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FIRST    REPORT 


OF  THE 


NEW    YO* 


MICHIGAN  ACADEMY  (IF  SCIENCE 


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COVERING  THE  TIME  FROM  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF 
THE  ACADEMY  IN   1894  TO  JUNE    30,    1899 


PREPARED  UNDER  THE   DIRECTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL 


By  WALTER  B.  BARROWS.  Secretary 


BY  AUTHORITY 


LANSING,  MICHIGAN 
ROBERT  SMITH  PRINTING  CO.,  STATE  PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS 

1900 
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FIRST    REPORT 


OF    THE 


MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


LETTER    OF    TRANSMITTAL. 


To  Honorable  Hazen  S.  Pinoree,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Michigan: 

Sir— I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  the  First  Annual  Report  of 
the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science,  for  publication  in  accordance  with 
Section  14  of  Act  No.  44.  of  the  Public  Acts  of  the  Legislature  in  1899. 

Respectfully, 

WALTER   B.    BARROWS, 
Secretary  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science. 
Agricultural  College,  Mich., 
December  1,  1899. 
i 

CO 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Organization  of  the  Academy  of  Science 5-10 

First  annual  meeting,  December,  1894,  minutes ;  1 1-12 

List  of  papers  presented 12 

Our  Society  and  a  State  Survey,  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal 12  14 

Practical  Benefits  of  Bacteriology,  by  F.  G.  Novy.  M.  D 14-18 

The  Great  Seal  and  Coat  of  Arms  of  Michigan,  with  7  illustrations,  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal 19-23 

The  Flora  of  Michigan  Lakes,  by  Charles  A.  Davis 24-31 

The  Lepidoptera  of  Michigan,  by  Robert  H.  Wolcott,  M.  D.  (abstract) 32 

Tendencies  in  Michigan  Horticulture,  by  A.  A.  Crozier 32-36 

Futile  Experiments  for  the  Improvement  of  Agriculture,  by  Manly  Miles,  M.  D 36-38 

The  Uredineae  of  Michigan,  by  Harriet  L.  Merrow,  (abstract) 39 

Second  annual  meeting,  December,  1895,  minutes 40  41 

List  of  papers  presented 41-42 

Origin  and  Distribution  of  the  Land  and  Fresh  Water  Mollusca  of   North  America,   by 

Bryant  Walkter 43  61 

The  Sub-Carboniferous  Limestone  Exposure  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  by  Charles   A. 

Whittemore 62-65 

Notes  on  the  Seismic  Disturbances  in  Missouri  in  1895,  by  John  M.  Millar 65-66 

Michigan  Birds  that  Nest  in  Open  Meadows,  by  L.  Whitney  Watkins 66-75 

Notes  on  Teratological  Forms  Of  Trillium  grandijiorum,  by  Charles  A.  Davis 76 

A  New  Science,  that  of  Sanitation,  by  Henry  B.' Baker,  M.  D 76-83 

Second  annual  field  meeting,  June,  1896 84 

Council  meeting,  February,  1897 85 

Third  annual  meeting,  March,  1897,  minutes 86-88 

List  of  papers  presented 88  89 

Notes  and  Observations  regarding  the  Habits  and' Characteristics  of  the  Massasauga  or 

Ground  Rattlesnake,  Sistrunis  catenatus,  during  Captivity,  by  Percy  S.  Selous    89  92 

Newton's  Third  Law  of  Motion  a  Factor  in  Organic  Evolution,  by  Manly  Miles,  M.  I> 92-94 

Suitable  Topics  for  Discussion  by  Young  Members  of  a  Botanical  Club,  by  Dr.  W.J  Beal  94-97 
Remarks  Concerning  the  Saprophytic  Fungi  grown  in  the  Vicinity  of  the  Agricultural 

College,  by  Burton  O.  Long.vear 97-99 

A  Remarkable  Forest  in  Michigan,  Not  Hitherto  Known  to  Science,  by  S.  Alexander, 

(abstract) 99 

Structure  of  the  Olfactory  Lobe  of  the  Sturgeon,  (summary)  by  J.  B.  Johnston 100 

Poisonous  Germs  Found  in  Drinking  Water,  by  J.  T.  McCly monds,  M.  D 100-102 

Some  Vital  Statistics  of  Michigan,  by  C.  L.  Wilbur,  M.  D 102-106 

The  Evening  Grosbeak  in  Central  Michigan,  by  Charles  A.  Davis 106 

Third  annual  field  meeting 107 

Fourth  annual  meeting,  March,  1898,  minutes  108-109 

List  of  papers  presented 109-100 

A  Word  for  Systematic  Botany,  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal 1 10 

A  Leaf-Miner,  Uheironomus  sp  '?.  in  Water  Lilies,  by  Rufus  H.  Pettit,  with  one  illustration  110-111 
Apparatus  for  Photographing  Vertebrate  Embryos,  by  Jacob  Reighard,  Ph.  B.,  with  two 

illustrations 111-112 

The  Habits  of  Euclemensia  bassettella,  a  True  Parasite  belonging  to  the  Lepidoptera,  by 

Rufus  H.  Pettit 112-114 

The  Hind  Brain  and  Cranial  Nerves  of  Acipenser,  (summary)  by  J.  B.  Johnston 114-115 

The  Flora  of  Tuscola  County,  by  Chas.  A.  Davis  (abstract) 1 16 

Fifth  annual  meeting,  March,  1899,  minutes 1 17-1 18 

List  of  papers  presented 118-119 

A  plea  for  Greater  Attention   to   the   Sciences,  by  the  Church,  the  School,  by  Legisla- 
tures, and  the  People  Generally,  by  Henry  B.  Baker,  M.  D 120-131 

Notes  on  the  Germination  of  Brasenia  peltata,  by  Charles  A.  Davis  (abstract) 131   132 

Notes  on  Utricularia  resupinata,  bv  Charles  A.  Davis  (abstract) 132 

Trees  as  Dwelling  Places  for  Animals,  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal 132-133 

The   Breeding  Habits  of   the  Dog-Fish,   Amia  calva,   with  two  illustrations,   by  Jacob 

Reighard  (abstract) 133  137 

The   Origin   and  Development  of   the  Adhesive  Organ  of  Amia  calva,  by  Jessie  Phelps, 

(abstract) 137-139 

Comparative  Statistics  of  Climate  and  Mortality  in  Michigan,  by  Cressy  L.Wilbur,  M.D 139-142 

New  Problems  and  New  Phases  of  Old  Ones,  by  Clinton  D.  Smith 143-145 

Constitution  and  By-laws  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science 147-154 

List  of  members  of  the  academy,  from  its  organization  in  1894  to  June  30,  1899 155-159 

Index 161 


ORGANIZATION. 

In  March,  1892,  after  discussing  with  his  co-workers  in  the  University 
the  question  of  the  desirability  of  a  State  society  of  naturalists,  Professor 
Jacob  Reighard  addressed  to  a  score  of  well  known  men  in  the  State  the 
following  circular  letter: 

Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  March  22,  1892. 

Dear  Sir — It  is  proposed  to  organize  in  Michigan  a  State  Society  of 
Naturalists  to  comprise  Zoologists,  Botanists  and  Physiologists.  As  a 
preliminary  to  a  call  for  a  meeting  to  organize  such  a  society  it  is  de- 
sirable to  get  an  expression  of  opinion  from  those  most  likely  to  be  in- 
terested upon  the  following  points: 

1.  As  to  the  scope  of  the  work  to  be  done  by  such  a  society.  ' 

«(a)  To  what  extent  should  papers  embodying  the  results  of  original 
work  be  presented  at  the  meetings? 

(b)  What  stress  should  be  laid  on  the  discussion  of  methods  of  teach- 

ing and  the  demonstration  of  appliances  for  teaching? 

(c)  To  what  extent  should  general  biological  problems  be  discussed 

(such  for  instance  as  heredity)  with  a  purpose  of  stimulating  an 
interest  in  them  and  securing  a  better  understanding  of  them? 
id)  Should  an  attempt  be  made  to  stimulate,  systematize  and  co- 
ordinate work  on  the  fauna  and  flora  of  the  State,  and  can  any 
means  be  devised  of  giving  worth  to  such  work  and  accumulat- 
ing the  results  of  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  it  a  permanent 
acquisition  of  the  science? 

2.  What  should  be  the  character  of  the  membership? 

(a)  Should  it  be  composed  wholly  of  investigators,  or 

(b)  Should  it  include  also  those  engaged  in  teaching  without  in- 

tention of  ever  engaging  in  investigation?  or 

(c)  Should  it  include  all  persons  sufficiently  interested  to  discharge 

the  duties  of  membership? 

The  character  of  the  membership  is  largely  determined  by  the  scope  of 
the  work  and  it  is  of  course  necessary  to  have  at  least  a  tentative  policy 
with  regard  to  membership  before  calling  a  meeting  for  organization. 

The  organization  of  such  a  society  will  be  greatly  facilitated  if  you  will 
give  your  opinion  as  fully  as  possible  on  each  of  the  foregoing  points,  and 
also  on  the  following: 

I.  Will  you  become  a  member  of  a  society  of  the  character  indicated  by 
your  reply? 

II.  Give  the  names  and  addresses  of  such  persons  as  in  your  opinion 
would  be  likely  to  become  desirable  members  of  such  a  society. 


6  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

III.  At  what  time  and  place  should  the  meeting  for  organization  be 
called? 

IV.  Could  you  contribute  to  the  program  of  such  a  meeting  if  one 
were  called? 

Replies  should  be  addressed  to  J.  E.  Reighard,  Ann  Arbor. 

(Signed.) 

V.  M.  SPALDING, 

Professor  of  Botany. 
W.  H.  HOWELL, 

Professor  of  Physiology. 
J.  E.  REIGHARD,' 
Asst.  Professor  of  Zoology. 
J.  B.  STEERE, 

Professor  of  Zoology. 

The  answers  received  to  this  letter  were  various,  but  all  agreed,  or 
nearly  all,  that  an  organization  was  desirable  and  that  the  membership 
should  not  be  closely  restricted. 

Owing  to  press  of  work  on  the  men  whose  names  are  signed  to  the  letter 
the  matter  was  carried  no  farther  at  that  time. 

In  the^spring  of  1894  the  matter  of  a  State  society  was  again  discussed 
at  the  University,  but  three  of  those  whose  signatures  stand  at  the  close 
in  the  preceding  circular  letter  could  take  no  active  part  in  immediate 
effort  since  Professor  Spalding  was  absent  in  Europe,  Professor  Reighard 
was  about  to  leave  for  Europe,  and  Professor  Howell  was  no  longer  con- 
nected with  the  University. 

At  that  time  Professor  F.  C.  Newcombe,  finding  that  others  were  willing 
to  cooperate,  prepared,  with  the  help  of  Professors  Steele  and  Lombard, 
the  following  circular  letter,  which  was  sent  to  about  fifty  people  in  tin- 
State,  calling  for  a  meeting  for  purposes  of  organization. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MICHIGAN, 

BOTANICAL,  LABORATORY. 

Ann  Arbor,  June  21,  1804. 

From  inquiries  made  of  various  persons  throughout  the  State,  it  has 
been  found  that  there  is  a  general  desire  for  the  organization  of  a  State 
Natural  History  Society. 

The  replies  to  these  inquiries  have  indicated  a  two-fold  work  for  such  a 
society:  (1)  co-ordinated  scientific  research;  (2)  improvement  of  methods 
of  teaching.  The  active  membership  of  the  society  should  therefore  con- 
sist of  investigators  and  teachers  and  others  directly  interested  in  natural 
history. 

The  undersigned  therefore  unite  in  issuing  a  call  for  a  meeting  for  the 
organization  of  a  State  Natural  History  Society  at  Ann  Arbor,  Wednes- 
daj-,  June  27th,  4  o'clock  p.  m.,  in  the  University  Main  Building,  Room  11, 
to  which  you  are  invited. 

The  meeting  will  be  addressed  by  Dr.  Steere  of  the  University,  Pro- 
fessors Beal  and  Wheeler  of  the  Agricultural  College.  Professor  Scherzer 
of  the  State  Normal,. Professor  Ward  of  the  Michigan  Fish  Commission 
Survey  and  by  others.  At  this  meeting,  besides  the  organization,  it  is 
hoped  to  get  some  profitable  work  under  way. 


ORGANIZATION.  7 

If  you  cannot  attend,  please  address  a  reply,  with  your  willingness  or 
unwillingness  to  become  a  member  of  the  society,  to  Frederick  G.  New- 
combe,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

JOSEPH  B.  STEERE, 

Professor  of  Zoology. 
WARREN  P.   LOMBARD, 

Professor  of  Physiology. 
FREDERICK  C.  NEWCOMBE, 

Asst.  Prof,  of  Botany. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  held  in  response 
to  this  call : 

MINUTES    OF    THE    MEETING    FOR    ORGANIZATION    OF    A    STATE    NATURAL 

HISTORY  ASSOCIATION. 

(Held  at  Ann  Arbor,   Michigan,  June  27,  1894.) 

Pursuant  to  a  call  issued  in  a  circular  letter  signed  by  J.  B.  Steere. 
Warren  P.  Lombard,  and  Frederick  C.  Newconibe,  and  sent  to  about  fifty 
people  of  the  State,  over  twenty-five  persons  assembled  in  Room  11,  Uni- 
versity Hall,  at  4  o'clock  p.  m.,  June  27,  1894. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  F.  C.  Newcombe,  who  proposed  Dr. 
W.  J.  Beal  for  chairman.  Dr.  Beal  was  elected  unanimously.  F.  C. 
Newcombe  was  then  elected  secretary. 

The  secretary  then  rehersed  the  inception  of  the  movement  for  an 
organization  beginning  with  the  circular  letter  of  enquiry  signed  by  Pro- 
fessors Spalding,  Howell,  Steere  and  Reighard,  and  sent  out  two  years 
before. 

