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SERIES I. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Epitep sy C. D. WILBER , SECRETARY, And Instructor in Natural History and Geology, in the State Normal University, at Bloomington. SECOND EDITION. SPRINGFIELD: BAILHACHE & BAKER, PRINTERS, 1861. PESOS SS ee any cer BRARY OF 4 Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History | NORMAL, ILLINOIS. | Pantagraph, Bloomington, HRRATA. The attention of the reader is called to the following: Page 19, fourth line from the bottom, read ‘‘ form” for ‘‘ power ;” page 20, middle of the page, “form” for ‘‘ power” again; » age 21, fourteen lines from the bottom, read ‘‘ flame” for ‘‘ flames,” page 22, ten lines from the bo!tom, supply ‘‘ of” before ‘‘ matter ;” page 24, eighteen lines 'rom the top, read ‘‘ three ”’ for ‘‘ these ;” page 25 eighteen lines from the top, read ‘*‘ fountain ” for ‘‘ fune tinn ;” page ¥5, two lines from the bottom, read ‘‘all-perva ing FORCE ;” page 26, eleven lines from the top, omit the period and capital 8; paze 57, read ‘‘ Mollusca” for ‘f Molusca ;” page 57, ‘‘Gas- teropod” fo ‘* Gasterapod ;” page 57, ‘* Orthocerata” for ‘* Arthocerata;” page 57, ‘* Leptena” for ‘‘ Septzeena;” page 58. ‘‘ Murchisonia” for ‘‘ Marchisonia ;” page 65—plate—*‘ Luteum” for ‘*Lutem;” paze 107, ‘* Cincticoliis” for ‘t C:nctico'les ;” page 107, ‘‘Erraticus” for ‘* Erratecus,” page 109, ‘* Sanguinolentus” ‘‘Sanguinolentas;” page 114, *‘ Pensylvanica” for ‘* Pensylvanicica;” page 115, ‘‘Sericeus” for ‘‘Sericens;” page 115 ‘‘Curiosus” for ‘‘Coriosus;” page 117, ‘‘Simil's” for “Rimi'is ;” page 125, (7). ‘* Blarina” for ‘* Plarini;” page 128, ‘‘ Magnicandatus” for ‘** Canda- tus ;” page 140, ‘*Divicum” for ‘* Diwcum;” page 140 ‘‘Papaver” for ‘‘ Paparu;” 141, *“Uva-ursi” for ‘ Uva-urse; page 142, ‘‘ Asclepias” for ‘‘ Asclipias ,” page 142, ‘* Arifolium” for ‘‘ Aurifolinm ;” page 142, ‘‘ Alata” for ‘‘ Ulata ;” page 142 ‘* Pumila ” for ‘‘ Pumilia:” nage 182, ‘* Giganteur ” for ‘‘ Gigantum:” page 143, -‘ Chor ” for Chorr.” Mr. Walsh’s article on ‘‘ Insects Injurious to Vegetation,” is reprinted from the IV volume of the Illinois State Agricultural Society Transactions. Paw kt AC T.. The first volume of the Society’s Transactions is now offered to the public. It has been the aim of the Editor, to present only such articles and papers as are immediately useful and interesting to the citizens and schools of Illinois, with a hope that a zeal for the pursuits and studies of Natural Ilistory may spring up among our people, like the seeds of the sower, in the parable, falling upon good soil, and yielding, “some sixty and some an hundred fold.” In order to render the greatest good to all, the subjects have gene- rally been treated in a popular rather than a technical style. It has been said, that he who places a valuable truth or fact within the reach of the million, is doing more for humanity than he who disco- vers it. And, indeed, if scientific men, or libraries and museums, cannot contribute to the elevation of the masses who are less privi- leged, their usefulness is questionable. Humboldt, Liebig, Lyell, Davy, Silliman and Agassiz, do not rank less, because they have reduced their observations to the comprehension of ordinary men. Those who teach, in any department, must learn the alphabet com- mon to all, and then all can be educated, whether in Literature, Science or Religion. It is, therefore, unnecessary to apologize for the popular style of the present offering. It should be said, how- ever, in behalf of the authors of the several papers, that they were written in the intervals of their professions or occupations, leaving but little time for study and research. In this country we have but few professional Naturalists; and in this State, only one de- partment of Natural History has ever received public patronage, viz: Geology. The forth-coming Report of the State Geologist will not only encourage these pursuits at home, but will show that the basement of Illinois is worthy of the wonderful garden that rests upon it. Natu os Within the last few years, the advancement of science has been unparalleled. Expeditions to every part of the globe, under goy- ernment patronage, by societies and individuals, besides a host of observers at home, have furnished a vast array of interesting facts. It is an age of discovery—not of new continents—but of new truths and facts. As a consequence, the public taste is lead- ing irresistibly in the direction of Natural History, to the merited neglect of fiction and romance; and the day is near at hand, when a thorough knowledge of the principles and phenomena of Nature will be considered essential to a liberal education. In the Great West, furnished ages ago, with its millions of ready- made farms, and where Agriculture is the leading employment, these studies must receive particular and constant attention. Here every portion of Natural History can be made practical and interest- ing. AGRICULTURE 7s NATURAL HISTORY APPLIED. Geology, Botany and Zoology are its basis, and in proportion as these are understood, will there be success in farming. It is be- cause these sciences are the basis of Agriculture, that men have theoretically considered it practical; it is because it has to a great extent ignored these sciences, its true basis, and become a change- less routine, that it has been practically considered base. When the farmer studies the minerals of which his soil is composed, the plants that spring up around him, the insects that destroy—when he learns to study all the objects which abound on every hill-side, valley and prairie—farming will be a science that will daily awaken thought, a pursuit in which mind can develop, and then it will not only be among the most honorable, but the most honored, of secu- lar professions. Just in proportion as it takes this place, does it rise in dignity, and call men of culture from other pursuits. Cc. D. W. Strate Normat University, Bloomington, Oct. 30, 1861. / CONTENTS. BRORRDARS ay RIE Maers faains «edi aleie'siatare'dl = Sinie: sie aie, stokes Saisie or arelelaidie s sie o/* ala deale sie a Minp, Force anp Marrer—An Address—By Prof. J. B. Turner, Jacksonville.... 17 Tur Great Tornapo or 1860—By James Shaw, Esq., Mt. Carroll, Illinois....... 37 GrotocicaL Section or Rock River, From STERLING TO OrEGoN—By Dr. Oliver ree MPN 7 alaiei ay Waid al el G10 wot sins oioi al aye wine hain /epajelel=’a is 0 © apeioneiel dajelat ele ayaa eter 3 53 Tue Mastopon Gicantevs: Irs Remarys rv Itiinois—By C. D. Wilber, Bloomington. 59 Tue Water Lity, (Nelumbium Luteum,)—Its Mopr or Growru—By Dr. Frederick IBSEN CIO [a0 So eye be BORD OOIDE GOO DDrICe BERIC LOO OOOO CE DAP oe CONE CC ECD OOE 65 TaxipermMy—By Richard H. Holder, Bloomington.............e.eeeeeececcseees 67 Birps or Intiwois—Catalogue—By Richard H. Holder, Bloomington.............. 717 Natura History in ScHoors—By A. M. Gow, Dixon...........c0cscetseecsece 87 Oxsect Lessons—By J. Hl. Blodgett, Amboy.......... oh di a ete ot aie ne otal ol aca a he 99 Insects oF ILLINOIS, WITH CATALOGUE OF CoLKopTERA—By C. Thomas, Murphysboro.103 MamMats or Ittrnois—Catalogue—By Cyrus Thomas..........ee eee eeeeeeeeeee 123 Pian For A Natura History Survey—By Cyrus Thomas......... Se Peace ec 135 ADDITIONS TO THE Fiora or ILtinois—By Dr. Geo. Vasey, Ringwood, Illinois... ». + 1389 Museum oF THE ILtinois Stare Natcrat History Sociery.—By C. D. Wilber...... 145 Insects Insurious TO VEGETATION IN ILLINoIs—By Benjamin D. Walsh, Esq., Rock Rebates Blip isis, oo anaaiv staal vss 2a) s%s Se Yaak) Lane Stud Made HAIMA lols dai nie's! dl eraipie »..149 —/ G+ hee, be batt | os ae oe: hey a enee Pe! ae a RX : pear: biti ae 4M DIN % Fond ’ oe a ¥ $s ihe ‘ee or jean She citi 4 4 SRT OTe oe ee eee ans hae “ane wY oe Ade Oven ph Beha ts ta Fo mah. , % on bg dpa a K, , & types aes aa a ee ation nee” Me } oesiemeion ath ph patel eee] ert ih: aby oe By Re tee sg te seemless ? PERRI) isi Pama iae REP yaa! Seas 6 athe Baht Pins Ret tet. a4 tops é Dh (atria Be Raia ae : Da ee Wet ais ae Penge ARM en Pee a shee ah Teen 2 Pie bee eae geckatet wee ea Viti) pee viv ds wget ae Gatti oe Te Maat” whet © Be Laas Wea GOCE ode Wie the A ae Be hte wey thes “a fe wasane Ii Sel Spa lena Ook NES eh ves LRU apa tarE ence 2, fig ZIP OP AT agrees Ok ks Pmt uti nga aise gy ge-pprie eth te Mae he ecb f beanie 6 Py Rk DEMAS , MSTA AS OEE ome hae 604 ee he ae & na beh Be Sebel -» t MalenG ay ies F ae * Cates Pa ae ee Aniacat eT 7 ” he trae ¥ CA ch or ts 33 Sax) os Pe 2) tet Peat eo baa Fas UR, Se 2 Ee - OF Illinois State | Laboratory of Natural History cree a Pala: Pantagraph, SSS Fioomiagton, ti ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. SECRETARY’S REPORT. This Society was organized June 30th, a. p. 1858, and existed simply as an organization until February 22d, a.p. 1861, when it received its charter from the Legislature. The plan for a Society devoted to the advancement of Science in this State, was discussed at an annual meeting of the Illinois Teachers’ Association, held at Decatur, in December, a. p. 185%, on which occasion a meeting was called, to be held at the State Normal University in Bloomington, on the day preceding the an- nual examination. Said meeting—the proceedings of which are published in a preceding volume of the State Agricultural Trans- actions—resulted in the organization of this Society. The demand for this movement seemed to proceed from a want of accurate knowledge in nearly all departments of Natural His- tory in the State; and also, from a desire that all facts and discov- eries in a field so vast as Illinois, should be made immediately subservient to the great ends of popular education. The first year of our operations was occupied in securing the co- operation of naturalists who live in various parts of the State. The plans and objects of the Society were heartily endorsed by them, and each began the work peculiar to his own department, at home. This plan has been pursued until the present time, and many portions of the State have been thoroughly explored. 8 The results of these surveys and explorations have been placed in the hands of the curator, and during the last year have been arranged in the Museum of the Society, in the Normal University at Bloomington. These results demonstrate very plainly the wisdom of the move- ment. Our State is rich in nearly all departments of Natural History, and many new discoveries have been made since our sur- veys were begun. This is especially true in Botany, Entomology and Geology. Papers descriptive of new species will be published in the the next volume of the Society’s Transactions. It is justly asource of pride, that among our own citizens there are persons competent to carry on this work and give it a perma- nent character. These individuals have labored with a zeal pecu- liar to the devotees of science; and it is owing to their energy and self-sacrifice that so much has been accomplished within the past two years. It is also a source of pride as well as encouragement, that in the annals of similar societies, we do not find an instance of such rapid progress—the example for which, however, had been previously set by the State for which the Society exists. It is unnecessary to say that many obstacles have been met and overcome, and that many still remain. With what labor or toil the Society has come to its present prosperity, let us not now de- clare. In nature the forces and energies that control matter, are silent and latent; andit is wise to imitate nature, in this as in other respects. As in the days past, the people still ask ‘“cwe bono?” which must be answered; and still seek for a sign, which must be given. It requires considerable time to undergo public examination and to meet its approval and co-operation; and it is most gratifying to know that they not only see and approve, but are willing to co- operate for the complete success of our plans and purposes. The following papers were prepared—most of them—for the last meeting of the Society, and have since been revised for publica- tion in this report. They consist of: I. Munn, Force anp Marrer—An Address—By Pres. J. B. Turner, Jacksonville. IJ. Tue Great Tornapo or 1860—By James Shaw, Esq., Mt. Carroll, Illinois, III. Gxronoeicat Section or Rock River, FRoM STERLING TO OrEGon—By Dr. Oli- ver Everett, Dixon. Ee ee ee ee ee ee XU. XU ml Vie 9 Tur Mastopon GieanrEus—Is Rematns 1N ILtinois—By C. D. Wilber, Bloom- ington. Tur Warer Lity, (Nelwmbium Luteum,)—Irvs Mopr or Growra—By Dr. F. Brendel, Peoria. TaxmwErMy—By Richard H. Holder, Bloomington. Brrps or Intinois—Catalogue—By Richard H. Holder, Bloomington. Narurat History 1 Scnooots—By A. M. Gow, Dixon. Oxsect Lessons—By J. H. Blodgett, Amboy. Insects oP ILLinoIs, WITH CATALOGUE OF CoLkopTrERA—By Cyrus Thomas, Murphysboro. Mammaxs or ILtinois—Catalogue—By Cyrus Thomas. Puan For A Natura History Survey—By Cyrus Thomas. Appitions To THE FLora oF ItLinoIs—By Dr. Geo. Vasey, Ringwood, Illinois. Museum oF THE ILLINoIs Stare Natura History Sociery.—By C. D. Wilber. ~ A copy of the charter and constitution of the Society, and the resolutions and reports of committees, together with a list of offi- cers, are also added. C. D. WILBER, Secretary. Bioominaton, Afarch 4, 1861. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. The following are the Board of Officers of the Society for the ensuing year: PRESIDENT. J. B. TURNER, Jacksonville. VICE-PRESIDENTS. Dr. OLIVER EVERETT, Dixon; Dr. FREDERICK BRENDEL, Peoria; Dr. SAMUEL ADAMS, Jacksonville ; Hon. A. 8. MILLER, Rockford ; Dr. EDMUND ANDREWS, Chicago ; D. H. BRUSH, Carbondale ; Hon. NEWTON BATEMAN, Springfield; J. F. JACQUES, Quincy ; ‘Hon. M. L. DUNLAP, Champaign. SECRETARY. C. D. WILBER, Bloomington. TREASURER AND CURATOR. R. H. HOLDER, Bloomington. LIBRARIAN. IRA MOORE, Bloomington. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. C. D. BRAGDON, C. T. CHASE, A. M. GOW, Dr. GEO. VASEY, JAMES BOOTH. 11 COMMISSIONS. BOTANY. Dr. GEO. VASEY, Ringwood, McHenry M. 8. BEBB, Springfield ; county ; Dr. F. BRENDEL, Peoria ; E. HALL, Athens, Menard county ; Dr. S. B. MEAD, Augusta. GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. C. D. WILBER, Bloomington ; Rev. 0. D. W. WHITE, Mt. Carroll J. W. FOSTER, Chicago; Dr. OLIVER EVERETT, Dixon. PALA ONTOLOGY. A. H. WORTHEN, Springfield ; Dr. M. DAVIS, Oswego, Kendall county ; J. P. REYNOLDS, Springfield ; JAMES SHAW, Mt. Carroll. CONCHOLOGY. J. W. POWELL, Wheaton ; M. S. BEBB, Springfield ; Dr. LUCIUS CLARK, Rockford ; Dr. E. R. ROE, Bloomington ; E. HALL, Athens. ENTOMOLOGY. B. D. WALSH, Rock Island ; Dr. J. A. SEW ALL, Bloomington ; CYRUS THOMAS, Murphysboro ; H. W. BOYD, Bloomington ; Dr. WM. Le BARON, Geneva. HERPETOLOGY. ROBT. KENNICOTT, West Northfield; U. D. EDDY, Bloomington ; J. JOHNSON, Vienna. ICHTHYOLOGY. Dr. ADAM NICHOLS, Quincy ; Dr. WM. H. GITHENS, Hamilton ; Dr. L. WATSON, Quincy. MAMMALOGY, WM. P. GEARHARD, Murphysboro ; CYRUS THOMAS, Murphysboro. ORNITHOLOGY. R. H. HOLDER, Bloomington ; Dr. J. W. VELIE, Rock Tsland ; A. M. GOW, Dixon. METEOROLOGY. A. HALL, Athens; Rey. W. W. HARSHA, Dixon; Dr. SAMUEL WILLARD, Bloomington; JAMES SHAW, Mt. Carroll. DRAWING AND PAtNTING—(Natural History.) J. E. BRYANT, Bloomington. 12 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY. Dr. Roe, of Bloomington, reported the following: 1. That it shall contain all available works on the Natural Sciences, Home and For- eign Surveys, Manuals, Works of Reference in the several departments, Miscellaneous Works, not strictly scientific, Maps and Charts, ete. 2. That the Commissions appointed in the several departments, in the service of this Society, be requested to furnish a list of such books as are needed in this work. 8. That this library be held exclusively for the use of the members, and that the Commissions and Agents of the Society shall be permitted to borrow the books for a short period of time. 4, It shall be the duty of the Librarian to arrange the books of the Society, to make and keep a catalogue of the same, to keep a record of the books drawn from the library as directed by the Society, and report to the Society at its annual meeting. 5. That the Society devote all moneys obtained by donations and memberships to this important object, except so much as are necessary for expenses. AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. The following is the Report of the Committee on Auxiliary So- cieties : Resolved, That we encourage the formation of Auxiliary Natural History Societies in the counties, schools, colleges and towns of this State, whose object it shall be to de- velop the Natural History of their localities, and to awaken an interest in the study of Natural Science. Resolved, That for the purpose of creating and extending the taste for the subject of Natural History, of stimulating those interested inthe collection of specimens in the various departments, and of further promoting a system of exchanges, the Illinois Nat- ural History Society offers to Auxiliary Societies the following premiums : 1. For the largest and best collection of fossils, illustrating the Geology of any sec- tion, an exchange of fossils illustrating the Geology of the State, containing at least double the number of species presented by the competitors. 2. Botany.—For the largest and best Botanical collection, illustrating the Flora of any section, an exchange illustrating at least the genera of the State. Mineralogy. Conchology. Entomology. At least double the numher of varieties. Herpetology. Like premiums to be offered. Ichthyology. , . Ornithology. | G0 IG Ot ge Resolved, That the competitors for the above premiums shall have their collections on hand at the next meeting, and present them as the property of the Society, and that the Society shall appoint a committee or committees to make the awards above men- tioned, and that the premiums be prepared and sent to the Auxiliary Society to which they may be awarded at the earliest opportunity, the Cummittee being judge in any case whether the collection is worthy of the premium offered. — 13 Resolved, That the officers of Auxiliary Societies be Honorary Members of this So- ciety, who may co-operate with the Society and be entitled to all the privileges of mem- bership, except the right of voting. JAMES SHAW, B. D. WALSH, + Committee. A. M. Gow. — J : RESOLUTIONS. The Committee on Resolutions, by C. D. Bragdon, Chairman, reported the following resolutions: . Wueneas the dignity and position of this organization, as well as the utility of its work, depends largely, perhaps primarily, upon the collection and record of facts, as well as specimens, illustrating the same ; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend that working members, commissioners, and others co- operating, keep a detailed diary of their observations in their respective departments, and report a condensed summary of the same to the Society, to be placed on file and published in its reports. Resolved, That it is expedient that we hereafter refuse to hear or accept verbal reports from the different commissions or officers of this Society. 1. Resolved, That the Natural History of the country is of sufficient importance to all interests to warrant every effort on the part of educationists, everywhere, to promote its more general study, and the diffusion of a knowledge of it. 2. Resolved, That as auxiliary to this work, we recommend the organization of Nat- ural History Societies, and the collection of cabinets, in counties, towns, and public and private schools, to co-operate with this Society ; and we hereby pledge to such our co-operation and assistance. 3. Resolved, That we recommend, in the education of teachers, a careful attention to their qualification to teach, practically, the Natural Sciences in all our schools. 4. Resolved, That we hail with gratification, and commend every effort on the part of authors and publishers to simplify Natural Science, and adapt text books to the needs and capacity of pupils in our common schools. 5. Resolved, That the work of the Illinois Natural History Society is so far identical with the industrial interests of the State as to render it not only politic but imperative that the Executive Committee of this Society adopt measures to secure their further co-operation. 6. Resolved, That a scientific survey of the State, in all the departments of Natural History, for the purpose of securing a more general knowledge of its agricultural and mineral resources, is a matter of vital importance to the people of Illinois, and worthy legislative action in furnishing means to do it economically and successfully. 4. Resolved, That this Society is largely indebted to the railroads of the State, for facilities afforded its working members in the prosecution of their work, and for this recognizance of the practical utility of the work of the Society on the part of these corporations. 8. Resolved, That we hereby express our appreciation of the services, and indorse- ment of the action of Superintendent Wilber, and the working members, in their efforts to promote the interests of this Society, and the diffusion of the knowledge of Natural History among the people of the State. 14 CONSTITUTION. The following is the Constitution of the Illinois Natural History Society, as amended and adopted at the late session : Arr. I. This Society shall be called the Natural History Society of Mlinois. Arr. II. Its field of observation and research shall comprise Geology, Meteorology, Botany, Zoology, Comparative Anatomy, and Vegetable and Animal Physiology. Arr. III, The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, nine Vice-Presi- dents, Treasurer, Secretary, Librarian, Curator, and Executive Committee, to be elect- ed annually. Art. IV. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all regular meetings. In his absence one of the Vice-Presidents shall preside. Art. V. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the Society, such as fees of membership, donations, &c., and disburse the same as directed, upon the written order of the Executive Committee. Arr. VI. The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Society; shall file all papers read before the Society; shall visit different portions of this and other States; make collections of specimens; attend to exchanges with various Societies ; es- tablish a system of co-operation, and labor to incite a general interest in the study of Natural History. Arr. VII. All specimens shall be labeled, registered and deposited in the Museum of the State Normal University. Arr. VIIL Any resident of the State of Illinois may become a member of this So- ciety on the payment of five dollars, if elected by a majority of the members present at any regular meeting, provided, the names of candidates for membership shall, in all cases, be presented on the recommendation of two members of the Society. Art. IX. Each regular member shall pay an annual assessment of one dollar, after the first year of his membership. Art. X. The Executive Committee shall consist of five members, to be selected by the Society. This Committee shall take charge of and act upon all matters referred to them by the Society. Art. XI. The Curator shall receive and take charge of all collections and contri- butions of specimens, and arrange them in such place as shall be provided by the So- ciety. i Art. XII. All regular meetings of this Society shall be held in the city ef Bloom- ington, on the day preceding the Annual Examination at the Normal University. Art. XIII. This Constitution may be amended or changed by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any annual meeting of the Society. 15 CHARTER. AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Srction 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the Gene- ral Assembly, That Cyrus Thomas of Jackson county, Benjamin D. Walsh of Rock Island, J. B. Turner of Morgan, Samuel Adams of Morgan, J. W. Powell of DuPage, John P. Reynolds of Sangamon, James Shaw of Carroll, Frederick Brendel of Peoria, Robert Kennicott of Cook, Edmund Andrews of Cook, George Vasey of McHenry, Oliver Everett of Lee, A. M. Gow of Lee, Richard H. Holder of McLean and C. D. Wilber of McLean, and their associates and successors forever, are hereby created a body corporate and politic, under the name and style of the Illinois Natural History Society, and by that name shall have perpetual succession and shall have power to contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, within all courts of competent jurisdiction; to receive, acquire and hold real and personal prop- erty and effects suitable to the carrying out of the objects of said society; to havea common seal and alter the same at their pleasure; to make and adopt such constitution, regulations and by-laws as they may deem requisite and proper for the government of said society, not contrary to the constitution and laws of this State or of the United States, and to alter and amend the same at pleasure; and to have and exercise all pow- ers and privileges usual and incident to the trustees of corporations. Src. 2. The object and purpose of said society shall be to conduct and complete a scientific survey of the State of Illinois in all the departments of natural history, and to establish a museum of natural history at the State Normal University, comprising every species of plants, insects, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, shells, minerals and fossils, within our State limits, as far as can be obtained, comprising also such other collections of natural history, from various parts of the world, as may be deemed necessary by said society. . Sec. 3. Said natural history society shall also provide for a library of scientific works, reports of home and foreign surveys, manuals, maps, charts, etc., etc., such as may be useful in determining the fauna and flora of Illinois, and said library shall be kept in the museum of said society at the State Normal University. Sec. 4. The museum of said natural history society shall be for the use of the members thereof, and for the citizens and schools of Illinois, and shall be accessible to the students of the State Normal University, under such regulations as may be adopted by the trustees of this society, and the board of instruction of said university. Sec. 5. A full and complete set of specimens in every department of natural his- tory, donated to the society or obtained by exchange, purchase or otherwise, shall for- ever be and remain in the museum of said society. Sec. 6. At all stated and other meetings called by the president and five trustees, five trustees shall constitute a quorum: Provided, all shall have been notified. The persons named in the first section of this act shall constitute the first board of trustees; and said board shall be divided into three classes of five members, and shall hold their offices for one, two and three years respectively. All vacancies occurring in the board of trustees shall be filled at the regular annual meeting of the members of said society by an election, which shall be by ballot, and shall require a majority of the members present. Sec. 7. The constitution and by-laws of said society now in operation, so far as they are not inconsistent with this act, shall govern the corporation hereby created, 16 until regularly altered or repealed by the society, and the present officers of said society shall be the officers of the corporation hereby created until their respective terms of office shall regularly expire or be vacated. Sec. 8. The property of said corporation, both real and personal, shall forever be and remain free from taxation. Sec. 9. This act is hereby declared a public act, and shall be in force on and after its passage. SHELBY M. CULLOM, Speaker of the House of Representatives. FRANCIS A. HOFFMAN, Speaker of the Senate. Approyrep February 22, 1861: RICHARD YATES, Governor. POWER, FORCE AND MATTER: THEIR DIVERSITY, UNITY, SIMPLICITY AND HARMONY, THE BASIS OF ALL SCIENCE AND ALL KNOWLEDGE. A Discourse delivered at the Anniversary of the Illinois Natural History Society, at Bloomington, June, 1860: By J. B. Turner, President of the Society. It is well on all subjects, sometimes to recur to fundamental principles and consider to what final results these would carry us, if unsparingly applied to all objects of research or of thought.— Especially is this appropriate in our investigations of the Laws of Nature; for, by this method alone, can we know whether our assumed principles are true or false, and what we are to expect in their future application to phenomena still unknown, or but im- perfectly apprehended and classified under these general axioms or truths The most rigorous application of our assumed axioms to un- known as well as known phenomena, although in one aspect it may be simply theorizing, inasmuch as it may indicate a probable theory of these phenomena, in another aspect it is only a proper test- ing of the truth or falsehood of these axioms themselves. In either view, however inappropriate it may seem to the mere pedantic smatterer in science, it cannot be uninteresting to the true philoso- pher. Ihave thought, therefore, that it would neither be improper nor unacceptable, on the present occasion, to call the attention of this association to the probable ULTIMATE AND UTTER SIMPLICITY OF NATURE, OF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE OF Gop, as a necessary logical 2 epiaaren of the fundamental axioms of the Baconian Philoso- y: None can be more fully aware of the difficulty of presenting such a subject, than the members of this association; and none can lament my incompetency to the task more deeply than myself’; but with that indulgence which confessed ignorance may always claim from the truly wise, I will endeavor to present an outline —s 18 both of my thoughts and of my doubts in a somewhat intelligible form; with less regard to the technical terms and theories of ex- tant science, or the demands of either precision of thought or ele- gance of style, than to the present necessities of a miscellaneous audience. What then is the wltimate axiom of the Baconian or Modern Philosophy? It is the assumption of the absolute simplicity of the law of causation—or the doctrine that all effects are produced by simple and not by a complex causation. This doctrine is based on the observation of the entire simplicity of causation, so far as our knowledge has as yet extended, or the extreme unity and simplicity of those causes which, at all points, are found to underlie and produce the boundless phenomenal vari- ety of the Creator’s works. And the philosophic rule, derived from this, is, never to assume but one cause where that is adequate to the result. Is this fundamental doctrine and its resultant rule, correct? and, if so, SHALL we, DARE we, apply it to all known being and phe- nomena? But, if not so applicable, it is not, of course, correct, and should be at once abandoned, as untenable; or, at least, should be so far limited and explained, as to indicate, truly, precisely how much we do mean, and what we do not mean, by it. And even if this discourse should have no other use it may provoke thought and incite a more careful scrutiny on this point. | It is selfevident that we know but three generic forms of exis- tence or of being in the Universe of God. To designate these by the old and more common terminology, we should call the first or or lowest in the order, marreR; the second, the meonDERABLE AGENTS, such as light, heat, electricity, etc.; and third, the vorun- TARY AGENTS, such as men, animals, beasts, birds, ete. The per- ceived peculiarity of the first, or of MATTER, is, FORM and its ATTENDANTS; that of the second, is simple FORCE, capacity of producing motion, or tendency toward motion, and its attendants; that of the third class, is POWER of thought and of will; in higher or lower degrees; or, POWER of will and its attendants and results; or, perhaps, better, smmPLE SELF-MovING PowER. By a shorter terminology, then, I will name these three generic forms of all known being: MATTER, producing form, and its attendants; FORCE, producing motion, and its attendants; and POWER, producing thought and will, and their attendants and results. I might then, perhaps, here say,that simple MATTER, FORC and MIND, include all known things; except that it would be straining the usual signification of mind, to make it embrace all those lower orders of being, which seem to have some power of thought or of will; and it is not clear, to say the least, that any form of voluntary being, belongs to, or results from, mere MATTER and ForcE; though it may beso. For, though this voluntary princi- 19 ple, or power, of will or of thought, seems to exist in three dis- tinct forms:—in connexion with reason and conscience, as in the case of moral beings; in connexion with intelligence or thought, in greater or less degrees, as in the higher orders of animal life; and, in connexion with bare instinct, in still lower orders—we still, know nothing about it, except that it is a mere PpowER, of some sort, manifesting volition or thought and will—just as Forcr is known only as the cause prodncing motion. But, on the other hand, we can scarce resist the impression, that matter must consist of atoms or elements, though actually known only as the cause of form and its attendants. And thus matter, stripped of its phe- nomenal adjunct of form, presents itself to us as simple aroms; and then we have in the world, only Aroms, Forces and powERs— the one producing, (or, perhaps better, merely presenting or re- sulting in,) all rorm; the next, producing all motion and change of place or form; and the last producing all thought and will—the great Trinity of Universal Science and Nature—the first, the prox- imate cause of all form; the second, the proximate cause of all motion or change; and the third, the proximate cause of all thought and all will; and, in its highest manifestations, the great first cause of, or rather power producing, all things—all motion—all change— all matter—all everything. The two first of these, matter and force, belong to the realm of the properly natural, or the realm of natural and necessary causation; the last, or powER of will belongs to the realm or sphere of the supernatural, and lies, at least so far as we know or can see, wholly outside of the realm of necessary causation, and within the realm of voluntary self-determining, selt- controlling power—existing, as indeed as do, also, matter and force, under an infinite variety of phenomenal aspects; or, rather, work- ing with infinitely diversified degrees and aspects of power; but ever, still as an original, spontaneous and independent fountain or source of powER, however small or large; and holding within itself, in its own inherent nature, the cause of its own action; and not, like matter and force, moving only as it is acted upon by some cause from without. But as matter, force, and power or mind, must all alike have an appropriate sphere of action, so also, in each alike, this sphere of action is not the cause of their action. Jor exam- ple:—as matter must have space, as its sphere of action, or it can- not exhibit its phenomena of form; and as force must have matter to act upon, as its sphere or occasion of action, or it cannot produce its phenomena of motion, or of tendency toward motion—so this power, this ORIGINAL SELF-DETERMINING and SELF-CONTKOLLING POW- ER of will, or mind, must have its proper sphere or occasion of ac- tion, or MATTER to act upon and Force to act with, or something to choose and to do, or it cannot exhibit its peculiar phenomenal power. But space is not the cause of power, nor is matter the cause of force, nor are all together the cause of volition or of the action of this PowER of will or mind, but only the instruments or the occasions which render such action possible. 