of, 47. Report of secretary-treasurer, 13. Results of recent geological work in Mad- ison county, 47. Ross, L. S., articles by, 154. 163, 167. Rowley, R. R., and Keyes, O, R , article by, 30. Salvia lanceolata, mechanism for secur- ing cross-fertilization in, 109. Fecretarv-treasurer, report of, 13 Shark’s brain, the nerve cells of, 151. Shimak, B , articles by, 6-1, 73, 77. Sioux quartzite in Iowa, flora of, 73. Sirrine, Etnma, article by, 119. Sirrine, F. A., article by, 170. some Manitoba Oladocera, with descrip- tion of one new species, 154 Spermaphyta of the flora of Fayette, Iowa, 81. Stages of the Des Moines, or chief coal- bearing series of Kansas and south- western Missouri, and their equiva- lents in Iowa, 23. State quarry limestone, 16. Study of the leaf anatomy of some species of the genus Bromus, 119. Sub-Aftonian till sheet in northeastern Iowa, evidence of. 58. Summary of discussion, 66. Surface deposits in Iowa, additional observations on, 68. Tilton, J. L., article by, 47. Transmittal, letter of, 3. Uses of Formaldehyde in animal mor- phology, li7. Vertical range of fossils at Louisiana, 36. Wachsmuth, Charles, memorial of, 13. Weaver, C. B., article by, 133. ) It 1 t 1 i f ^ ’ i t 1 : 1. m . > 1 II ?irw' m ■ ^ m ■ b 1^ » > 1 l» t ^ » J r '• ^ ^ . r - / ^