There  seeming  to  be  unanimity  of  feeling  as  to  the  need  and  usefulness 
of  a  State  organization,  the  scope  of  such  a  society  came  up  for  discussion. 
In  the  informal  discussion  part  was  taken  by  I.  C.  Russell,  J.  B.  Steere. 
W.  B.  Barrows,  H.  B.  Ward,  Bryant  Walker,  J.  Montgomery,  C.  F. 
Wheeler,  W.  J.  Beal,  and  F.  C.  Newcombe.  The  general  opinion  ex- 
pressed was  that  the  society  should  hold  stated  meetings  for  the  reading 
and  discussion  of  scientific  papers  and  should  also  seek  to  forward  the 
scientific  study  of  the  resources  of  the  State  'as  well  as  the  fauna,  flora, 
and  so  forth. 

Bryant  Walker  moved  that  the  officers  of  the  association,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  two  members,  be  constituted  an  advisory  board  to  report  a  con- 
stitution and  by-laws,  to  arrange  a  program,  and  to  call  the  next  meet- 
ing.    The  motion  was  carried. 

On  motion  of  W.  B.  Barrows  it  was  resolved  to  include  the  whole  State 
in  the  work  of  the  society. 

After  some  discussion  on  a  suitable  name  for  the  society,  the  matter 
was  referred  to  the  advisory  board. 

As  officers  of  the  temporary  organization,  W.  J.  Beal  was  chosen  presi- 
dent, J.  B.  Steere,  vice-president;  F.  C.  Newcombe,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. As  the  two  other  members  of  the  advisory  board,  W.  B.  Barrows 
and  I.  C.  Russell  were  elected. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  subject  to  the  call  of  the  advisorv  hoard. 

(Signed)     F.  C.  NEWCOMBE, 

Secretary. 


8 


MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF     SCIENCE. 


List  of  persons  who  signed,  or  by  letter  gave  permission  to  sign,  their 
names  to  a  membership  list  of  a  State  Scientific  Society,  June  27,  1894,  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan: 


W.  J.  Beal,  Agricultural  College. 
Walter  B.  Barrows,     "  " 

Charles  F.  Wheeler,    "  " 

W.  H.  Sherzer,  State  Normal  School. 
E.  A.  Strong,         "  "  " 

Lucy  A.  Osband,  "  "  " 

W.  H.  Muuson,  Hillsdale  College. 
Chas.  A.  Davis,  Alma  College. 
Frances  E.  Stearns,  Adrian  College. 
Bryant  Walker,  Detroit. 
Oliver  A.  Farwell,  Detroit. 
Robert  H.  Wolcott,  Grand  Rapids. 
J.  W.  Matthews,  "  " 

Hattie  M.  Bailey, 
Delia  A.  Bailey,  "  " 

J.  B.  Shearer,  Bay  City. 
H.  B.  Ward,    Nebraska  University,  Lin- 
coln, Nebraska. 


J.  Montgomery,  Ann  Arbor. 

J.    B.    Steere,    University  of  Michigan. 

Warren  P.  Lombard, 

I.  C.  Russell, 

F.  C.  Newcombe, 

D.  C.  Worcester, 
L.  N.  Johnson,. 
Charles  A.  Kofoid, 
H.  C.  Markham, 
A.  J.  Pieters, 
J.  H.  Schaffner, 

E.  H.  Edwards, 
H.  S.  Jennings, 
S.  D.  Magers, 
Charles  Carpenter, 
Mrs.  E.G.  Willoughby,' 
Margaret  Weideman 


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The  organization  having  now  a  formal  existence,  the  next  step  was 
toward  securing  a  good  membership  roll.  To  this  end  the  following  slip 
and  circular  letter  were  prepared  and  sent  out  to  about  twenty  news- 
papers and  to  twTo  hundred  people  of  the  State. 

Address 

Date 

Frederick  C.  Newcombe,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

Dear  Sir — I  hereby  agree  to  become  a  member  of  the  proposed  State 
Scientific  Society. 

On  the  reverse  side  of  this  slip  I  have  given  the  names  and  addresses 
of  other  persons  whom  it  would  be  desirable  to  have  join  the  society. 

Name 


Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  September  15,  181)1. 

Dear  Sir — At  a  meeting  of  about  twenty-five  persons,  held  in  Ann 
Arbor,  June  27,  1891,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  it  was  desirable  to 
form  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  scientific  research  in  the  State  of 
Michigan. 

At  this  meeting,  the  officers  whose  names  were  appended  were  elected  to 
serve  until  a  permanent  organization  should  be  effected  and  were  in- 
structed to  act  as  an  advisory  board  with  the  duty  of  recommending  a 
constitution  and  by-laws  for  adoption  by  the  society,  and  of  preparing  a 
program  for  the  next  meeting. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  advisory  board  it  was  unanimously  agreed  to  recom- 
mend that  the  name  of  the  society  be  the  "Michigan  Academy  of  Sci- 
ences)," and  that  it  have  for  its  principal  object  the  study  of  the  agri- 
culture, archeology,  botany,  geography,  geology,  mineral  resources, 
zoology,  etc.,  etc.,  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  and  the  diffusion  of  the  knowl- 
edge thus  gained  among  men.  It  is  not  the  opinion  of  the  advisory  board, 
however,  that  the  work  of  the  society  should  be  restricted  to  the  subjects 
named  but  should  be  enlarged  from  time  to  time  as  occasion  may  require. 


ORGANIZATION.  0 

A  constitution  and  by-laws  have  been  drafted  and  will  be  submitted 
to  the  society  for  revision  and  adoption  at  the  coming  meeting.  It  was 
also  agreed  to  recommend  that  the  dues  of  members  of  the  organization 
be  $2.00  for  the  first  year  of  membership,  and  $1.00  per  year  thereafter. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  society  will  be  held  during  the  coming  winter, 
date  and  place  yet  to  be  determined,  when  the  organization  will  be  com- 
pleted and  a  plan  of  work  attempted. 

The  members  of  the  provisional  organization  were  heartily  in  accord 
in  wishing  that  all  persons  in  the  State  of  Michigan  who  are  interested  in 
scientific  work  should  be  urged  to  join  the  society  and  assist  in  contribut- 
ing to  its  usefulness. 

The  undersigned,  constituting  the  advisory  board,  respectfully  request 
you  to  join  the  society,  and  also  to  present  the  names  of  others  who  may 
become  desirable  members. 

If  you  are  in  sympathy  with  this  movement,  will  you  kindly  fill  out  the 
enclosed  blank  and  mail  it  as  addressed? 

For  further  information  regarding  the  character  and  object  of  the 
association,  inquiries  may  be  addressed  to  the  Secretary,  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan. 

W.  J.  BEAL,  President,  Agricultural  College. 
J.  B.  STEE.BE,  Vice-President,  Ann  Arbor. 
F.  C.  NEWCOMBE,  Secretary,  Ann  Arbor. 
W.  B.  BARROWS,  Agricultural  College. 
I.  C.  RUSSELL,  Ann  Arbor. 

Several  of  the  State  press  published  the  substance  of  this  circular  and 
by  the  first  of  December,  1894,  there  were  members  enrolled  to  the  num- 
ber of  eighty-six. 

Meantime  the  advisory  board  had  been  busy  preparing  a  program  for 
a  winter  meeting  and  drafting  a  constitution. 

In  the  early  part  of  December  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal,  of  the  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, prepared  the  following  slip,  which  was  enclosed  by  the  State  Teach- 
ers' Association  in  the  same  envelope  with  their  program,  and  sent  to  all 
members  of  the  said  Association. 

A  STATE  ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCES. 

In  June  last  about  twenty-five  persons  met  in  Ann  Arbor  and  effected 
a  temporary  organization  of  a  State  Academy  of  Sciences.  They  ad- 
journed to  meet  again  at  Lansing  in  December  to  perfect  the  organization^ 
present  papers  and  lay  out  work  for  the  future. 

All  persons  interested  in  the  work  of  such  a  society  are  cordially  in- 
vited to  meet  with  us  in  the  Pioneer  Room  of  the  State  Capitol,  on 
Wednesdav,  December  26,  at  2  p.  m.  standard  time. 

W.  J.  BEAL,  President. 
J.  B.  STEERE,  Vice-President. 
[Signed.]     F.  C.  NEWCOMBE,  Secretary. 
I.  C.  RUSSELL. 
W.  B.  BARROWS. 

Executive  Committee. 


10  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

In  the  middle  of  December  there  were  sent  out  to  all  members  of  the 
preliminary  organization,  to  one  hundred  others  who  had  been  recom- 
mended for  membership,  and  to  sixty  of  the  State  press,  the  following- 
circular,  together  with  the  program  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  Michigan 
Academy  of  Sciences. 

Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  December  12,  1894. 

The  Michigan  Academy  of  Science  was  organized  last  June  for  the 
promotion  of  fellowship  among  scientific  men,  and  for  scientific  research 
in  the  State.  It  is  hoped  that  all  people  directly  or  indirectly  interested 
in  the  objects  of  the  society  will  become  members. 

At  the  Lansing  meeting,  December  26  and  27,  organization  will  be  com- 
pleted. It  is  probable  that  the  initiation  fee  will  be  placed  at  one  dollar, 
and  the  annual  dues  at  one  dollar.  There  are  no  other  limitations  to 
membership.     Fees  do  not  become  due  till  after  the  Lansing  meeting. 

Let  everyone  who  will  aid  this  society  by  becoming  a  member,  send 
his  (or  her)  name  and  address  immediately  to  the  secretary. 

FREDERICK  C.  NEWCOMBE, 

Ann  Arbor,  Michigan. 

By  order  of  executive, committee. 

Such  were  the  steps  leading  up  to  the  formal  organization  of  the  Michi- 
gan Academy  of  Science,  which  took  place  in  the  Pioneer  Room  of  the 
Slate  Capitol,  December  26  and  27,  1894. 

In  pursuance  of  instructions  given  by  the  Academy  at  its  first  meeting 
the  council  at  once  took  proper  steps  to  incorporate  the  Academy  under 
the  laws  of  the  State,  and  on  February  6,  1895,  articles  of  association 
of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science  were  filed  with  the  Secretary  of 
State. 


FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING— DECEMBER,    1894. 


The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Academy  was  held  at  Lansing,  in  the 
Pioneer  Room  of  the  Capitol,  December  2G  and  27,  1894,  President  W.  J. 
Beal  in  the  chair.     The  following  items  of  business  were  transacted. 

Constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted.* 

Sections  were  organized  in  zoology,  botany,  and  sanitary  science,  as 
follows: 

Section  of  Zoology — Vice  President,  Prof.  J.  E.  Reighard,  of  Ann 
Arbor;  Prof.  D.  C.  Worcester,  of  Ann  Arbor,  to  act  during  the  absence  of 
Prof.  Eeighard  in  Europe.     Three  sub-sections  were  formed  also. 

Section  of  Botany — Vice  President,  Prof.  F.  C.  Newcombe,  Ann 
Arbor. 

Section  of  Sanitary  Science — Vice  President,  Dr.  Henry  B.  Baker, 
Lansing. 

A  resolution  calling  on  the  Legislature  for  improvement  in  the  manner 
of  registering  births  and  deaths,  was  referred  to  a  committee,  which 
subsequently  framed  such  a  request  and  submitted  it  to  the  Legislature. 

A  similar  resolution  recommending  to  the  Legislature  the  preparation 
of  a  good  topographic  map  of  the  State,  showing  also  the  surface  geology, 
was  referred  to  the  council,  and  the  matter  afterward  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  proper  legislative  committees. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  urging  the  prompt  passage  of  Bill  119,  House 
of  Representatives,  of  the  53d  Congress,  2d  session,  relating  to  the 
protection  of  Forest  Reservations. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  endorsing  the  scientific  work  of  the  Michigan 
Fish  Commission,  and  the  council  was  instructed  to  prepare  and  present 
to  the  Legislature  a  petition  for  an  increased  appropriation  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  biological  examination  of  the  waters  of  the  State  by  the 
commission. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  preparation  of  a  charter  for  the  Academy, 
under  the  general  laws  of  the  State. 

The  treasurer's  report  showed  the  expenditure  of  $23.07  up  to  December 
26,  1894. 

Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were  elected  as  follows: 

President — Bryant  Walker,  Detroit. 

f  Zoology— J.  E.  Reighard,  Ann  Arbor. 

Vice  Presidents.  <j  Botany — F.  C.  Newcombe.  Ann  Arbor. 

[  Sanitary  Science — Henry  B.  Baker,  Lansing. 


*For  copy  of  these,  as  adopted,  see  page  this  report. 


12  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

Secretary — Chas.  A.  Davis,  Alma. 
Treasurer — E.  A.  Strong,  Ypsilanti. 

Papers    presented    at    the    First   Annual    Meeting    of    the    Michigan 
Academy  of  Science,  Lansing.  December  26  and  27,  1894. 

1.  The    Mammals    of   Michigan.     Dr.    J.    B.    Steere.     Not    Published. 

2.  The  Birds  of  Michigan.     Prof.  D.  C.  Worcester.     Not  published. 

3.  Additions  to  the  Flora  of  Michigan.     C.  F.  Wheeler.     Published,  with  further 

additions,  in  the  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture 
for  1898,  pp.  82-91. 

4.  The  Cryptogamic  Flora  of  Michigan.     L.  N.  Johnson.     Not  published. 

5.  Work  of  the  Michigan  Fish  Commission.  Prof.  H.  B.  Ward.  A  preliminary  re- 

port, never  printed;  for  complete  report  see  Bull.  6  of  Mich.  Fish  Com- 
mission. 

6.  The  Dinobryons  of  Lake  Michigan.     Dr.  C.  A.  Kofoid.     Not  published. 

7.  Our  Society  and  a  State  Survey.     Dr.  W.  J..  Beal.     Printed  in  full  in  this  re- 

port.    See  index. 

8.  Practical  Benefits  of  Bacteriology.     Dr.  F.  G.  Novy.     Printed  in  full  in  this 

report.     See  index. 

9.  Simian  Characters  of  the  Human  Skeleton.     Prof.  W.  H.   Sherzer.     Printed 

under  the  title  "Platycnemic  Man  in  New  York''  in  Report  of  State  Geologist 
[N.  Y.]  Vol.  Ill,  Paleontology.  1893,  pp.  659-683. 