20 An precisely here, I pause to make my lowest bow to good old Jonathan Edwards and his erudite disciples, and bid them God speed. For it is self-evident that neither matter nor force of any sort, or in any form have any more tendency or even appetency to control mind, or will or powkr, in the true sense of the terms, than space has to control form, or inert matter to control force. And the only answer to the question “what causes this mind, this pow- ER, to act so and so?” which we can give, is simply this: “God made it, not a form, or a force, but a PowER, in its own nature and sphere capable of such action—just as he made force capable of its own natural action upon matter, and matter capable of voce] form in space.” In other words, the natural only, or MATTER an FORCE, are governed by laws of causation; but the supernatural, or mind, will, real powrR, is governed only by the laws of volition or the laws of the supERNATURAL—which are neither laws of form or of force or of causation, in any such sense as is ever implied in the realm of the natural. If now we look over the world of sense, we shall find all its in- finitely varied and wondrous phenomena, at any given moment, to consist simply of matter, in its various forms and its attendant colors—though color probably belongs to the order of force rather than of matter—and whatever change, either of form, or of size, or place, occurs in these atoms of matter—whether from without or from within—whether of growth or of decay—is the result of some FORCE, astronomical, mechanical or chemical, producing or tending toward motion; and these can no more be changed, without force, producing motion, than there can be power without matter. The question, then, here arises—are these two all-producing, all-em- bracing elements of all being, and all change in the physical world, simple or complex ?—each a unit, in itself, or multiform and varied? It is not enowgh to say that the books give us a great many kinds of matter, anda great variety of forces ; for the ques- tion is—how do the books know? and on what authority do the books contradict the very axioms, on the basis of which they themselves are professedly written? Is their doctrine of the sim- plicity of nature, and of causes, to be retained or abandoned? That is the question? If it is to be rigorously retained, then we come, at once, to a view of the utter unity and simplicity of nature, that is most sublime and astounding, and still just what he who knows how simple gravity wheels all suns and spheres and atoms should be prepared to expect—and certainly many of our best writers and thinkers admit the possibility, if not the certainty, of this entire simplicity of matter. ee It is generally conceded, then, that matter consists of atoms, or, as they are sometimes called, elements; and it is also quite gen- erally supposed that we know of more than one elemental, or ulti- mate, or atomic, form of matter. But do we know this? or only assume it, without any ground of confidence, and strictly against all our axioms and analogies, derived from other sources? Some 21 have supposed that at least two ultimate or atomic forms of matter must exist, or else there could be no combination and no change, producing all the varied phenomena of the material world. But suppose that the ultimate atoms of matter are all one and the same— all, if you please, perfectly regular in their shape, like the eggs of the same bird or fowl or insect; still it is susceptible of mathemat- ical demonstration that the forms into which these ultimate atoms may be piled or congregated, by simply varying the angles of their axis, or their relative distances apart, or both, is absolutely infinite: Thus—take the above mentioned form of matter, which we can most easily conceive of, as an illustration—the egg of a fowl. All can perceive that by varying the angles of their incidence, and their relative distances from each other, the forms in which they may be piled or congregated are absolutely infinite, producing as many forms of piles as there can be forms of matter in the uni- verse of God—however many there may be. I shall soon show how Force, or the second great agent in nature, acts upon these atoms of matter, to determine all their relative positions and dis- tances apart, in all their possible aggregations and changes. But one element or phase of this universal force is what we call heat; and the universal effect of this form of force, as it is exerted on all the atoms of matter, well illustrates, at this point, my idea. You take solid ice, and apply the force of heat, and you soon have the yielding fluid, water, from the same identical solid atoms. These same atoms, constituting ice, have now, under the application of this new force—the force of heat—changed both their form and their color, and appear like quite another substance. Apply still more of this new force of heat to this now melted ice, and you have eerial vapor, with the dew, the cloud, the fog, and the rain- bow—all still out of your solid ice. Apply more force of heat still, and you have a form of fiery gas out of your inert and slug- gish ice, which whirls armies and navies over continents and oceans—grinds granite mountains to powder, and chews up solid iron bars as a horse chews straw. Apply a little more, still, of this new force of heat to your inert ice, and you have an explosion of burning flames, for which we still lack a descriptive name, and, therefore, call it hot steam-—hotter than the flame of gunpowder itself, and so uncontrollable, impetuous, and omnipotent, in its ac- tion and effects, that the whole solid globe itself connot restrain or control it. Now, no one supposes that the atoms or elements of the gas, the steam, the fog, the water, and the ice, are different ; for we know that they are not, but that these same atoms assume entirely new forms and relations, under this new disposing rorch— or FORCE Of HEAT. And precisely similar results follow in the case of all other forms of matter, when subjected to the same force—or force of heat. These very familiar examples show how all possible forms of matter may, at least, be constituted from one and the same kind of ultimate atoms, as easily as from two or more kinds. And un- til we give up our axiom, as regards the simplicity of causes, it is strict- 22 ly unphilosophical to suppose that there is, in reality, but one ulti- mate atomic form of matter; since to attribute more than one sim- ple cause, where one is adequate to the whole result, is, in science, UNPHILOSOPHICAL, if not absurd. But it may be asked—have not chemists demonstrated that there are more elements of matter than one, even in this water itself? I answer no. It is a point that never has been, and, in the nature of things, never can be demon- strated; for we can never declare any form of matter whatever to be simple, till we resolve all matter into its ultimate atoms. Till then, all we can truly say, in any case, is, that we cannot yet declare it compound—that is, cannot yet analyze it into any simpler form than itself. But not knowing and absolutely knowing are two very different things; though, unfortunately, some seem still to consider them the same. Again—it may be asked—is not your new force, or force of heat, by which you work these vast changes in the case supposed, ma- terial, or only another form of matter? I answer—I have no more reason to suppose that heat is matter, in any proper sense of the term—that is, that it consists of atoms, like other matter—than I | have to consider mind, soul, and thought, as matter. Matter is, properly speaking, only that which consists of atoms, and necessa- rily assumes form. Force is that which, without either known atoms or form, necessarily produces motion or change; and these two have absolutely nothing, in common, so faras we know. And as there is no force in mere inert atoms, to produce either motion or change, so there are no atoms in force which can assume form— no more than thought itself can assume physical form or exert physical foree—at least so far as we yet know. True, any one hass aright to extend the meaning of the terra matter, so as to em- brace what are commonly called the “imponderable agents,” which I here call simple rorcr; but; if so, he ought at least to be aware that he, by such definition, pushes the term marreR wholly out of. its usual and well known sense—as truly so as he would the term “cast ron,” if, by arbitrary definition, he should so extend its mean- ing as to make it embrace human souls and bodies; for, so far as we know, these imponderable agents—this universal force, (or these forces, if you please)—have not even so much in common with mere matter as cast-iron has in common with human beings; for we know that there isiron in some form in the body—but there is neither form, the essential matter in foree—nor motion, the es- sential of force in matter alone—even in the smallest degree, so far as we know. And by what logic or rhetoric things totally dissim- ilar should be put under the same name I cannot conceive. Still further—the question is sometimes asked, whether mind itself’ is matter. We might just as rationally ask if it is pewter or block tin or cast-iron.” It can be neither, except by the most arbitrary definition. Between that pownr, whatever it is, and whatever we may choose to call it, which produces thought and will, and that rorcE 23 which produces motion, and those aroms or matter which produce forms, there is absolutely not even the slightest resemblance, either in their essence, their modes of action or their uniform effects—so far, at least, as we know or have any reason to believe. If, therefore, we profess, at all, to class and call different things by different names, we must keep each of these classes, both in name and thought, entirely distinct—at least till we find between them some common idea or element. Otherwise we might just as well call them by arbitrary defini- tion, all together—all as one “granite,” or “plumb pudding,” or “wild geese,” and cease, at once, from all possible reasoning and inquiry about them. For power, producing thought and will— and rorcr, producing motion—and Marrer, producing form, are indeed the only three things, known to us in the whole world of things and of thought, that are, ar ALL Pornrs—in essence, func- tion and effect—totally distinct and unlike. Why, then, confound or misname or misconceive them ? It might, with far yreater plausibility, be assumed that each atom or particle of matter is, in and of itself, invested with a pecu- liar force, which impels it to move and act, under all conditions, as it does; that is, that this force, producing all motion and all change, is attached inseparably to the atoms which it moves, so as to be- come, in all cases, an inherent instead of an external and indepen- dent force, acting from within instead of from without upon the particles. But if so, the inert atom is still one thing—the thing of mere place and form; while the inherent force is quite another thing—the thing of all motion, all change, all life and all death, and in thought we must separate them, even if znseparable in fact. But if L have not said enough to show the probability, if not the certainty, of the absolute simplicity of matter, it is still best to con- sider, at this point, the simplicity of rorcn, or of that which pro- duces all motion and all change. For it is self-evident that there can be no change without motion, and no motion without force or a cause producing it; and as we have, in accordance with general usage, called the cause producing form, MATTER, so now, in obedi- ence to the same usage, we call the cause producing motion or change, Force. Is force, then, in the created universe, simple or complex 4 ‘“‘ How absurd the question!” says one. ‘Does not common sense teach us all that force is infinitely complex and various? Do we not all see, with our own eyes, chemical forces, mechanical forces, and astronomical; the force of gravity, electricity, magnet- ism—of attraction and repulsion; the force of wind, water, steam, and muscle, in all their thousand varied forms? How absurd, then, to speak of force as a simple unit, even granting that matter is but one varied aggregate of simple atoms!” But stop one moment, my friend. Just now, you was equally sure of multitudinous ultimate forms of matter. You had your oxygens and hydrogens—your nitrogens and carbons—your metals 24 and gasses—all neatly boxed up and labeled, in your laboratories and books, as an indefinite number of simple forms of matter. We have already, I trust, emptied some of these empyrical vials—or, at least, written, in fair, legible hand, on their labels, “ unknown,” though, by every rule acknowledged by either man or God, pre- sumed to be simple; and, by the same great law of simplicity and unity, this seemingly multiform rorce should be confessed a simple unit—at least, till the contrary is proved. But let us go back, for one moment, and consider again these three phenomena: MIND, ForcE and MATTER. Mzrnn, as the origi- nal cause of all things; and roroz, as the mere right hand of mind or proximate cause of all change; and martnr, as the element or mere vehicle which, in space, makes all change, all motion, all force, all mind, cognizable to sense. Here is your man with his tea-kettle or boiler, if you please, and his ice. He kindles his fire: for the fire or the heat can no more germinate itself, without some controlling or directing powEr, than the ice can melt itself. Now, we have got just these things together: the man, or an original, self-moved or self-moving powER; the heat, or a rorcy through which this power—this mind and will of man, may act on matter; and the matter, in the form of ice, on which both minp and Forces, and power and causation may act. Here is powEr—self-moved, self-directing power—in the mind and will of the man, or power Of ORIGINAL, SPONTANEOUS CAUSATION, or causation assignable to no force from without the man himself—an independent fountain (so to speak) of force, which we will call, for the sake of distinctness, POWER—A POWER—to separate it from all other force as such. Second: we have simple FoRCE or PROXIMATE CAUSATION in the form of heat; and third: we have the zce, or a form of matter, on which this power of mind or will, or of original causation, can act through, and only through some form of force or some form of proximate causation—in this case, the force of heat. Now, mark: This original, spontaneous power—the power of mind—wills to create or apply the force of heat. The heat yields obedience to this original source of power, and necessarily acts upon the ice according to its own laws of proximate causation, and throws it now into the form of water, now into that of vapor, or dew, or rainbow, or explosive gas—according as the first cause, or power, or directing mind, or will, ordains. Now, this is precisely what, and only what takes place in all forms of motion or of change of life, or of decay and death, in all cases whatever in which we know ALL the elements and causes of such motion or change. There is always, first: a powER of mind or will of some voluntary being, human or animal—as a power or fountain of causation. Second: some form of rorcx applied or directed by this voluntary agent or porer and, third: the form of matter upon which this force acts. ‘e notice that in this case the force applied is simple heat, and the result is varied in proportion to the intensity of its application. Now, if the power of man, with his limited faculties, by the applica- 25 tion of the single and simple force of heat, can throw a lump of ice into all these multiform and varied forms, who can doubt the power of God, by the same simple force, under different degrees and aspects, to produce on matter all] its varied results ? Again—the Indian or the archer wills to pull his bow-string. This power of will sets in motion a Froxce in the muscle of his arm ; that force moves the bow-string, and that again moves the bow, and that the arrow—which cleaves the air and causes the death of a sparrow, or a hero, asthe case may be. Here, again, isan origi- nal power—the power of will—setting in motion a series of forces, animal and natural, determining life and death, or, it may be, the fate of armies and empires. But, as in all other possible cases, here is only, jist, a self-moving power of some voluntary being— second, rorcx or forces set in motion or action by such power, and the MATTER on which this original power and its obedient force or forces act. And as we find force the sole cause of motion, or change, or PROXIMATE causation, in all cases fully known to us, we find the will of voluntary beings, the sole functions of original causation—the sole sELF-ORIGINATING PowER. And as there is no tendency, so far as we know, in mere matter to produce motion, so there is no more tendency in mere force to act in any way, except in so far as it is acted upon, or moved by some voluntary power or original spontaneous source of causation—under the genera of mind, will, voluntary being, or whatever other name you please to give it; and we have no analogy or well authenticated example whatever of any real or possible change produced without these three con- current causes of all known change—marreR yielding to force, of some sort, and rorcg, directed and controlled or set in motion or action by mind, will, powrr or voluntary action of a voluntary being of some sort. Hence, it will appear why I termed marrEeR the cause of form, and Force the cause of motion or change, and MIND, or power, the great first cause of force, of motion, and of all things—the sole and only fountain of original spontaneous power, at least so far as we as yet know. ‘True, we call this universal force by different names, according to the conditions of its action and the things it acts upon; but in all cases, alike, we know noth- ing whatever of it, except it is a sumple Forox, and have not the least reason to suppose it complex in any case more than in the case of heat supposed; and it would be just as philosophical, in this case of supposed heat, to speak of one force of thawing or melting and another foree of expanding, boiling, evaporating, exploding, ete., according as the ice was made to melt, evaporate or explode, as it now is, to speak of the forces of heat, light, elec- tricity, etc.; for we know absolutely nothing of any one of these, except simply that it is A rorce producing certain results, widely different, indeed, as in the other case, but no more necessarily from different forces; while our ultimate law or rule of causation should impcl us to speak of this all-pervading, (as in the case of matter,) as simple—a simple unit—till we have at least some reason to sup- 26 pose the contrary; especially if in our observations of nature we ever keep finding new facts and hints, which point toward this same simplicity of causation or of force. True, in popular lan- » guage, it is well enough to speak of “‘water-falls” and “wind-falls” and “down-falls” of all sorts, and of force of heat, light; electricity, life, death, gravity, polarity, ete, or of a force of Ses teings evapo- rating and exploding, provided we do not philosophically deceive ourselves and others by our terminology; and constantly remem-. ber that, as it is one simple force which produces water-falls, and wind-falls, and rain-falls, and one force that melts and evaporates and explodes. So in all other cases, our real knowledge does not extend one item beyond this single idea of simple force, producing varied results, in any case whatever; while many items in our knowledge, as well as the constant developments of science, and, above all, the fundamental rule or law of all science—the great rule of simplicity of causation—should compel us to speak of and regard all force, of whatever sort, as a simple unit—simple force—produ- cing varied results; which is in fact all we know about it—and we only deceive ourselves when our terminology leads us to think otherwise. Butit may be asked—what causes rorce to move, or MIND Or VOLUNTARY AGENTS to will—to act? All we know is, that it is the essential nature of force to move—-that is to act as a FORCE, whenever brought in contact with matter to be moved or to be acted upon. And it is the essential nature of mind or of voluntary be- ings to will and to act asa self-moving PowER, wherever there are forces, which this power desires thus to set in motion or action—or matter which it desires to act upon. But as the matter does not cause the force which moves it, andis only the necessary occasion, the instrument of its action, sono more does force cause the action” of the mind or will, but is only the occasion or instrument which renders its action possible. ; In this view of the case matrerR is the mere plaything of force, and Foro: itself is the mere plaything or instrument of superemi- nent minp or will. Unless, indeed, contrary to the apparent anal- ogy of all cases of which we can have full knowledge, we resolve all power into mere force, and consider mind itself only as a higher form of such force, and thus, again, violate a law of lexicography, at least, by including under the same name things which have no perceived analogy—thought, will—or VoLUNTARY POWER, and invol- untary FORCE. We see, too, in view of this subject, that “personal identity,” as well as all forms of material identity, depends not at all on the sameness of the matter of which any particular body is composed ; for all matter is, according to this view, a unit; and all forms of mere matter the same; while all variations in matter depend. wholly on the variations of force or of force and spirit combined. Hence, the same spirit and the same forces necessarily assume and take to themselves the same material forms, whenever attached to matter at all, and are, therefore, identical, just as gold is always 27 gold, iron always iron, or any of their alloys, always identical with the same alloy. Hence, Paul’s reasoning about the resurrection of the body, in the fifteenth chapter of Corinthians and elsewhere, is, at least, strictly philosophical; and all objections drawn from the constant or total dissipation or recombination of the particular particles of matter in the body, at any one time, either at or before _ the period of death, are unphilosophical and absurd ; or, at the very best, such objections assume what no man knows, or can know, as the basis of their conclusions. Is, then, rorcr, this proximate cause of all motion, simple or complex—one in kind, acting in various ways, or multiform and complex? Now, motion is simple change of place. It is a simple thing, though endlessly diverse in its directions and changes. Has it a simple cause? The philosophic axiom of the Baconian philos- ophy can not possibly allow it but one, till it is proved that more than one is needed. And as we now know that most of the appa- rent forms of matter are merely phenomenal, so we have every reason to suppose that most of the apparent forms of force are merely phenomenal, also. And if there are any facts, revealed by the progress of science, which would drive us from the rigorous application of our philosophic rule of simple causation in solving the phenomena of all form in matter as the result of simple ele- mental atoms, and of all motion and change as the equal result of simple elemental force, equally one and simple in its nature, I know not what those facts are. Why, then, is it not right to apply our rule and assume and assert its truth till we know to the contrary? Or shall we give up our rule; or hold it as dogmatists do their creeds: as a settled truth, everywhere to be asserted and proclaimed, or at least not contradicted, but nowhere to be either discussed, applied or believed—a bare, dead form of words. Under this view of the subject, how full of life and inspiration is the study of Natural History, in all its varied departments ? pepe! manitold, and yet how sublimely simple, are all the works of od! Only three simple things, of which to make a universe of being : angels, men, beasts and birds, earth, ocean, air; all solids, liquids, gasses ; all forms of beauty and deformity—of life and of death— illing all time and all eternity: mmnp, Force and mMatrEer—the great created and uncreated Trinity of the Universe of God—pro- ducing all forms, all shapes, all sights, all sounds, all arts, all life, all death, all being, all motion, all change, all everything. True, we call these three things by various names, as they ap- pear before us in varied forms; but does the name change the thing? So we call water ice when it is frozen, and steam when it is heated. In like manner (it may be, at least,) that we call this all-moving force, as it glances through space, from the bosom of the sun, pure light. As it strikes through our atmosphere, or im- pinges upon the solid matters of our globe, we call it heat. As it performs its mysterious and unknown circuits and offices around 28 and within the earth, (possibly causing both its annual and diurnal motion,) we call it gravity, polarity, the centripetal and eb cero force—cohesion, attraction and repulsion, etc., etc. As it shoots, in fiery masses, from point to point, or from cloud to cloud, or trembles along wires, under oceans or over continents, obedient to the power of mind, (even in man,) we call it electricity. As it runs along the nerves or coils round the brain of men or animals, we call it galvanism, nervous fluid, etc., etc. As it slowly builds or shoots up the myriad forms of crystal, vegetable and animal life in earth, air, and sky, and in the vast and capacious sea, we call it chemical affinity, animal and vegetable growth, life, etc. ete. As it finally drops all things into the charnel house of death, we call it decomposition—decay. And, summarily, we speak of all its acts, in these regards, as composition and decomposition. As it whirls along in the bosom of a storm, sweeping all things—the air, buildings, fences, trees and animals—in the same giddy whirl along with it, we call it a whirlwind; though we might as well call it a whirl-tree, or a whirl-house, or whirl-barn, or whirl-fence ; for it often makes trees, houses, barns and fences whirl as lively as it does the air. While on the ocean, we call a similar phenomena a water-spout, and might as well call this a ship-spout, or whale- spout, too, for it takes up a ship or a whale just as easily as it does the water. Finally, when all its earthly offices and duties are done, it seeks to whirl away toward the poles of the earth, and, like the’ Phcenix, rising from its own ashes, to gleam and corrus- cate in the Polar sky on its return back to the bosom of the sun, from which it came; and then we call it the “aurora borealis” — “the morning of the north.” But it is questionable whether this might not better be called the “evening of the north,” for it would seem more natural to suppose that here, at last, the earthly day’s . work of this mighty, all-moving force is brought to its close. Phenomenally, perhaps, all our varied names are well enough ; just as we speak of a water-fall, a stone-fall or a tree-fall—though it is simple gravity, as we admit, that makes them all fall. And what is gravity, or electricity, or attraction, or any other form of force? Why, it is simple force, performing certain things or changes upon matter; and that is, in reality, atx we know about it. Simple, mighty, mysterious, all-creating, all-moving, all-destroy- ing force—now gilding a scene; now hatching an egg or sprouting a seed; now wafting a feather or scattering a sporale; and now whirling or exploding a planet or a world—existing everywhere and doing all things—filling all space without occupying space— controlling all form, shape, color and motion, without form, shape, color or motion either—so far as we know; for motion belongs only to matter, not to force—the right hand of God, by which He moves and affects all things—if, indeed, it be at last resolvable into anything but the naked will of God itself; and, if so, it surely must be simple and not complex. ) 29 Perhaps we may never be able to solve this great riddle by act- ual demonstration. But if not, it is still, I contend, more philo- sophical to hold to the simplicity of nature and the simplicity of causation, and assume that both force and matter are units, rather than to assume, against all our axioms and known rules of evidence, that they are complex and varied. for the case stands really thus: We vo xnow that some one kind of Marrrr, ForcE and PpowER does exist as the several causes of FoRM, MoTIon, and of THouGcuT and witt. But that more than one kind of ultimate matter, force or power does exist we do nor know; and it is surely more philoso- phical to AssUME AND REPORT ONLY WHAT WE DO KNow than what we do not know. And to draw this line between the actually known and the unknown has been one object of this discourse—that we may see, more clearly, how little we actually do know. And to trace and note all the varied and complex manifestations, methods, relations and phenomena of that essence of MATTER, which assumes form ; and of Force, which produces motion; and of power, which produces thought and will, makes up the sum total of all human knowledge, both in the natural and material world, under the great law of necessary causation; and in the supernatural and spiritual world, under the laws of free volition. The one the law of marrer and rorce—the other the law of spreir and POWER. This view gives a unity and simplicity to all our philosophic aims and investigations which no other view could; and at certain points tends to shield us from errors, and even from the most gross absurdities, into which the mere book-making and book-reading world have often been inclined to fall. The absurd confounding of matter or force, or both, with spirit and power, and the great law of inevitable causation, which goy- erns the one, with the law of free volition, which governs the other—so common in the most learned writers, especially on meta- physies and theology—could scarcely have occurred, if this view of the simplicity of the Creator’s works had been, even as a bare pos- sibility, admitted to the mind; for it at once dispels all the fog and dust of such confused and absurd notions, and shows us, at a glance, that a man might as well inquire after the gross weight of a thought, in pounds and ounces, as after the necessary cause of a volition—or after the conscience of a cannon ball, as after the mat- ter of a spirit, or even of a force. Consistently with this view, there never has been but three great leading modes of human thought in the world—called, in difterent ages and languages, by different names, and exhibited under some- what different phases, but each resting, substantially, on the same basis—whether in Germany or Judea—among the millionsof China or India—or in the wilds of America. We commonly name these modes of thought MATERIALISM, PANTHEISM and SPIRITUALISM. The first looks upon the world from the mere material or phe- nomenal side, and assumes the actual supReMECY of MATTER ; either 30 ignoring the very existence of supernatural, supereminent mind, or making it the mere bond-slave or instrument of matter—a “tab- ula rasa,” as they say—a “clean sheet,” on which omnipotent. mat- ter registers its hourly lessons and decrees. The second, or Pantheism, looks at the world from the side of mere force, and, regarding mind as a mere form of force, assumes its universal supremacy. And thus, having made mere force the only God, it, of course, finds God everywhere and in all things where this force exists and acts. ' The first can see no force outside of matter, and the last can hardly recognize any matter even apart from force; while both, alike, ignore the existence of mind in the highest and most proper sense of that term. . The spiritualists recognize, in some forin, a SPIRITUAL POWER, such as I have described, and sometimes spread it over the appro- priate realms of matter and force; making spiritual beings .the direct and proximate as well as the remote and original cause of many phenomena of force and of matter. Thus each of these modes of thought is based upon some one of the three great facts in the world; and from hence have derived their almost. incredible vitality and power over the human mind. And from each, alike, we may, as students of nature, derive some valuable instruction, which, as philosophers, we should gratefully accept, rejecting only the attendant error. To some of the assumptions of our terminology in physics I haye already alluded. But let it not be supposed that, even here, things may not be assumed as well as words. Probably, if any one should look over the text books of science, most in vogue with the most learned men, only some forty or fifty years since, he would be utterly amazed at the absurdities and follies which they contain. But do we not still assume that we know things which are not yet quite demonstrated? I confess I have many doubts about even our present attainments, at some points. In Astronomy, we still talk about having weighed the globes as complacently as a farmer speaks of weighing his pigs. It is often supposed to be mathematically demonstrated, not only that we know their weight, but that they are all solid, and that their gray- ity is most dense at their centers. But our processes of weighing resemble that of the Indian trader, who put his foot in one end of the scale when hesold shot to the natives.. In time, they discover- ed that it made a material difference whose foot was in the scale. So if we assume that the Earth and all the planets are solid spheres, that is one thing. But if they are, in fact, all hollow spheres, and occupied within only as vast depositories of this omnipresent and all-working force, without atoms or matter, in any form, then we have quite another man’s foot in the scale; and our ponderous worlds all turn to mere soap-bubbles, dallied in the hand of that Inrinire Power that controls all matter and all force, and in whose sight the created universe itself, with all its stupendous forces and 31 shows, is but a mere bauble—a trinket of a passing day—made for the amusement and development of mmp—self-determining and self-directing mind—a thing infinitely above all mere matter and all mere force—not only an original power, but the only such pow- er; nay, properly speaking, the only power in the universe of od. Again—it is supposed that the matter of the Sun and many other spheres is more luminous, in proportion to its size, than the matter of our Earth. But where is the proof? If our Northern lights are as bright as represented by Dr. Kane and others—and it the matter of our globe should be increased one million four hundred thousand times—(that is, made equal to the Sun,) and the brilliancy ot these lights be proportionally increased, who can say that our Earth would not appear as luminous, (that is, as perfectly enveloped in that force we call light,) to the distant spectator, as the Sun now does to us?’ True, this may not be so. But I do not think that this and many other points, apparently assumed in the books, have ever yet been demonstrated, or are soon likely to be so; and I apprehend that we shall all, at last, find that the wnz- Sormity of nature, of both the law of matter and force, as well as their simplicity and unity, is much greater in all the worlds than the books are wont to admit. Who knows that our Earth, just as it now is, would not at once become a sun, simply by increasing its size—that is, simply, by giving a wider field for this force called gravity, electricity, light, Northern lights, ete., to act in, and display itself upon. According to this notion, the Sun is simply, so to speak, a greater galvanic battery than the Earth, requiring, using, giving off, and receiving, more of this force, in its varied forms, only because it is larger and’ needs more, and perhaps gen- erates more. In this view of the case, there is no proof that the remotest planet in the solar system is any colder than the Sun it- self; for, like the Sun, each one may make its own fire, or generate its own heat, by a law compensating for its distance from the centre. Again-—where is the proof that either light or heat is diffused through all space fromthe Sun, or any other sphere, by universal radiation from the center, like the light of a candle, instead of flowing off toward, and only toward other orbs, in straight lines, as electricity moves toward the matter alone that attracts it. Can- dles and fires of earth throw their light all around, it may be, be- cause the matter that it seeks, or which attracts it, lies all around. But it is not so with the Sun. And that light and heat or any form of force run needlessly and wastefully through all vacuity, all space, to my mind is an assumption which, with many others of like sort, needs proof. In this view, above suggested, all planets shine in proportion to their size and their own inherent light, and also in proportion to the light attracted to them, or poured in par- allel lines upon them, from all other planets; and with us, of course, most of all, from the San—so that one side of the Moon gives us 32 its own light, angmented by the influx from the Sun ; and the other side, the same light, augmented only Ae stream or influx from the other planets, which is very dim. Now, if the contrary of this suggestion has been proved, surely the proof is not quite as demon- strable as such assumptions in science require; and for one I would like to see the proof of a multitude of similar points assumed made a little plainer before yielding my unquestioning and undoubtin assent. That this ferce of light, whatever it may be, is attract toward the denser medium, or matter, we have full proof. How much it is so attracted we cannot say. In Geology, too, we assume that these forces, or this force, exists and acts now in this way, and now in that—at one time the Earth is a bladder, full of water, and anon a bomb-shell, full of fire—one day we trip up Moses’ feet, and the next day we set him bolt up- right again, on a new pair of exegetical stilts. . In Physiology, we assume that this force, in the production of life, or “‘vital force,” as we call it, acts now on one principle and now on another; and while we agree that all embryos, seeds, and beings, of whatever sort, have, in time past, been created or pro- duced by this force, under the guiding power of God, yet we seem startled if any one suggests that the very same processes, in kind, may be, so far as needed, going on now; and that God has neither gone to sleep, nor this all-creating force become either idle or inac- tive. Said an eloquent one of old, “Why should it be deemed a thing incredible to you that God should raise the dead.” But we seem not to have faith enough to believe that he can make a grain of chess, or clover, or purslain seed, or a new ant’s egg, or fly, when he needs one—because it is against the laws of nature, as we say— that is, against the laws of the identical powrr and Forcs, that made all things, and still holds them as they are. But by what logic or law of nature do we infer that that power and force which has created all things, may not create still another thing, either the same or different in kind, where it is needed. If Adam was crea- ted with all the nameless forms of vermin in and about him, which are now known to live only on the human body, he must have had a merry time of it in his new Paradise, and I do not wonder he rebelled. But if not so created, some living creatures must have been produced since the original creation. And if living things, why not seeds and plants? In Mereoro1oey, it is generally assumed that tornadoes are caused by a vacuum, or partial vacuum, in the air. Now every fire and candle produces such a partial vacuum; but who ever saw, even on the smallest scale, such motions of the air produced by these vacuums? Is not the balloon or funnel shape of the tornado, also, exactly wrong end up, to suit the purposes of this theory? or, if not—are not the movements of the air upwards almost exactly the opposite to what they should be, on any possible theory of a mere vacuum, and air rushing in to fill it. And where is the evi- dence that such a vacuum exists at all? The usual fall of the baro- same efiect as a vacuum. And if such vacuum, or partial vacuum, is near the earth, why does it not sensibly affect the men and ani- mals thrown into it? But who ever heard of any such testimony. To the best of my knowledge, want of air is quite the last thing any man in a whirlwind thinks of complaining about. The waterspout and whirlwind, or tornado, are usually ascribed to the same cause. But what tendency there can be ina mere vacuum, over the sea, to lift up the water, instead of the yielding air around, and thus ere- ate a water-spout, I confess I cannot see, any better than I can see its tendency to create a whale or a rhinoceros. True, if there is a vacuum there, the water might jump up to fill it, instead of the more yielding air allaround; and so might the whale ; and, indeed, so he would, if he was there. Then, we shonld have, I suppose, a “whale-spout,” or a ‘whirl-whale,” instead of a water-spout or a whirlwind. Beside, what produces this vacuum? or does it pro- duce itself? Some force, of course, must doit. Why, then, not come right to the truth, at once, and state the simple fact, that this mighty, mysterious, all-moving, all-creating, and all-destroying force, which we see at work everywhere, but know nowhere, in ac- cordance with its own innate laws, in one of its modes of action, whirls air, seas, men, trees, temples and ships, all, atu aLrKe, aloft, and thus creates a whirlwind, and a “whirl-house,” ship, tree, and water, too—a “whirl-everything” that comes within its grasp; for this is simply and strictly art we know, as yet, about it. Is it asked, in any case, where this force comes from? Comes from! Better, far, ask where it does not come trom. Professor Farraday professes to have demonstrated, says the Atlantic Monthly Review, of July, 1860, that one single grain of water contains as much of this elemental force, in the form com- monly called electricity, as can be accumulated in eight hundred thousand Leyden jars, each requiring to charge it thirty turns of the large machine at the Royal Institution. If this is so, God, the Infinite Creator, is, surely, not likely to become bankrupt in an ever-present available force, either on sea or land, to make all things, at any moment, either whirl or stand, live or die, as he pleases. Doubtless, his law of volition and action will continue to be, as it ever has been, somewhat fixed and constant; and thus make for us, and for all our intelligences and sciences, that uniformity of phenomena which we are pleased (looking amazing wise all the while) to call the “Law or Nature.” ut his internal resources of PowER, and his external magazines of rorcr, will‘not be likely to become soon exhausted, even should whirlwinds, tornadoes and waterspouts be greatly increased, or a new seed now and then sprout and grow, or even a new animal be created; yea, whole globes, systems, and spheres, of new suns, earths, men, animals, and trees. ; —4 ology, mesmerism, biology, spiritualisin, etc., etc. Well; I we remember the day when we students of old Yale were cautioned against phrenology, as the great antichrist of the times, and the temptation of the devil. Now the necessary position of the clergy in human society, in all ages, makes them so prone to be conserva- tive, that they often have regarded a new thought as a temptation of the devil, (though in our times their love of knowledge is brave- ly overcoming this weakness of fear,) and I admit it may be so; though IJ think that, at least, some of the new thoughts that have come into the world under the common fate of being denounced as the children cf the devil, have actually sprung from the power of God, wielding according to its flxed laws, that mighty force that moves the world, in all outward manifestations, both of matter and of mind. True, I would regard the old adage, and “give the devil his due;” but to give him everything, that is really worth giving to any body or being, is a little too much. Ido not think him worthy of that honor. And as he has nor succeeded in running away with astronomy, geology, electricity and gravity, in olden time, I am opposed to bequeathing to him any new manifestation whatever, of either PowER, FORCE or MATTER, mind, motion or atoms. Nor do I assume, that we, as yet, understand the full play and interplay, action and reaction, of mind on mind, or power on power, power on force, and force on matter, throughout the whole universe of God, natural and spiritual, so as to be able to say pre- cisely, and most punctiliously, this old thing, which we do under- stand, is of God, and this new thing, which we do not as yet un- derstand, is of the devil; for I consider it, at least scientifically, if not theologically, possible that God knows and understands several things which we do not, and are not likely to, even in this most en- lightened and democratic nineteenth century. At all events, as philosophers, we shall, in this age, as in ages past, learn more by watching and recording facts, than we shall by berating the devil, ever assured that powER, FORCE and MATTER, working by their own laws, are adequate to all we see and know, without the devil’s help, except in his own appropriate work and sphere; and I have never known him to become as yet the father of a new science or the creator of a new fact. To inquire and examine fearlessly and critically, into these and all other phenomena, is one of the ends of this Association. In what weakness and fear it began its being, and amid what toil, and want, and poverty, it has, thus far, continued to struggle, there are some present who well know. And it its working officers and members have not literally worked for nothing and lived upon nothing, they have come so near it as utterly to spoil the remark asa figure of speech. The report of what they have done, will be. presented by the superintendents of the several departments. 35 But, my friends, why should not this society, with such success as it hasalready attained, and such talent and such laborers in its be- half, even though homeless and penniless, be in good heart? Is it not the poor, raged, frugal and hard working boy that ever makes the man? Who now are the two prominent candidates for the highest office in the gift of the civilized world? The one is a poor orphan and the other a poor rail-splitter. So may it be with our Association. Nurtured in poverty and want of all things, it shall yet rise through usefulness to glory; for such is the order of nature andof God. ‘To this end all power and all force tends; and to this law all nature and matter must submit. Goon then, my friends, with thanks for the past and good hope for the future. Who, umong us, in that first hour of our Ww eakness—the natal hour of our Association—thought, then, that as much would be actually achieved in ten years, as has alr eady been done in two? and that, too, although the times have been seemingly all against us. It is true that we owe obligations to many friends, both as individuals and as associations; to the hospitable citizens of this place; to the guardians of the Normal School here; and to our great State Asso- ciations, Agricultural and Horticultural snow represented here; to the editors of the State, and to many others who cannot be mentioned— for they have all given us a hearty God-speed, anda helping hand, whenever they could. We, also, owe especial thanks to the gentle- manly conductors and guardians of our various railroads, whose gen- erosity and patriotism ever leads them to favor a good cause, q juite up to, and sometimes even. beyond, the extent of their real a bility. Nor should we for eet that noble corps of Teachers, the Illinois State Teachers’ Association, at one of whose annual meetings the first idea of this Society was suggested, and so many of whom have co- operated and sympathised with it in allits labors and trials. But the speaker owes to you, on the other hand, an apology, as well as thanks, in leaving again the office, with which you have seen fit to honor him for the two past years, in your hands. I frankly told you in the outset, that I could personally do but little for you; and unexpected events have rendered even that little far less than I intended—so very little in comparison to what others have done, that I could not let this occasion pass without distinctly adverting to it. But that little has been done cheerfully—most cheerfully, and I only now crave your pardon, that it has not been more. Go on, then, my friends, with good heart and good hope. Use POWER—grasp rorce—control marreR—and thus, as thus mortal beings only may, serve man and glorify God. sjikah ‘ys a ae. Iai ea, Bee Ua nee: dis Seis ant bis: Hip k year. Heaney Sais areishy se ae Re ; ie Po te Pe mands Sy vide. Dring ye wes ae, ys us ante Ae five x Sa Reh Ate bo BE OS Print cake isis ‘aah os. rey wah te. cag en HO ebay). - ies ren. tale per Pre eae 4 PS Ly Gees Rigs Tif < ay vi wane anich ; i 4 Galea yn s, ives 7 Be se co nts se ies Sa eek eas ie sxe 4 be 4 3 i 3 * Disk ; ‘ iia ge ig 4 : ies re er ao Ai a fake tres ay. ioe i Be uis aati re | Whe precise ol a 4 Daa eo eT THE GREAT TORNADO OF 1860. By James Suaw, of Mt. Carroll. The great Tornado, of June 3d, 1860, which swept, like the be- som of destruction, over the northern counties of our State, deserves more than the passing newspaper notices it received at the time of its occurrence. In magnitude it was the greatest in the history of storms. It originated far off on the prairies of the northwest; traveled in a southeasterly direction until it approached the Mis- sissippi river; then gradually veered round towards the east in a crescent shaped pathway, until it assumed a northeastern course, on which it continued, passing over Lake Michigan and the Penin- sular State, till its force was spent, after a five hundred mile race. And here a strange fact might be noted. All the great tornadoes of long continued tracks, of which we have any knowledge, origi- nated near the same spot. Another, near the time of the great Tornado, swept along down to the southward, near the Missouri river, crossed into Illinois in the region of Alton, wheeled round towards the east and north, very similar, though less violent than the one of which we write. In 1844 a terrific whirlwind came down from the prairies of Northwestern Iowa, crossed the Missis- sippi not far from the crossing place of the June storm of the present year; then pursued almost its exact pathway across Whiteside and Lee counties in our own State. Not only the vast destruction of life and property in the great Tornado of 1860, but many scientific questions, heretofore but im- perfectly understood, demand the attention of the thinking, and turn hither the eyes of the scientific world. An unexplored field opens up at the very first inquiry into the causes and philosophy of these tornadoes. Little is understoodof them. They have been chiefly observed within the tropics—on the seas. The yielding waters closed over their pathway. Facts, data, phenomena, could not be collected. The little we did know about them is completely at fault, when we come to explain the long, revolving storms of our mighty prairies of the West. New facts battle all our science. 38 Old problems must be resolved. The deep philosophy of storms ; the knowledge of “the winds in his circuit ;” the forces of electri- city, heat, magnetism ; the laws of fluids in motion; a keen insight into the mysteries of meteorology—all these, and more, must be well understood before we can solve all the problems attending these terrible storms. The fantastic modes in which the mighty forces of Nature sometimes act puzzle our most learned and scien- tific men. This was doubly so in the great Tornado of 1860. Was it the pressure of the mighty storm wind; was it a display of the electricity of the atmosphere ; was it some mightier power that produced results so contradictory and almost omnipotent? Sci- ence is now deeply engaged in the investigation of these questions. She needs in this work facts, data, phenomena. Every one, who has any, should give them to the world. A circumstantial detail of the minutest may prove of much importance. For such a pur- pose, also, to add a few crude thoughts of my own, this paper is prepared. The subject cannot be better introduced than by some quotations from a sermon, preached in this village by the Rev. O. D. W. White, a short time after the event itcommemorated. He, in com- pany with the writer, visited the Tornado’s track, where its great- est power was displayed. Out of good eyes he looked, and treas- ured their observations in a wisdom loving mind. After describing the beauty and stillness of the holy Sabbath af- ternoon, by way of contrast, he proceeded: “There was a change —an appalling change. There came a wind, a rumbling, a rush, a crash, a whirl, a shriek, a wail, followed by a desolation that has sent mourning through the land—whose saddening echoes will be heard tor ages to come. More than half a century will have elapsed before the scene will have been erased from the memories of eye witnesses. In the after part of the day the clouds began to con- gregate as they are wont to do about the western horizon. At first they seemed to have met, like holy angels, for purposes of mercy, to shed the gentle rain upon the thirsty field and water the husbandman’s toil. But soon they began to be disturbed and utter tones of anger, and pierce each other with arrows of fiery lightning. And then advancing, as a mighty army sweeping over the battle- field, they commenced their dire work of devastation and death. Everywhere in the course of the angry Tornado trees were uproot- ed and tossed into the air like feathers. The very land was scoop- ed up like the sands in the desert. [imbedded rocks were torn from their ancient resting places. Fences, barns, houses, cattle, horses, sheep, fowls; with men, women and children, were caught up amid the darkened folds of the whirlwind, to be dashed down again and crushed against the unyielding earth, * * * * The storm has been traced in its track, according to latest accounts, more than two hundred miles west of the Mississippi river. When it was first seen it was advancing in two columns, which were six or eight miles apart. After passing Cedar Rapids, where some 30 were killed and a number wounded under the ruins of razed build- ings, the columns united their forces, as they were about tomake a furious charge upon the denser popuiation of Iowa. Mechanics- ville, De Witt, Camanche, Albany, Lindon, Como—all beautiful and growing towns—were the principal points of the loss of life and property. The list of mortality is yet imperfect; but it is known that over one hundred and fifty souls were precipitated into eternity ; and most of them amidst the wildest contusion of warring elements. In some instances whole families were blotted out of existence. In others, children were snatched from their mothers’ arms and thrown into the angry vortex. Again, others have been left orphans, homeless, clotheless, foodless, and I were about to say friendless ; but no; thank God, thousands of kind hearts weep for the orphan ones; who would take them to their homes of pleasure and of plenty. The list of the wounded is also imperfect. But it is keeping within bounds to say that over two hundred are now suffering from wounds and bruises—some of whom will recover wholly, while others will be disabled for life. As to the destrue- tion of property, the loss will only be estimated by the million. Many years will have elapsed before the desolated district will re- cover its wealth, population, and wonted activity. In the course of time the wound may be healed; but the deep pitted cicatrix will be worn by the States of Iowa and Illinois till the time of their latter days. “To philosophize upon this particular storm would require us to give the history of winds, their causes and courses, both in the tropical and extra-tropical regions. While propriety forbids this it may admit some few remarks. Some of the characteristics of this storm were these: The whirlwind assumed the form of an invert- ed cone. It had an axis on which it revolved, having one pole— the positive—in the clouds, and the other—the negative—on the earth. It possessed three motions: centrifugal, centripetal, and vertical. by the first it was propelled forward at the rate of sixty miles per hour; by the second, it revolved on its axis at a much vreater velocity ; while the third kept it dancing up and down in the air something like the boy’s kite. Having a zigzag course, it traveled to the northeast, directly under the track of the returning northeast trade winds. Its centripetal motion, like all such winds north of the Equator, was from right to left, or contrary to the motion of the hands of a watch. At the same time it was highly charged with electricity, as evinced by electric phenomena, such as picking hens and geese, as electricity only can do; stripping tires from cart wheels and laying them out straight on the ground. When such elements are contending so furiously, it is not strange that every- thing in their course is destroyed. “Trom these well known data the following hypothesis may be given: It was formed by the intersection of two currents of air, namely : the northeast trade winds that had veered around by the north to westward, and the returning winds from the sonthwest. 40 These two intersecting motions produced a third and intermediate one, which, with the rotary motion of the earth, gave the storm a northeast direction. “This Tornado seems to be out of place, or lost, both as to time and latitude. Science has recorded but one Tornado as early as the month of June, and that was a marine one. It occurred in 1831, in the latitude of Trinidad. The season for tornadoes is during August, September and October—seldom earlier or later. Their well known regions are the West Indies, Indian Ocean, and the Chinese Sea. Ilence, any recurrence of this calamity is not likely to be suffered soon, if ever.” In addition to these characteristics, the following phenomena or appearances of the storm from this town, some twenty-five miles north of the Tornado’s track, at its nearest point are worthy of preservation. Towards sundown of that day an ordinary looking thunder cloud was observed to be passing along the horizon from the southwest towards the east. As it came nearer, the clouds were observed to be in violent agitation. A low, ominous roar, began to be heard, increasing in loudness every moment. A con- stant rumbling of thunder, accompanied the short crackling sound in theair. The finest electrical display it has ever been my lot to witness was kept up all the time. The whole black mass of mov- ing storm cloud seemed a vast celestial bonfire, so vividly did the lightnings illumine its shadowy edges, and stream through its troubled folds. The Storm Fiend seemed to rage with demoniac fury. The air was ina high state of electrical excitement. White, fleecy clouds floated about the denser mass, whence proceeded the roar. The cumuli and cirri moved slowly about and around the terrible nimbus cloud of the center. Thus the storm approached its nearest point; then died away towards the east, following the steps of the twilight, until stillness and darkness together came, and closed over earth. The next morning our county was literally strewn over with bits of shingles and light wood, tin cups, pie pans, fragments of papers and letters, and many kinds of light articles. This was true of the whole country over which the Tornado passed. These, and kindred light articles, were scattered for fifty miles on either ..@ of the whirlwind’s path. A few days after the storm, as an in- telligent farmer of our county was plowing in his fields, an old let- ter attracted his attention. It was dated in the same county in Pennsylvania from which he had originally emigrated to this coun- try; written by aman whom he knew; about a transaction in which he was interested; and addressed to a friend of his own then living near DeWitt, in Iowa. He immediately left his plow — and arrived at DeWitt in time to sympathize in a scene of sorrow and death. The honse had been taken up in the arms of the storm — and scattered in pieces over the land; and this scrap had floated — sixty miles and told the husbandman of his friend’s distress. 4} This phenomenon is easily explained. These articles were caught up in the spiral folds of the hurricane, borne aloft until its whirling motion was spent; then carried off in different directions by the upper currents of the: atmosphere. The light ones of course would travel to the greatest distances. Some authorities have de- nied the rotary movement of these tornadoes; but the fact is too well established by the testimony of observers, and by the effects of the whirl, to be gainsayed. I “myself observed one later in the season pass over the eastern part of our county. Its force was soon spent, but for a few miles it was exceedingly violent, lifting one barn from its foundation, and i injuring everything i m its way. The at- mosphere was in a high state of electrical excitement. A number of bright looking clouds moved rapidly, like sheep chasing each other, ‘round an invisible center. Indeed, every one who has ever seen one of these storms, has noticed, the very first thing, the re- volving motion of all ascending substances. Hurricanes, whirl- winds, tornadoes, waterspouts, typhoons, cyclones, doldrums—all these have an advancing motion as well as a rapid motion of a ro- tatory kind. So, our recent Illinois tornadoes have had this mo- tion in a violent decree. To those living in and near the track of the storm, its approach had the appearance of an elephant; the clouds being after the similitude of its body, and the funnel shaped Tornado, looking like a trunk, the lower part of which kept swinging about with an un- steady, swaying motion. This left a zigzag track upon the ground, the reason of which will be noticed hereafter. Citizens of Caman- che all say that fleecy clouds were floating in a troubled manner about the air, often breaking and showing glimpses of blue sky be- yond. These, at intervals poured down showers of big rain drops, mingled sometimes with hail. A gentle wind blew from the north- west. A terrible roar came from the same direction. While it was yet at a distance a dead calm came over the town. Then a violent east wind sprung up. Then, in a moment, the ereat Tor- nado, like the besom of destruction, swept the ill-starred town into ruins. Then a violent west wind followed the broom of the mighty storm. This fact seems well established as the beginning of our data, viz: that the wind blew violently towards the storm as it passed along from every point of the compass. At Camanche, we have already seen, the Tornado was immediately preceded by a strong east wind and followed by awest one. The ferry boat in the river opposite the town was driven by the first of these upon the Iowa shore ; there it was whirled about by the Tornado; a few minutes afterwards it was driven upon the Illinois shore and dashed in pieces. In one place I was informed a tree grew, forked near the ground. One of its parts fell in one direction, the other, in the other, from this same cause. Along the northern ver we of the track, of greatest force, trees and ev erything else were blown to- wards the south 1, along ‘the southern they were blown towards the ane | 42 north. Everybody who saw the town afterwards, remembers the chimney blown from a fine residence in the southern part of the town, and stuck endways into the ground, north of the house. These are facts. Near the center of the whirl large locust trees were twisted and wrenched off near the ground. Furniture was shivered into oven wood. In one instance I noticed where the under story of a house had been blown out and destroyed, and the upper one had settled down almost uninjured upon the foundation. Iron seemed to have been most strangely affected. In the dwell- ing house first alluded to, the stoves were all blown or taken out of the doors and windows, and strangely broken up, while in other respects the house was little injured. All testify as to this strange effect upon iron; though only afew at the time noticed any marked electrical phenomena in connection with it. Some, also, noticed indications of a vacuum, while the hurricane was upon them, such a peculiar sensation in the ears, and an unnatural loudness of the human voice. Many, also, testify that there was a great and unnat- ural heat in this vortex or vacuum. Such were the data gathered in Camanche. In Albany and other places I had these observations confirmed. One instance in Albany might be noticed, going to strengthen the supposed in- rushing direction of the wind. Two houses were demolished. Articles from the cupboards of each were found in the other’s yard, after all was over. As the houses were on an east and west line, the good women folks could see how the dishes went from the western into the eastern yard, but were sorely puzzled as to how those from the eastern house got into the western yard, against the course of the greatstorm. They had not noticed the previous wind from the east. In order to preserve all the data possible, it will be proper to insert here some observations in regard to recent Illinois Tornadoes, made by Prof. Turner, at the last meeting of the Lllinois State Nat- ural History Society. The first one of which he speaks occurred ten miles south ot Jacksonville, in May, 1859:— “This tornado was one of great force and terror. It not only prostated trees, houses and fences in its path, killing and wounding many persons and animals, but it seemed singularly and unaccount- ably to break and tear in pieces, to utterly demolish and destroy every thing it touched near the center of its path. Its track coy- ered an area of some ten miles in length, and one-half to three- quarters of a mile wide, as the theater of its greatest fury and power. Houses, men, trees, animals, and even two-horse wagons were whirled aloft high in the air, and literally shivered to pieces. The weaker parts of wagons were not only broken, but the tires were torn off, cut in two and straightened out s¢razght, or crumpled into strange shapes and thrown with great fury to the ground; other parts were shivered almost to atoms, and in one instance, even the hub was broken square in two by the violence of the wrench in stripping the tire and other parts from the wheel. Tails 43 and other timbers were not simply blown away, but literally made into kindling wood, so as to be unfit for any other use. Persons were stripped of their clothes, and even the fowls, in many cases, had all their feathers stripped clean from off them. Most of the fowls treated in this manner, were found dead, as well as the other animals that were in the center of the path of the Tornado, but some of them still lived. The only persons known to the narra- tor, who were in the very center of the track of the Tornado and escaped alive, were Mr. H. M.Cowell and his hired man. Mr. Cowell is a plain, uneducated farmer, of honest and unpretend- ing character, and a man who has no philosophical or metaphysi- cal theories of any sort to’ repel or defend; indeed, he never read a book of any sort in his life, and, in the opinion of the narrator, is wholly unable to read or write, though a man of good character and good sense. This was stated by the narrator to show the kind of man whose account was to be taken of the appearances inside of the Tornado. “At the time of the appearance of the tornado cloud in the southwest, at five o'clock, ep. m., May 26, 1859, Mr. Cowell was plowing in the field, at some distance from his house, with an old steady pair of farm horses. He saw the frightful, balloon-shaped cloud approaching directly toward him very rapidly from the southwest, while a steady wind was then blowing directly against the cloud from the northeast. The advancing cloud was of a distinct balloon or funnel shape, and then appeared to him from his position, peculiarly bright and luminous, not at all black or dark in any of its parts, except at its base or bottom. The tup part of the cloud particularly appeared to be in terrific agitation, much like the foam on the topof a large boiling cauldron. Greatly alarmed at the threatening and singular appearance, he at once attempted to drive his horses and plow to the house, which was about a quarter of a mile distant. In doing this his course in the field lay for some distance in the same line with that of the ap- proaching storm; that is, to the northeast. He had not proceeded far before there seemed a lull in the northeast wind and a dead calm. The horses suddenly took fright, and refusing to advance, commenced rearing and plunging in their traces. Their manes and tails and all their hair “stood right out straight” as he ex- pressed it, and they only jumped up and down without advancing. The iron on the harness, traces and plow, in his language, “seemed all covered with fire.” He felt a violent pulling of his own hair, which left “his head sore for some days,” and the hair itself rigid and inflexible. He tried to unhitech the traces, but something seemed to prevent him; he felt a violent twitching of his hands; but finally succeeded, and mounting upon one horse he succeeded in making him advance, though his fright and his rearing and plunging and the peculiar appearance of his mane and tail contin- ued till he got ont of the direct line of the storm which was for some minutes. He then turned from and out of the line of the 44 storm toward the house. Then this appearance wholly subsided, and he turned to the stable, put his horses in, and ran towards his house. He had got almost to the house before the wind began to blow. Then it almost instantly hurled house and all away with it. But as the cloud passed over, as soon as he came within it, its whole appearance was changed. Instead of being bright, it was pitch dark, so dark that he could see nothing at a:l until he came to the center, when it was light again, making the impression on his mind that the dark part of the cloud was a mere shell, like the outside section of atunnel. Mr. Cowell distinctly states that while he was, for those few moments, riding in the direct path of the storm, the light was so brilliant that he could‘not endure it with his eyes open, and for the most part kept them shut; while the cloud be- hind in the horizon, still appeared as before, yet there was no wind, no thunder, and no noise whatever, except the murmuring sound of the advancing tempest, which of itself was not audible at first. He thinks he thus rode in the direct path of the storm about fifty yards before he turned to go to the house. As he de- parted from the center of the whirl, he experienced these phenom- ena less and less sensibly, and before he reached the stable there was nothing of it. “Mr Cowell’s hired man, Mr. Alex. Campbell, who was at work in another part of the field not far distant, in passing also to the house, went directly across the track of the storm, which Mr. Cowell had crossed obliquely. He was also as much frightened at the light and the shocks he experienced, and shut his eyes as much as he could, and ran and soon passed through it. “Mr. Cowell states that others experienced similar effects who were near, though not in the center of the whirl. ‘“‘When the terrific whirl struck the house, which was a little at one side, as supposed, of the exact center of the storm, it swept everything before it, even tearing up the brick foundation of the chimney for a foot beluw the surtace of the earth; stripping all the feathers off from some of the hens and turkeys, as perfectly clean as if picked for the table. Some, though badly plucked, and made entirely blind, still lived. But no thunder at all was noticed, and 10 great noise whatever was heard while in the center of the dark cloud, though the roar to those a littie distance without was ter- rific. “The narrator stated that one John Ray reported that the Ver- non church, surrounded by an Osage orange hedge, was taken up. with its brick foundation, and all together set over the hedge, which was not bruised by the passage of the honse, and not a brick of the foundation was left inside the yard. The house was set down again, and left quite whole. “The narrator said that Dr. Ford, of New York, reported other instances of tornadoes, in which persons had their clothing entirely stripped from their backs. 45 “How much, said Prof. Turner, of all these strange and almost incredible reports was due to alarm, or mistake, or misapprehension, he had no means of knowing. He only reported the substance of the facts as reported to him, and quite a little pamphlet might be filled with details, equally incredible, reported by persons of un- doubted veracity, the above being only given as samples of the strange facts that are so reported. “But in May, 1860, a whirlwind of less note passed over the so- ealled Hillsboro farm, the residence of Prof. Turner himself, tear- ing down the fences, tearing the roofs completely from the larger buildings, sweeping away the smaller ones, etc., ete. He had care- fully and accurately examined this ground during all the time the superintendence of the needed repairs was going on. And he es- pecially noticed that the old rotten glass windows in the brick house, on the windward side as well as on ali sides, were left perfectly whole and sound in their places, not one being blown out or broken, although the sash of some five or six of them was so rotten that a child could have pushed them inward with its thumb. and finger; while the doors of the house and barn, all stout and strong, were blown inward with such violence as even to tear off heavy iron hinges, and to tear out heavy pieces of oak timber, and the entire L of the house and roof and gables, were swept away from the same building and the same exposure. “Prot. Turner said that on no theory he had ever before admit- ted, could he account for this very singular fact as well as the facts reported by Mr. Cowell and others. And he would inquire if ever any one had heard of the windows of a house in tolerable repair being blown in by a tornado, while the building was lett standing; or if if was common, as in this case, to tear the strong parts of the house, and leave the weak and even rotten windows and wood on such, unharmed? If so, what was the cause? He asked: Did it not appear self evident that mere pressure of any sort would burst in the frail windows of a house far sooner than any other part of it? And yet the reverse had certainly occurred in the instance narrated by him, and coming within his own expe- rience.” These are all the data I have beeu able to gather in regard to Recent Tornadoes in Lilinois. Even these need confirmation. No two persons can be found after a tornado who will agree in all things. Terror takes away the power of correct observation. Il- lusions deceive the eye. Science, before she can establish her deductions, must have more data—better established facts. Observers over the prairies of the Northwest must gather these in the coming years. A few crude speculations, however, will here be offered in re- gard to the scientitic questions presented. If new data demand it, they can be corrected. How do the winds form themselves into a whirl? Can their pressure and mechanical force produce all the physical results observable after such a storm asthe one under con- 46 sideration? Is electricity the cause, or are its phenomena only the accompaniments intensified of a thunder storm, displayed in a tornado? Can electricity, by direct transference of the fluid, or by induction, as in the pith-balls of school room experiments, ac- count for such mighty and fearful displays of power ? Some philosophers and geographers explain all rotary storms to be the result of the meeting of two winds at an angle and their turning upon a center. Ifa cloud happen to be between these two winds, near the place of meeting, it would be rapidly turned round. Condensation and the electrical phenomena of a thunder-storm, if added, would give all the forces at work in a tor- nado. Such are the causes shadowed in the first quotation above, and also set down in our text books in geography and philosophy. This hypothesis, however, is exploded by more recent develop- ments in Meteorology and Atmospheric Electricity. In studying the philosophy of winds, it is a good thing to read the lessons of analogy in its laws of fluids in motion in the rivers and seas. The ar ocean has much in common with the earth ocean. Both have mysterious movements —tides, currents, eerial and ocean streams, eddies, mzelstroms, whirlpools, waterspouts—hurri- canes, tornadoes, whirlwinds—these have a family resemblance. At the confluence of two streams of water, even in a little brook, whirlpools are formed. The meeting of adverse ocean streams would present similar phenomena. These would travel but a short distance. The like might take place at the meeting of two adverse winds. But the whirl would be gentle—its path would be short. In the Indian Ocean and Chinese Seas, and in intertropical countries generally, where there is much disturbance of the air currents on ac- count of the fierce contest between the Trades and Monsoons, hur- ricanes, cyclones, doldrums, and waterspouts, are of frequent oc- currence and of short duration—averaging but a few miles in length. But if this be the true theory, why not have tornadoes and whirl- winds in the winter and spring? Certainty the winds are then fiercer and contrarier than at any other season of the year. Yet, instead of frequent rotary movements of the atmosphere, no one ever saw them at all in the winter or early springtime. In addition to air in motion, heat and electricity both must be present in active manifestation. Some scientists consider one, some the other, as the great cause of tornadoes and all kindred storms. The fact—if it be a fact—that such storms whirl in one direction —to wit: contrary to the hands of a watch—in the North- ern hemisphere, and in a contrary direction in the Southern and opposite hemispheres, seems to argue that, the earth’s revolution upon its axis also has a modifying influence. Suppose that the air of some locality becomes heated from any cause. Of course the heated air would rise into the higher regions of the atmosphere. Currents of other air would flow in from all sides to supply its place. Becoming heated, they, too, would rise ; _ AT and, according to a well known law of motion, would receive a ro- tary movement, with a partial vacuum in the center; just as in water flowing through afunnel. Ifa handful of down be seatter- ed near the top of the chimney of a lighted kerosene lamp, this may be illustrated on a small scale. The uprising current of hot air will carry ail the particles which come into it upward, and gradually communicate to them a gyrating movement. Those out- side of the current will flow in, and rise as the others before them. And thus a whirlwind in miniature will be observable, as long as the cause continues. A large brush pile, or a house on fire, will afford a similar illustration, with the sparks and smoke and white- caps flying about. In all these cases there is, perhaps, a partial vacuum in the center—the resultant of this kind of motion. Wa- terspouts are mere shells, being hollow in the center. It seems a fact that the dew point and point of saturation lie lower comparatively over the mighty prairies of the Northwest. During the warm weather of summer, therefore, this lower and thin stratum of moist air, lying beneath the dew point, will be pressed down by the str ata of dry air above. Radiation from the earth and other causes will tend to heat the moist stratum reposing on the earth’s surface. This will produce a destruction of the at- mospheric equilibrium. Currents will flow towards the point of greatest heat, as above shown. As this lower, moist atmosphere rises into the cooler and dryer regions above, it will have its mois- ture rapidly condensed into clouds, or down-pouring rain. If electrical action now be added the tornado forces are complete. Thus, the Great Tornado of 1860 originated somewhere in the country of the Upper Missouri river. The Northwest winds bore it along, gently at first, but as the accumulation of momentum made it rage fiercer and rise higher into the air, it was caught by the returning trade winds from the Southwest, ‘carried round to- wards the Northeast, its greatest curvature in its earth marked path being where it crossed the Mississippi; which was also the place where it displayed its greatest force—the whole motion not being unlike a comet sweeping around its perihelion. ‘This ex- plains the action of the Tornado upon the ferry- -boat and dishes at Albany, the cause of the trees being blown inwards on both sides of the storm’s path, the East and West wind in rapid succession before and after its eae and the strange position of things af- ter it was all over. The key to the explanation of its zigzag mo- tion is also found here. Rey. Mr. Harsha, of Dixon, prepare red an accurate and beautiful map of the Tor nado’s track across Clinton county, in Iowa, and Whiteside and Lee counties, in [linois. The lesson of the map is very instructive. It teaches, that wherever the tornado changed from a direct line of advance, it was owing to some local obstr uetion, which cut off, or weakened, the inblowing air current from the side towards which the storm rushed. Thus, it always lett a direct path to hug along under a hill, or by the edge of a grove. When the obstruction was passed, the ‘direct course of 48 advance was again resumed. Observers all agree in saying that the top of the terrible, funnel-shaped cloud advanced in a straight _line, but that the lower part described this crooked path, as we have seen, by obstructions to the currents of air rushing in. Mr. H{arsha did much for the cause of science, and of humanity, too, in his study of the great Tornado, of which we speak. His labor of love in relieving the suffering will be remembered side by side with his labor of science in preparing a very instructive map of a part of its pathway. Jam indebted to him for many suggestive thoughts, as well as for the privilege of studying the map of which I have spoken. The peculiar state of the dew and saturation points being nearly the same over the prairies of the Northwest—in other words, the strata of upper and dry, cool atmosphere, and of iower, surtace, moist atmosphere, extending from the country of Nebraska to the great lakes ofthe Northeast, gave the Tornado a field for its long and terrific course. It scooped up, over that five hundred miles of sorrow and death, from the warmer atmosphere below the dew point, the wind for its raging whirl, the moisture to be condensed into rain and hail, and the very electricity which made it so much more dreadful. This explanation of the causes of tornadoes seems to be the result of the more recent study into the philosophy of storms. Not only tornadoes, but even ordinary thunder storms, are carried on, proba- bly, in the same way—by lower moist air rising and being con- densed in a much milder manner. Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution, adopts substan- tially this hypothesis, after a careful study of the views of Loomis, Espy, Dr. Hare, Redfield, and others, who have observed and writ- ten upon storms; and also after a comparison of agreat amount of facts and data in possession of the Institution, of which he is Secretary. The electrical phenomena attendant upon these efforts of the at- mosphere to restore its broken equilibrium, next claim our atten- tion. Dr. Hare thinks electricity the cause of the tornado, and all such natural phenomena. This scientist attributes the violent up- ward motion of the air to a peculiar electrical state of the atmos- phere, in which, while the air is highly positive, the earth is neg- ative, and the bodies carried up are repelled by the earth and at- tracted by the cloud. Whether this is the true explanation or not, every one can see the great disturbance of the electrical equili- brium that must take place in a tornado. Asa rule, the electri- city of the atmosphere is positive ; that of the earth, negative. The same is true during a thunder storm. The greatest electricians of this and other countries have demonstrated this by many and la- borious experiments. As a tornado passes over the landscape, sucking up and condensing the surface strata of moist atmosphere, with all its electricity and latent heat, the ground under the cloud must be constantly exhausted and the cloud constantly and greatly surcharged. Hence, there wil! be constant discharges back to the 49 earth from the cloud. The equilibrium is constantly destroyed ; nature constantly seeks to restore it. Powerful attractions, repul- sions and inductions will take place almost with every stroke of lightning. ‘Tornadoes and many other influences, carry electricity up into the air. The air being a non-conductor, or rather, being imbued with imperfect insulating powers, the attempts of the elec- tricity to flow back again to the earth and restore the disturbed equilibrium between the ground and the clouds, are attended with various electrical phenomena. The tremulous and many-tinted undulations of the Aurora Borealis over the Arctic skies, is doubt- less nothing but electricity creeping back through poor conductors to the earth home, whence it had been enticed into the region of clouds. The fierce, unchained lightning, stabbing the earth as with the dagger of a god, is the same thing greatly intensified. The ravages of the tornado—with its “terrific and appalling gran- deur; now pausing fitfully, as if to select with malignant caprice the objects of its unsparing violence; now descending to earth, and again drawing itself up, with its deep, loud and sullen roar; its mysterious darkness; its apparent, self-moving, resistless revolu- tions, carrying upward branches of trees, beams of houses, and large objects of every description; its impetuous downward rush to the earth, and then again up to the sky; its sublime altitude, sometimes erect, and at other times inclined; its reeling and sweep- ing movements’—these may be the result of electricity suddenly accumulated, and bursting as suddenly out, before it has had time to discharge itself by more peaceful channels. Thus, Lieut. Jansen calls tornadoes “the circulating channels of electricity hidden in a deep night ;” and some authorities consider waterspouts as solely due to the same cause. Mysterious, all-pervading wonder, before whose phenomena science so often must stand dumb! Philosophers and scientists teil us its powerful agency works unseen on the relations of the parts and properties of all bodies, effecting changes in their constitu- tion and character so wonderful and minute that it may be consider- ed the chief agent of Nature, prime minister of Omnipoterce, the vicegerent of creative power. We also know that the lambent flame of the aurora; the laws of crystalization, health, vegetation ; the great convulsions of nature, as earthquakes, whirlwinds, water- spouts, tornadoes, thunder-storms, and many other phenomena, are accompanied with and often depend upon electricity, or some of its magnetic or galvanic forces. Indeed, this imponderable source of all power and thought may be nothing but the exertions of the Divine Mind, as He rules the universe of mind and matter and force. We think, however, that Mr. Espy has well nigh settled the question that electricity is not so much the cause as the conse- quence of a tornado or thunder-storm. But, whether cause or con- sequence, we can see how intense electrical action must be. Even the mechanical force of electricity, especially of lightning, is great <6 50 and often inexplicable. Professor Lovering states that pavements have been torn up; -hair and hoofs carried into trees; a hat trans- ported to the roof; the bark of trees detached below; leaves crisped on the under side; and sods turned up, by this force. The modus operandi of this force is as follows: Particles of air, suddenly elec- trified, fly asunder with a great explosive force, as do the pithballs. attached to the prime conductor and electrified. A stroke of light- ning will suddenly imbue the air within a tree or rock with this more than gunpowder explosiveness ; and they will be blown into fragments. The air thus acting may lift a church; or acting among the non-conducting feathers of a chicken, or goose, may throw them far from the body of the fowl; or may jerk the tire from a wagon wheel and straighten it along the cnet All the phenom- ena spoken of by Professor Turner, and all observed in the great Tornado, may also thus be explained. But if this were not enough, the great force of the wind, together with the violent inductions, attractions, repulsions, above alluded to, would give a catalogue of forces, whose effects would be multiform, indeed. A kite flown into the clouds and acted on by induction, will have all its electricity driven into the lower part of the string, from whence it may be drawn off in sparks. Soa tornado ciond, ex- tending high into the air, and acted on by induction, will have its lower extremity terrifically charged with electricity. Every flash to the earth will momentarily reverse the electrical condition of the cloud and the ground under it. Thus, mighty and conflicting forces will work out their designs on the grandest scale. “The tiny twinkle of Omnipotence” will be indeed seen and felt. Every one remembers the strange theory of some philosopher a few years ago, who proposed to produce rain by kindling great fires over an extensive tract of country. At the time he was con- sidered a crack-brained fanatic. But he had in his possession the true secret of storms. If he could have heated up a stratum of air, and charged it with moisture, he not only would have had a thun- der storm, but even might have had a tornado upon his hands. The summary we arrive at is this: The rarifaction of the at- mosphere in summer produces an unsettled state of the airin which the winds are liable to break loose from their controlling forces. A local heating causes a rush of winds to the place of disturbance. They meet in the center and rise ; generally with a whirling, gyra- tory motion. They will only take place at a peculiar state of the dew point and point of saturation in the atmosphere. ‘The whirl- ing vortex or vacuum will advance with the course of the wind in which it may happen to be. The low stratum of moist air lying below the dew point will be sucked in and carried into the upper atmosphere. The friction of the ascending moist air will produce fearful quantities of electricity. Rapid condensation will produce rain and hail; evolve more electricity ; and free great quantities of latent heat. The electricity of the clouds and earth will act byin- duction and mechanically. And thus, the tornado will be ‘self- 51 sustaining, so long as the conditions of the atmosphere are favora- ble. Many years may possibly elapse before the atmosphere will be able to furnish the materials for so long and violent a storm. Meantime, it is earnestly to be hoped, that patient and exact ob- servations will be made during the coming summer, wherever a tornado or thunder storm occurs. Among the facts to be noticed, the condition of the dew point before the storm ought to be care- fully known. The clouds ought to be closely scanned, to obtain their electrical conditions and the force and direction of the wind currents. Observations on the tornado’s direction, and whether the motion round the vortex is whirling, or upward; whether low lands, streams, groves, and hills influence its direction; lu- minousness, and width, and shape of tornado cloud; condition of the atmosphere before and after its passage; in short, every phenomena attendant upon it, from the minutest to the grandest, ought to be carefully observed. Especially, accurate surveys of the path of the storm, after its passage, noting accurately the di- rection in which trees and other objects are blown, should be made and preserved. Any and all such information, sent to the writer of this article, will be thankfully received, and used to the best of his ability. In this way we may be able to add some contribu- tions to the sum of human knowledge. Since writing the above some new facts in regard to our subject have been developed. Persons living near Lyndon, who were caught within the storm, assert that an intense coldness prevailed near the center. This is easily explainable from what has been before stated. The centrifugal force of the uprising, whirling cur- rents would produce a vacuum within, down which, at times, the upper and colder atmosphere would rush, mingled with rain and hail from the rapidly condensing cloud above. In this way a cen- tral spot would sometimes be very cold, notwithstanding it might be surrounded with rarified and heated air. T. B. Butler has written a book upon the “ Philosophy of the Weather,” in which he attacks, and in his own mind demolishes all the existing theories, and almost every conclusion arrived at by the most eminent meteorologists. He makes a perfect Zouave charge upon them all, sparing nothing, and builds up no new the- ories where he has torn down all the old ones. So far as he un- dertakes any explanation at all, it is that electricity is the cause of all meteorological phenomena. The earth, he argues, is a great magnet, surrounded with magnetic currents in the form of circles and curves, just as the currents of a strong magnet arrange the iron filing round it. These electric currents act upon the oxygen of the atmosphere and carry it along, producing the circulation of the atmosphere. In a tornado, according to this doctrine, a con- tinuous current or stream of electricity exists between the earth and the storm cloud; that these streams flow in from either side of the advancing storm, having polarity, and making a “law of cur- 52 vature ;” in short, ‘“ that currents of electricity alone could produce . the sudden vacuum by removing the air above.” His book is val- uable for the many facts and indefatigable labor in its pages, but utterly fails to establish the supposition that magnetism and elec- tricity account for all weather phenomena. The very arguments adduced, every fact brought forward to overthrow the theories of Espy, Redfield, and others, aus to establish them. As for in- stance, he denies that the wind blows from all points towards the center of a storm; but admits that it flows in from either side in a curved path. Very well. Now suppose a storm stands still and — the wind blows towards the center all round. This is what he ex- — pects to see made out. But give that storm a rapid onward mo- tion and things will be slightly disarranged. Add to this the air — rushing down in the middle and up the sides, and a great com- — plexity of motions will take place. Almost every objection urged against the theory, even the curved path of the inflowing lateral — air currents are capable of a mathematical demonstration by the ~ laws of motion and in accordance with the theories of Espy and — Redfield. The former of these supposes the gyratory motion of — the tornado; the latter the aspiratory, or that the air currents flow © in and up without any whirl. We think the true theory is a com- bination of both these, as advanced in a former part of this paper. In other words, the air flows in from all sides and begs to flow upwards in straight lines, but being subject to the law of motion, which makes fluids running through a funnel assume a rotary mo- — tion, it is soon thrown into a gyratory motion, which increases as — it gathers fresh momentum. iectiicity is not the cause, but the fearful accompaniment of a storm ; and in the tornado its fury is greatly increased by the fric- tion of the whirl and the rapid condensation of the vapor above. — Se ee ee ee 2 , GEOLOGY OF A SECTION OF THE ROCK RIVER VALLEY, FROM OREGON, IN OGLE COUNTY, TO STERLING, IN WHITESIDE COUNTY. Read before the Illinois Natural History Society, June 27th, 1860. By Oxtver Everett, M. D., of Dixon, Illinois. My object, in this paper, is to give some of the results of obser- vations made by me upon the geology of the Rock River Valley, in Lee county, and a part of Ogle and Whiteside counties, or from about Oregon, in Ogle county, to Sterling, in Whiteside county. The surface in this part of the country is much more rolling, or undulating, than in most parts of the State. This is particularly the case in the upper portion of the section alluded to, in Ogle county and a part of Lee county, where it is frequently cut up into deep ravines, on the sides of which