10.  Data  and  Development  of  Michigan  Archaeology.     Harlan  I.  Smith.     Part  I. 

Notes  on  the  Data  of  Michigan  Archaeology.  American  Antiquarian,  May 
1896.  Part  II.  The  Development  of  Michigan  Archaeology.— The  Inlander, 
VI.  No.  8,  1896. 

11.  Some  Notes  on  the  Michigan  Coat  of  Arms.     Prof.  W.  J.  Beal.     Printed  in  full 

in  this  report. 

12.  Flora  of   Michigan   Lakes.     Prof.    Chas.   A.   Davis.     Printed   in   full   in   this 

report. 

13.  Michigan  Lepidoptera.     Dr.   L\   H.  Wolcott.     Net  yet  published.     Outline  in 

this  report. 

14.  Review  of  our  Present  Knowledge   of  the  Molluscan   Fauna  of   Michigan. 

Bryant  Walker.     Published  by  the  author.     Detroit,  1895.  (pp.  1-27.) 

15.  Distoma  petalosum;  a  Parasite  of  the  Crayfish.     C.  H.  Lander.  Not  published. 

16.  Bacteria  and  the  Dairy.     Prof.  C.  D.  Smith. 

17.  Tendencies  in  Michigan  Horticulture.     A.  A.  Crozier.     Printed  in  full  in  this 

report. 

18.  Futile  Experiments  for  the  Improvement  of  Agriculture.     Dr.  Manly  Miles. 

Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

19.  Vital  Statistics.     The  Scientific  Basis  of  Sanitation.  Dr.  C.  L.  Wilbur.    Printed 

in  full  in  American  Lancet  (Detroit),  February,  1895. 

20.  The  Uredineae   of  Michigan.     Harriet  L.    Merrow.     Not  yet   published;  ab- 

stract in  this  report. 


OUR  SOCIETY  AND  A  STATE  SURVEY. 

BY   W.    J.    BEAL. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,   December  26,   1894.) 

Perhaps  it  may  not  be  wise  at  present  to  say  very  much  about  our 
young  State  Academy,  as  its  reputation  is  yet  to  be  made  either  for  per- 
forming long  continued  thorough  work  or  for  making  desultory  efforts. 

The  thought  of  forming  such  a  society  is  not  new,  but  has  been  more  or 
less  discussed  at  different  times  for  thirty  years  or  more.  The  organiza- 
tion has  long  been  delayed,  because  the  number  of  capable  scientific 
people  willing  to  sacrifice  time,  money,  and  hard  unremunerative  labor 
has  been  very  small.     And  these  live  in  parts  of  the  State  remote  from 


BEAL    ON     STATE     SURVEY.  13 

each  other.  Even  at  tlii^  time  none  of  us  anticipates  a  large  membership 
or  any  very  striking  results — at  least,  not  for  many  years  to  come.  Each 
one  of  the  members  sees  already  any  amount  of  interesting  work  in 
natural  science  that  ought  to  be  done  in  our  State.  Let  us  from  this  time 
forward,  strive  to  interest  others  to  join  us  and  begin  and  carry  to  com- 
pletion some  of  the  investigations  so  much  needed. 

The  importance  of  making  a  survey  of  the  fauna,  flora,  and  other  natural 
resources  of  the  State  was  recognized  as  early  as  1837,  and  a  fair  begin 
ning  was  made,  though  for  want  of  persons  to  press  the  subject;  little 
has  been  accomplished  excepting  to  continue  the  geological  survey;  and 
this  has  been  maintained,  merely  because  of  the  brilliant  and  prompt 
financial  results  which  were  anticipated.  Michigan  is  far  behind  many 
other  states  east,  west,  and  south  in  the  study  of  fauna  and  flora.  Primi- 
tive conditions  are  fast  disappearing.  In  hundreds  of  townships,  there 
are  only  fragments  here  and  there  which  still  contain  the  native  wild 
plants.  These  regions  have  been  cleared  up  and  now  bear  farm  crops. 
The  swamps  and  marshes  have  been  drained;  the  woods  pastured;  the 
roadsides  cultivated  for*  crops  almost  to  the  tracks  made  by  passing 
teams.  Fires  have  repeatedly  burned  over  some  of  the  most  interest- 
ing portions  of  the  State.  Extensive  tracts  of  timber  have  been  cut  anil 
removed,  and  before  the  young  timber  could  cover  the  ground  and  begin 
to  repair  the  waste,  fires  have  licked  up  nearly  every  green  thing. 

A  good  force  of  competent  persons  should  be  continually  employed  to 
look  after  the  forests  of  the  State — to  investigate  their  needs  and  to  (lis 
cover  and  apply  the  remedies.  I  need  not  go  into  details.  It  would  be  in- 
teresting to  learn  the  location  of  the  different  regions  of  the  State  and 
the  special  plants  which  characterize  them.  How  is  each  of  these  regions 
related  to  others  in  this  State  and  in  neighboring  states. 

As  members  of  a  scientific  society,  we  ought  to  be  able  to  render  con- 
siderable assistance  in.  seeing  that  these  subjects  are  properly  taught  in 
the  public  schools,  and  that  young  persons  begin  and  maintain  numerous 
local  museums  where  the  natural  history  may  be  investigated. 

These  plants  may  be  listed  and  grouped  with  reference  to  their  many 
uses;  for  roadside  planting,  for  color  of  foliage,  for  ornamental  flowers, 
for  climbing,  for  display  in  winter,  for  growing  in  ponds  and  bogs,  or  on 
sand,  in  the  sun  or  in  the  shade,  for  spring,  summer,  or  autumn.  Which 
are  most  useful  for  furnishing  hees  with  honey  and  where  do  they  thrive? 
What  native  wTeeds  have  we,  and  what  is  the  list  of  exotic  weeds?  Active 
efforts  should  be  made  and  continued  to  discover  and  record  the  introduc- 
tion of  new  plants,  and  the  modes  of  introduction.  The  problem  of 
weeds  on  the  farm  and  in  the  garden  is  one  of  imminent  importance.  The 
parasitic  fungi  are  awaiting  investigation,  as  they  ruin  the  hopes  of  many 
of  our  industrious  cultivators  of  the  soil.  Tons  of  valuable  food,  as  good 
as  roast  beef,  are  annually  wasted  because  of  the  ignorance  of  the  people 
regarding  their  peculiarities.  These  mushrooms  and  toadstools  should  be 
better  known  for  many  reasons. 

Local  societies  for  investigating  this  subject  should  be  encouraged  and 
assisted. 

Our  mammals,  birds,  reptiles,  fishes,  insects,  Crustacea,  mollusks,  and 
even  the  lowest  kinds  of  animal  life  need  more  attention;  and  we  have  not 


14  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

the  least  doubt  that  their  study  would  add  to  the  wealth  of  the  State 
three  dollars  for  every  one  judiciously  expended  in  this  work. 

A  number  of  committees,  each  headed  by  an  enthusiastic  and  persistent 
naturalist  should  begin  to  make  plans  for  the  future,  and  then  we  need 
means  from  the  State  to  print  and  illustrate  these  reports  and  papers. 
We  must  remember  that  nothing  of  importance  can  be  accomplished 
without  labor. 

I  congratulate  you  as  members  of  an  organization  which  has  no  lack  of 
interesting  and  useful  work  to  perform. 


PRACTICAL  BENEFITS  OF  BACTERIOLOGY. 

FREDERICK    G.    NOVY,    ANN   ARBOR. 
(Read  before  the  Academy  December  26,  1894.) 

Within  a  comparatively  short  period  of  time,  perhaps  15  years,  the  field 
of  knowledge  has  been  enlarged  by  a  new  science — bacteriology.  The 
study  of  bacteria,  as  such,  may  possess  a  great  deal  of  interest  to  the 
microscopist  and  botanist  yet  it  is  safe  to  say  that  without  the  recognition 
of  the  extraordinary  significance  of  these  organisms  this  sudden  and 
remarkable  evolution  of  the  science  would  be  impossible.  Bacteria  had 
been  known  and  studied,  more  or  less,  for  a  hundred  years  and  more,  yet 
the  impulse  from  the  practical  side  was  necessary  to  attract  at  once 
scores  and  even  hundreds  of  investigators  into  the  field.  We  may  not 
inaptly  compare,  so  far  as  development  is  concerned,  bacteriology  with 
electricity.  Electricity  had  been  known  for  more  than  a  century,  but  it 
required  an  Edison  and  a  Bell  to  develop  its  practical  side  just  as 
bacteriology  required  a  Pasteur  and  a  Koch.  It  is  well  known  what 
electricity  has  done,  but  is  it  known  what  has  been  accomplished  by  and 
through  bacteriology? 

To  obtain  a  correct  impression  of  the  results  of  bacteriology  it  is  neces- 
sary to  begin  with  the  pioneer  work  of  Pasteur,  nearly  40  years  ago.  At 
that  time  fermentation  was  explained  by  the  great  German  chemist 
Liebig  as  a  purely  chemical  phenomenon.  Pasteur  as  a  chemist  was  led 
to  question  this  explanation  and  in  a  series  of  elaborate  experiments 
effectually  disproved  this  view  and  firmly  established  the  relation  of  cer- 
tain microscopic  organisms  to  fermentation  and  putrefaction.  The 
chemical  theory  of  fermentation  of  Liebig  was  forced  to  give  way  before 
incontrovertible  evidence  and  facts  to  the  vitalistic  theory  of  Pasteur. 
Today  we  no  longer  speak  of  the  vitalistic  theory  for  it  has  ceased  to  be  a 
theory.  No  series  of  facts  in  chemistry  or  in  physics  can  be  said  to  be 
more  clearly  proven  than  the  relationship  of  bacteria,  yeast,  etc.,  to 
fermentation  and  putrefaction.  This  indeed,  has  greater  significance  than 
may  at  first  appear.  Fermentation  and  putrefaction,  the  decomposition 
of  vegetable  and  animal  matter,  is  carried  on  constantly  on  the  earth's 
surface.  Without  this  decomposition,  the  nitrogen  of  the  proteid  molecule 
and  the  carbon  of  the  carbohydrate  and  proteid  molecule  would  be  as 
useless  to  new  plant  life  as  the  C02  stored  away  in  the  vast  deposits  of 
limestone  within  the  earth's  crust.     Through  the  agency  of  the  minute 


NOVY    ON     BENEFITS     OP    BACTERIOLOGY.  15 

single-celled  organism,  the  chief  representative  of  which  are  the  bacteria, 
these  complex  dead  molecules  are  split  up  in  CO.,  HN02,  HNOs,  and  other 
products  which  are  then  utilized  by  new  life.  The  law  of  conservation 
of  energy  and  of  matter  finds  its  parallel  in  conservation  of  life. 
Decay  and  putrefaction  from  this  standpoint  is  not,  as  Pasteur  has 
pointed  out,  a  phenomenon  of  death  so  much  as  a  phenomenon  of  life. 

The  relation  of  bacteria  to  fermentation  is  of  the  greatest  practical 
importance.  Many  of  the  products  to  which  they  give  rise  are  directly 
utilized  by  man.  In  this  sense  bacteria  are  directty  beneficial — a  fact 
which  is  too  often  lost  sight  of  and  indeed  overshadowed  by  the  in- 
jurious action  of  some  forms  of  bacteria  on  man  and  animals.  To  illus- 
trate what  great  practical  and  industrial  importance  is  attached  to  cer- 
tain microorganisms  we  may  mention  the  yeast  plant.  All  the  alcohol  of 
commerce  is  derived  by  fermentation  induced  by  the  yeast  cell.  Practi- 
cally all  the  acetic  acid,  that  is  vinegar,  is  obtained  through  the  fermen- 
tative action  of  bacteria  on  alcohol.  Other  substances  such  as  lactic  acid, 
butyric  acid,  etc.,  are  obtained  from  the  same  source.  The  vast  deposits 
of  soda  saltpetre  in  South  America  and  the  saltpetre  of  India  owe  their 
origin  unquestionably  to  the  industrious  bacterial  cell. 

Bacterial  decompositions  or  fermentations  occur  to  a  large  extent 
among  certain  foods.  Indeed  many  articles  of  food,  such  as  cheese, 
butter,  koumiss,  etc.,  owe  their  special  flavors  and  characteristics 
largely  to  the  fermentation  changes  which  have  taken  place.  The  study 
of  bacteria  has  further  shown  that  many  foods,  as  meat,  milk,  cheese,  etc.. 
may  take  on  poisonous  properties,  the  result  of  the  formation  of  poisons 
within  the  food  by  the  special  bacteria  which  have  been  introduced  and 
have  developed  therein.  Some  of  these  bacterial  poisons,  especially  those 
which  are  basic  in  character,  and  thus  chemically  closely  allied  to  the 
vegetable  alkaloids,  are  of  great  practical  importance  in  legal  medicine. 
In  their  chemical  reactions  they  may  easily  be  mistaken  for  poisonous 
alkaloids  and  thus  lead  to  the  conviction  of  otherwise  innocent  persons. 
That  such  fatal  mistakes  have  been  committed  is  perhaps  only  too  true. 
The  lessons  that  have  been  gained  by  experience  and  through  the  labors 
of  Selmi  are  now  so  well  recognized  that  it  is  no  longer  an  easy  matter 
to  secure  conviction  in  such  well  known  poisonings  as  strychine,  mor- 
phine, etc. 

That  which  has  brought  bacteria  most  into  •  prominence  is  un- 
questionably their  relation  to  disease.  Ever  since  the  discovery  of  the 
microscope  there  have  been  bold  thinkers  who  did  not  hesitate  to  declare 
that  communicable  diseases  as  syphilis,  smallpox,  etc..  were  due  to  living 
forms.  The  germ  theory  of  disease,  which  may  be  said  to  have  been  born 
in  the  mind  of  Kireher  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago.  has  after  a  ser- 
ies of  remarkable  vicissitudes  become  firmly  established.  A  theory  ceases 
to  be  a  theory  when  facts  have  been  accumulated  and  proofs  furnished. 
This  has  been  done  with  a  large  number  of  infectious  diseases,  so  that 
today,  to  speak  of  the  germ  theory  of  disease  is  to  confess  a  lack  of  famil- 
iarity and  a  lack  of  knowledge  of  the  growth  of  one  of  the  most  important 
branches  of  medicine.  The  germ  theory  is  a  thing  of  the  past.  Bacteria 
and  other  organisms  are  the  causes  of  infectious  disease.  This  has  been 
proven  as  clearly  as  any  demonstration  ran  be  made.  We  do  not  theorize 
when  we  state  that  arsenic,  strychine,  morphine  and  similar  chemical 


16  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

compounds  are  poisonous.  Neither  do  we  theorize  when  we  say  that 
the  anthrax  bacillus  produces  anthrax,  the  tetanus  bacillus  tetanus,' 
the  glanders  bacillus  glanders,  the  hog  cholera  bacillus  hog  cholera, 
or  the  tubercle  bacillus  tuberculosis.  These  and  others  have  been  proven 
to  produce  these  diseases,  not  once,  but  hundreds  and  thousands  of  times. 
Every  student  in  a  bacteriological  laboratory  becomes  personally  ac- 
quainted with  these  disease  producing  organisms  and  with  their  action 
in  the  animal  body. 

In  order  to  prove  that  an  organism  is  the  cause  of  a  given  disease,  it 
is  necessary  to  comply  with  certain  requirements. 

Briefly  stated,  these  are  as  follows:  First,  the  specific  organism 
must  be  present  in  every  case.  Merely  to  be  present  does  not  prove  that 
it  is  the  cause  as  it  may  be  an  accompaniment  or  a  consequent  of  the 
disease — a.  possibility,  which,  though  extremely  improbable,  must  never- 
theless be  conceded.  Secondly,  this  specific  organism  must  be 
isolated  in  a  perfectly  pure  form,  free  from  all  other  organisms  and 
foreign  substances.  In  other  words  a  pure  culture  must  be  obtained,  just 
as  the  chemist  before  applying  his  final  tests,  isolates  the  substance  in 
a  condition  of  chemical  purity.  Thirdly,  the  pure  culture  of  the  organism 
when  properly  introduced  into  a  susceptible  animal  must  produce  the 
disease. 

If  these  requirements  are  satisfied  it  is  evident  that  there  is  no  escape 
from  the  conclusion  that  that  special  organism  is  the  cause  of  that  dis- 
ease. Demonstrations  of  this  kind  have  been  furnished  in  a  very  large 
number  of  diseases  of  man,  of  animals  and  even  of  plants.  Anthrax  in 
cattle  and  in  man  was  the  first  disease  shown  to  be  due  to  bacterial  origin. 
And  it  may  be  perhaps  of  interest  to  add  that  the  last  disease  which  has 
been  proven  to  be  due  to  bacteria  is  the  recent  plague  in  China,  which 
is  the  same  as  the  plague  which  devastated  Europe  in  the  pre- 
ceding centuries  under  the  name  of  black  death.  This  interesting 
demonstration  has  been  simultaneously  and  independently  achieved  by 
Yersin  of  Paris  and  Kitasato  of  Tokio. 

The  fact  that  bacteria  produce  disease  is  unquestionably  an  important 
one.  But  of  much  greater  significance  to  man  are  the  results  which 
necessarily  follow.  As  long  as  such  diseases  as  cholera,  typhoid  fever, 
tuberculosis,  diphtheria  were  supposed  to  hSve  some  obscure  ill  defined 
cause,  it  was  well  nigh  impossible  to  successfully  combat  these  diseases. 
With  the  demonstration  that  bacteria  are  the  cause  is  furnished  some- 
thing that  is  definite  and  tangible. 

These  organisms  can  now  be  isolated  and  artificially  grown  and  their 
weak  points,  so  to  speak,  readily  ascertained.  In  this  way  it  becomes  pos- 
sible to  establish  a  rational  method  of  prevention  of  the  communicable 
diseases.  The  great  advances  which  have  taken  place  in  sanitary  sci- 
ence during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  are  directly  the  outcome  of  the 
study  of  bacteria.  Thousands  of  lives  have  been  saved  through  the  facts 
disclosed  by  the  investigation  of  these  organisms.  The  scientific  pre- 
vention of  disease  can  be  seen  nowhere  as  well  as  in  brilliant  achieve- 
ments of  surgery. 

To  Joseph  Lister  is  due  the  credit  of  having  utilized  the  facts  gathered 
by  Pasteur  on  fermentations,  and  of  having  applied  these  facts  to  surgery, 
long  before  a  single  germ  was  actually  proven  to  be  the  cause  of  a  disease. 


NOVY    ON     BENEFITS    OF    BACTERIOLOGY.  17 

Antiseptic  and  aseptic  surgery  is  the  pride  of  medicine,  since  the  prin- 
ciples laid  down  by  Lister,  extended  and  widened  by  more  recent  investi- 
gations on  bacteria  have  enabled  the  surgeon  to  accomplish  results  and 
to  save  life  to  a  degree  which  otherwise  would  be  impossible. 

Another  name  must  not  be  forgotten  in  this  connection.  Indeed 
it  cannot  be  forgotten,  for  wherever  there  is  a  mother,  consciously 
or  unconsciously  she  must  render  her  grateful  thanks  to  that 
benefactor  of  womankind  and  of  the  entire  human  race,  who  devoted 
the  best  years  of  his  life  to  free  woman  from  the  unnecessary  dangers 
of  childbirth.  At  the  recent  International  Congress  of  Hygiene,  held  in 
Budapest  last  September,  a  monument  was  erected  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  and  works  of  Ignatius  Semmelweiss. 

In  the  antiseptic  methods  of  prevention  of  infectious  diseases  which 
have  been  alluded  to,  the  attempt  is  made  to  prevent  the  disease  by 
removing  the  causative  organism  through  rigid  cleanliness  or  by  prevent- 
ing the  growth  of  the  organism,  or  actually  destroying  it  by  means  of 
chemical  substances  or  germicides.  A  knowledge  of  the  means  whereby 
bacteria  can  be  destroyed  is  of  the  greatest  practical  benefit  to  every 
person.  It  is  clear  that  if  the  organisms  can  be  prevented  from  growing 
in  the  body  the  disease  cannot  originate.  Quarantine  or  isolation  and  dis- 
infection have  these  objects  in  view.  The  results  thus  obtained  in  pre- 
venting the  spread  of  infectious  diseases  are  only  too  well  known. 

Many  of  the  communicable  diseases  may  be  prevented  by  other  means 
than  those  outlined.  It  is  a  matter  of  experience  that  frequently  one 
attack  of  a  disease  prevents  against  a  second  attack.  This  fact  was 
recognized  3,000  years  ago  by  the  Chinese  and  utilized  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  smallpox.  Variolation  as  practiced  in  the  far  East  was  intro- 
duced into  western  Europe  not  quite  200  years  ago.  This  method  of  insur- 
ing protection  against  the  disease  was  replaced  a  hundred  years  ago  by  the 
safer  and  equally  efficacious  method  of  vaccination  of  Jenner.  We  do  not 
even  now  at  the  close  of  the  19th  century  know  what  the  cause  of 
smallpox  is,  yet  we  are  in  possession  of  a  perfect  means  to  prevent  this 
dreaded  scourge.  Vaccination  prevents  the  disease  from  developing 
within  the  body.    It  confers  immunity  or  freedom  from  that  disease. 

The  principle  of  vaccination  was  not  extended  until  14  years  ago,  when 
Pasteur  in  his  study  of  the  germ  of  chicken  cholera,  observed  that  after 
a  time  it  lost  its  virulence,  that  it  became  weakened.  The  genius  within 
the  man  at  once  indicated  the  practical  application  of  this  fact. 
Vaccination  with  cowpox  protects  against  smallpox  and  this  was  as- 
sumed to  be  due  to  the  fact  that  cowpox  was  a  modified  or  weakened 
form  of  smallpox.  Acting  on  this  assumption,  Pasteur  attempted  to 
vaccinate  animals  against  chicken  cholera  by  first  inoculating  them 
with  the  weakened  culture  of  the  chicken  cholera  bacillus.  In  this  he 
was  successful  and  perfect  immunity  to  the  disease  was  obtained.  Means 
were  discovered  by  Pasteur  for  weakening  or  attenuating  other  disease 
organisms  and  in  this  way  successful  vaccinations  were  made  in  animals 
against  anthrax,  symptomatic  anthrax,  malignant  oedema,  hog  erysipelas 
etc.  Since  then  the  chemical  products  of  these  organisms  have  been 
employed  with  equally  successful  results  in  inducing  immunity  to 
disease.  The  means  which  are  now  known  for  producing  immunity  in 
animals  against  infectious  diseases  are  almost  too  numerous  to  mention. 
3 


18  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

The  fact  however  is  established  that  artificial  immunity  to  disease  may 
be  produced  in  animals  against  a  large  number  of  infectious  diseases. 

Practical  methods  of  vaccination  against  certain  animal  diseases  have 
been  perfected  by  Pasteur  and  his  pupils.  This  is  notably  true  in  chicken 
cholera,  hog  erysipelas  and  in  anthrax.  This  principle  has  not  bc<m 
extended  to  man  unless  we  include  under  this  head  the  last  great  work 
of  Pasteur  on  the  prevention  of  hydrophobia.  We  have  but  to  look  over 
the  30  years  of  constant  work  devoted  by  Pasteur  to  the  study  of  bacteria 
in  order  to  appreciate  the  incalculable  benefits  which  have  been  con- 
ferred on  science  and  on  humanity  by  this  master. 

The  prevention  of  hydrophobia  in  persons  bitten  by  mad  animals  is 
the  crowning  achievement  of  a  long  life's  work.  The  names  of  Jenner 
and  of  Pasteur  will  endure  as  long  as  science  itself,  as  long  as  there  are 
men  willing  to  search  for  truth. 

The  prevention  of  the  spread  of  infectious  diseases  is  without  doubt 
one  of  the  greatest  and  most  fruitful  results  of  the  age.  But  the 
bacteriologist  cannot  and  must  not  stop  at  this  point.  The  rational 
treatment  of  the  disease  itself  claims  his  attention.  A  few  years  ago  a 
distinguished  physician  gave  utterance  to  the  statement  that  the  study 
of  bacteria  as  causes  of  disease,  though  interesting  in  itself,  could  not 
furnish  any  means  to  treat  such  diseases.  Today,  it  is  otherwise.  The 
bacteriologist  has  already  entered  upon  the  cure  of  infectious  diseases 
and  even  now  two  diseases  have  been  robbed  largely  of  their  dreaded 
character.  These  are  tetanus  and  diphtheria.  The  blood  serum  therapy 
which  has  been  developed  and  perfected  by  Behring,  Kitasato,  Boux 
Tizzoni  and  others  marks  the  dawn  of  a  newT  era.  The  brilliant  results 
in  curing  tetanus  and  especially  diphtheria  in  man  will  prove  all  the 
more  an  incentive  to  the  further  study  of  these  and  other  diseases. 

Such  are  some  of  the  practical  results,  accomplished  by  bacteriology. 
To  utilize  those  organisms  which  are  useful  to  man  and  to  destroy  those 
which  are  injurious,  either  before  or  after  they  secure  an  entrance  into 
the  body  of  men  and  animals,  constitutes  in  brief  the  line  along  which 
incalculable  benefits  will  accrue  to  man. 

I  cannot  close  this  necessarily  brief  paper  without  a  plea  for  the  intro- 
duction of  the  study  of  bacteria  into  our  lower  schools.  Education  must 
extend  from  below  upwards  and  it  is  time  that  such  a  beginning  be  made 
in  the  study  of  bacteria.  I  would  not  ask,  at  least  for  the  present,  that 
a  special  course  be  given  to  this  subject,  but  I  would  ask  that  classes  in 
botany  be  instructed  as  to  the  nature  of  bacteria  and  their  role  in 
nature  and  in  disease;  that  the  classes  in  hygiene  or  in  physiology 
become  acquainted  with  the  principal  infectious  diseases  and  their  pre- 
vention. As  matters  now  stand  only  the  favored  few  in  universities 
and  in  medical  colleges  become  acquainted  wTith  the  facts  that  are  of 
vital  importance  to  all.  The  mass  of  the  people  can  never  be  reached 
in  this  way.  It  is  well  to  teach  children  the  antidotes  for  poisons,  what 
to  do  in  case  of  accident,  drowning,  etc.,  the  evils  of  tobacco  and  of 
alcohol.  Why  should  not  the  most  deadly  foe  of  man  receive  a  like 
attention? 

Hygienic  Laboratory,  University  of  Michigan. 


THE  GREAT  SEAL  AND  COAT  OF  ARMS  OF  MICHIGAN. 

BY   W.    J.    BEAL.  i 

,  (Read  before  the  Academy  December  26,   1894.) 

The  design  for  the  great  seal  of  the  state  of  Michigan  was  presented 
by  the  Hon.  Lewis  Cass  to  the  convention  which  framed  the  first  constitu- 
tion for  the  state,  in  session  at  the  city  of  Detroit,  on  the  second  day  of 
June,  1835,  and  was  afterwards  adopted  on  June  22,  1835.  In  one  of  the 
rooms  of  the  secretary  of  state  is  now  a  design  in  lead  pencil.  The  draw- 
ing is  rather  dim,  but  most  interesting.  There  is  also  in  the  same  office  a 
description  of  the  great  seal,  which  reads  as  follows: 

"A  shield  shall  be  represented  on  which  shall  be  exhibited  a  peninsula, 
extending  into  a  lake,  with  the  sun  rising,  and  man  standing  on  the  penin- 
sula with  a  gun  in  his  hand.  On  the  top  of  the  shield  will  be  the  word 
'Tuebor,'  and  underneath  in  a  scroll  will  be  the  words.  'Si  quaeris  peninsu- 
lam  amoenam  eircumspiee.'  There  will  be  a  supporter  on  each  side  of 
the  shield,  one  of  which  will  represent  a  moose  and  the  other  an  elk. 
Over  the  whole,  on  a  crest,  will  be  the  eagle  of  the  United  States  with  the 
motto,  'E  pluribus  unum.'  Around  will  be  the  words,  'Great  seal  of  the 
state  of  Michigan,  A.  D.  MDCCCXXXV.'  " 

There  is  also  there  preserved  a  letter  from  the  president  of  the  conven- 
tion, which  reads  as  follows: 

"  Detroit,  June  24,  1835. 
"To  the  secretary  of  the  territory  of  Michigan: 

"In  conformity  with  the  following  clause  in  the  constitution  adopted 
by  the  convention  now  in  session,  I  transmit  you  the  within  description 
and  accompanying  device  for  deposit  in  your  office,  hereby  certifying  that 
they  are  the  papers  to  which  reference  is  made  in  the  said  clause,  viz: 

"  'A  great  seal  for  the  state  shall  be  provided  by  the  governor,  which 
shall  contain  the  device  and  inscription  represented  and  described  in  the 
papers  relating  thereto,  signed  by  the  president  of  the  convention  and 
deposited  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  the  territory." 