the underlying rocks are often exposed to view; and the banks of Rock River and its tribu- taries frequently present bold, perpendicular bluffs of rock, from fifty to two hundred feet high, thus giving a tolerably good oppor- tunity for geological investigations. These features are most promi- nent in the region of one member of the geological series of which ‘I shall hereafter speak, viz: the Upper or St. Peter’s Sandstone. In another section, where the Trenton Limerock underlies the drift, there are frequently found deep pits in the ground. These pits are generally more or less circular, and are from one to two or three rods in diameter, at the surface of the ground, and run to a point below. They are from ten to twenty and sometimes thirty feet deep, and have, evidently, been produced by the earth, in these places, falling into and being carried away by subterranean streams of water in the loose rock below. Below Dixon, although the surface is considerably undulating, it is not so abruptly broken by deep ravines, and the prairies gen- . erally slope gradually to the banks of the river, seldom exposing the rocks at all. Below Dixon there is very little woodland along the banks of the river, while above, between Dixon and Oregon, a considerable portion of the country along the river is covered with 54 timber. The timber is not generally of very heavy growth, al- though, in some places, on the bottom lands, it is quite large. It consists of the various species of oak and hickory common to the State, the black and white walnut, the sugar and silver-leaved ma- ple, box elder, (Negundo accrifolium,) sycamore, the red and white elm, hackberry, ash, linden, cottonwood, ete. The red cedar, the white pine, the ground hemlock, (Taxus Americana,) the black amd the paper or canoe birch, (Betula lenta and Betula papyracea,) are found on the extreme verge of the rocks overhanging the river and creeks, beyond the reach of the prairie fires. All these last men- tioned species, except the red cedar, are found, as far as I have ob- served, only upon the bluffs formed by the St. Peter’s Sandstone. . We should naturally expect to find on a soil produced from the dis- integration of this sandstone, some plants which are not common to the rich alluvial and clayey soils of a large portion of the State. Accordingly I have found several species not included in Dr. Lap- ham’s Catalogue, and some of them not in the additional lists sub- sequently made by Drs. Brendell and Bebb, and which I presume are not often found in other parts of the State. Among which I might name two species of vaccinium, the Aretostaphylos uvauisi, Lupenu perrennis, Campanula rotundifolia, Talinum teretifolium, Lobelia kalmii, Cerastium oblongifolium, Linaria canadensis, Fra- garia vesca, and the Viola lanceolata, which grows on the borders of ponds, or in wet places in this sandy soil. The drift formation, through this section, is probably not so thick nor so uniform in depth as in most parts of the State. There are many things in relation to it which have peculiar interest, but my object in this paper is to speak of the rock beneath it. There is, in this section of about thirty miles of the Rock River Valley, a pretty good opportunity to study several important mem- bers of the lower Silurian system, and some of the lowest strata of the upper Silurian series. Commencing at Oregon, with the St. Peter’s Sandstone, and as- cending the geological scale, as we go down the river, we find the Buff Limestone, (of Owen,) the Trenton Limestone, the Galena Limestone, and the shales, etc., representing the Hudson River group of the lower Silurian system, and the Niagara Limestone of . the upper Silurian series. ST. PETER’S SANDSTONE. The lowest rock which we find in the section under consideration is the Upper or St. Peter’s Sandstone. It is the prevailing rock along the river, from a mile above Oregon to about three miles be- low Grand De Tour, a distance of thirteen or fourteen miles. On the north-west side of the river, I think that in no place dves this rock appear on the surface more than two or three miles from the river. On the south-west side it extends several miles back from the river. I should think that the thickness of this rock could not — be less than two hundred feet, and probably more. The country ae et —s 55 where this rock prevails is characterized by great unevenness. It is frequently cut up into deep and sharp ravines, and, in many places, there are bold, precipitous bluffs, from one to two hundred feet high. I have not often found these bluffs capped with the Trenton Limestone, as spoken of by Prof. Hall as being the case in lowa. In many places this sandstone is interspersed with nu- merous horizontal bands or layers of iron, or sandstone so impreg- nated and cemented with the oxide of iron, as to be very firm and resisting. These layers are from less than half an inch to two inches in thickness, and occur, one above another, in some places but a few inches, and in others several feet apart. These layers resist the action of the atmosphere for a great length of time, and only give away from the disintegration and wearing away of the rock beneath, when they break off and fall from their own weight. Between these layers the rock is sometimes very loose and friable, easily worked away with the pick. It appears as if, during the deposition of this rock, that occasion- ally, in these localities, the surface was in some way covered with a sediment of the oxide of iron, which, acting as a cement, rendered this portion of the rock much harder and firmer than other parts of it. If you will examine one of these layers with a magnifying glass, you will see that they are made up principally of the same minute peculiarly formed grains of quartz, of which other portions of the rock is composed, stained and partially covered with the ox- ide of iron. We frequently find very beautiful ripple marks on these ferruginous layers. On some of them the impress of the ed- dies and ripples of the old Silurian ocean appear as fresh and _pal- pable as if produced but yesterday. These markings are sometimes very singular and curious, mimicking the forms of organized life. Here is a specimen which | have been at a loss to determine whether it has been produced by the action of water or is an im- pression of some organized being. This rock is composed of small rounded grains of pure limpid quartz, which have a singular uni- formity in their size and shape, in some places cohering so slightly as to crumble in the hand, and in other localities so firmly cemented as to make a good building stone. This rock is in some places of almost chalky whiteness, but more commonly it has a grayish as pect, while in other localities it has a reddish appearance, being stained with the oxide of iron. As to the economical uses of this rock. There are several quar- ries on Franklin creek, in Lee county, and in Ogle county, where it has been pretty extensively used for building, and cut into win- dow and door sills and caps. There was a beautiful arched bridge of cut stone, from one of these quarries, built over Franklin creek, for the Chicago and Fulton Railroad, when it was first constructed. Professor Hall says that this rock would make an excellent mate- rial for making glass. It will be perceived that this rock, as it is found in the valley of Rock River, varies considerably from the description of it given by 56 Professor Hall, as it occurs in Iowa. Instead of its being uniformly the loose friable rock, spoken of by Mr. Hall, with scarcely cohe- sion enough to enable him to obtain cabinet specimens of it, we fre- quently find it forming bold perpendicular, and sometimes over- hanging, cliffs, with strength and tenacity enough to make a good building stone. There are places where the rock is flinty and hard, and weathers out, like granite, in jagged and irregular peaks, high above the surface of the surrounding country. BUFF LIMESTONE. Next to the St. Peter’s Sandstone, and separated from it in some laces by two or three feet of shale and blueish clay, comes the Buff Ra tt of Owen, classed by Hall with the Trenton Limestone. This is a thick bedded, compact, semi-crystalline magnesian Lime- stone, in layers of from one to two feet in thickness. It crops out in many places above the St. Peter’s Sandstone. Between these thick ledges there are thin shaly layers, an inch or two in thick- ness, abounding in fossils. Although these layers are full of fos- sils, there appears to be but a very few species. They are very imperfect—most of them are casts, and appear to be such as are common to the Trenton Limestone proper. This rock is often quite fine-grained and compact, and makes an excellent building stone. From an analysis of specimens of this rock in lowa, Pro- fessor Hall thinks that it may be very useful for the manufacture of hydraulic cement, as its composition was found to more nearly resemble than any of our other magnesian limestones, that of the best rocks used for that purpose in other places. These thick bed- ded layers are from twelve to eighteen feet in thickness. TRENTON LIMESTONE. The Blue Limestone of the Western Geologists, or the Trenton Limestone of the New York survey, succeeds these magnesian beds. This rock is quite variable in its appearance. In some places it has a blueish color, particularly on a recent fracture, but more frequently it is of a dull buff color. It is not so thick bedded as the preceding rock, and is in some places quite shaly, and breaks up into small fragments when quarried. In other places the layers are compact and thick enough th make a good building stone. _ ‘There are vertical crevices frequently found in this rock, which are from two to fifteen inches in width. Sometimes they are filled with debris, and in other places are open and serve as channels for subterranean streams of water from the pits in the elevated ground back from the bluffs, which I have spoken of above. At the base of the bluff, after a heavy shower, or at the breaking up of the winter, swollen streams of turbid water may be seen rushing from them. The Trenton Limestone abounds in fossils. It is the oldest rock in this country in which we find a great profusion of the remains of organized beings, showing beyond doubt that the ocean of the lower Silurian era was filled with a multitude of the lower forms 57 of animal life. Here is a specimen not much more than twice as large as a man’s hand, that has representatives from three of the rand divisions of the animal kingdom. This central figure is a ne large Trilobite, a beautiful specimen of the Articulata; and here are several fragments of coral and the stem of an Encrinite from the Radiata, while the Molusca is represented by several of the Acephala and a Gasterapod. There are great numbers of Ar- thocerata found in this rock. Some of them are of very great size. I have seen sections of them that were eight inches in diameter. I have a part of one in my collection which is not more than six inches in diameter at its largest part, that is eight feet in length. Ammonites of considerable size are found in this rock. Among the Acephala are several species of Septeena. Strophomena, Orthis, etc., are common in some of the layers of this rock. This rock is somewhat extensively used for building material, al- though for that purpose it is not equal in value to the magnesian beds below it. It makes excellent lime, and is extensively used for that purpose. Some of the layers of this rock, in this locality, are made up almost exclusively of fossil shells and corals, and are very compact and fine-grained, and receive an excellent polish, making a very beautiful figured marble. The Trenton Limestone is found principally in the bend of the river, in the upper part of Lee county, extending about four miles south, and is also found in a narrow belt on the north-west side of the river, extending from Pine creek, in Ogle county, to- within a mile of Dixon. GALENA LIMESTONE. The Galena Limestone succeeds and rests upon the Trenton Limestone. The line of demarkation between this and the Trenton Limestone is not always easily ascertained. Layers, partaking sometimes more of the characteristics of one of these formations and then the other, are often found intermingled for some distance, although the characteristics of the mass of the two formations are very distinct. It appears to be the prevailing rock, underlying the surface of the elevated prairie, over a considerabie portion of the north-western part of the State—the streams having in many places cut down through it into the strata beneath. The Galena Limestone is a rock peculiar to the West, and is a very important member of the lower Silurian series. It is important not only from its thickness and the extent of country which it covers, and the many economical uses made of the rock itself, but from the rich minerals it contains. It being peculiarly the lead-bearing rock of the North-West, as is indicated by its name. The Galena Limestone is a coarse-grained, porous, and sometimes friable rock. It has a dull grayish and sometimes yellowish color, and, from its porous character, weathers out very rough and irreg- ularly. It is everywhere characterized by its peculiar fossil, the Sun Flower Coral, the Coscinapora sulcata or recepticalites of Hall. In the lower beds of this rock there is a very beautiful species of 58 Favosite quite common. Its pentagonal columns, or rather tubes, filled with transverse lamina of a pure siliceous material, radiating from a point, present a very beautiful appearance, particularly on arecent fracture. This coral is often found in large masses where it has weathered out of the rock, sometimes entire, but more fre- quently broken into fragments. Among the gasteropods found in this rock are the Marchisonia, Pleurotomaria, etc. The Orthoceras, Crytoceras, Ammonite, and some of the bivalves common to the Trenton Limestone, are often found in the lower beds of this rock. This limestone is the prevailing rock along the river, from a mile above Dixon to near Sterling, where it disappears beneath the Hudson River group and the Niagara Limestone. This rock, as may be seen by the map, spreads out over a much greater extent of country as we go back from the river, on either side. HUDSON RIVER GROUP. On the immediate banks of the river, along the rapids at Sterling, and at the base of the bluffs a mile above town, on the north side of the river, may be seen the various rocks, shales, clayey and bituminous deposits described by Professor Hall as the Hudson River Group. The rapids in Rock River at Sterling seem to have been produced by the wearing away of the shales of this forma- tion. I have been unable to ascertain what the exact thickness of this group may be, but think that it is probably not more than twenty-five or thirty feet. On the map accompanying this paper I have represented this formation in a narrow belt, surrounding the Niagara Limestone, on the east and north side. Although the rocks of this formation do not appear at the sur- face, except at the rapids and at the bluff above Sterling, I have been able to trace them, in the course indicated on the map, by ex- amination of the rocks thrown up in the digging of wells. NIAGARA LIMESTONE, The Niagara Limestone is found on the north side of the river, above Sterling, extending through the north-eastern part of White- side county. This rock is also a magnesian limestone, and re- sembles, in its composition and appearance, the Galena Limestone. There is a good opportunity to examine this formation at the quar- ries, a mile above Sterling. There it may be seen resting on a green compact rock of the Hudson River Group. The lines of charts common to this rock are found there in abundance, some- times forming layers six inches thick. The characteristic fossil of this rock, the Catenapora Escharoides, and a beautiful species of Favosite, are common there. I also noticed a species of Marchi- sonia and two or three bivalves. The rock from these quarries makes an excellent building stone, and is extensively used for that purpose. MASTODON GIGANTEUS. By C. D. Wiper. During the last ten years, in varions portions of Illinois, have been found the teeth and tusks, and, in some instances, the verte- bree, of a huge mammal, called the Mastodon. All the remains, thus far discovered, are indicative of the same species, 2. ¢., Gigan- teus—so called from its vast size. Many teeth have been found in Northern Lllinois, especially in the Lead regions. Some have been washed out by the rivers, at Spring flood, while others have been obtained in railway sections. The “largest specimen” of this order, (Mastodon,) once lived near Aurora, where his remains were recently found, in excavating for the track of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. There were the tusks and seven teeth—all in a good state of preservation, “the tooth of time” having consumed ail other vestiges. The teeth and tusks were found as near each other as when they were in the animal’s head; from which we may conclude that he laid him down to die with much composure, and was allowed to sleep on quietiy through the ages. The tusks, when entire, measured ten feet in length and ten inches in diameter at the base; they were curved upward, and were considerably worn at the ends, on the under side. They ap- pear to have been used as huge levers, for the purpose of overturn- ing trees, large and small, whose foliage and branches served him for food—a conclusion at which we also arrive from the construc- tion of his teeth. 60 The foregoing figure represents one of the tusks in the natural po- sition. As it was uncovered, one of the laborers, an Irishman, with an ax, cut it nearly asunder, thinking it was “ white wood.” It re- sembles the tusk of the Elephant, (or Mammoth, which is simply a fossil elephant,) whose tusks are fixed to the upper jaw like incisor teeth, and have a solid structure. The tusk of the Mastodon has an outer shell, one inch in thickness, very hard, fibrous and compact, not unlike the massive curved cables stretched over the towers at the Niagara suspension bridge. The mass within is white, like de- cayed ivory. The weight of each tusk is 200 pounds, and judging from its shape, position and material, we are obliged to say that a forest of oak or pine would “grow small by degrees” before a drove of these formidable tree-eaters. The teeth, as one would suppose, are of great size, and weigh from five to eight pounds each. The front teeth weigh from three to five pounds, and resemble, in their construction, those of grami- nivorous animals. They appear to have been worn out, the crown or enamel of the teeth having nearly disappeared. The above cut represents a “ wisdom tooth” of the Mastodon. It weighs seven pounds, and measures eight inches in length and breadth, and is about five inches in thickness. The protuberances of the surface, from which the name Mastodon is derived, are smooth, and seem to have been used for breaking portions of limbs of trees, which was done after the manner of an old fogy flax- break, the processes shutting into, but not touching each other. The pieces or chips thus made, were then masticated by the front teeth, which served as molars, an exception to the present mode of grinding. However, some contend that the front teeth were used only as nippers, for biting off branches or leaves and grass. By observing the last figure, which represents one of the smaller teeth, the relation of the two sets will be readily perceived, and it will also appear that the huge monster was decidedly a vegetarian. 61 “The teeth consist chiefly of dentine, invested by enamel, though a layer of cement, thinner than in the Elephant, invests the fangs, and is spread over the crown. The whole number of teeth is twenty-four, of which rarely more than eight are in use at one time. They are developed from behind, forward, in order to re- lieve the jaws from the excessive weight of the whole at once. Two on each side, in each jaw, are developed soon after birth, and are shed early. The first and second of the upper jaw resemble those of the lower. The thirdisthree-ridged. The fourth is three- ridged, larger, with the eminences notched. The fifth has three ridges, each with two eminences. The sixth is four-ridged, with a small heel; the points sometimes bifurcated, deep furrowed, and measuring six and one-fourth by three inches; and in one instance, nine and a half to five and a half inches.” Several years ago, six Mastodons were exhumed in New Jersey ; and, as Cuvier had predicted from a single tooth, they had twenty ribs, like the Elephant. Within the ribs of one of the Mastodons, a dark colored earth was found, which, on being examined with a microscope, exhibited the remains of some vegetable, which Dr. Lyell considers to have been the half decayed twigs and leaves of the pine or fir tree. The whole mass of vegetable remains taken from one carcass was eight bushels, or one stomachtul!!! Taking the tusk as one-third of the length, which is the usual es- timate, and allowing half the length for the height of the animal, we can easily restore the proportions of the Mastodon, and we are obliged, therefore, to conclude that when alive and in all his glory, he was thirty feet long and fifteen feet high. But this estimate need not transcend belief, for we have already, in several museums of Natural History, remains of the Megatherium, (great beast,) measuring twenty-four feet in length. This was also a grass-eating animal. The Zeuglodon, (yoked tooth,) whose remains are in the St. Louis Museum, (Wyman’s,) was ninety feet in length. It be- 62 longs to an order of reptiles inhabiting the waters of primitive oceans, which, ages ago, became “ dry land.” At this period the animal kingdom seems to have attained its limit. Huge beasts, like the Mastodon, stalked over the plains, and great Saurians plowed the waters, like Winans’ steamers. The Prairie State was at that time mostly a watery waste, and Lake Michigan found its western shore many miles beyond its present limits. The northern part of the State was above the sea level, and was covered, doubtless, with coniferous trees and tall rush grasses. Fox river was tributary to the Gulf of Mexico, (as we have since called it,) and the Mastodon, like the ox, grazed along its banks. It has been thought that this individual, on going from the river to the upland, was “swamped” in one of the “sloughs,” and being very old could not extricate himself; so he died and his bones are with us until this day. Some have even said that the Mastodons were once so numerous that they consumed all our forests, leaving us the prairies and a few groves—a conclusion which accounts for our peculiar topography, and which is entitled tg quite as much consideration as a dozen other theories in regard to our prairies. For what purposes these creatures were made, “ we do not know, for we were not present.” Nor can we see any uses which they could serve, except to teach us that, in order to complete the great work of Creation, another race must appear possessed of higher characteristics, and haying no relation to the greatness of physical proportions. This animal must not be confounded with the Mammoth, or fos- sil Elephant—several species of which have been found in North America, in the same formation. The remains of both the Masto- don and Mammoth have been found together, at Big-bone Lick, Kentucky. Professor Rogers argues that they lived together, in the long period of surface tranquility which succeeded the strewing of the general drift, and were overtaken and exterminated together by the same changes, partly of climate, partly of a second but more local displacement of the waters, which reshifted the drift and formed the later lake and river terraces. We subjoin a few notes taken from Dr. Warren’s Report on the Mastodon, the most complete description extant. Dr. Warren had an entire skeleton in his museum in Boston. The skeleton of an Elephant was placed near the Mastodon, in order to show the con- trast of size and similarity of construction. The remains referred to, in possession, of Dr. Warren, were found near Newburg, on the Hudson river, in a large morass, the huge bones “lay sprawling out,” each occupying its natural relation and position. The specimen above referred to is very nearly the same size as the one found at Aurora, and the measurements are nearly the same for each portion of its structure. The cranium is flatter than in the Elephant, narrow between the temporal bones, the face becoming twice as wide below the nasal 63 opening. The length of the superior surface, from the vertex to the edge of the pre-maxillary bones, is forty-eight inches, and the width between the superior orbiter processes twenty-eight inches ; the posterior or occipital surface is nearly vertical, roughened for muscular attachments; the temporal bones are of great size, indi- cating the power of the muscles which filled them; lower jaw V-shaped—the anterior pointed extremity having on the internal surface a long wide groove for the tongue. The cervical vertebrae have short spinous processes, except the last, which is six and a half inches long; the dorsals are twenty, and, with the three lumbar, form a considerable arch, the first seven having very long spinous processes; the first lumbar measures across the transverse processes seventeen inches; the sacrum consists of five bones, and is twenty inches long on the lower surface; caudals probably about twenty two, very strong at the commencement of the tail, which reached to the knees. The ribs are twenty—thirteen true, and seven false ; the first nearly vertical, resembling a clavicle, and twenty-eight inches long; from this the ribs increase to the ninth, which 1s fifty- four and three-quarter inches; thence decreasing to the last, which is twenty-one inches. The massive humerus is thirty-nine inches long, with equal circumference, with a remarkable projection, ex- tending two-thirds down the limb, for the deltoid muscle; the cir- cumference of the elbow joint is forty-four inches ; radius is twenty- nine inches long; ulna much the stoutest and thirty-four inches long. The thigh bone is massive, and about as long as the hume- rus, seventeen inches in circumference at the middle, and thirty at the lower portion; the kneepan nearly globular; tibia hnman-like, twenty-eight inches long, thirty inches in circumference above and thirteen and a half in the middle; fibula twenty-six inches; feet more depressed and toes more radiating than in the Elephant. This skeleton is eleven feet high; seventeen feet from end of face to beginning of tail; the latter being six and two-thirds feet; circumference around ribs sixteen feet flve inches; tusks about eleven feet, of which eight and two-thirds feet project beyond the sockets. The size of the head of one specimen, found in Orange county, New York, is as follows: breadth, thirty-one inches; height, thirty-three and a quarter inches; length, forty-eight inches. — An analysis of the tusks shows the following constituents : PAN AG TRAV CGD acc ia vs laced ede otgides coh iga: captain) quai a’ sys 26.2 Phosphate and carbonate of lime,....... a Say! Oia ‘SY REE PRESS ARE NDR MES RD: OR IAT IE ASE 4.6 100.0 About thirty species of the Mastodon have been described, most of which are European. Their remains are generally found in their natural state, not petrified ; because, as in most cases, they have been preserved in morasses and peat swamps, whose antisep- tic powers are well known. Pt i 4 64 The specimens found at Alton, consisting of teeth and jaw bones, were preserved in debris of limestone. The teeth were not changed in any respect. The bones were somewhat honey-combed by the action of lime. } The remains found at Aurora were slightly impregnated with iron, which is another means of preservation. At what time this gigantic creature came upon the earth is a point not yet fixed. There are some traditions, faintly showing that the earlier races of men were acquainted with him, and that they have become extinct within two or three thousand years, or within a few centuries, like the Dodo and Dinornis. Lyell consid- ers that, although they are geologically recent, their destruction occurred many thousand years ago, mainly through climatic changes. From the remains found in Europe, it is evident that the American Mastodon is much more recent, since it is here found cotemporary with the Mammoth, or Elephant, and, in Europe, as far down as the middle of the Tertiary formation. a ee ee ee ee eS THE WATER LILY. (Nelumbium Lutem.) To face page 65. THE WATER LILY. ON THE PECULIAR GROWTH OF THE WATER LILY (NELUMBIUM LU- TEUM, Wild.) Read before the Ilinois Natural History Society, June, 1860, By Freperick Brenpet, of Peoria, Illinois. EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. Fig. 1—The ovary longitudinally divided. Fig. Fig. Fig. 03 2—The seed longitudinally divided, showing the primordial leaves (a,) and the radicle (6,) one cotyledon (e,) and the bony pericarp. 3—The young plant produced by the seed. 4—The flowering plant produced by a bud: a the rootstock, 6 the outer scale of the bud; through the base of it passeth the stipule, (d,) and the terminal bud of which is to be seen the prolongated stem, (¢.) Through the base of the stipule generally passeth another bud, prolongated into a runner ; c, the inner scale of the bud, protecting the leaf and the flower bud; 7, the leaf—this, measuring sometimes two feet in diameter, and the flower, (g) are, in proportion to the rest of the drawing, many times too small. The petiole and peduncle are rough, with black tubercles. . 