JOHN  RIDDLE, 
"President  of  the  Convention." 

I  have  been  interested  in  looking  over  various  editions  of  the  Legislative 
Manual  and  numerous  state  reports,  letter  heads,  encyclopedias,  histories, 
geographies,  etc.,  which  contain  various  caricatures  of  the  design  adopted. 
In  the  original  the  eagle  looks  very  well  and  life-like,  with  his  wings 
spread  and  the  tips  turned  downward.  #Lt  the  left,  as  we  look  at  the 
design,  is  the  elk,  with  the  neck- arched  more  than  it  should  be  to  repre- 
sent nature;  at  the  right  stands  the  moose,  with  arched  neck,  a  very  slight 
crest  along  the  middle  of  the  neck  and  shoulders,  but  nothing  like  the 
shaggy  mane  as  shown  in  recent  cuts  that  are  used  in  various  reports. 
The  horns  are  broad,  much  like  those  of  a  moose,  the  forehead  is  too  much 
curved  or  dished,  the  nose  slants  off  somewhat  abruptly,  like  a  blunt 
chisel  sharpened  on  one  edge,  instead  of  the  true  round,  blunt  apex  as  the 


20 


MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF     SCIENCE. 


There  is  a  small  goalee  and 


a  very  short,  spike  of  a 


animal  wears  it. 
tail. 

The  first  design  of  the  coat  of  arms  as  used  in  the  public  laws  of  Michi- 
gan appears  in  1839,  and  continues  to  1ST2,  inclusive.  In  this  (shown  in 
Fig.  1)  the  moose  stands  at  the  left  instead  of  at  the  right,  and  under  him 
and  beyond  may  be  seen  part  of  a  train  of  short  cars,  and  under  the  elk  a 
plain  steamboat.  The  eagle  is  spreading  his  wings  in  a  graceful  position 
as  though  just  about  to  fly.     The  moose  has  a  narrow  nose  much  like  that 


Fig.  1. 

of  the  elk,  and  a  shaggy  neck  considerably  resembling  the  neck  of  a  long- 
haired dog  which  had  been  closely  sheared  from  the  rear  to  the  shoulders. 
In  1870,  in  some  state  reports,  there  is  a  change  (as  shown  in  Fig.  2.) 
The  shield  is  shorter  and  broader,  the  eagle  has  risen  above  it,  but  still 
clings  to  his  arrows;  and  now  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  the  moose  from 
the  elk,  and  both  resemble  bucks  more  nearly  than  an  elk.  On  the  left  a 
man  seems  to  be  picking  into  a  mine,  on  the  right  the  boat  has  arrived. 
This  boat  is  modified  in  style,  when  compared  with  the  one  above  figured, 
having  a  mast  as  well  as  a  smoke  stack.  The  design  was  for  a  long  time 
'  used  as  a  part  of  the  heading  of  the  Lansing  Republican. 


Fig.  2. 

In  1879,  while  the  Hon.  C.  *.  Gower  was  superintendent  of  public  in- 
struction, another  design  was  used  in  his'report — (Fig.  3).  Great  changes 
appear.  The  elk  and  the  moose  with  sharp  noses  and  smooth  shoulders 
becoming  tired  of  standing  on  their  hind  legs  all  these  years,  drop  down 
onto  all  fours,  waltzing  around  or  one  chasing  the  other,  till  they  finally 
stop  with  the  moose  to  the  right  of  the  shield.  The  eagle  was  evidently 
frightened  at  this  and  raised,  extending  his  wings  considerable,  perhaps 
fearing  the  shield  would  tip  over  for  lack  of  support.  The  railway  train 
is  of  a  different  type  and  is  close  onto  the  heels  of  the  moose.     Farther 


BEAL    ON     MICHIGAN    COAT     OF    ARMS. 


21 


back  are  a  bouse  and  a  bain,  and  in  front  a  man  plowing,  and  near  the 
railroad  a  telegraph  line  is  seen.  On  the  left  appears  to  be  a  factory  of 
some  kind,  perhaps  a  sawmill. 

In  1880  ias  shown  by  Fig.  4)  there  is  another  change;  the  eagle  has 
alighted  on  the  shield,  but  the  tips  of  his  wings  point  up  in  a  strained 
position  against  the  strip  which  holds  the  motto,  "E  pluribus  unum."  The 
cars  and  telegraph  have  left  all  traces  of  existence,  the  steam  boat  has  de- 
parted; the  house  and  factory  have  been  swept  away;  the  ydowman  has 


Fig.  d. 


probably  goue  to  dinner;  the  sun  shines  more  brightly;  the  moose  has 
again  found  his  own  horns,  which  look  as  though  they  were  stuck  on  the 
head  of  a  calf;  the  shaggy  mane  has  been  toned  down,  and  here  we  have 
the  fourth  form  of  the  shield  that  has  appeared.  The  moose  and  elk 
having  taken  a  rest  for  two  or  three  years  have  again  reared  on  their  hind 
feet  and  support  the  shield  in  a  graceful  manner. 

In  1883-84  there  are  again  signs  of  a  great  commotion.     (See  Fig.  5.) 
Gov.  Begole  comes  into  office.     The  rays  of  an  imaginary  sun  concealed  by 


Fig.  4. 


the  shield,  flash  far  up  into  the  sky  beyond  the  shield,  and  a  great  cloud 
of  dust  or  smoke  appears  on  each  side  back  of  the  elk  and  moose.  The 
rays  of  the  visible  sun  rising  from  the  distant  lake  are  not  parallel  with 
the  rays  emanating  from  back  of  the  shield.  The  moose  has  changed  his 
head  and  again  has  found  his  shaggy  neck.  The  eagle  is  the  same  as 
on  the  former  design.  In  all  these  changes  the  latin  mottoes  are  not 
disturbed. 

At  the  top  of  some  of  the  paper  now  and  for  some  years  used  by  the 


22 


MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF     SCIENCE. 


executive  department  is  what  is  called  a  fac  simile  of  the  great  seal  of 
Michigan.  The  eagle  rests  on  the  top  of  the  shield,  with  wings  raised  in 
a  frightful  and  unnatural  position,  the  tips  apparently  supporting  the 
motto  above.  The  elk  looks  reasonably  well,  excepting  the  conspicuous 
growth  of  long,  shaggy  hair  all  about  the  neck,  quite  in  contrast  with 
the  smooth  head  and  body.  The  head  of  the  moose  is  too  much  like  the 
head  of  the  elk,  the  neck  and  shoulders  are  shaggy  and  unnatural.     Back 


Fig.  5. 

of  the  last  two  animals  named  are  clouds  of  smoke,  dust,  or  mist.  On 
the  shield  is  the  man  with  a  gun  standing  on  a  peninsula.  The  gun  has 
a  bayonet  attached.  Neither  on  the  shield  nor  outside  of  it  are  there  any 
other  signs  of  animal  or  plant  life,  save  those  just  mentioned,  nor  of  art, 
save  the  mottoes  and  the  arrows  in  the  possession  of  the  eagle. 

One  of  the  letter  heads  now  in  use  (Fig.  G)  contains  another  design  here 
exhibited.  The  eagle  has  dropped  his  wings;  the  strip  containing  the 
motto  takes  a  bend  under  his  neck.     The  rays  of  a  second  sun  flash  up 


Fig.  6. 


back  of  the  eagle,  the  other  sun  just  rising  above  the  water  on  the  shield. 
The  shield  is  of  a  different  design  from  any  of  the  others.  Excepting 
the  slight  difference  in  the  horns,  the  moose  is  essentially  the  same  as  the 
elk.  The  train  of  cars  and  a  steamboat  reappear,  with  some  changes. 
The  moose  and  the  elk  stand  on  piles  of  small  stones,  clouds  appearing  on 
either  side.  Near  the  man  on  the  peninsula  stands  a  flag  pole  bearing  the 
stars  and  stripes  and  a  tent  of  modern  design.     The  great  seal  of  Michi- 


BBAL    ON     MICHIGAN    COAT    OF    ARMS. 


23 


gan,  as  used  iu  1870  or  thereabouts  was  much  more  like  the  original  de- 
sign than  the  one  used  at  present. 

In  the  legislative  manual  for  1885  and  for  several  years  after  there  is 
apparentlv  a  copy  of  the  state  seal  as  now  used.  Near  the  margin  are 
the  letters,  "Great  seal  of  the  state  of  Michigan,  A.  D.  MDCOCXXXY." 

The  eagle  is  slightly  changed  from  the  one  last  described,  this  one  hav- 
ing on  the  head  two  slight  horns  pointing  backward.  Altogether,  when 
carefully  viewed  with  a  lens,  it  is  a  very  clumsy  bird.  The  man  on  the 
peninsula  has  again  changed  his  clothes,  the  bayonet  has  been  removed 
from  the  gun.  The  elk  is  very  good,  having  very  little  indication  of  long 
hair  about  the  neck.  The  moose  has  a  rather  broader  nose,  the  hair  on 
the  neck  and  shoulders  is  quite  long  and  wavy.     Except  the  shield,  the 


eagle,  moose  and  elk  and  the  strips  containing  the  mottoes,  the  ground 
work  is  all  plain,  consisting  of  fine  parallel  lines. 

I  have  by  no  means  exhausted  the  deviations  from  the  original  drawing 
at  first  described,  but  have  shown  that  no  two  of  them  are  alike  in  some 
rather  important  particulars.  It  seems  as  though  the  engraver  of  each 
new  plate  for  a  state  coat  of  arms  or  state  seal  had  tried  to  exhibit  some 
originality  in  his  work  as  others  have  in  making  innumerable  representa- 
tions, of  Uncle  Sam. 

Perhaps  it  makes  little  difference  how  many  styles  we  have — we  live  in 
an  age  of  fashion — but  some  day,  I  doubt  not,  some  careful  person  will 
revise  the  figures  of  our  state  seal  and  we  shall  have  an  improvement  on 
any  yet  made.  There  could  certainly  be  nothinng  to  criticise,  were  the 
drawings  good  and  true  to  life  of  a  perfect  eagle,  a  handsome  elk,  and  a 
will-proportioned  moose.  In  case  no  one  else  undertake  the  job,  it  would 
not  be  a  bad  scheme  for  this  society  in  its  printed  transactions  to  have  a 
design  made  which  should  be  a  credit  to  its  members  by  exhibiting  the 
eagle,  the  elk,  and  the  moose  as  well-developed  animals,  all  in  graceful 
positions. 


THE  FLORA  OF  MICHIGAN  LAKES. 

CHARLES  A.   DAVIS,   ALMA. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,   December  27,  1S94.) 

With  the  three  largest  great  lakes  practically  within  her  territory,  with 
a  fourth  lying  on  her  border  and  more  than  5,000  smaller  lakes  and  ponds 
scattered  over  her  surface,  Michigan  offers  exceptional  opportunities  for 
the  study  of  fresh  water  plants,  and  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  present  paper 
to  put  the  facts  already  known  relating  to  the  flora  of  our  lakes  into  such 
shape  that  they  will  be  available  for  future  use.  The  lakes  of  the  State 
exclusive  of  the  Great  Lakes  cover  an  area  of  1,225  square  miles,  or  more 
than  784,000  acres,  or  about  1-50  of  the  total  area  of  the  State,  and 
they  are  so  distributed  that  there  is  hardly  a  botanist  in  Michigan  who 
cannot  readily  reach  one  or  more  of  them. 

The  small  lakes,  particularly  those  of  the  Lower  Peninsula,  are  com- 
monly depressions  in  the  drift,  shallow  and  not  of  large  extent,  frequently 
partially  filled  in  around  the  margin  with  the  remains  of  former  genera- 
tions of. plants,  so  that  many  of  the  typical  features  of  lakes  of  hilly  or 
mountainous  regions  are  partly  supressed  or  entirely  wanting.  These 
lakes  belong  to  a  recent  geological  time  which  undoubtedly  accounts  for 
some  of  their  peculiarities.  By  far  the  larger  number  of  them  exhibit 
the  following  features:  A  small  sheet  of  water  of  roughly  elliptical 
shape  bordered  by  a  marshy  area  of  varying  width,  which  is  limited  on 
two  or  more  sides  by  low.  abruptly  sloping,  sandy  or  gravelly  hills.  The 
marshy  tract  is  frequently  wider  on  the  south  side  than  on  the  north,  and 
its  character  varies  from  a  quaking  bog  at  the  inner  margin  through  a 
sphagnous  zone  into  a  swamp  in  which  the  prevailing  trees  may  be  tama- 
rack, cedar,  or  spruce,  or  all  of  them.  The  plants  of  the  sphagnum  zone 
are  characteristically  those  of  the  boreal  life  zone  and  in  such  lake 
margins  we  find  northern  plants  reaching  their  southern  limits.  The 
quaking  bog  is  usually  a  lake  ward  extension  of  the  shore  plants  and  is  a 
closely  woven  turf  of  the  roots  and  rootstocks  of  various  species  of  Carex, 
Cyperus,  grasses  and  at  its  outer  margins,  sometimes  of  Typha  latifolium 
and  Sparganium  eurycarpum,  partly  resting,  partly  floating  on  a  bed  of 
loosely  coherent  vegetable  debris  into  which  the  unwary  investigator 
may  find  himself  sinking,  if  he  is  not  constantly  on  the  lookout  for  his 
footing.  In  the  larger  lakes  the  marshy  border  may  not  extend  entirely 
around  the  margin,  but  it  is  usually  noticeable  along  the  southern  shore 
where  it  may  be  of  considerable  extent,  while  the  rest  of  the  shore  is 
entirely  without  it.     Such  are  the  lakes. 

The  work  which  has  been  done  in  connection  with  the  flora  of  these 
bodies  of  water  has  been  of  a  decidedly  desultory  and  irregular  sort,  and 
the  published  accounts  of  such  work,  meager  and  largely  confined  to 
simple  lists  of  the  species  of  the  Metaspermae  found  growing  in  the  lakes 
which  have  been  visited  by  our  collectors.  Sometimes  these  lists  are 
accompanied  by  notes  relating  to  the  variations  of  some  of  the  species,  but 
usually  the  accounts  are  very  short.  A  notable  exception  is  the  work  done 
on  Lake  St.  Clair  in  1893,  by  the  Michigan  Fish  Commission  party  under 


DAVIS     ON    FLORA     OF    LAKES.  .  25 

Professor  Reighard  of  the  University  of  Michigan  to  which  attention  will 
be  called  later. 

Prof.  Charles  F.  Wheeler  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College  and 
Prof.  L.  H.  Bailey,  of  Cornell  University,  have  made  a  careful  examination 
of  the  Metasperniae  of  Pine  Lake,  near  Lansing,  and  with  most  satis- 
factory results,  adding  to  our  knowledge  of  the  geographical  distribution 
of  certain  rare  plants,  some  of  them  new  to  our  flora,  and  finding  the  lake 
an  exceptionally  rich  field,  about  fifty  species  of  aquatics  being  recorded 
from  it.  Rev.  E.  J.  Hill,  of  Engelwood,  111.,  has  made  a  careful  and 
systematic  study  of  the  plants  along  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  and  the 
adjacent  region,  and  of  the  Naidaceae  in  particular,  and  has  added  much 
to  our  knowledge  of  the  distribution  and  character  of  the  Michigan 
species  of  those  polymorphous  plants,  by  publishing  his  notes  relating  to 
them  from  time  to  time  in  the  botanical  periodicals.  Dr.  Thomas  Morong 
made  collecting  trips  into  Michigan  in  search  of  aquatic  plants,  the  re- 
sults of  which  are  embodied  in  his  monumental  work  on  the  North  Ameri- 
can Xaidaceae.  Dr.  D.  H.  Campbell  made  a  study  of  the  plants  of  the 
Detroit  River  in  1880.  Mr.  O.  A.  Farwell,  now  of  Detroit,  made  an  ex- 
tensive study  of  the  plants  of  Keweenaw  county,  including  the  aquatics, 
bringing  to  our  knowledge  among  other  interesting  species  the  Myriophyl- 
lum  which  now  bears  his  name.  Mr.  C.  K.  Dodge,  of  Port  Huron,  has 
collected  for  a  number  of  years  along  Lake  St.  Clair,  the  St.  Clair  River 
and  neighboring  waters  and  sends  me  a  considerable  list  of  species  of 
flowering  plants  which  he  has  found  in  those  bodies  of  water. 

Supt.  H.  T.  Blodgett,  of  Ludington,  has  made  some  study  of  the  flora 
of  Hamlin  Lake  in  Mason  county,  and  the  small  lakes  in  that  vicinity* 
which  prove  themselves  rich  in  aquatic  plants  by  the  species  which  he 
lias  found.  Messrs.  Beardslee  and  Kofoid  have  collected  in  various  parts 
of  less  settled  portions  of  the  Lower  Peninsula,  particularly  in  Cheboy- 
gan county;  and  Mr.  S.  H.  Camp,  of  Jackson,  has  made  limited  collections 
of  aquatics  in  the  course  of  general  collecting.  Mr.  G.  H.  Hicks,  Dr.  W. 
J.  Beal  and  doubtless  nearly  all  other  botanical  collectors  of  the  State 
should  be  added  to  the  list,  as  occasional  collectors  of  the  plants  of  our 
lakes  to  a  greater  or  less  extent. 

The  result  of  this  work  is  that  we  have  a  general  and  rather  diffuse 
knowledge  of  about  a  hundred  species  of  the  Metasperniae,  more  than 
half  of  which  it  is  safe  to  say  that  not  a  half  dozen  botanists  in  the  State 
would  recognize  at  sight,  if  he  found  them.  The  main  fact  that  we  know 
of  them  is  that  they  are  reported  to  occur  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
State,  in  some  cases,  augmented  by  the  less  perfect  knowledge  that  they 
occur  at  intervals  over  a  considerable  portion  of  it,  but  it  may  be  truth- 
fully said,  I  think,  that  there  our  knowledge  ends  in  the  case  of  the  most 
of  these  species.  The  work  done  has  been  largely  finding  and  recording 
species  and  there  it  has  ended. 

Such  work  has  a  decided  scientific  value  undoubtedly,  and  should  not 
be  underrated,  and  certainly  is  not  by  me,  but  with  only  our  catalogue  of 
names  we  surely  have  a  very  meager  and  unsatisfactory  knowledge  of  the 
plants  of  our  lakes.  A  careful  study  of  the  various  lists  of  plants  of  the 
State,  however,  brings  to  light  a  number  of  interesting  facts.  It  shows 
that  comparatively  few  of  our  lakes  have  been  even  visited  by  botanists, 
and  still  fewer  have  been  thoroughly  searched.  It  shows  that  several  of 
4 


26  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

the  aquatic  plants  are  known  but  from  a  single  station  or  from  two  or 
three  widely  distant  ones,  while  comparatively  few  are  known  from  a 
large  number  of  stations.  Lastly,  we  may  look  in  vain,  with  one  exception, 
for  contributions  of  any  sort  to  the  knowledge  of  the  myriad  forms  of 
Algae  and  other  groups  of  flowerless  plants  with  which  the  waters  of  our 
lakes  fairly  teem. 

It  is  evident  from  the  foregoing  considerations  that  the  botanists  of 
this  body  have  a  duty  to  perform,  and  as  we  shall  have  to  begin  at  the 
foundation,  let  us  look  at  the  field  from  various  standpoints.  In  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  flora  of  our  lakes  from  any  point  of  view,  we  shall  have  to 
place  the  four  great  lakes  in  a  group  by  themselves,  because  from  their 
great  size  and  depth  special  conditions  which  do  not  obtain  in  the  smaller- 
lakes,  have  to  be  considered  from  their  effect  on  plant  life.  It  is  also  well, 
at  the  beginning  of  any  subject  on  which  it  is  proposed  to  make  extended 
investigations,  to  establish  a  series  of  terms  whose  meaning  shall  be 
exactly  defined  and  strictly  limited  in  application,  so  that  there  shall  be 
no  confusion  as  the  work  progresses.  Therefore,  since  American  litera- 
ture contains  nothing  of  general  application  relating  to  the  plant  life  of 
fresh  water,  in  this  paper  I  propose  to  adopt  the  suggestions  of  Haeckel 
and  other  German  writers  in  regard  to  terminology,  for  the  German 
biologists  have,  with  characteristic  energy,  already  made  a  number  of 
studies  of  the  life  of  fresh  water  lakes.  Since  the  term  ""pelagic"  has 
already  been  applied  to  those  forms  of  plants  and  animals  which  are 
found  freely  floating  or  swimming  at  various  depths  in  the  open  ocean, 
it  is  suggested  by  Haeckel  that  similar  forms  in  our  fresh  water  lakes  be 
called  limnetic  and  that  they  be  divided  into  auto-limnetic,  zono-lim- 
netic,  and  bathy-limnetic  groups,  according  as  their  habitat  is  the  surface, 
intermediate  zones,  or  the  depths  of  the  lakes.  For  the  total  swimming 
and  floating  population  of  fresh  water  lakes  the  term  limno-plankton,  as 
opposed  to  halo-plankton  or  simply  plankton,  for  salt  water  forms.  The 
general  adoption  of  these  or  equivalent  terms  will  avoid  whatever  con- 
fusion might  arise  from  the  use  of  older  terms  heretofore  applied  to  salt 
water  life-forms.  These  terms  are  general,  applying  to  all  forms  of 
organisms.  These  living  organisms  are  animal  as  well  as  plant  and  in 
the  lower  orders  the  line  of  demarkation  is  faint  and  not  sharply  defined, 
but  it  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  distinction  between 
the  two  groups  here,  as  we  will  consider  those  forms  of  life  which  are 
ordinarily  called  plants  by  good  authority,  as  such,  leaving  disputed 
groups  to  be  classified  later.  If  botanists  had  adopted  the  use  of  the 
word  protophyta  to  apply  wholly  to  unicellular  plants,  it  would  have  been 
jiossible  to  adopt  Haeckel's  classification  dividing  all  plants  into  pro- 
tophyta and  metaphyta,  the  former  applying  wholly  to  one-celled  the 
latter  to  the  tissue  forming  forms,  but  at  present,  usage  is  opposed  to  such 
a  scheme.  For  our-  purpose  it  will  be  well  to  separate  the  visible  and 
larger  from  the  invisible  and  smaller  forms,  into  macroscopic  and  micro- 
scopic. The  macroscopic  plants  are  of  two  types,  the  amphibious  and  the 
truly  aquatic.  The  amphibious  plants  may  be  farther  subdivided  into 
those  forms  which  grow  habitually  in  the  water  on  the  edge  of  the  marshy 
border,  the  truly  littoral  forms,  and  those  which  grow  in  the  marsh  itself, 
and  are  capable  of  living  through  a  considerable  period  of  submergence 
during  their  growing  season,  the  palustrine  forms. 


DAVIS     ON    FLORA     OF     LAKES.  27 

The  true  aquatics  or  hydrophytes,  are  those  plants  which  grow  wholly 
submerged  or  with  but  a  small  portion  of  the  growing  apex  of  the  stem 
together  with  the  inflorescence,  emersed.  These  plants  are  usually  but 
lightly  rooted,  their  stems  and  leaves  are  filled  with  large  air  spaces  and 
in  the  exogens,  the  leaves  are  frequently  much  dissected  into  long  filamen- 
tous lobes.  In  the  endogens,  on  the  other  hand,  the  submerged  leaves  are 
commonly  entire  and  frequently  have  broad  blades.  The  line  separating 
these  two  divisions  is  not  a  very  sharp  one  as  many  of  the  species  which 
are  commonly  pure  aquatics  will  frequently  survive  for  long  periods  grow- 
ing on  muddy  or  sandy  banks  from  which  the  water  has  receded,  and  the 
amount  of  adaptation  to  the  changed  conditions  which  some  species  will 
show  in  these  circumstances  is  remarkable  and  suggestive.  The  aquatic 
plants  also  have  the  ability  to  survive  for  a  considerable  period  floating 
freely  in  the  water  and  undoubtedly  this  power  is  of  material  aid  to 
them  in  assisting  in  their  distribution  in  a  given  body  of  water. 

In  discussing  the  flora  of  Lake  St.  Clair  in  Bulletin  No.  2  of  the  Michi- 
gan Fish  Commission,  Mr.  Pieters  has  adopted  the  terminology  of  Magnin, 
whose  work  on  the  lakes  of  the  Jura  demonstrated  the  existence  of  a 
series  of  zones  in  the  littoral  and  aquatic  plants  of  that  region.  These 
zones,  which  Mr.  Pieters  found  more  or  less  well  marked  in  Lake  St.  Clair, 
are  limited  by  the  depth  of  the  water  in  which  they  lie  and  there  are 
certain  dominating  genera  of  plants  characterizing  each  zone.  The 
zones  of  Magnin  are  four  in  number;  1st.  A  littoral  zone  subdivided  into 
Phragmitetum  and  Scirpetum.  the  former  extending  to  a  depth  of  2-2-| 
meters,  the  latter  to  3  meters.  2d.  The  Nupharetum,  from  3  to  5  meters. 
3d.  The  Potamogetonetum  usually  extending  to  6  or  7  meters  ;  and  below 
8  meters,  4th.,  the  Characetum.  In  Lake  St.  Clair,  the  prominent 
plants  of  the  first  zone  are  Phragmites  communis  Trim,  Typha  latifolia, 
L.,  Acorns  Calamus  L.,  and  several  others.  Two  species  were  character- 
istic of  the  Scirpetum.  Scirpus  pungcns  Yahl.,  and  >S.  Lacustris  L.,  the 
latter  growing  in  the  deeper  water.  The  2d.  zone,  the  Nupharetum  was 
wanting,  Nuphar  adv&na  belonging  to  the  Phragmitetum,  but  the  third, 
the  Potamogetonetum,  characterized  by  the  true  aquatics,  was  well  de- 
fined, extending  into  water  from  3  to  7  meters  deep.  The  chief  plants  were 
various  species  of  Potamogeton,  the  most  common  being  P.  perfoliatus  L., 
which,  together  with  TaUisncria  spiralis  L.  was  abundant.  Beyond  this 
zone  and  covering  the  whole  bottom  of  the  lakes,  so  far  as  studied,  the 
Characetum  wras  found  in  which  various  species  of  Characeae  formed  the 
prevailing  vegetation.  These  plants  wrere  found  most  abundant  on  clay 
and  alluvial  bottoms,  much  less  so  on  sands.  Mr.  Pieters  also  points  out 
that  these  zones  were  not  well  defined  in  shallow  parts  of  the  lake  and 
where  the  bottom  sloped  very-  gradually. 

Professor  Beighard  in  Bulletin  No.  4  of  the  Michigan  Fish  Commission 
mentions  three  factors  which  may  influence  the  abundance  of  plant  life 
in  a  lake:  1st.  The  amount  of  plant  food  which  the  water  contains; 
2.  The  amount  of  shallow  water  in  the  lake;  3d.  The  transparency  of  the 
water.  I  would  add  a  fourth,  as  decidedly  influencing  the  number  of 
macroscopic  plants,  namely,  the  character  of  the  bottom  near  the  shore, 
sand  being  very  nearly  if  not  quite  barren,  while  alluvial  and  clay  deposits 
are  usually  richly  inhabited.  The  plants  of  all  of  Magnin's  zones  are 
more  or  less  influenced  by  these  conditions,  especially,  by  the  2d  and 


28  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

4th.     The  latter  fact  is  made  quite  clear  by  the  statement  of  Mr.  Pieters 
in  regard  to  the  Characetum. 