6—A cut of the stem. The stem, rhizoma or runner, however we eall it, has an internal structure more like the endogenous plants. Cylindrical cavities, generally 8 to 9, in the peduncle 6, in the petiole 4, larger ones and many in- terstitial smaller ones run side by side along, sometimes interrupted by ten- der diaphragmas. These cavities run only from one nod or rootstock to the other, the rootstocks being solid. The four larger channels of the pe- duncle are continuous, with two larger and two smaller cavities in the base of the leaf, indicated on the upper surface by four yellowish-green spots. The cavities again continue in smaller channels, which run on both sides of the nerves to the periphery of the leaf. Fig. 6—The diaphragma magnified, showing a beautiful net-like structure, Fig. 7—The diagram as constructed by Trecul: a, the leaves; 4, the axillary stipules ce, the extrafoliary stipules; d, the abortive stipule ; e, the abortive leaves. by att | 66 The Water Chinquapin (Welumbcum lutewm, Willd.,) a plant of a very peculiar growth, which is common in our Western ponds and lakes, belongs to the Nelumbo family, of which Nelumbium is the single genus. This plant—and so, probably, the few other con- genial species—differs so much in its growth from other dicotyl- edonous plants, that Trecul, a French botanist, in a paper read be- fore the Academy of Sciences at Paris, said: “The singular or- ganization of this plant seems to defy all our systems.” Yet he makes some efforts to demonstrate that the leaves and stipules, al- though simulating an anomalous disposition, submit to all the laws of phyllotaxy. It must be remarked here, that Trecul speaks of N. codophyllum, Raf., and that this is doubtless the same as N. luteum, Willd., the only species which is known in the Western and Southwestern States. The fruit of the Nelumbium is a bony nut, half imbedded in cavities of a large spongy obconic receptacle, containing a single seed, which is suspended on a filiform funicle, rising on one side of the nut to the apex. A second ovulum in the ovary is abortive, the funicle of which rises on the opposite side, as to be seen in the ovary at an early state. (Tig. 1.) When the seed is germinating the radicle and the cotyledons do not come forth Jike in other seeds, but rest in the nut, which is gen- erally laying on the surface of the mud, below the water. The primordial leaves are already highly developed in the seed, (Fig. 2,) bent down on the inside of the petiole, and inclosed in a very tender membranous, hood-like sheath. When the stem has left the nut, the petioles of the obicular peltate leaves, rolled inward from two sides, rise on their prolongated petioles, and, unfolding, float on the surface of the water. In the axil of the second leaf there is a stipule, which envelops the next, and so on to the fourth or fifth leaf, the stipule of which en- velops the terminal bud. ‘The first four or five leaves, alternating on two opposite sides, are very close together; then the pro- longated stem, with the terminal bud, runs into the mud, rooting there, and sending up one leaf, which is provided with three mem- branaceous protective organs, one axillary right as on the prece- ding leaves, and two others, which Trecul calls extrafoliary stipules —one behind the leaf, protecting the same, and a second below on the opposite side, which envelopsthe whole. The terminal bud passeth through the latter, piercing it at the base, and produces at a dis- tance a leat on the upperside, and soon. Now, this one-sided dis- tribution of the leaves, when the first leaves are bifarious, and the number of stipules differing in the young and in the older plant, astonished the mind of Mr. Trecul, and endeavoring to solve the question he relied on the following teleological argumentation : “The two primordial leaves need no protection, except that of the cotyledons and a thin hyaline membrane covering both togeth- er, like a miter. The following leaves need a protection, and so we find one stipule in the axil of the second, third, fourth, and 67 sometimes the fifth leaf; the merithalls being very short, one sti- pule is sufficient. But afterwards, when the rhizoma descends in- to the mud to a depth of twelve to fifteen inches , the merithalls grow longer before the terminal leaf has acquired strength enough to resist the action of destroying external influences—f. @., fermen- tation of organic matters. Now, the axillary stipule, as it covers only the lower part of the merithall, is insufficient ; nature pre- vented destruction by providing the upper extremity of every in- ternode with two supplementary stipules. But nature works ac- cording to fixed laws, and there is no harmony between the early and the later state of growth—the first four or five leaves are dis- tichous ; the following ‘which are provided with three stipules, ap- pear only on the upper side of the rhizoma.” ‘To restore accordance with these different arrangements, Trecul supposes that the two extrafoliary stipules are the axillary stipules of abortive leaves, and that a third leaf and its stipule is abortive, and all these organs are abortive because nature did not want them. Teleology is gen- erally founded upon hypothesis, and should be abolished in natural sciences. Cool observation relying upon facts leads on a weary but sure way, when hypothesis leads too often astray. Desirous to find a convenient explanation, we are induced by the slightest probability to believe without sufficient evidence. It seems to me that Trecul, to save a system, which in this case is not at all in danger, mingled entirely different things. The prolongation of the stem from leaf to leaf in the older plant i is not a merithall, but a runner with a terminal bud, the origin of a new individual, con- sisting of a solid rootstock, and producing one leaf, one flower, and new runners, and the so-called extrafoliary stipules are the scales of the bud. The distribution of the leaves in the whole concern of connected individuals has nothing to do with the laws of phyllo- taxis. The arrangement of the leaves in our plant is distichous in the individuals produced by the buds, as well as in those produced by seeds: that proves the position of the scales of the bud. The difference is, that the former produces a fructiferous scape and only one leat; the latter produces four or five leaves and no fruit, but only a terminal bud, mediating the propagation in a secondary form. This reminds slichtly of the alternate generation of some invertebrate animals. In this way we need not the very ingenious, but too fictitious, explanation of Trecul; unexplained is only the want of the stipule in the axil of the first leaf. We say, better we do not know the reason, than to explain its absence by the hypothesis that nature did not want it. ' elapaty ren Lie Wes & AEST YORS ¢: we ie ee Coe Le Mya hie ae ‘Yonik ong ie rr pues Heath ite wih i * SEP tad be hack diaat PRS) Ries) mem J heir v9 oh: Yuya Dae sans SUCH NEE Lite : veliitee Oat: ry HOS 1 i ett pint ay PT ee (Oe ae hd ae ea SLM Mh) a Ley eins anris,! he Dialing Bianca aap aegis aire 8 SiN oh 5 A SA io ee eT ah ahi g iA Spite KES SN SE Gj aa Cr Stebel! a hier Ya tek nine rt yi ; Rich ie j ey co eo URN te TE an Ce ey ia), VG etiue i MN O ba Aha) £ } 4 , wy f fy Al i , ae ~ wa ‘ rn ae iy On ee ; M ES hie tir ves, Meo : t : pane hg aie tiohsas uy ae He Lie eo bali ar : y ens pert, ee pi ae a Wie: AR enw TOO ae. ; a a Oe eae oe ; BS Ni aay Sh Vhs P a ae ; - ) T a ’ ¢ Ri Ne Bale Ses a Pee tak ‘Toone beeps heds £5 ey) ‘ ‘ Ly rua, + i fa, Aas ‘ ) j f ww 4 : Wh Y, TAXIDERMY. DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING SPECIMENS IN ORNITHOLOGY. By R. H. Hotprr, Bloomington, Illinois. In this paper upon preserving and mounting birds, prepared in accordance with a resolution of the Natural History Society, passed at its annual meeting in July, 1861, I have endeavored to make the process as easily understood as possible, by a plain account of my manner of operation, with illustrations of all the important por- tions of operator and subject. But with the most elaborate article and series of illustrations, it requires much practice and some artis- tic taste, to succeed in mounting birds successfully ; though almost any one, with a little practice, may prepare specimens for exchange or study. TOOLS AND MATERIALS. Supposing you to possess a suitable gun, your next requisite is shot of a proper size for the particular specimens you wish to pro- cure, though it is better to be provided with several sizes, say Nos. 6, 8 and 10, the latter being suitable for Warblers and other small. birds; for Humming-birds, sift No. 10 through a common meal seive; you can always procure a few charges to each pound, of dust shot, with which, by choosing proper distance, you may obtain these diminutive creatures with little injury. A basket, such as used by fishermen, and called a ** Trout basket,” is best for carrying specimens, as you can lay in birds without danger of breaking the feathers. Instruments necessary for skinning, are, a sharp knife, a pair of short-bladed, sharp pointed scissors, (lig. 2,) a large, strong pair, (Fig. 1,) a pair of spring forceps, (Fig. 3,) and a pair with long blades, (Fig. 4,) a hook for suspending the bird whilst skinning, to ‘ j } ‘ j 70 ow be attached to a wire or strong twine, and suspended from the wall, a shallow dish or tray to hold plaster of Paris. Additional tools, for mounting, are a strong pair of wire cutters, two or three sizes of plyers, needles, thread and twine; moss, such as found on rocks or old logs-—soft and, green is best for small birds—and frost-cured prairie hay, or blue grass, for larger; tow, for filling out with,-and cotton for various purposes, though the lat- ter is to be avoided in all cases excepting in filling the throat and occiput, as hereafter described ; annealed wire of various sizes, and _ for a preservative, arsenic, for which there is no substitute; all . . ’ ? . my: wee ? preparations, intended as such, not being any more efficient, and requiring more labor and time to apply. HOW TO TREAT A BIRD WHEN SHOT. Having wounded a bird, it is necessary that it be killed without further injury ; to do this open wide your right hand and carefully inclose him in it; then, with the thumb and fore finger of the left placed under his wings, press upon his lungs until his struggles cease; plug the shot holes and mouth with cotton, and having pre- pared a stiff paper cone, drop your bird in, head down, and neatly told the end over the tail, and lay in your basket, taking care during the whole proceedings to avoid rumpling or breaking the feathers, as it will save you much after labor. TO CLEAN THE FEATHERS. Having brought your specimens home in good order, and laid them upon the table, with the tools handy at your right hand, and tray of plaster on the left, you pass a strong thread through the nostrils, remove the cotton from the mouth and put in fresh; with a sponge and clean water, (a little warm is best,) wash all blood and dirt from the feathers, then, with a moderately stiff brush, (a hat, or soft hair brush is best,) apply the plaster, brushing briskly at the same time, until perfectly dry ; by this means specimens may be restored, that otherwise would be valueless. HOw TO SKIN A BIRD. The bird is now ready for your knife, with the edge of which separate the feathers on the breast, and you will find a line, bare of feathers, as if lett by nature for this operation; with the fingers of the left hand keep the feathers back, whilst with the knife you cut through the skin, from the lower end of the breast bone to the vent, as shown in Fig. 5; sprinkle a little plaster upon the exposed surface; now take hold of the skin with the fingers of the left hand, whilst you press against the body, with your forceps held in the right, as seen in Fig. 6. Having thus loosened the skin upon both sides, as low down as you conveniently can, place the thumb and foretinger of your right hand upon the skin over the breast, press downwards, and you will expose the whole of the breast to the \\ yt Mt Py * oo vietate Outlines of Comparative Phy sioloey,” Agassz & Gould; in Mineralogy, Dana’s. ‘One of the chief designs of ‘this paper is to direct the attention of the members of the State Teachers’ Association tothe fact of the existence of the Illinois State Natural Iistory Society. A brief history of its formation may not be without interest. At the meeting of this Association, in December, 1857, held at Decatur, a paper was read from Mr. Cyrus Thomas, of Carbondale, Jackson county, suggesting the formation of a State Natural History Society, and suggesting the State Normal School as its head- quarters and the place for its Museum. In accordance with this suggestion, a meeting was called at the rooms of the Normal University, in Bloomington, on the 30th of June following, when a plan of opera- tions was agr reed upon, and officers elected, of whom Professor J. B. Turner was elected President. Since that time two annual meetings have been held, and at each succeeding meeting the evi- dence of increasing interest has been exhibited by increased num- bers. Papers have been presented by President J. B. Turner, on “Microscopic Insects ;” by Dr. Frederick Brendel, of Peoria, ¢ “ Forests, or Forest Tyas ;? by Cyrus Thomas, of Carbondale, on “The Study of Natural History ;” by Dr. Frederick Brendel, on “Meteorology, in connection with Botanical Investigation ; mn by George Vaseys of McHenry county, on ‘ Mosses of illinois ;’ "ey Dr. E. R. Roe, of Bloomington, as “Notes on the Great Drouth in 1853 and 754; ” by Cyrus ‘Thomas, on “Orthoptera of Llinois ;” by Professor J. B. Mission subject, “Mind, Force, and Matter;” by B. D. Walsh, of Rock Island, subject, “Tnsect Life, in its relation to the interests of Agriculture oi Bay Dr, Oliv er Everett, of Dixon, on “Geology of a Section of Rock River;” by Dr. E. BR. Roe, of Bloomington, “Some Features of the Drift Formation in Tili- nois;” by Dr. Adams, of Jacksonville, on “A Plan for the Study of Natural History ;” by Dr. F rederick Brendel, on “The Peculiar Growth of the Water ‘Lily, (Nelumbium Luteum.) Following out the original design of Mr. Thomas, the Normal University building was planned with a large and beautiful hall, one hundred feet by thirty-three feet, for the Museum. Through the indef fatiga- ble exertions of Mr. C. D. Wilber, the agent of the Society—now its Secretary—and others too numerous to mention, the collection made within the last two years amounts to nearly sixty thousand specimens. Such a collection made within so short & period is perhaps the best evidence of the vigor and strength of the Society, and the devotedness of its members. Until the present time the 96 halls have not been ready for the display of the Society’s collection, but it is expected that within a few weeks, under the good taste and management of Mr. R. U1. Holder, of Bloomington, Treasurer and Curator, it will be open for exhibition. The library of the Society will embrace everything that can be procured by gift, pur- chase or exchange, upon Natural History in particular, and Sci- ence in general. The library, at present, contains three hundred volumes, which are under the care of Mr. Ira Moore, Librarian. Every member of the Society can avail himself of this means of adding to his stock of knowledge in any branch of the subject in which he is specially interested. It is to this object the funds of the Society will be chiefly devoted. Commissions have been appointed in the several divisions of Nat- ural History to investigate everything in their several departments and report at the next annual meeting. Among these it is expect- ed that a complete list of the Ornithology of the State, as far as discovered, will be presented by Mr. R. H. Holder, together with a treatise on the T'axidermy of birds, or “Bird Stuffing.” A com- plete Flora will also be published from the joint labors of Drs. Va- sey, Brendel, Mead, Everett and M. 8. Bebb. Itis due, however, to the general intelligence of our people of Ili- nois, to say that, without their generous appreciation of the subject, their hearty co-operation with the plans proposed, and their great liberality in giving and doing for the cause, comparatively little of what has been done could have been accomplished. The Society is indebted to the State Agricultural Society for the interest it has manifested in giving such ample opportunities to present the sub- jects, by the exhibitions of specimens, to the attention of the peo- ple at large, collected at the State Fairs; and also for the privilege of publishing their papers and reports in the Agricyltural Society’s Transactions, where they may be found entire. Without the marked favor of the various railroad companies the Society wold have been alinost helpless, but with their commenda- ble liberality they have done more than anything else to demon- strate the public spirit and intelligence of the State. The Press, it is needless to say, has been one of the great levers in this move- ment. We owe it our gratitude; more said in its behalf would be superfluous. And now, fellow teachers, what can we do to promote the inter- ests of this Association? We answer much, and in many ways. The Museum and Library established at the Normal University was put in that place that it might benefit, directly or indirectly, every teacher and school in the State. They have cost and will cost a great expenditure of time, study and money to the friends of the enterprise, and you can assist and cheer them in their self- denying labors, by showing your sympathy for and appreciation of the cause ; by extending a knowledge of it among the people and the schools ; by forming auxiliary societies; by establishing school cabinets; by sending rare specimens of fossils, beasts, birds, fishes, 97 reptiles or plants, to the cabinet at Bloomington ; and last, though not least, in giving of your means to increase > the diffusion of know- ledge by ‘accumulating : a large and valuable store of scientific works in the library. Articles VIII and IX of the Constitution pre- scribe that “Any resident of the State of Illinois may become a member of this Society on the payment of five dollars, if elected by a majority of the members present at any regular meeting; provi- ded, the names of candidates for membership shall in all cases be presented on the recommendation of two members of the So- ciety. Each regular member shall pay an annual assessment of one dollar, after the first year of his membership.” Hoping that many members of the Teachers’ Association may be enrolled upon the catalogue of members in the Natural History Society, and believing that a new and nobler impulse for generous and general education may be extended even among our “teachers and schools, we will engage your attention no longer. ptenah,” * ae ani). 7 fc ee heart dee. apt iaas jiete xe ae ore ci be Fda tat aot nye ft" vee ia eat ee HE rit tt, Na ‘ 1? ay OBJECT LESSONS. By J. H. Buopeerv. A branch of teaching too little known and used, yet most nearly natural, is that of taking an object and giving instr uction by present- ing it to the direct observation of the pupils. It is not a process in which the teacher or the book tells the facts in regard to the thing considered, but one in which the living teacher puts in reach of their senses, W here they see and handle, the mineral, the animal, or the flower and plant. In theory, this is the per fection of teaching. Things and qualities are thus taught before words and names. The latter being needed by the pupil, are retained by him with ease, while he can scarcely retain them at all when learned in the routine of an ordinary book lesson, given before he has himself noted the quali- ties. In actual practice, the objects cannot always be presented. A menagerie or botanical garden cannot be attached to ever school, or a collection of the mineral productions of the earth. Some aid can be had trom pictures, and yet we must depend large- ly upon the printed descriptions of travelers and naturalists. but this can be done. We can take the natural mode of teaching with reference to articles close at hand, and the terms necessarily em- ployed will convey vivid meaning when they occur on the printed page or in the eral lecture, or narrative of a traveler from remote regions, with regard to strange objects there. There is a peculiar- ity in the arrangement of natural products wondrously favorable to thorough instruction in regard to most of the productions of the earth, with access to those of but a single State or even county. While the varieties and species of plants and animals as well as min- erals are almost innumerable, they may be grouped into a few great classes or families which tell their likeness by qualities differ- ing only in degree. Thus, a common cat serves to teach the his- tory of the puma and the Jeopard, the tiger and the lion, with the wildcat of our own forests, and the whole tribe of soft- footed, re- tractile-clawed, bearded, furry, treacherous, semi-nocturnal beasts of prey. The foot of a common spaniel illustrates that of the fox and wolf, as also his teeth and his general habits are like theirs. 100 A spear of timothy grass grows in like manner, to a great extent, with the corn-stalk of our own fields, the sugar cane of the south, and the huge bamboo of the East Indies. A piece of LaSalle or DuQuoin coal, tells the same general story as that in English mines, or the peat in an Irish bog. An accurate knowledge of a bit of common limestone with its load of shells and other marks of dead generations, enables us to understand Vermont or Italian marble, English chalk cliffs, the gypsum of France, and the beautiful alabas- ter of a parlor ornament. Nature has furnished most parts of the habitable earth with a pretty full set of specimens-of the work she does in other parts. Even the odd specimens so-called, of remote _ regions are but combinations of qualities and forms elsewhere man- ifested. The duck-billed Platypus, a great puzzle to naturalisis who visit Australia, is described to us as having a bill like a duck, a body like a mole, and as laying eggs. That description, when the measurement of the animal is given, will be perfectly clear to any child who has caught a mole throwing up his tunnel in the garden or grass-plot; rolled on the haymow when sent to hunt hens’ nests; and set ducks’ eggs underahen. The brilliancy and gorgeousness of the plumage of tropical birds is readily comprehended by the child who has been able to examine the dress of a humming-bird, or even to note the glossy changeable coloring of the neck of the common blackbird, stepping so briskly over the furrows of the Spring plowman. Yet the examples are not everywhere at hand to illustrate the works of nature elsewhere. Vast numbers never saw iron ore or native copper, or knew, by the eye, some most im- portant classes of plants and animals. Hence, the importance of museums, where samples may be deposited showing what beds of ore exist, what forests there are in remote regions, and what beasts and birds and insects roam and sing and buzz there. Here, shells and corals, with mounted fishes, tell us of the wonders of the’ great deep. So far, we have only viewed these as teaching physical facts; but where else are we to gain knowledge of moral and intel- lectual truth, except as it isillustrated by these? Ever since Adam was set to dress the garden and name the animals, down to to-day, moral training has come much through nature’s visible forms. Our Savior taught faith and trust in God by the lily and the grass of the field. Paul, the great preacher, taught the doctrine of resur- rection by the grain of wheat cast into the ground. The seeming death and change of many winged insects, as they are successively grub, chrysalis and bug, is a lesson on the same point. The museum of the Illinois Natural History Society is a great educational agent. Its location at the Normal University, will en- able those preparing to go forth as teachers to know more fully what text books describe, and to make their pupils see more clearly the force of descriptions given in their readers and geographies. It will break down narrowness of view and awaken enthusiasm and energy in studying the great book everywhere open before us. Then we shall have in the scattered districts little groups of child 101 naturalists watching with interest the successive steps of a lady- bug’s lite, or learning to know the destructive caterpillar, when it comes in its beautiful winged apparel, laying eggs for future gene- rations of voracious destroyers of the crops, but so splendid and graceful that like a rich rascal in human society, it receives admi- ration and immunity, instead of being made to pay the penalty of its crimes. Then, too, miniature museums will be forming in the common schools. A bit of lava will be secured to give reality to a description of a volcano, and a piece of iron ore will tell the story of Pilot Knob and the Iron Mountain. An Indian pipe, hatchets and arrow-heads, will remind the little folks of the red man’s his- tory. Nor will the little ones alone be interested. Let a teacher begin to gather such a collection and if he has a little enthusiasm, and it begins to be understood that such a collection is being made, he will find that the whole neighborhood will be interested to give or put on deposit curious articles. His school cabinet will be re- membered when strange objects are met with in plowing, or ona journey. The general interest in the school will be increased and the lessons assigned in text books better learned and more tho- roughly understood. This is no fancy sketch. There are schools where this is so now. Those birdsin the museum at Bloomington have indirectly awakened in two schools that could be named great interest and zeal in the study of Ornithology. The same schools and others are also wide awake as to the rocks and minerals about them. Object lessons have received little attention in this country. In Great Britain and Germany the case is different. There the sub- ject is much more popular and more extensively practiced. Books that scarce find any market here are published in Great Britain with titles like the following: “Lessons on Objects;” “Lessons on Shells;” ‘Model Lessons,” for primary schools; “Information on Common Objects;” and the Home and Colonial School Society puts up little cabinets of objects to be sold to such schools as may use such mode of teaching. The cabinet comprises a set of calcareous min- erals, also silicions, saline and inflammable; with specimens of the metals, and needles, pens and other commen things made of them; of vegetable matters, specimens of field grains, small fruits, spices and gums; of animal production, shells, bones, feathers, ivory, leather, parchment and other articles, of which a small amount an- swers as aspecimen; together with cloths of various fabrics, as flax, silk, cotton and wool. All this costs but little. A movement has been inaugurated by the Natural History Society, to have small cabinets made for sale, the proceeds to be used tor a book fund.* Here schools may secure collections that will aid much in the work of Object Teaching, if so situated that they cannot by their own *Norr.—I have heard that B. D. Walsh, of Rock Island, expects to put up cheap cab- inets of Insects, illustrating the characteristics of the different families. I hope it is true, and that the schools will second the effort to diffuse such knowledge. 102 labor or exchange, secure them at home. This museum will strengthen the current turning toward Object Teaching, and in- augurate a new mode of teaching i in our schools. It will prove one of the best educational forces of this period of our State history, and the men who have sacrificed money and time for its establish- ment, will yet be regarded as great educators, even though some of them never “kept school.” It is highly appropriate that the dedi- cation of the rooms takes place so near the time of the meeting of the State Teachers’ Association. Object Teaching has been so little used that a short specimen lesson may not be amiss here. The lesson presented is not intend- ed to teach new facts to the children, any farther than they are led to observe them, and thus give form to their knowledge instead of adding to it. The lesson is : from Mayo’s Model Lessons. The ar- ticle before the children is a lock of Woot. “Whatis this? Wool. Where does wool cometfrom? It comes off the sheep’s back. What sort of a thing is a sheep? An ani- mal. Whatis wool then? Partofananimal. Of what use is the wool to the sheep? To keep it warm. Can the sheep make its own wool? No. Who gave the little sheep this warm clothing? God. Yes, God gave the sheep this warm clothing because it can- not make any for itself. “Now pass this wool about; look at it and feel it, and tell me what you can find out about it. It is soft. tepeat—wool is soft. It is all hairs. Do you see all the hairs? Yes. Repeat, then— wool is formed of hairs. Feel it again. Itisdry. Repeat—wool is dry. What more? tis warm. Does it feel warm when you touch it, like fire? No. What do you mean then? It keeps us warm. Jtepeat—wool keeps us warm. Yes, it keeps us warm, because it prevents the warmth of our bodies from passing away from us. “Who can tell me what wool is used for? To make stockings and flannel. What is that very thick flannel you have on your beds? Blankets. Do you know any kind of clothes made of it? Yes, father’s coat. And what have some persons on their floors to keep their feet warm? Carpets. Carpets are made of wool? “Now repeat all you have said of wool. Wool comes off the sheep’s back, the clothing which God gave it to keep it warm; wool is soft, dry, and for med of hairs; it keeps us Warm; it is made into stockings, flannel, blankets, and ‘carpets. di *Note.—Any one who has not paid attention to the subject will be surprised to find more than a large octavo page of fine print, ocenpied by the mere oudlines of the lessons on acommon pen, in a book on Object Teaching, edited by Henry Barnard, and pub- lished by George Sherwood, Chicago. NOTES ON ILLINOIS INSECTS. By Cyrus Tuomas, of Murphysboro, Illinois. In attempting to write a paper, or work of any kind, on the in- sects of any section, although the most simple and unscientific lan- guage be used, yet an outline of the classification of these animals is absolutely necessary, in order that you may be understood by readers not Entomologists. Think for a moment of the vast num- ber of species belonging to this class, and the truth of the forego- ing remark will be admitted. Fully one hundred and fifty thousand species have already been described; which, in ten years more, may be increased one-third. In Illinois, alone, we have probably five thousand different species; perhaps more. To describe all these, and give a history of the transformations and habits of each, would require half a dozen quartos of a thousand pages each. Therefore, in order to avoid this difficulty, Naturalists have adopted a system of classification, by which this vast multitude can be ar- ranged in groups, each group having certain characteristics in com- mon. And, as a general thing, the various species of each group not only agree in figure but have similar habits. For instance, the family Caranip£, among the beetles, contains only predaceous spe- cies, while the almost equally extensive family CurcuLion1p& con- tains only vegetable eaters. The definition of “species” is one of the most difficult tasks assigned the Naturalist. It corresponds very nearly with the common term “sort” or “kind.” It is that race or chain of beings, descended from common parents, and which always produces the same kind, similar in every respect, or very nearly so. For instance, the White Oak is a species, the Black Oak is another; and the acorn or fruit of one will not pro- duce a tree of the other kind. Insects being small animals, great care is necessary to avoid confounding one species with another, or making two species out of one, where the sexes differ. On the fact of the permanency of species hangs the entire system of classi- fication. For if what is now a White Oak may in a century pro- duce a Black Oak or a Chestnut, and what is now a frog may in five hundred years produce a bird, a description given by Aristotle 104 or Linneus would be of no service to us of this day. In fact, Natural History would cease to be a science. Then starting with the admitted fact that species ever remain distinct, we next gather into a group those species having the parts of the body similarly arranged, and proportioned alike, though varying in color, size or marks, which collection is termed a genus—(plural genera.) Next, those genera that are alike in a number of particulars, and that con- tain species having similar habits, are grouped together and form a family ; which, at least among insects, is the most natural and definitely marked group from species to class. All the families of insects have been collected into some eight or ten groups, called orders, which are distinguished from each other by tolerably well marked characters. And, finally, all these orders taken together form the cass Insecta, which stands in the great Animal Kingdom as a division, in rank, equal to the Quadruped class (Mammalia,) or the Bird class (Aves,) ete. The term znsect, (which includes all in the class Znsecta,) at the present day, is limited to those animals with articulated*bodies, di- vided into three chief portions—the head, the thoraw and abdomen, having three pairs of legs, and generally, one or two pairs of wings. They also pass through several transformations, called their meta- morphoses. They pass through, during their lives, four forms or states of being, in many species very different from each other, to which the following names have been given—the egg, the larva, the pupa, and the ¢mago or perfect insect. The egg is the first form in which they enter upon a state of being—all known species (with the exception of some few species, chiefly among the two- winged flies,) being first produced in this form. When hatched from the egg they enter upon the larva state, in which they generally assume a worm-like form. In this state some are possessed of legs, others have none, some are true grubs, others caterpillars ; whilst others, as grasshoppers, bugs, etc., have the form of their perfect state, only differing in size and wanting wings. Some pass this portion of their lives in the water, others in the trunks or leaves of trees, in plants, fruits, the ground, in filth or the-bodies of other insects or other animals. And it is also during this state that the vegetable-eaters are most destruetive to vegetation, for during it their only business is to eat and grow. After having passed through the length of time assigned them by nature for this form of existence, they next enter upon the pupa state. In this state the majority of insects cease to eat, lose their larva form, and in cocoons, hardened cases or otherwise, enter upon a death-like state of rest. Though some, as crickets, grasshoppers, bugs, ete., con- tinue active, eating and increasing in size, frequently casting off the skin, whilst little wings begin to appear, which increase in size at each moulting. J’rom this state they next pass into the wmago or perfect state. When this is reached they do not increase in size or undergo any further moultings, and their chief business now seems to be to prepare for a continuation of the species. And here 105 I may be allowed to correct a common error, by stating that little flies and little beetles, etc., will never become larger ones. These various and wonderful changes in the form of insect life are worthy the attention not only of the professed Naturalist, but of the farmer and of every lover of Nature and her laws. It is no idle thing to trace the finger of a wise Creator in the wonderful plans of his handiwork in even so small a thing as an insect. Ifa loathsome crawling reptile were to descend into the earth and there, for a time, remain buried in a death-like sleep, coiled in a made cell or a cast off skin, and then come forth a beautiful bird, decorated with all the colors of the rainbow, we would look upon the changed animal with wonder and amazement. Yet to see a worm trans- formed into a brilliant beetle or gay butterfly excites no amaze- ment; first, because it is a common occurrence, and, secondly, be- cause of its small size. Is not the manifestation of power and wisdom as great in the one case as it would be in the other? In these changes is exhibited to us a type of the various changes through which all animals pass, even up to man himself. The great animal kingdom, as before stated, is divided into dif- ferent vast groups, each having a distinct and somewhat different series of changes or metamorphoses through which they pass. Yet that all do pass through some such series of changes can no longer be doubted. And it is in connection with this fact we find any reasonable explanation for neuters among insects, and of the means bees adopt to supply a new queen. In speaking of or describing insects, when no reference is made to a given period of their existence, the perfect insect is intended. In describing insects it is necessary to make use of some terms nut used in ordinary language ; therefore, I will give a short expla- nation of some few of these terms, not that I expect to use them, but as a means of reference. The bodies of perfect insects are con- sidered to be divided into three parts; first, the head ; second, the thorax, which is the portion to which the legs and wings are attach- ed, and is situated between the head and the abdomen ; third, the abdomen, the hinder part of the insect, and is generally divided into segments or rings. From the front of the head arise twoslen- der, thread-like, jointed appendages, varying in the different fami- lies and genera; these are called antennew. From the mouth of such as have horny jaws (mandibles) arise sometimes four and sometimes six slender jointed appendages, generally much shorter than the antenne, and generally composed of three or four joints; these are called palpi. The under side of the thorax is called the pectus or sternum. The triangular piece between the base of the wings, or wing-covers, is called scutellum or.scutel. The horny wing-covers of beetles and bugs, and leathery wing-covers of grasshoppers are called elytva. The upper side of the abdomen, tergum ; the underside,venter—its base is the part that joins the thorax; the apex, the latter end. The legs and feet, taken to- gether, are often called feet » femur or femora are thigh or thighs ; —12 106 tibiw, shanks; tars?, toes. The horny jaws are called mandibles. The long snout, with which some insects are furnished, is called rostrum. -The first or basal joints of the antenne or rostrum are those next the head. In connection with the fgregoing remarks, I herewith present a list of Illinois Coleoptera, together with a few remarks upon the order and families. J wouid be glad to descend more into particu- lars, and describe and give the history of some of the most impor- tant and obnoxious species, but space and time will not permit it. COLEOPTERA. This order is usually placed at the head of the list by systema- tists, though not always. It contains a larger number of species, and has received more attention than any other order of insects. The word Coleoptera signities wings ina sheath ; and the name has been applied on account of the hard, horny wing-coyers with which the species are furnished, The common name, beedle, is ap- plied to exactly the same insects. The characters of the order may be stated, in short, thus: “Insects with jaws moving sideways, two thick, horny wing- covers (elytra) meeting in a straight line on the top of the back, and two filmy wings, which, when at rest, are folded transversely under the wing-covers. The larve are called grubs, generally provided with six true legs, and sometimes also with a terminal proleg. Such species as undergo their transformations in nuts, fruits, and in timber, are often destitute of legs. The,pups are in- active.” FIRST FAMILY—CICINDELID. This family includes those active ferocious beetles, that we fre- quently see flying and lighting before us in the road, when the sun is hot; as we approach, they again take flight and drop down a few stepsin advance, generally with their heads turned toward us. They havelong legs, and run with great rapidity. The species found here are of medium size, one-third to three-fourths of an inch long, mostly with bright colors, generally green or bronzed, with white spots or marks. They have received the name of tiger-beetles, from their bright colors and ferocious habits. A bright green species, with six white dots on the elytra, is thought, by many, to be a “blister-fly.” As all the species of this family, both in the larva and perfect state, live on other insects, of course they are beneficial to us, and not injurious. Megacephala—Virginica. Cicindela—generosa, purpurea, formosa, lembalis, sexguttata, modesta, repanda, hirti- colles, cuprascens, duodecemguttata, vulgaris, lepida, punctulati, lecontei. 