The  microscopic  plants  of  our  lakes  may  be  roughly  divided  into  two 
groups,  those  which  attach  themselves  to  plants  and  other  objects  in  the 
water  and  at  the  bottom,  and  those  which  freely  move  about.  Many  of  the 
larger  Algae,  such  as  Vaucheria,  etc.,  and  the  fixed  diatoms  belong  to  the 
first  and  desmids  furnish  examples  of  the  second  group.  By  microscopic 
plant  in  this  sense,  those  forms  requiring  the  use  of  the  compound  micro- 
scope for  determining  species  are  meant.  Our  knowledge  of  these  plants 
as  found  in  Michigan  waters  is  so  limited  that  but  little  more  can  be  said 
in  regard  to  them,  but  it  is  highly  probable  that  they  form  both  directly 
and  indirectly  an  important  factor  in  the  distribution  and  the  supply  of 
fish  in  our  lakes.  With  the  facts  above  presented  in  regard  to  Lake  St. 
Clair  in  view,  even  though  it  is  not  a  type  of  our  smaller  lakes,  it  will  be 
well  to  view  the  latter  and  see  what  bearing  they  may  have  in  a  general 
way  on  the  distribution  of  our  lake  plants.  To  any  one  who  has  visited  any 
number  of  the  lakes  which  dot  our  Lower  Peninsula,  it  will  be  easy  to 
recall  the  fact  that  in  the  deeper  ones  with  abruptly  sloping  bottoms,  the 
amount  of  visible  vegetation  is  small,  being  usually  limited  to  a  narrow 
zone  near  the  shore,  and  in  the  shallower  ones,  the  amount  is  larger,  the 
plants  extending  farther  out,  and  in  very  shallow  ones  covering  the  whole 
surface.  In  most  of  these  lakes,  if  not  all,  undoubtedly  careful  study  would 
reveal  a  certain  correspondence  in  the  essential  features  of  the  vertical 
distribution  of  the  macroscopic  plants,  mainly  dependent  on  the  width  of 
the  various  zones,  which  in  turn  would  be  found  to  depend  on  the  slope  of 
the  bottom.  The  species  predominating  in  one  lake  would  not  necessarily 
nor  likely  be  the  same,  as  it  is  frequently  the  case  that  one  species  will 
secure  the  entire  ground  available  to  the  type  in  a  lake  and  monopolize  the 
field  while  in  an  adjacent  lake  some  other  species  or  a  group  of  specie  will 
do  the  same.  Mr.  H.  T.  Blodgett  writes  me  that  in  one  small  lake  with  which 
he  is  acquainted  the  entire  surface  is  covered  with  I  tricularia  intermedia 
so  much  so  that  during  the  blooming  season  the  air  is  fragrant  with  its 
sweetness,  while  in  another  pond  connected  with  it,  the  much  rarer  L  tri- 
cularia purpurea,  is  the  exclusive  plant.  It  is  also  true  that  certain  species 
colonize  a  portion  of  the  shore  of  the  lake  and  will  not  be  found  except  in 
that  limited  area.  In  the  water  which  1  have  most  carefully  examined., 
a  mill  pond  made  by  damming  Pine  River,  and  consequently  a  shallow  and 
irregular  basin,  the  predominating  plants  of  the  macroscopic  flora,  are 
Elodea  Canadensis  in  the  shallowed  portions  and  Heteranthera  graminea 
in  the  deeper,  but  besides  these  there  are  at  least  nine  species  of  Pota- 
mogeton,  all  of  which  are  fairly  abundant,  but  more  or  less  in  colonies, 
each  species  growing  in  limited  areas  by  itself.  Ranunculus  circinatus  is 
very  common  also  in  large  patches,  as  is  Vallisneria  spiralis.  In  such  a 
pond  the  zones  in  larger  bodies  of  water  and  natural  lakes  could  not  be 
expected  to  be  well  defined,  as  the  bottom  is  very  irregular  and  the 
deepest  part  is  in  the  old  river  channel.  Still,  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact 
that  certain  species  are  restricted  to  the  deeper  water  and  that  the  littoral 
zone  is  fairly  well  marked  and  some  characteristic  species  are  abundant. 
In  this  zone  is  the  third  recorded  station  of  the  rare  hybrid  Carer 
lupulinax  retrorsa  Dudley. 

Let  us  now  consider  briefly  what  ought  to  be  done  to  redeem  the  reputa- 


DAVIS    ON    FLORA    OP    LAKES.  29 

tion  of  the  botanists  of.  Michigan  in  regard  to  this  field.  1st.:  Every 
effort  should  be  made  to  complete  the  filling  out  of  the  list  of  macroscopic 
species  and  to  work  out  the  limits  of  the  geographical  and  vertical 
distribution  of  each  form.  2nd.:  A  systematic  study  of  the  micro- 
scopic forms,  about  which  practically  nothing  is  known,  should  be  under- 
taken and  carried  out.  3d.:  The  biological  interrelations  of  plants  and 
animals  should  be  fully  worked  out,  for  the  problem  is  one  of  great  com- 
mercial as  well  as  scientific  interest,  for  Michigan  is  rapidly  becoming  the 
banner  summer  resort  of  this  whole  section  of  the  country,  and  her  lakes 
are  attracting  a  large  number  of  people  to  their  banks,  and  in  part,  the 
fish  of  the  lakes  form  the  attraction.  We  must  know  the  conditions  that 
are  most  favorable  to  animal  life  in  the  lakes  if  the  attraction  is  to  re- 
main a  permanent  one,  for  already  the  fish  population  of  most  of  them  is 
perceptibly  diminished.  4th.:  The  special  problems  of  distribution  and 
propagation  of  the  mascroscopic  aquatic  vegetation  are  well  worthy  of 
solution  and  form  an  attractive  field  for  investigation.  5th. :  Still  more  in- 
teresting, perhaps,  is  the  series  of  questions  suggested  by  the  special  forms 
of  leaf  and  stem  developed  by  the  submerged  aquatics  which  have  never 
been  looked  into  in  connection  with  American  species.  6th.:  The  study  of 
the  modifications  presented  by  the  flowers  of  aquatics  to  bring  about  cross 
fertilization,  and  to  prevent  blighting  by  wind  and  wave;  the  means  for 
encouraging  the  visits  of  insects  have  been  neglected  and  even  worse  in 
America  and  should  be  taken  up.  7th.:  The  various  physiological 
and  anatomical  changes  brought  about  by  the  peculiar  environment  of 
this  whole  group  of  plants  can  be  studied  to  advantage.  These  are  some, 
indeed  but  a  few,  of  the  problems  in  pressing  need  of  solution  in  connec- 
tion with  the  plants  of  our  smaller  lakes.  Shall  we  undertake  to  solve 
them?  One  question  suggests  itself  as  exceedingly  interesting  and  I 
would  invite  the  attention  of  the  systematic  botanists  to  it.  There  is  ft 
variety  of  species  of  flowering  plants  that  seem  to  prefer  the  cracks  of 
floating  logs  as  a  habitat.  In  it  they  invariably  take  a  depauperate  and 
starved  form  which  is  quite  characteristic  and  undoubtedly  a  number  of 
such  forms  could  be  made  into  variety  minors,  etc.,  that  would  stand 
criticism  quite  as  well  as  many  we  already  have.  The  problem  of  the 
flora  of  the  Great  Lakes  is  of  such  magnitude  and  importance  that  I 
hesitate  to  approach  it  with  my  present  lack  of  knowledge.  A  gentleman 
entirely  familiar  with  the  subject,  a  botanist  of  more  than  national  reputa- 
tion called  my  attention  to  the  fact  that  while  the  ocean,  bays  and  inlets 
and  even  the  exposed  coasts  teemed  with  vegetation,  the  great  lakes  were 
barren  of  it.  My  home  was  on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  I  would  modify  the 
above  statement  in  regard  to  the  ocean  by  adding  the  words,  ''except 
where  there  is  sand."  The  sand  coast  is  entirely  without  vegetation  and 
is  nearly  without  animals.  My  only  experience  along  the  Great  Lakes 
was  a  year  spent  in  Chicago,  where  I  noted  the  lack  of  visible  vegetation 
in  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan  at  that  point,  but  had  my  attention  repeat- 
edly called  to  the  fact  that  the  artificial  ponds  in  Jackson  Park,  which 
were  directlv  connected  with  the  lake  bv  a  wide  canal,  were  constantlv 
being  dredged  out  by  the  gardener  to  prevent  their  being  overgrown,  a 
fact  that  indicated  that  the  waters  of  the  lake  were  not  lacking  in  plant 
food.  Since  I  have  given  more  thought  to  the  matter  I  am  inclined  to 
ascribe  the  lack  of  littoral  vegetation  in  these  lakes  to  three  causes: 


30  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

1st.:  The  prevalence  of  sand  along  the  entire  shore  line,  which  prevents 
the  starting  and  growth  of  young  plants,  on  account  of  its  sterile  and 
movable  nature;  2nd.:  The  rapid  slope  of  the  bottom  in  most  places 
into  deep  water,  which  would  tend  to  make  the  littoral  zone  very  narrow, 
and  brings  it  into  the  part  of  the  shore  line  most  acted  on  by  waves;  3rd.: 
The  prevalence  of  swift  currents  and  strong  high  waves,  which  keep  the 
sand  in  motion  and  prevent  the  formation  of  shoals  of  finer  materials. 
That  there  is  a  flora  of  considerable  extent  in  Lake  Michigan  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  Mr.  L.  X.  Johnson  reports  finding  bushels  of  Nostoc  pruni- 
forme  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake  and  says  that  he  has  seen  it 
in  ridges  two  to  four  feet  wide  and  six  to  eight  inches  deep.  In  such 
shallow  estuaries  as  the  mouth  of  the  Saginaw  River  where  silt  is  de- 
posited in  abundance,  there  is  often  an  abundant  and  varied  flora.  The 
determination  and  study  of  the  plants  of  the  Great  Lakes  can  hardly  be 
undertaken  by  individuals,  but  must  be  done  largely  at  the  expense  of 
corporations  or  government  on  account  of  the  large  expense  involved  in 
properly  equipping  for  the  study. 

In  closing,  a  few  words  of  suggestion  in  regard  to  collecting  aquatic- 
plants  may  not  be  out  of  place.  If  a  boat  is  accessible  it  is  exceedingly 
useful  in  getting  about  on  the  water  to  be  investigated,  but  not  essential 
unless  the  lake  has  a  shallow  slowly  sloping  bottom.  Many  plants  can  be 
reached  from  the  shore  in  any  case  and  such  collecting  as  can  be  done  in 
this  way  is  often  satisfactory  as  to  results.  Some  form  of  dredge  is 
essential  and  can  be  made  by  fastening  a  series  of  hooks  into  a  lead  disk 
about  three  inches  in  diameter.  Through  this  an  iron  rod  5-16  of  an  inch 
in  diameter  and  about  a  foot  long,  bent  to  form  a  small  ring  at  one  end, 
is  passed  so  that  the  disk  is  below  the  center.  The  hooks  are  12  to  14  in 
number  and  are  all  bent  toward  the  same  side,  projecting  about  an  inch 
and  curving  inward  about  an  inch.  The  rod  should  project  about  three 
inches  from  the  disk  at  the  lower  end,  so  that  the  end  will  strike  the 
bottom  first.  The  disk  should  be  made  heavier  on  the  side  toward  the 
hooks  which  are  best  made  of  steel  wire.  Another  form,  the  one  used  by 
the  Michigan  Fish  Commission  is  described  by  Mr.  Pieters  in  his  account 
of  the  Flora  of  Lake  St.  Clair.  The  rope  is  attached  to  the  ring,  and 
besides  being  used  as  a  dredge,  the  instrument  may  be  used  for  taking 
soundings  if  nothing  better  is  at  hand  and  the  water  is  not  too  deep.  For 
collecting  the  lacustrine  forms  of  microscopic  plants  a  small  bolting  cloth 
towing  net  is  essential. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

The  folio-wins  list  of  publications  bearing  on  the  subject  under  consideration 
may  be  divided  into  three  classes: 

1.  Plant  Catalogues,  lists  and  notes  relating  to  geographical  distribution. 

2.  Manuals  and  Monographs. 

3.  General  Treatises. 

Catalogues  and  Notes. 

(For  this  list  the  author  is  largely  -indebted  to  Beal  and  Wheeler's  Michigan 
Flora:) 

1839.  Wright.  J.  Catalogue  of  the  Phaenogams  and  Filicoid  Plants,  col- 
lected on  the  Geological  Survey  of  Michigan.     Legislative  Report.  No:  23,  pp.  17-44. 

1849.  Cooley.  P."  Catalogue  of  the  Plants  collected  by  W.  A.  Burt  in  the  primi- 
tive region  south  of  Lake  Superior  in  184G.     Jackson's  Lake  Superior,  pp.  875-882. 


DAVIS    ON    FLORA     OF     LAKES.  31 

1850.  Agassiz.  Louis.  Lake  Superior,  Its  Physical  Character,  Vegetation,  Animals, 
etc.  , 

1851.  Whitney,  W.  D.  List  of  the  plants  of  the  Upper  Peninsula,  Foster  and 
Whitney's  Report  of  the  Geology  of  the  Lake  Superior  Land  District.  Part  II,  pp. 
359-388. 

1861.  Winched.  X.  H.  Catalogue  of  the  Phaenogamous  and  Acrogenous  plants 
found  growing  wild  in  the  Lower  Peninsula  of  Michigan  and  the  Islands  at  the 
head  of  Lake  Huron.  First  Biennial  Report  of  the  Progress  of  the  Geological  Sur- 
vey of  Michigan,  pp.  245-330. 

1873.  Coleman.  N.  Catalogue  of  Flowering  Plants  of  the  Southern  Peninsula  of 
Michigan  with  a  feAV  of  the  Cryptogamic.  Miscellaneous  Publications,  No.  2,  Kent 
Scientific  Institute,  Grand  Rapids. 

1870.  Almendinger,  E.  C.  Flora  of  Ann  Arbor  and  vicinity.  Proceedings  of  the 
Ann  Arbor  Scientific  Association,     pp.  85-116. 

1876.  Tuthill,  F.  H.  Some  notes  on  the  Flora  near  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  Bot. 
Gaz.  Vol.  I,  No.  4. 