107 2—CARABIDA. This is the most numerous family of the order, embracing a great many genera, often very difficult to distinguish. In fact, a great many unnecessary genera have been formed, which has only added confusion to this troublesome family. This family includes the predaceous ground beetles, found under shocks of wheat and corn, under logs, rails, ete. Those black and dark brown beetles, seen running rapidly away when we turn over a log, plank or rai!, in the field or at the roadside—those that fly in at the window of a night, when the air feels damp, and drop about the floor and on the table, ete., and as soon as they light commence running hither and yon- der—mostly belong to this family. They are generally of a dark color, though several species are of a brilliant metallic luster, most- ly green or bronze. The elytra, or wing-cases, are mostiy longitu- dinally striated. Notwithstanding these insects are often found in situations that cause them to be suspected of mischief, yet they are our friends, and are there only for the purpose of destroying other insects, on which they prey. The Illinois species, so far as determined, are as follows: Casnonia—Pensylvaniea. Badister—pulchellus. Septotrachelus—dorsalis. Patrobus—longicornis. Galerita—janus. Calathus—gregarius. Zuphium—A mericanun. Pristodactyla—impunetata. Cymindis—pilosa, limbata. Platynus—angustatus, ruficornis, sinuatus. Calleida—decora, punctata. Anchomenus—sinuatus, cincticolles, ex- Dromius—piceus. tensicollis, viridis, decorus, Apristus—Americanus. Agonum—8-punctatum, cupripenne, exca- Lebia — atriventris, pleuritica, viridipen- vatum, nutans, eruginosum, Harrisii, nis, fureata, pulchella, ornata, axillaris, placidum, nigriceps, luctuosum, puncti- scapularis, viridis, pumila, moesta. forme, anchomenoides. Brachinus—fumans, librator. Anchonoderus—pusellus. Scarites—subterraneus, quadriceps. Poecilus—chalcites, lucublandus, frater- Pasimachus—elongatus. nus. Clivina—bipustulata, Americana, cordata. Loxandrus—erratecus. Schizogenius—lineolatus. Feronia—erythropus, mutus, luezotii, cau- Dyschirius—sphzricollis, globulosus, «ne- — dicalis, luctuosus, mandibularis, monedu- olus. la, Haldermani, scrutator, orbatus, sty- Scaphinotus—elevatus. gicus. Sphzroderus—stenostomus. Percosia—obesa. Carabus—serratus, vinctus, silvosus, lapi- Amara—impuncticollis, rubrica, musculus. layi. Tri#na—angustata. Calosoma—scrutator, Wilcoxi, frigidum, Bradytus—exaratus, avidus. sayi, calidum, externum. Geopinus-—incrassatus. Omophron—tessellatum, Americanum. Cratacanthus—dubius. Blethisa—quadricollis. Agonoderus—lineola, pallipes, dorsalis, Elaphrus—rusearius, clairvillei. Amphasia—fermoratus, interstitialis. Panageus—fasciatus. Spongopus—verticalis. Chliznius—erythropus rufipes, lithophilus, Anisodactylus—discoidens, Baltimoriensus, sericeus, w@stivus, Pensylvanicus, vicinus, nigrita, rusticus, carbonarius, nigerri- tricolor, impunctifrons, emarginatus, to- mus, tristis. mentosus, niger, pusillus. Eurytrichus—terminatus, (testaceus ?) Oodes--Americanus, parallellus. Salenophorus—iripennis. Diplocheila—major, laticollis, obtusus, bre- Pangus—caliginosus, lugubris. vicollis. Harpalus—Pensylvanicus, (bicolor?) com- Dicwlus—purpuratus, violaceus, sculptiles, par, faunus, vulpeculus, herbivagus, ery- dejeanii, elongatus. thropus. 108 Stenolophus—ochropezus, conjunctus. Ochthedromus—nitidulus, Americanus, sa- Bradicellus—autumnalis. lebratus, dorsalis, patruelis, versicolor, Acupalpus—humilis. quadrimaculatus, affinis, (fallax ?) luci- Bembidium—-impressum, inequale, peludo- — dus. sum. Tachys—inornatus, flavicandus. DYTISCIDZ. This entire family consists of water insects—those species inhab- iting stagnant waters. Their posterior legs are formed into akind of fringed paddles or oars, which enable them to swim with great rapidity, using them in the same manner that the frog uses its hind legs. They are very voracious, devouring other insects, and even attacking young fish. They are also furnished with wings, and may frequently, especially after night, be seen flying about candles and fires. The following Illinois species have been identified : Dytiscus—Harrissii, fasciventris, verticalis, Coptotomus—interrogatus. hybridus. Copelatus—glyphicus. Cybister—fimbriolatus. Laccophilus—maculosus. Acilius—fraternus. Hydrocanthus—iricolor. Colymbetes—sculptilis. Hydroporus—undulatus, Americanus. Ilybius—fenestralis, pleuriticus. Haliplus—immaculaticollis. Agabas—ambiguus. Cnemidotus—duodecimpunctatus. Matus—bicarinatns. GYRINIDA. This family also consists of insects that inhabit the water. They are generally to be seen on standing or gently running water, col- lected in groups, often in great numbers. They are active, whirl- ing round in circles, from which circumstance they are called “whirlwigs.” When handled they emit a disagreeable odor. These insects live on small dead insects found floating on the surface of the water—at least Westwood so informs us. Our species are few, and so far have not been examined and de- termined by our Entomologists. I can give but one species about which I have no doubt. Dineutes—labratus. Gyrinus—[Of this we have some species; probably borealis and limbatus ?] PARNIDA. This is a small family of minute sub-aquatic insects, inhabiting the borders of ponds, ditches, ete. It is supposed by Latreille that they live on animal matter. Illinois species : Elmis—4-notatus. Macronychus—glabratus, lateralis. 109 HYDROPHILIDA, The insects belonging to this family are also water insects, re- maining during the day in the water, and coming forth in the eve- ning, take wing. Their feet are also furnished with hairy fringes, which they use as paddles to assist in swimming. Our known Illinois species are: Helophorus—lineatus. Hydrobius—globosus. Hydrochus—scabratus. Philhydrus—cinctus, bifidus. Hydrophilus—triangularis, ovalis. Cyclonotum—subcupreum. Hydrocharis—obtusatus, glaber. Also some species of spheridium and cercy- Berosus—striatus. on not determined. PHALACRID& AND ANISOTOMIDA. These are two small unimportant families, closely connected with the genus Speridium, beforenamed, which latter is not aquatic. The only species known to inhabit Illinois, are: Phalacrus—pencillatus. Agathidium—piceum ? Leiodes—discolor, | probably. ] SCAPHIDIID A. A family of small insects, residing in agaries, fungi, and under the bark of rotten trees. Illinois species: Scaphidium—4-guttatum, piceum. SILPHIDA. These insects render us great service, in removing from the sur- face of the earth dead animal matter, which is their chief food. They may be distinguished by the three or four jointed club at the end of their antennze. They are accompanied by a nauseous odor. Our species are as follows: Necrophorus—americanus, orbicollis, mar- Thanatophilus—candatus. ginatus, velutenus, pustulatus. Necrophila—americana. Necrodes—surinamensis. Silpha—inequalis, peltata, marginalis. Oiceoptoma—marginata. NITIDULIDA. This family, as extended by the Melsheimer Catalogue, includes a variety of insects, somewhat differing from each other in their habits; and some of the genera appear to be very near the Cureu- lionide in structure and habits. Some of the species are found among bones and animal remains; some beneath the bark of trees; some on flowers, and various other places. Some species are thought to be injurious to plants, by puncturing the flowers, and injuring the fruit, such as the blackberry, raspberry, etc. But, as the family appears to be in considerable confusion, we can lay down no particular characteristics or habits. Llinois species: Cercus—abdominalis. Cryptarcha——ampla. Nitidula—bipustulata. Ziczac. Ips—fasciatus, 4-signatus, sanguinolentas. Prometopia—6-maculata. Rhizophagus—nanus. Omosita—colon. Trogosita—castanea, subnigra, dubia. Phenolia—grossa. 110 COLYDIIDA, Small insects residing mostly under the bark of trees. The two species determined as Tilinois species, are: Ditoma—quadriguttata. Colydium—longiusculum. CUCUJIDE. Also a family of small insects, closely allied to the foregoing; mostly of an oblong, depressed form. Catogenus—rufus. Brontes—dubius. Cucujus—clavipes. Telephanus—velox. Lemophleus—biguttatus. Silvanus—dentatus, planatus, surinamensis. CRYPTOPHAGIDA, Also small insects, generally inhabiting boleti, fungi and similar vegetable substances. Some of the species are very minute. Cryptophagus—celaris, gilvellus. Atomaria—atra? LATHRIDIID#. Corticaria—denticulata, americana. Lathridius—muszorum. EROTYLIDZ. Engis—4-inaculata. Triplax—dimidiata, humeralis. Daecne—fasciata, heros. Languria—hbicolor, Mozardi, puncticollis, Ischyrus—4-punctatus. trifasciata. MYCETOPHAGIDZ. Mycetophagus—flexuosus, The three foregoing families consist, mostly, of very small in- sects, and are closely allied in habits, some residing in boleti, fun- gi, and decaying vegetable substances; others, beneath the bark of dead or decaying trees; others, as species of Lathridius, are said to devour the corks of wine and other bottles, thus becoming in- jurious. DERMESTIDA. With this family we enter upon the list of injurious insects. The species are not large, yet much too well known for our good. It includes those species that feed on dry hides, skins, furs, feath- ers, bacon and other dried meats. It is the larvee of some of the species included in this family that cut to pieces and destroy our ladies’ furs; of others, that so often damage the hides and skins stored up by our traders. In fact, scarcely anything escapes their attack. Our collections of birds, insects, and other animals, are often ruined by these voracious pests. Books and papers are also often seriously injured by them. [Illinois species: Dermestes—lardarius, marmoratus, cani- Attagenus—pellio, ornatus. nus, vulpinus. Anthrenus—castanez 111 BYRRHID#. Small insects with “short oval or rounded, very convex” bodies, “generally covered with short sericeous pile.” Found on the ground, in sandy places and foot paths. Our species: Byrrhus—varius, americanus. THROSCID&. Of this family I know nothing. The genus Throscus is said to be allied to the Elateridee or snapping-jacks. Our single known species is: Throscus—constrictor. HYSTERID A. This family is composed of species easily distinguished by their form, which is that of a parallelogram, with slightly rounded cor- ners. The body is very flat, highly polished, and very hard, so much so that it is with difficulty a pin can be made to penetrate it. They reside in the dung of horses and cows and under the bark of damp decaying ordead trees. Their color is mostly jet black, occa- sionally having a red spot or spotson the elytra. The species are all small, seldom exceeding the fourth of an inchin length. The lar- vee of [ister interruptus is at least ten times the size of the per- fect insect. Illinois species: Epierus—minor. Platysoma—LeContii. Hister—arcuatus, abbreviatus, interruptus, Hololepta—zqualis. americanus, bimaculatus. Saprinus—pensylvanicus, assimilis. Paromalus—histriatus. LAMELLICORNIA. This family, as given in the Melsheimer Catalogue, is a very unwieldy affair, though well marked by its distinguishing char- acter, which is given as follows: Antenne generally short, nine or ten jointed, and terminated by a large club, composed of sev- eral—generally three—of the terminal joints formed into long plates, which open like the leaves of a book. Many Entomologists have divided this group into several families, and as there are quite a number of genera varying much in habit I shall group them somewhat after Westwood, and at the end of each group append such remarks as I think applicable: Cheridium—capistratum. Copris—carolina, anoglypticus, ammon, Canthon—levis. [This is the well known Phanzeus—carnifex. pill roller. | Onthophagus—hecate, ovatus. The foregoing species are included in the family Scarabida of MacLeay. Among them are found our common black and brassy- green dung beetles, so frequently seen in the roads and streets, during the hot days of summer. Aphodius—fimetarius, concavus, strigatus, omissus, serval, curtus, granarius. Acanthocerus—aphodioides. 112 These are mostly small insects, being much less, generally, than the previous group, but having similar habits. Trox—tuburceulatus, porcatus, capillaris, terrestris, acqualis. Insects of medium size, having a large thorax and exceedingly thick, rough external covering ; inhabiting dried animal substances and excrements. Geotrupes—splendidus, blackburni, excrementi, egeriei. Balbocerus—farctus, lazarus, melibocus. Similar in appearance and habits to the Scarabide. Lucanus—dama, lentus. [Stag-beetles.] Platycerus—quercus. Doreus—parallelus. Passalus—cornutus. Ceruchus—piceus. This last is a well known, large, long, black beetle, found in and - under old dry, well rotted logs—having a horn on the thorax. Dynastes—tityus. Cyclocephala—angularis. Xyloryetes—satyrus. Pelidnota—punctata. Heteronychus—relictus. Areoda—lanigera. Podalgus—cuniculus, tridentatus, Trichestes—pilosicolles. Chalepus—tracypygus. The P. punctata and A. lanigera are very abundant, coming forth from their hiding places in the evening, at twilight. They are near an inch in length, thick, fleshy beetles. They devour the tender leaves of the trees, among which they hide during the day. Phyllophaga—quercina, balia, hirticula, fu- Strigoderma—arboricola. tilis, ilicis, pruinosa, brunnea. Hoplia—trifasciata, mucorea. Diplotaxis—sordida, Osmoderma—eremicola, scabra. Omaloplia—sericea, micans. Trichius—piger, affinis, delta. Serica—yvespertina, tristis. Cremastochilus—castanez, variolosus. Dichelonycha—linearis, Gymnetis—nitida. Anomala—varians, minuta, lucicola. Cetonia—inda, herbacea, fulgida, melan- Macrodactylus—subspinosus. [The Rose- cholica, sepulcralis. chafer. | The foregoing species, though varying in size from over an inch in length to one fourth of an inch, they resemble each other con- siderably in appearance, being heavy, rounded and fleshy. They are vegetable-eaters, living mostly on the leaves in the perfect state, and most probably on the roots of plants in the larve state. Some species of the last named genus delight in the sweet juices that flow trom wounded fruit and other trees, and even attack the fruit of the peach. BUPRESTIDA., These beetles are often brilliantly colored, of a coppery luster, or black, with golden spots or lines. They are of medium size— our species varying from one-eighth to three-fourths of an inch in length. They are of a long oval in outline, obtuse before and ta- pering behind, The head is sunk to the eyes in the fore-part of the thorax. They are frequently seen on the trunks and limbs of 118 trees, and on flowers, during the warm part of the day when the sun is shining. Their larvee are wood-borers; and frequently do considerable injury to our forest and other trees, by boring into their trunks. The larvee may generally be recognized by the great enlargement of the segment next the head. Dr. Harris tells us that some of these beetles eat leaves and flowers. The 2. divari- cata, of Say, that attacks the wild, and, also, the garden cherry and the peach trees, is found in our State, as well as a number of other injurious species. Acmaeodera—tubulus. Oxypteris—longipes. Stenurus—divaricata, (cherry-borer;) lu- Trachypteris—fulvoguttata. rida, baltimor ‘ nsis. Agrilus—bilineatus, rufficollis, lateralis. Chalcophora—Virg.nica, liberta. Brachys—tessellata. Buprestis—aurulenta. Metonius—ovatus. _ Chrysobothris—femorata. EUCNEMIDA. The insects of this family are similar in form and habits to the following, (Z’laterid@,) except that they do not possess the power of leaping. The only species I have the name of is: Eucnemis—ameenicornis. ELATERIDA. The insects of this family are well known by the faculty they have of throwing themselves upwards with a jerk, when laid on their backs, They are called “spring-beetles,” “jumping-jacks,” etc. They are generally of along, slender form, tapering behind, rather blunt before. The head is sunk to the eyes im the fore-part of the thorax. The larvee of these insects are long and slender, and somewhat cylindrical, with the terminal segments generally a dusky color. They (/arve) live upon wood and roots, and are found under the bark of trees and at the decaying roots of trees and stumps. Some of these are very destructive to vegetables, eating their roots, and thus destroying them. The beetles, during summer, may be found on trees, especially the hickory and oak. Hemicrepidius—memnonius. Limonius—cylindriformis, quereinus, hir- Monocerepidius—lobatus, vespertina. ticollis. Cratonychus—breyicollis, communis. Cardiophorus—cardisce. Perothops—mucidus. Elater-——rubricollis, piceus. Adelocera—auripilis. Cryptohypnus—dorsalis, bellus. Alaus—oculatus. [A very common large Corymbites—micans, uppressifrons. species, with two large eye-like spots on Agriotes—pubescens, the thorax. ] Dalophius—pauper. Athous—cucullatus, melanothalmus. RHIPICERID&. Having branched antenne. Zenoa—picea. ATOPIDA, I am unacquainted with these. Ptilodactyla—elaterisea. 114 LYCIDA. A family that approaches the following, containing insects re- sembling the male ylow-worm. Larve are said to reside under the bark of trees: Dictyoptera—perfaceta. Digrupha—reticulata, terminalis. LAMPYRID&A. These insects are of an elongate, oval form. It is among these we find the celebrated glow-worm. The body is of a soft consist- ence; dusky, reddish and yellow colors prevail. ‘The larvee,”’ Mr. Westwood says, “feed upon the bodies of snails, and other terres- trial molluscous animals. The perfect insects I have generally found on the leaves and flowers of plants, and the Chauliognathi Ihave taken in great abundance on the yucca, (Eve’s-needle,) when in flower, also on the caraway, in bloom. Whether they injure the plants or not, I am unable to say, but think not. Lucernuta—atra. atus. Ellychnia—corrusea, lacustris. Silis—bidentata. Photinus—pyralis. Telephorus—bilineatus, impressus, caro- Pyractomena—angulata, linus, excavatus, scitulus. Photuris—pensylvanicica, Podabrus—tomentosus. Chauliognathus—pensylvanicus, margin- MALACHIIDA. Similar in habits to the last family ; live, as do some of the last named species of that family, on other insects. Body very soft. Collops—4-maculatus, bimaculata. Anthocomus—terminalis, literalis. CLERID 4. This family is composed of small and medium sized insects, gen- erally long, slender, and sub-cylindrical. The Illinois species are generally of a deep blue color, ornamented with bright spots of other colors. The body is much firmer and harder than the pre- ceding family. They frequent flowers and low plants. Some are found under the bark of old trees and logs, in which latter situation they pass their larvee state. -Our species: Trichodes—nuttalli. Phyllobenus—dislocatus. Clerus—ichneumoneus, rosenarius, nigri- Ichnea—laticornis. pes, dubius, undulatus. Enoplium—pilosum. Thaneroclerus—sanquineus. Necrobia—rufiper, violaceus. Hydnocera—pallipennis. PTINIDZ. These insects have the thorax bent down, so as to bring the head under the breast. They live, during the larva state, in old stumps, palings, furniture, ete., which they perforate with round holes, in every direction, casting out at the entrance their borings, which look like fine saw-dust or powder. The hardest, dry hickory, ap- 115 pears a favorite with them. It is to this family the “death watch” belongs, which often sends terror to the heart of the superstitious. Among these are some species which are said to attack our fruit trees. [Illinois species: Bostrichus—aspericollis. [Apate. ] Anobium—abesum. [Larva is a death Apate—basilaris, fur, 4-maculatus. watch. } Xyletinus—sericens. RHYSODID. Our only species, of which I know nothing, is, Rhysodides—sculptiles. SCOLYTIDE. The insects of this family have the body nearly cylindrical, ob- tuse before and behind, and, are generally, of some shade of brown. The head is rounded, sunk pretty deeply in the fore-part of the thorax, and does not end in asnout. In the larva state they are very destructive to forest and other trees. They bore through the bark, to the wood, where they traverse the surface of the main wood in various directions ; thus causing the bark to loosen ; and by this means the tree is finally destroyed. They are generally o1 small size. Scolytus—pyri. Tornicus—xylographus ? We also have a number of other species of this family, belonging to the genera, Platypus, Tornicus, Hylesinus, Hylurgus, etc., which have not been determined. I think it is by one or more spe- cies of this family that our shade trees are so often destroyed. CURCULIONID. This family, which contains a vast number of species, is too well known by our fruit growers to need comment from me. Scarcely a plum tree is planted but they find it; nuts, leaves, grains, and al- most every kind of fruit and seed are subject to their attack. But as I desire, at some future day, when I have gathered more facts, and determined more of our species, to write an article on this family, I will not attempt now to descend into particulars. The following Illinois species have been determined : Dryaphthorus—corticales. Maedalinus—armicollis. Sitophilus—eranarius, [grain weevil,] ary- Pissodes—nemorensis. zee, [rice weevil. | Sixus—concavus, musculus. Sphenophorus—13-punctatus, coriosus, | Hylobuis—pales. cinereus. Arrhenodes—septentronis. Conotrachelus—nenurHar. [The “curcu- Apion—sayi. lio.” } Ithycerus—curculionoides. Mononychus—vulpeculus. Rhynchites—bicolor, eneus. Cryptorhynchus—foyeolatus, luctuosus. Attelabus—nigripes. Centrinus—scutellumalbum. Cratoparis—lunatus. Baridius—trinotatus. Bruchus—crategi, pisi, [pea-bug,] mus- Balaninus—nasicus. [Hazelnut weevil.] culus. Anthonomus—signatus. 116 CERAMBYCIDA. This is the family of “‘wood-borers.” The beetles are sometimes called long-horned or capricorn-beetles, from their long antenne. The antenne are long and regularly tapering, and generally curved likethe horns of a goat. The body is oblong, sub-cylindrical, some- what flattened above, and tapering behind. The thorax is either quadrate or barrel-shaped, and narrower than the wing covers. The beetles, during the daytime, remain on the trees and among the leaves, but come forth and fly about at night. They deposit their eggs in the chinks and crevices of the bark of trees, into which the larvze bore, as soon as hatched. The hardest wood will not turn them; but they continue to bore until ready to be transformed into the perfect insect. Some species of this family are far too well known to our fruit growers. These insects vary in size, from the fifth to one and a half inches in length. Some are of a brown color; others ornamented with black and yellow spots or stripes ; others, again, are blue or violet. Those known to inhabit Illinois, are : Paranda—brunnea? ? mistake, yet give it. | Orthosoma—cylindricum. Prionus—inbricornis. Purpuricenus—humeralis, axillaris. Stenocerus—longipes. [I fear this is a Graphisurus—pusillus, fasciatus. Aedilis—obsoletus. Leptostylus—aculiferus, macula, alpha. Hyperplatys—maculatus. Desmiphora—tomentosa. Monohammus—dentator, confusor, scutel- Eburia—quadrigeminata. latus, pulverulentus, tigrinus, pulcher. Chion—garganicum. Plectodera—scalator. Elaphidion—atomaria, rufulum, vicinum, Tetraopes—tornator, 5-maculatus, femo- villosum, parallelum, ratus. Criscephalus—agrestis. Dorcaschema—nigram. Asemuni—meestum. Anzrea—calearata, mutica. Hylotrupes—bajulus. Compside—tridentata, lateralis. Arhopalus—fulminans. Saperda—candida, (dwwittata, Say.,) [the Callidum—ligneum, antennatum, amc- borer;] vestita, concolor, discoidea. num, varium. Atimia—confusa. Phymatodes—yvyariabilis. Stenosoma—sordida. Physocnemum—brevilineum. Oberea—tripunctata, schaumii. Eriphus—suturalis. Distenia—undata. Clytus—speciosus, nobilis, flexuosus, ery- throcephalus, sagittatus, campestris, caprea, hamatus, undulatus, superno- Desmocerus—cyaneus. Toxotus—decoloratus. Pachyta—cyanipennis. tatus, ruricola. Cyrtophorus—verrucosus. Euderees—picipes. Stizocera—unicolor. Stenopterus—sanguinicollis, rufus. Molorchus—mellitus. Acanthoderes—decipiens, Acmops—proteus. Strangalia—luteicornis, bicolor, elegans. Leptura—canadensis, erythroptera, rubri- ca, vittata, vagans, sinuata. Trigonarthris—proxima. Anoplodera—4-vittata. This family, as given above, which follows the Melsheimer Cat- alogue, includes, also, the families Prionidw, and Lepturide, as given in Westwood’s ‘“Modern Classification.” CHRYSOMELIDA. This family includes several groups of species differing consid- erably in several respects, and is, by many Entomologists, divided — ee ae 117 into several distinct families. The name signifies golden-beetle, which has been given on account of the brilliant metallic colors with which many of the species are ornamented. Most of the species are leat-eaters, and, consequently, injurious to plants, and especially to cultivated vegetables. The species are generally of small size, some being quite minute. Orsodacna—ruficollis. Hemonia—melsheimeri. Donacia—proxima, lucida, piscatrix, cu- Lema—trilineata, sexpunctata. prea. The foregoing species belong to the family Crioceridee, as lim- ited by Westwood, who is followed by Harris. The hind legs, in some ofthe species, have the thighs much thickened and enlarged. Harris gives them the name of ‘oblong leaf-beetles.” The Z. tri- lineata injure potato plants, by eating holes in the. leaves. Odontota—scapularis, nigrita, suturalis, | Cephaloleia—metallica. Uroplata—inzqualis, rosea. These are small insects, sometimes collected into a family, called Hispide. They mine the leaves of apple and other trees and plants. Chelymorpha—cribraria. C optocycla—aurichaleea, bivittata. [These Deloyala—signifer, clavata. two are the species that attack the leaves of the sweet potato. ] These species belong to the family Casszdide, as limited by Westwood. The larvee have the peculiar habit of carrying a shield over their backs, which they can raise or lower, by means of their tail. Galeruca—saggitaria, gelatinaria, notata, (dipodes—pilosa. tuberculata, decorata. Graptodera—chalybea, exapta. Cerotoma—caminea. Disonycha—alternata, collaris, subplicata. Diabrotica—vittata, (ceucumber-beetle,)12- Crepidodera—ery thropus. punctata. Phyllotreta—striolata. Phyllobrotica—discoidea. Thyamis—testacea. (Edionychis—petaurista, thoracica, vians, Psylliodes—denticulata. miniata. Most of these belong to the tribe of flea-beetles, (Galerucidee,) so named on account of their small size and leaping powers. They attack the leaves of vegetables, especially the crucifera. Labidomera—trimaculate. Hetaraspis—curtipes. Polygramnua—10-lineata. Glyptoscelis—barbatus. Calligrapha—Philadelphiea, decipiens, bigs- Myochrous—squamosus. byana. Chlamys—assimilis. Chrysomela—auripennis, costa, rimilis, ele- Exema—gibber. gans. Clythra—obsita. Melasoma—scripta, interrupta, Babia—quadriguttata. Gastrophysa—czruleipennis. Coscinoptera—dominicana. Helodes—trivittata. Pachybrachis—hbivittatus, luridus, infaus- Calospis—strigosa. tus, abdominalis, pubescens. Noda—purvula. Monachus—saponatus. Metachroma—4-notata, infuscato, canella. Cryptocephalus—mutabilis, venustus, orna- Bromius—vitis. tus, 4-maculatus, auratus. Chrysochus—anratus. 118 These insects are collected, by some writers, into the restricted family, Chrysomelide. Some of the species are clothed in beauti- ful metallic colors, and feed on the leaves of various weeds, and sometimes on useful vegetables. Some species feed on our com- mon knot-weed; another on the leaves of the dog’s-bane. COCCINELLID&. This is the Lady-bug or Lady-bird family, so well known on ac- count of their abundance and their beautiful colors. They are distinguished by the hemispherical and convex form of the body. They are probably the most useful insects to man that belong to the order, rendering him a great benefit, by destroying myriads of plant-lice. Their eggs are deposited in the midst of the plant-lice, upon which the larvee commence feeding as soon as hatched. The prevailing colors are red and yellow, with black spots; but this is sometimes reversed, and we find some species that are black, with red or yellow spots: Illinois species : Hippodamia—13-punctatum, convergens, Chilocorus—bivulnerus, cacti. glacialis, parenthesis, maculata. Exochomus—tripustulatus, Coccinella—bipunctata, venusta, tricuspis, Brachyacantha—ursina. novemnotata, munda, normata, multi- Scymnus——Americanus. guttata. Epilachna—borealis. Mysia—pullata, 15-punctata. Sacium—fasciatus. Psyllobora—20-maculata. ENDOMYCHID#. This family is composed of species similarly colored to the lady- birds, though they are more oblong in outline. They subsist chiefly on boleti and fungi. Endomychus—hbiguttatus. Phymaphora—pulchella. Lycoperdina—lineata. TENEBRIONIDS. This family is composed of insects mostly of a deep black color ; body generally oblong or ovate, and somewhat depressed, though not flat. They mostly inhabit dark places, such as cellars, stables, pantries, and damp situations, from which the light is excluded. A common large Illinois species frequently enters the house at night, in company with species of Carabidze, and may be taken for one of that family. Some feed upon and do much damage to meal, flour, bran and breadstuff, baked and unbaked; others live on bo- leti and similar vegetable substances; while others appear to fre- quent animal excrements or decaying animal substances. Some are found under stones, planks, and around houses, mills, ete. Blapstinus—interruptus. Platydema—Americana, ruficornis, bifas- Opatrinus—notus. ciatus. Oplocephala—bicornis, viridipennis, exca- Diaperis—hydni. vata. Crymodes—discicollis. 119 Uloma—culinaris, impressa, ferruginea. Meracantha—canadensis. Tenebris—molitor, obscura. Helops—micans, tenebrioides, Centronipus—calcaratus. Penthe—obliquata, pimelia. Iphthinus—Pensylvanicus, ulpis, saperdoi- Allecula—obscura. des, femoratus. Mycetochores—binatata. Upis—ceramboides. Cistela—fuscipes, sericea. Bolitophagus—cornutus. Of the above there are several genera that Westwood and others have placed in other families. Thus, Diaperis in Dzaperide, found in boleti, fungi, under bark, ete; Helops in Helopzde, found on flowers, under the bark of trees, etc.; Cistela in Cistelidw, the larvee of which live in rotten wood. The following family, al- though separated in the Melsheimer Catalogue, which I am fol- lowing in my arrangement and nomenclature, is closely allied in habits to the foregoing. MELANDRYIDA, Our species are: Mclandrya—striata. Direeea—4-maculatus. Phaiona—umbrina. Eustrophus—bicolor, tomentosus. Serropalpus—substriatus. MORDELLID-E. This is a family composed of singular hump-back insects, with heads bent under the breast, and deep body, tapering to a point behind. They frequent flowers and plants, and, when alarmed, tuck their heads under their breasts and drop totheground. They are generally of small size: Anthobus—trifasciata. Ripiphorus—dimidiatus. Mordella—oculata, melena, marginata. MELOID4. This is the blister-fly family. It also contains the potato-bug, that does so much damage by destroying the plants of our Irish potatoes. Although species considerably differing from these are gathered into this family, yet from the well known potato bug the characters of the family may be gathered. The deloe angusticollis is a singular insect, found in the fall, along the warm fence cor- ners, under the grass. The females, with immense swollen abdo- mens, which the warped wings but partially cover. They are a deep blue-black color; and from the joints oozes a yellow acrid fluid. Horia—sanguinipennis. Cantharis—zenea, engelmanii. Meloe—augusticollis. : Zonitis—hilineatea. Epicanta—vittata, marginata, atrata, cine- Cepaloon—lepturides. rea. Nacerdes—melanura. The five following families, not being important in an agricultu- ral point of view, and my knowledge of them being very limited, I will givea list of the Illinois species, so far as they have been de- termined, without further comment. 120 LAGRIDZ. Statyra—znea. PYROCHROIDA. Pyrochroa—flabellata, femoralis. SALPINGIDZ. Salpingus—virescens. ANTHICIDA. Notoxus—anchora, monodon, bicolor, bifasciatus. Anthicus—basilaris, elegans, cervinus. PSELAPHID&. Tyrus—humeralis. Batrisus—globosus. Bryaxis—dentata, hematica, longula. STAPHYLINIDA. The insects of this family are easily distinguished by their short elytra or wing-covers, which generally extend over but a small por- tion of the abdomen. They are generally of a long, narrow, de- pressed form. They run and fly with great agility ; are voracious, preying upon decaying animal and vegetable matters. The species of our State are generally of small size, seldom exceeding three- fourths of an inch in length, and mostly less than one-fourth of an inch long. J have seen myriads of a small species issue from the ground of a warm summer evening and swarm in the air, when they were taken for gnats. Tachinus—fimbriatus. Quedius—laticollis. Staphylinus—villosus, cingulatus, vulpinus, Oxyporus—vittatus. maculosus, cinnamopterus, violaceus, to- Cryptobium—badium, bicolor. mentosus. Pederus—littorarius. Philonthus—cyanipennis, Baltimoriensis. Apocellus—sphericollis. With these I close the list of Illinois Coleoptera. And here it becomes my duty to say that this list is made up from lists furnish- ed me by Dr. Helmuth, of Chicago; Dr. Walsh, of Rock Island; Dr. E. Brendel, of Menard county, and the Evanston Institution, including a list of my own collection. The list furnished by Dr. Helmuth includes fully three-fourths of this entire list. The other lists, as well as my own, go over much of the same ground, each including from wo to four hundred species. I will here present a short list ot species belonging to the order Hemiptera, which I have determined. Although comprising but a small portion of the species found in Illinois, belonging to this or- der, yet I deem it best to present it, in order to make a commence- ment of a Catalogue. I shall not, in this list, make any attempt to be systematic, as I have not the time at present to do so. 121 Galgupha—maruta. Nob. Nov. sp. Macropus—leucopteius. Fitch. [Chinch- Pentatoma—(Catostyrax) eynica. Say. bug. | vi (Mormidea) augur. Say. Myodoch—opetilata. Say. ss ( Asopus ) sanguinipennis— Berytus—(Neides) spinosus. Say. Nob. Nov. sp. Rhinuchus—(Anisosceles) nasulus. Say. Pentatoma—calceata. Say. Capsus—oblineatus. Say. tf rufescens. Nob. Nov. sp. RS 4-vittatus. Say. s punctipes, No.1. Say. Galgulus—oculatus. Fabr. sf punctipes, No. 2. Say. Gerris—m-rginatus. Say. 4 bimaculata. Nob. Noy. sp. Cieada—septemdecem. Linn. Hymenareys—perpunetata. Serv. x pruinosa. Say. Coreus—tristis. Say. cs parvula. Say. “ (Acanthocoris) ¢ galeator. Fabr. Membracis—camelus. Fabr. Reduvius—raptatorius. ‘Say. Sy (Miler) galeator. Fabr. se erassipes. Fabr. Cereopis—quadrangularis. Say. fe acuminatus. Say. Tettigonia—8-lineata. Say. Aradus—acutus. Say. x quadrivittata. Say. Lygzeus—tercicus. Fabr. Flata—(Acanonia) conica. Say, Pamera—constricta. Say. Jassus—subbifasciatus. Say. % Nodosa. Say. Fulgora—sulcipes. Say. The species marked above as new species are some that I named and described in a paper presented to the Chicago Academy of Sciences. Before concluding these notes, I may add that since the last vol- ume of the Agricultural Transactions of Illinois was issued T have ascertained several new species of Orthoptera, two of which have been named by Mr. Uhler, of Baltimore ; one by myself; the oth- ers yet remain unnamed. Dut I will not, attempt to present any thing in regard to them, until I have gathered further facts re- specting their habits and transformations. I will also add that I desire, during the coming summer, to make as large a collection as possible of our erasshoppers, and would be glad to receive from each county in the State collections, either pinned or dropped in alco- hol, the collector’s name and locality accompanying those sent; also any information in regard to their habits, injuries, history, etc., will be thankfully received, as I desire to prepare a full report on our species, their habits, injuries, the remedies, ete., which will be handed over to the Agricultural Society, if desired. " wewsy “M) if 4 J NOTES ON OTHER SPECIES. 153 Otisorex platyrhinus, Dekay, (Sorex p., Wagner,) of Mr, Ken- nicott’s list, I have not placed in the list, as I have some doubts about it being a native of Illinois. Yet it is not impossible Mr. Kennicott is correct, though I think the species referred to is, &. cooperit. Sorex richardsonii, and S. Hoyt, may possibly be found within our State. The following species may also be found in the State : Blarina Carolinensis. Sciurus Vulpinus. Reithrodon Humilis? The Arvicola hirsutus, of Mr. Kennicott’s first list, is probably A. riparia. As to his Arvicola oneida, (Dekay,) I can say nothing. Also, as to Putorius agilis, (Aud. and Bach.,) in his list, I can say nothing. Same in regard to Sczwrus cinereus. I have preferred following closely the descriptions of Dr. Baird, even when the specimens were before me, which I have done throughout with but little change. Py Olwns aight T. Baty gt. wepaidat Rk ad ‘eponsiseary Pras Ur ad tinon ' att deka Uys ‘ at as alt ith Bh boat Edit af de ray a od sisiet ae Ye “A i ing atl Jwetiochisaaah ttt ¥ rig ‘sirivolich See : ee de HM na a a me oh ‘on, pre } ae kt at ta it tate. ate - “ iv. rey Hinae ae #? Aves r geht fee pees) mieeat te vy PR % 3 4 ati Sie é a i ft Eases sige kod Gilg PLAN FOR A NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY. By Cyrus Tuomas, of Murphysboro, Illinois. All the work done by the Society, and every step taken, should be done in such a manner that it will not be necessary to go over the same ground the second time. But in order to do this, it is necessary to have some plan, some method of operating. There- fore, I, as an humble member of the Society, propose the following for the consideration of the Society: First —in regard to our flora. The Phenogamic plants of Illinois having been pretty thorough- ly determined by our Western botanists, but little remains to be done so far as the determining of species is concerned. Never- theless, this field is by no means finished; enough for more than one year’s work remains for our most active botanists. Let the catalogue for the State be corrected and completed during the year; and in doing this, let the introduced plants be ascertained and so marked in the catalogue. Let the suite of specimens at the Museum be completed, care being taken to furnish such specimens as exhibit most distinctly the specific characteristics. Let another part of the next year’s work be to determine the geographical range of our trees and some of the other most impor- tant plants. The Society during its present session making out a list tor that purpose. And, also, to assist in this part of the work, I would suggest that the Society, during the present session, di- vide the State into districts, defining accurately the boundary of each. Let there be at least four, and probably tive or six would be better. For instance: 1st—The Northwest—that part of the State west and northwest of the Illinois river. 2d—The North—that part east of the Llinois river and north of Bloomington. 8d—The Central—that part south of Bloomington and north of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. 4th—The South—Egypt. And at the same time this should not interfere with the general division into prairie and tember, which runs through all. If this districting is done it will answer for both plants and animals. And although an artificial arrangement, which will give way to such divi- sions as Nature has established, yet it will answer a good purpose 136 in recording facts to be used in ascertaining Nature’s boundaries and for future explorers. And as another part of the work for the coming year, let our botanists make a commencement upon the Illinois Cryptogamia. Next—as to animals. Let the list of mammals be carefully corrected and completed, and those not now to be found in the State so marked ; and, as far as possible, the time of their departure ascertained. Also, let the geographical limits of each species be determined. And it should be made a special point this year to place in the Museum a com- plete suite of our mammals (male and female,) and, also, askull-of each species. During the coming year our Ornithologists should get ready their catalogue of birds. Ichthyology and Herpetology will have to remain among the generalities another year. Our Conchologists ought to be able during the year to prepare a complete catalogue of Illinois Mollusks, and furnish a complete suite of shells to the Museum. ‘They can also make a commence- ment at determining the geographical distribution of species. Crustacea and Arachnida will have to lie over until some one can be induced to take hold of them. ; As to Insects, I propose that for the next meeting we prepare a general catalogue, including all the species in ail the orders that have been and that we may be able during the year to determine as inhabitants of our State, but that our entomologists take spe- cially in charge the list of Coleoptera, and try and render it as full as possible by next year. Then, summing up, we have before us, for the year ending June, 1861— 1. Correcting and completing the catalogue of Illinois Phenoga- mia. Determining the geographical range (within the State) of our trees, and some of our other most important plants, and wheth- er they are confined to prairie or timber. . Complete the suite of plants in the Museum. Correct and complete the catalogue of Illinois Mammals, and determine the geographical range of each species. Furnish the Museum with specimens of both sexes of each spe- cies, and a skuli of each. 6. Prepare a catalogue of our Birds. 7. Correct and complete the catalogue of our Shells, and furnish the Museum with spccimens of each species. 8. Prepare a catalogue of all Insects known to inhabit the State, so far as determined. And besides all this let the general work of gathering and deter- mining, in all departments, classes and orders, go on, especial refer- ence being had to the early completion of our lists of Reptiles and Fishes. bo st ge 137 So much in regard to the Flora and Fauna. Is the ground too extensive? Much of the work has already been done, and this is proposed in order to clear up and dispose of these branches, that our energies may not be expended in traveling over the same ground a second time. It will also enable us to say to the people at large what particu- lar specimens we want; what particular aid we need, ete. And then they are more willing to take hold and assist. And to complete the plan, specific work should be assigned to such members as are willing to undertake it; and to them should be sent, first, the map of the specimens gathered in the State—to each, those of his particular class or order. And the Society, then, should extend to these members such aid, in the way of books, pre- servatives, instruments, etc., as possible, in our present weak state. And to do this work most profitably, not only to ourselves, but the world at large, the Society, at its present session, should direct its executive committee to propose to the Smithsonian Institution to co-operate with that Institution. The members should furnish the Society with alist of the works on Natural History they have. The reason is obvious. Hoping the Society will consider these things and act according to the judgment of those present, I will close. cot Freese gibt. sant Lim aries M,. wie retin bam anol anor hacia and Avew & . zeiptieneboingercl: exaala: Na wages Sic aft quote. betel) bs aha ere pantie Ks. thehangen, wd As ah ; rie ands se aw axial, ti ligiiong ant at 420 Oba inst rebe cherie oid Diy. dey. Teele phe Sa ‘bait baras- fb? Sosa ohgeniiie b ety ‘aerate adh islivnta. dere, Atoos. 60 apy ik medal: ono E Bees beng ego Tiler 3A ARE af band diets dteaisonis subs fale pera ay sits 4 mh ars PH Bad! if ft poland toy ‘eure ont a a aig i thie daa taons in tho ot eidteoo ae ote Jetirl Sitch wae Tapes te ate esate edetihory af havnt fare oath biscacle Ae Stee Ht ean Sil tae HOR eoikt ke i read eten Ll | ieansapasiiahied guile oy tax? “yen or aay anh be ‘ {SaAiOe8 Oi iis } ail ft a Hide. ak giitncesp $0 boge eee vai Bee aly het! sth re uh ok ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF ILLINOIS. By Dr. Greorce Vasey, of Ringwood, Illinois. To Pror. Turner, President of the Illinois Natural History Society: Dear Str:—-The question is sometimes asked: What is your Natural History Society accomplishing? To answer this inquiry, so far as the Department of Botany is concerned, I propose to give a list of the additions which have been made to the Flora of’ the State, by members of the Society, and to make such remarks thereon, as may appear of interest. The catalogue of Llinois plants published in the third volume of the Transactions of the Illinois Agricultural Society, was prepared by I. A. Lapham, Esq., of Milwaukee, partly from personal obser- vations made in the State, and partly from the information of botanists residing in the State. This catalogue enumerates some one thousand and fifty-two species of plants; and, considering the means at hand for its preparation, must be considered as remark- ably well executed. About this time, an interest was being awa- kened among Naturalists, which led tothe organization of the Nat- ural History Society. In the next volume of the Transactions of the Agricultural Society, are three lists of plants additional to the catalogue of Mr. Lapham; one by Dr. F. Brendel of Peoria, one by Mr. M. 8. Bebb of Marion county, and one by the present writer. There is also, in the same volume, a remarkably full and interest- ing article on the Trees and Shrubs of Illinois, by Dr. Brendel. I also prepared for the annual meeting of the Natural History Society in Jane last, a list of additional species which had come under my observation up to that time, and also a list by Dr. S. B. Mead of Augusta. This list was subsequently published in the Prairie Harmer. Since that time quite a large number of addi- tional species have been collected by myself in several excursions into different parts of the State. All these various additions I now incorporate in the accompanying catalogue. Beside the per- sons whose names have been already mentioned, there have been several others engaged in observing the vegetation of the localities where they reside. So far asis known to me, they are Dr, F. 140 Scammon of Chicago, Mr. E. Hall of Athens, Mr. R. K. Slosson of Morris, and Dr. O. Everett of Dixon. Of the species here enumerated as many as ten are not only ad- ditions to the Flora of the State, but are also additions to the Flora of the Northern United States, and indeed to that portion of our country included in Dr. Gray’s Manual of Botany, which embra- ces Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. There is no doubt that a full exploration of our State will yet present many interesting additions. Many of the plants in the following catalogue have been collected by several botanists and the plan of the present article will not admit of making reference to them by name in each instance. It would also increase the in- terest of the article, if the localities of the rare plants could be given, together with plain and intelligible descriptions, but this must be deferred to a future occasion. The mosses and liverworts are not here included. CATALOGUE. Hepatica acutiloba, D. C. Hypericum ellipticum, Hook. Thalictrum dicecum, L. *f adpressum, Barton. Ranunculus rhomboidens, Goldie. i dolabriforme, Vent. ¢ pennsylvanicus, L. ‘ gymnanthemum. $f hispidus, Mx. nudiflorum, Mx. *Delphinium, consolida, L. Elodea petiolata, Pursh. Actea spicata, var. rubra, Mx. *Vaccaria vulgaris, Host. Jeffersonia diphylla, Pers. Alsine michauxii, Fenzl. Sarracenia purpurea, L. *Stellaria media, L. *Paparu somniferum, L. *Cerastium viscosum, L. Dicentra canadensis, D. C. $6 oblongifolium, Torr. *Nasturtium officinali, R. Br. Sagina apetala, L. ‘ obtusum, Nutt. “nodosa, Fenzl. ‘* =~ ginnatum, Nutt. Claytonia caroliniana, Mx. ¢ sessiliflorum, Nutt. Talinum teretifolium, Pursh. Cardamine rhomboide, var. Tor. *Malva sylvestris, L. Arabis hirsuta, Scop. *Malva crispa, L. Draba micrantha, Nutt. *Hibiscus trionum, L. *Camelina sativa, Crantz. Tilia Pubescens, Ait. *Sinapis alba, L. *Linum usitatissimum, L,. Lepidium intermedium, Gray. Floerka proserpinacoides, Willd. Cakile americana, Nutt. Vitis vulpina, L. Turritis glabra, L. “¢ indivisa, Willd. Viola lanceolata, L. “ pipinnata, T. & G. Solea concolor, Ging. Rhamnus alnifolius, L’ Her. Ascyrum crux andrea, L. Ceanothus ovalis, Bigelow. Hypericum kalmianum, L. Af intermedius. 141 Polygala cruciata, L. Lupinus perennis, L. Trifolium arvense, L. *Melilotus alba, Lam. *Medicago sativa, L. *Medicago lupulina, L. Desmodium ciliare, D. C. ee Lespedeza hista, Ell. Vicia caroliniana, Walt. ** americana, Muh. Lathyrus ochroluecus, Hook. «palustris, Le “ — maritimus, Big. Baptisia australis, R. Br. Cassia obtusifolia. Schrankia uncinata, Willd. Prunus pumila, L. Geum album, Gmelin. ‘:. strictam, Ait. % , sniflorand, Ph, * -macrophyllum, Willd. Potentilla paradoxa, Nutt. - anserina, L. rm palustris, Scop. Fragaria vesca, L. Rubus strigosus, Mx. “ triflorus, Rich. *Rubus ideeus. Rosa blanda, Ait. *Rosa rubiginosa, L. Crategus coccinea, L. Epilobium angustifolium, i. * molle, Torr. Oenothera albicaulis, Nutt. Gaura filipes, Spach. Jussizea repens, L. Ludwigia spheerocarpa, Ell. Circea ‘alpina, L. Myriophyllum verticillatum, L. Hippuris vulgaris, L. Ribes cynosbati, L. “ hirtellum, Mx. a missouriense, Nutt. Saxifrage pennsylvanica, L. Mitella diphylla, L. Hamamelis virginica, L. Sanicula canadensis, ai marilandicum, Boot. Sium angustifolium, L. *Conium maculatum, L. Conio selinum canadense, T.&G Eulophus americanus, Nutt. Aralia spinosa, L. Cornus alterniflora, L. “* eircinata, L’ Her. Viburnum lentago, L. eS dentatum, L. * pubescens, Pursh. hi acerifolium, L. Galium boreale, L. “ concinnum, T. & G Fedia radiata, Mx. Valeriana edulis, Nutt. *Dipsacus sylvestris, Mill. *Tussilage farfara, L. Aster corymbosus, Ait. ‘© ptarmicoides, T. & G. Solidago stricta, Ait. Xanthium spinosum, L. Boltonia diffusa. *Coreopsis tinctoria, Nutt. Tanacetum vulgare, L. Artemesia dracunculoides. Graphilium uliginosum, L. *Cirsium lanceolatum, Scop. *Cirsium arvense, Scop. *Centaurea cyanus, L. Hieracium canadense, Mx. Lobelia kalmii, L. Campanula rotundifolia, L. Vaccinium vacillans, Sol. & macrocarpon, Ait. Arctostaphylos uvaurse, Sp. Andromeda polifolia, L. Pyrola elliptica, Nutt. Bumelia lycioides, Gaert. Lysimachia longifolia, Ph. Naumburgia thyrsiflora, R. Utricularia gibba, L. Rs subulata, L. Aphyllon fasciculatum, T. & G. Linaria canadensis, Spr. *Linaria vulgaris, Mill. Pentstemon digitalis, Nutt. Mimulus jamesii, Torr. Gratiola spheerocarpa, Ell. Archangelica atropurpurea, Hoff. Veronica peregrina, L. Castilliea sessiliflora, Ph. Gerardia setacea, Walt. Verbena officinalis, L. Cunila Mariana, L. Pyenanthemum incanum, Mx. Calamintha glabella, var. Gr. Scutellaria parvula, Mx. Onosmodium carolinianum, D.C. Hydrophyllum canadense, L. Phacelia bipinnatitida, Mx. Phlox maculata, L. “© reptans, Mx. *Tpomea purpurea, Lam. Hydrolea quadrivalvis. Gentiana dentosa, Fries. Obolaria virginica, L. Foresteronia difformis, D. C. Asclipias phytolaccoides, Ph. o nuttalliana, Torr. parviflora, Ph. Acerates paniculata. 43 monocephala, Lap. Gonolobus macrophyllus, Mx. Fraxinus sambucifolia, Lam. Chenopodium urbicum, L. 3 glaucum, L. Coriospermum hyssopifolium. * Amarantus hypochondriacus, L. *Polygonum orientale, L. *Polygonum convolvulus, L. aurifolium, L. *Fagopyrum esculentum, M. Rumex maritimus, L. Dirca palustris, L. Shepherdia canadensis, N. Callitriche verna, L. Euphorbia poly gonifolia. Ricinus communis, L. Ulmus racemosa, Thomas. ‘¢ ulata, Mx. Celtis mississippiensis, Bos. Betula alba, var. Spach. “¢ papyracea, Ait. “¢ pumilia, L. ; *Salix babylonica, Tour. ‘“¢ petiolaris, Smith. nigra, Marshall. longifolia, Muhl. Incida, Muhl. ‘<4 74 “cc 66 rostrata, Rich. cordata, Muhl. eriocephala, Muhl. discolor, Muhl. candida, Willd. pedicellaris, Pursh. Populus grandidentata, Mx. ‘© monilifera, Ait. Pinus banksiana, Lambert. “ strobus, L. Larix americana, Mx. Taxus baccata, var. L. Juniperus communis, L. Symplocarpus feetidus, Salis, Orontium aquaticum, L. Sparganium natans, L. Peltandra virginica, Raf. Naias flexilis, Rosth. Potomageton pectinatus, L. Triglochin palustre, L. i maratimum, var. L. Scheuchzeria palustris, L. Limnobium spongia, Rich. Platanthera, flava, Gray. oe lacera, Gray. Goodyera pubescens, R. Br. Arethusa bulbosa, L. Pogonia ophioglossoides, Nutt. Aletris farinosa, L. Tris Duerinkii. Smilax glauca, Walt. “ tamnoides, L. “ hispida, Muhl. Trillium nivale, Riddell. Polygonatum gigantum, Deit. Smilacina bifolia, Ker. Lilium superbum, L. Zygadenus glaucus, Nutt. Stenanthium angustifolium, Gr Tofieldia glutinosa, Willd. Juncus balticus, Willd. “¢ paradoxus, E, Meyer. articulatus? L. nodosus, L. Eliocharis intermedia, Sch. Scirpus planifolius, Muhl. Rthynchospora capillacea, Torr. Cladium mariscoides, Torr. Carix bromoides, Schk. T4 4 “ce Carix chorrdorrhiza, Erhr. limosa, L. “ livida, Willd. crawei, Dew. careyana? Torr, Oederi, Khrh. filiformis, L. comosa, Boot. hystricina, Willd. cylindrica. careyana. stenolepis. Aira cespitosa, L. Agrostis perennans, Tuck. Calamagrostis longifolia, Hook. bf arenaria. Boutelona hirsuta, Lagas. Glyceria pallida, Trin. Poa serotina, Ehrh. Setaria viridis, Beauy. This mark [*] indicates that ralized. ce 145 Triticum caninum, L. Triticum repens, L. Hierochloa borealis, R. & S. Panicum anceps, Michx. Equisetum limosum, L. sé variegatum, Schr. Polypodium vulgare, L. Struthiopteris germanica, Will. Allosurus atropurpureus, G. Asplenium ebeneum, Ait. Cheilanthes tomentosa, Link. Woodsia obtusa, Torr. Cystopteris bulbifera, Bern. Aspidium thelypteris, Swartz. - spinulosum, Swartz. goldianum, Hook. Osmunda regalis, L. Lycopodium lucidulum, Mx. Selaginella ruprestris, Spring. Chara polyphylla. 66 the species is introduced and natu- iy Bo | r ir A oe LY Pi i hy tN CoeaNy Naan. Hu Spey ; obit de based e MUSEUM OF THE ILLINOIS STATE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. By C. D. Wizzer, of Bloomington, Mlinois. [SEE FRONTISPIECE. | The State Normal University has been made the depository for all collections in the various departments of Natural History which may be made under the auspices of the Society, and also tor such collections as may be donated. For this purpose, two large halls in the University building have been united by an arch, atfording a spacious gallery one hundred feet in length and thirty-three feet wide. This hall, called the Museum or GroLtoay anp NaturaL Hisrory, has been fitted up in the most approved style, from plans furnished by Richard H. Holder, Esq., of Bloomington, who visited the Museums of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, the Boston Academy, and the Salem Museum. The following is a brief outline of the plan adopted : Arranged along the floor, in front, near the windows, are twelve glass structures or houses, each four feet by eight feet and ten feet high, furnished with shelves and bases, for the department of Or- nithology. In these structures, which are of pure French glass, the birds are arranged in families, each with its name and habitat. At present they are chiefly occupied by the Birds of Illinois. Acioss an aisle, four feet in width, are placed twelve structures, made also of plate glass, corresponding with the structures for Birds. . These are in the form of parallelograms, each three feet by twelve feet, and surmounted by a glass show case of the same dimensions and eight inches in depth. In the lower spaces are placed specimens of our coal flora, such as Lepidodendra, Sigill- aria, etc., which are too large for shelves. These, as they are all of one geological epoch, are grouped with reference to the localities —16 146 whence they were taken. The glass show cases above are devoted to carboniferous fossils and shells. In the rear of the parallelograms is an extended bureau of draw- ers, divided into two sections, at the middle of the room. Each division contains four hundred and eighty drawers, and each drawer is fifteen by eighteen inches and three inches in depth, furnished with a glass cover, and arranged in series of ten; every two series, or twenty drawers, being protected by folding doors. These are devoted to Botany and Entomology. Above this range of drawers, along the wall, are sections of com- mon shelves, provided with folding doors, designed to contain fos- sils, ores, minerals and crystals. ‘he fossils are to be arranged in the order of the geological formation or epoch which they illustrate. At present they are grouped according to the localities in the State where they are found. In the southern division of the Museum are placed the Minerals of Illinois and the adjacent states, presenting a typical view of the mineral wealth of the Mississippi Valley, and designed to illustrate what is termed Economical Geology. For example: all the va- rieties of Iron ore, with samples of every process of its manufac- ture, are arranged by themselves; Lead, its ores and oxides; also, Copper; Coal, its varieties and products; Soils, with accompanying analyses, ete., etc. The corresponding northern section is occupied by a collection of Crystals, arranged according to the basis of each order, viz: Carbonates, Silicates, etc. Each specimen will be accompanied with its specific name and the name of the locality, also of the person donating the same to the Society. A space above these sections, in both divisions, is devoted to such collections as are preserved in alcohol, viz: Reptiles, Fishes, Crus- tacea, ete. A series of paintings, by Bryant, illustrating the principal geo- logical epochs, are placed in line at the top of the last described sections, and, when finished, will occupy the entire length of the Museum. Of this series four are now complete. The library cases, two at each end of the Museum, are provided for the scientific works, reports and papers of the Society. The principal design of the Society, in regard to this general collection of Natural History, is to furnish the greatest possible number of Object Lessons in each department, and so arrange the objects or specimens that they will convey to the student or ob- server a correct view of the order or philosophy of Nature; in short, to make of the Museum a well arranged volume, whose illus- trations, indicating the order of creation, were prepared by the Great Artist, who laid the foundations of the earth. Valuable collections have been received from the following per- sons: J.T. Gulick, Sandwich Islands; P. A. Chadbourne, Massa- chusetts; J. W. J. Culton, Michigan; C. P. Williams, Michigan ; William Hovey, Michigan; Rev. E. R. Beadle, Hartford, Connec- tieut; F. D. Fyler, Winsted, Connecticut; E.J. Pickett, Rochester, 147 New York; Joseph Even, Morris, Illinois; A. W. Nason, St. Johns; C. A. Montross, Centralia; Jasper Johnson, Vienna; Miss Katie A. Thompson, Vienna; Cyrus Thomas, Murphysboro; Dr. M. Davis, Oswego; William H. Allen, Grafton; F..A. McDonald, Grafton; William McAdams, Jerseyville; Drs. Bennett & Chaffee, Alton; Capt. E. H. Beebe, Galena; Dr. Oliver Everett, Dixon; A. M. Gow, Dixon; Rev. A. H. Conant, Rockford; T. J. Willever, Bloomington; Dr. J. W. Velie, Rock Island; Dr. Whittlesey, Galva; R ush Emery, Hamilton ; "Dr. William H. Githens, Hamil: ton; Daniel Gordon, Moline; Geor ge Shockey, Iowa; Miss Mar- tha. Coggeshall, Nantucket; Prof. J. H. McChesney, Chicago ; John P. Reynolds, Springfield ; A. H. Worthen, Springfield ; M. S. Bebb, Springfield; E. Hall, Athens; J. W. Powell, Wheaton ; Dr. E. RB. Roe, U. D. Eddy, H.W. Boyd, and H. B. Cole, Bloom- ington. “At the meeting of the Society, July 3d, R. H. Holder presented his entire collection of the Birds of Illinois. A similar donation was made by Dr. George Vasey, of the Flora of Llinois, consist- ing of nearly fourteen “hundred species, collected by him during the last ten years. Rev. Dr. Eddy, of Bloomington, presented a cabinet of fossils and specimens, illustrating the “Drift. Mr. Bry- ant donated to the Society the collection of paintings already refer- red to. Mr. Wilber presented a suite of western minerals and fossils. B.D. Walsh and Cyrus Thomas have presented valuable collections of insects. The Railroad and Express companies of the State, with a liberality never exceeded, have also contributed greatly to the present success. The Museum above described can be referred to only as a begin- ning. Three years of labor have been devoted to it: It will pros- per in proportion as it advances the educational interests of the State. Its founders hope for success upon no other basis. It will be dedicated, with appropriate exercises, as a FREE OFFER- ING TO THE CITIZENS AND scHooLs of Illinois, on Wednesday, De- cember 25th, 1861. de thks thy B, hx aatoai 28 i Caney ea! thi. tS ett eartaliale’ hal Lai fies" i on A iE Mien pre Agata anni Boy ety mere wri teat i ave Ro shai vot ae eit baile ged fisaltsn| ki ie Hiya ile Boat has! Sh radials i shy J Sipatia tape a Saar yeas : os a st Bei gt i shh iy Ws beat Ma. J shi 7m , 4 ‘ ett vi Shiai en ee hy, sete apr Ri KA shisha saa ay jaetic conte ot Ey fr Duda? aN dh le attK, ib: | a WER Ae. is ai i ataeal As bus agree Haas Fat wheal”: Elaioritieitbatte icleokela ust i a ee Ne a tile 3 zwinaiad wae va: Sokad Pag Zs 3 gs ie & a. Hs fie. deel i we ohh: ated ALARA * > - 4 are 4 fay gaps he iy «! i. ate ite dale paid site Ate ih ane spligti aa ie iE LALAEID Mere sit By Ri A, aoe , vf . if pes wail seal ims She ee ioe As “Shh » th Aili, pts aseghs 9 ae fade ie ‘ oho eel rilnarlliie eh Hraskiat ie Kad yee ee aa AE: thane Pek. io vaide: a Bet peineg neal Osta ae, As ove wee ated, hd ten dagy, i Siete pst daly Sed i tits axay dail Jboabane Sy theaek ead: bk Shey i ashi Peer Leek 7h Merde. caret nerd Sah ig, 22 a age eiditals aout 3s ean 3 ee ‘dant salle ws re a —— pise bo ANY % a hy e ’ * ni mn! ~ / ra oy $5 yitiokaaee | jf tT 0 | | yet