1S77.  Palmer,  E.  Catalogue  of  Phaenogamous  and  Acrogenous  Plants  found 
growing  wild  in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

1881.  Wheeler.  C.  F..  aud  Smith,  E.  F.  Catalogue  of  the  Phaenogamous  and 
Vascular  Cryptogamous  Plants  of  Michigan,  Indigenous,  Naturalized  aud  Adventive. 

1881.  Hill,  E.  J.     Botanical  Notes,  Bot.  Gaz.,  Vol.  6,  p.  259. 

1882.  Bailey,  L.  H.,  Jr.     Limits  of  Michigan  Plants.     Bot.  Gaz.,  Vol.  1,  pp.  202-3. 
1884.     Hill,  E.  J.     The  Menominee  Iron  Region  and   its   Flora,   I   and  II.     Bot. 

Gaz.,  Vol.  9,  pp.  20S-211,  225-229. 
1886.     Campbell,  D.  H.     Plants  of  the  Detroit  River. 

1890.  Hill,  E.  J.  Notes  on  the  Flora  of  the  Lake  Superior  Region,  I  and  II. 
Bot.  Gaz.,  Vol.  15,  pp.  140-149,  159-166. 

1S90.  Bailey.  L.  H.,  Jr.  Carices  of  the  Upper  Half  of  the  Keweenaw  Peninsula. 
Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,   Vol.  17,  pp.  61-04. 

1891.  Wheeler.  C.  F.  Central  Michigan  Cyperaceae.  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,  Vol. 
18,  p.  148. 

1892.  Beal,  W.  J.  and  Wheeler,  C.  F.     Michigan  Flora. 

1S93.  Blodgett,  II.  T.  Plants  of  Mason  County,  Michigan.  Asa  Gray  Bulletin, 
No.  3. 

1593.  Hicks,  Gilbert  H.  New  and  Rare  Michigan  Plants.  Asa  Grav  Bulletin, 
No.  3. 

1894.  Farwell.  O.  A.  Contributions  to  the  Botany  of  Michigan.  Asa  Gray  Bul- 
letin, Nos.  6,  7,  et  seq. 

1894.  Pieters,  A.  J.  Plants  of  Lake  St.  Clair.  Bull.  Mich.  Fish  Commission, 
No.  2. 

1594.  Reighard,  J.  E.  Biological  Examination  of  Lake  St.  Clair.  Bull.  Mich. 
Fish  Commission,  No.  4. 

Available  Manuals  and  Monograph*. 

Gray— Manual  of  Botany. 

Morong.  T.— North  American  Xaidaceae. 

Bailey,  L.  H.— Studies  of  the  Genus  Carex, 

Bailey,  L.  H. — Types  of  the  Genus  Carex. 

Wolle— Desmids  of  the  United  States. 

Wolle— Fresh  Water  Algae  of  the  United  States. 

Wolle— Diatomaceae  of  the  United  States. 

Lesquereux  and  James— Manual  of  the  Mosses  of  North  America. 

Stokes,  A.— Fresh  Water  Algae. 

General  Works. 

These  are  mainly  German  and  only  indirectly  applicable.  A  good  bibliography 
will  be  found  in  Professor  Reighard's  Biological  Examination  of  Lake  St.  Clair. 


32  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 


THE  LEPIDOPTERA  OF  MICHIGAN. 

R.    H.    WOIX'OTT,    M.    D.,    GRAND   RAPIDS. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,  Dec.  27,  1894.) 

[Abstract.] 

I.  Introduction: 

1.  Situation  of  state. 

2.  Divisions  of  state. 

3.  Configuration  of  surface— Lower  Peninsula. 

4.  Configuration  of  surface— Upper  Peninsula. 

5.  Geological  strata. 

6.  Climate. 

7.  Flora. 

II.  Distribution  of  animal  life  in  state: 

1.  Relation  to  great  faunal  provinces. 

2.  Division  of  the  state  into  faunal  regions. 

3.  Causes  changing  these  divisions. 

III.  The  Insect  Fauna  with  especial  reference  to  Lepidoptera: 

1.  General  remarks  on  Insect  Fauna. 

2.  Classification  of   Insecta. 

3.  Lepidoptera. 

4.  Classification  of  Lepidoptera. 

5.  List  of  families  and  superfamilies. 

IV.  Review  of  Lepidoptera  of  state: 

1.  Rhopalocera— 110  species. 

2.  Sphinges — 47  species. 

3.  Sesias — 12  known  species,  probably  50  altogether. 

4.  Bombyces — 150  species. 

5.  Noctuae— 550  species,  estimated. 

6.  Geometrae— 200  species. 

7.  Microlepidoptera— Pyralites,  150  species,  estimated. 
S.  Tortrices— 100  species,  estimated. 

9.  Tineina — 250  species,  estimated. 
10.  General  Survey— 1600  species  total. 

V.  Suggestions  as  to  work: 

1.  Gathering  of  facts— Methods  of  collecting. 

2.  Collecting  immature  stages. 

3.  Labeling. 

4.  Identification. 

5.  Works  of  reference. 

VI.  Conclusion. 


TENDENCIES  IN  MICHIGAN  HORTICULTURE. 

ARTHUR  A.  CROZIER. 

("Read  before  the  Academy,  December  27,  1894.) 

Recognition  of  the  peculiar  advantages  of  Michigan  as  a  fruit  growing 
state  may  be  said  to  date  from  the  publication  in  1866  by  Alexander  Win- 
chell  of  his  researches  upon  the  climatology  of  the  region  of  the  Great 
Lakes.  He  then  demonstrated  the  previously  unsuspected  fact  that 
these  inland  bodies  of  water  exert  upon  the  climate  of  the  surrounding 


CROZIER    ON    TENDENCIES     IN     HORTICULTURE.  33 

territory  an  equalizing  influence  "truly  comparable  to  that  exerted  by  the 
great  oceans."  Dr.  Winchell  pointed  out  that  for  a  period  of  eleven  years 
the  coldest  temperature  reached  at  the  Straits  of  Mackinac  was  only  one 
degree  lower  than  at  the  city  of  Chicago  during  the  same  period.  In 
calling  attention  to  this  fact  Dr.  Winchell  at  the  same  time  expressed  his 
belief  that  so  far  as  winter-killing  was  concerned  peach  orchards  and 
vineyards  would  be  perfectly  secure  along  the  whole  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

At  the  time  this  prediction  was  made  there  was  only  one  county  in  the 
state  extensively  engaged  in  fruit  growing,  namely,  Berrien,  lying  in  the 
extreme  southwest  corner  of  the  State.  We  now  have  the  well  known 
"Michigan  fruit  belt/'  extending  along  the  line  suggested  nearly  thirty 
years  ago.  and  lacking  but  one  county  of  completing  the  entire  distance 
from  the  head  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  Straits  of  Mackinac. 

One  other  physical  fact  bearing  upon  the  successful  cultivation  of  the 
tender  fruits  was  first  popularly  demonstrated  at  about  the  time  this  lake 
influence  became  known.  I  refer  to  the  influence  of  minor  elevations 
upon  temperature.  The  fact  that  the  summits  and  slopes  of  ordinary 
hills,  having  an  elevation  of  no  more  than  fifty  to  one  hundred  feet,  may 
in  extremely  cold  weather  be  enough  warmer  than  the  low  lands  adjoin- 
ing to  make  all  the  difference  between  the  success  and  failure  of  a  fruit 
crop,  or  in  the  case  of  peaches  even  the  life  and  death  of  the  trees,  was 
first  pointed  out  so  far  as  I  know  by  Hon.  J.  G.  Ramsdell  of  Traverse  City. 

These  two  facts,  the  ameliorating  influence  of  the  Great  Lakes  upon  the 
general  climate  and  the  modifying  effect  of  air  drainage  upon  the  local 
temperature,  were  taken  up  by  the  Michigan  State  Horticultural  Society 
upon  its  organization  in  1870  and  thoroughly  impressed  upon  the  people  of 
the  state  as  of  fundamental  importance  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit.  And 
it  is  chiefly  because  the  fruit  growers  of  the  state  have  recognized  these 
facts  and  have  acted  in  accordance  therewith  that  Michigan  occupies  its 
present  advanced  position  among  fruit  growing  states. 

Meanwhile  other  natural  features  of  our  state  are  having  their  influence 
upon  the  development  of  its  horticulture.  The  extensive  swamps  and 
marshes  which  retarded  the  early  settlement  of  the  state  are  now  proving 
as  valuable  for  the  production  of  vegetables  as  are  the  higher  hills  for  the 
production  of  fruit.  Quietly,  and  probably  unknown  to  the  majority  of 
our  citizens,  many  of  these  unsightly  and  unwholesome  lands  have  been 
reclaimed  and  are  now  producing  the  finest  crops  of  onions,  cabbages, 
cauliflowers,  celery,  peppermint,  as  well  as  some  of  the  ordinary  farm 
crops.  It  is  said  that  more  than  one-half  of  the  world's  supply  of  the  oils 
of  peppermint,  spearmint  and  tansy  is  produced  in  this  State;  Michigan 
celery  is  regularly  shipped  to  all  the  leading  markets  in  the  United  States 
from  Denver  to  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

The  evident  adaptation  of  these  swamp  lands  to  market  gardening  pur- 
poses, and  the  large  amount  of  such  land  in  this  state  still  unreclaimed, 
render  any  facts  connected  with  their  further  development  of  general 
interest.  The  question  of  draining  these  swamp  lands  has  been  quite 
thoroughly  studied  and  is  not  generally  a  difficult  one  to  solve.  Several 
other  matters,  however,  need  to  be  considered.  Over  drainage  has  often 
to  be  guarded  against.  Where  the  water  supply  comes  from  the  surface 
only  drainage  sometimes  leaves  a  muck  swamp  in  a  condition  to  suffer 


34  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF1  SCIENCE. 

from  drouth  more  severely  than  the  adjoining  upland.  Such  lands,  it  is 
well  known,  may  even  take  fire  in  a  dry  time  and  lose  much  of  their  value 
by  burning  away.  Probably  the  chief  advantage  possessed  by  swamp  or 
marsh  lands  is  their  having  generally  a  more  abundant  and  more  constant 
water  supply  than  the  uplands.  To  conserve  this  supply  of  water  is  there- 
fore important,  and  it  is  a  point  that  needs  to  be  considered  at  the  time 
of  draining.  Some  swamps  are  so  situated  by  the  side  of  streams,  or  at 
the  foot  of  living  springs,  that  moisture  can  at  all  times  be  maintained 
within  proper  distance  of  the  surface  by  means  of  ditches.  I  know  also 
of  marshes  in  this  state  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  which  are 
abundantly  watered  by  means  of  artesian  wells. 

Concerning  the  fertility  of  lands  composed  chiefly  of  deep  deposits  of 
muck,  the  early  idea,  based  on  their  limitless  supply  of  vegetable  matter, 
has  had  to  be  modified.  It  was  at  one  time  supposed  that  swamp  muck 
was  in  itself  a  fertilizer  and  desirable  to  use  in  large  quantities  on  the 
higher  lands  adjoining.  But  it  is  found  that  the  benefit  from  the  use  of 
muck  in  this  manner  is  very  slight,  not  repaying  the  trouble  of  applying 
it,  except  when  composted  with  barn  yard  or  some  other  fermentable 
manure. 

Recently  it  is  being  noticed  that  the  productiveness  of  these  muck  lands 
is  less  permanent  than  was  at  first  supposed,  in  fact,  that  after  growing 
a  few  excellent  crops  the  yield  often  declines  in  an  alarming  manner, 
more  rapidly,  in  fact,  than  on  surrounding  lands  composed  of  the  ordinary 
soil  materials. 

The  question  therefore  of  maintaining  the  fertility  of  these  cultivated 
swamps  is  a  problem  of  immediate  interest,  the  solution  of  which  will 
have  an  important  bearing  on  the  further  development  of  such  lands  in 
this  state.  So  far,  the  only  means  employed  to  any  considerable  extent 
for  restoring  the  fertility  of  exhausted  muck  lands  has  been  barn-yard 
manure  and,  strange  as  it  may  perhaps  appear  considering  its  highly 
vegetable  and  nitrogenous  character,  this  has  thus  far  given  entirely 
satisfactory  results.  But  the  application  of  this  fertilizer  is  necessarily 
limited  and  only  practicable  within  reach  of  cities  and  villages.  Careful 
and  extended  trials  of  other  fertilizers  are  needed.  If  the  application  of 
lime,  for  example,  to  these  lands  shall  prove  as  generally  useful  in  our 
climate  as  in  the  cooler  and  moister  climate  of  Great  Britain  the  presence 
of  the  inexhaustible  supply  of  this  material  within  the  state  will  prove 
particularly  fortunate. 

Another  class  of  soils  in  our  state,  much  less  promising  than  these 
muck  swamps,  is  found  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  Lower  Peninsula 
and  consists  of  extensive  sandy  plains,  covering  the  larger  part  of  several 
counties  and  locally  known  as  "pine  barrens."  These  lands  have  never 
been  heavily  timbered  and  in  recent  years  have  been  frequently  traversed 
by  forest  fires,  so  that  but  little  humus  or  vegetable  matter  remains  in  the 
soil.  For  ordinary  farm  crops  they  are  in  their  present  condition  worth- 
less, as  hundreds  of  abandoned  farms  in  this  region,  some  of  them  well 
fenced  and  with  good  buildings,  too  clearly  testify.  On  some  of  these 
lands  huckleberries,  blackberries  and  other  wild  fruits  grow  spontane- 
ously, so  that  the  cultivation  of  certain  of  the  small  fruits  thereon  would 
seem  to  be  suggested  as  a  field  for  experiment. 

The  tendency  in  the  horticultural  development  of  the  state  at  the  pres- 


CROZIER    ON    TENDENCIES     IN    HORTICULTURE.  35 

ent  time  is  northward,  and  there  are  fortunately  in  northern  Michigan,  in 
both  Upper  and  Lower  Peninsulas,  abundant  supplies  of  land  suitable 
for  horticultural  purposes. 

It  is  probable  that  the  culture  of  the  peach  and  grape  have  nearly 
reached  their  northern  limit,  but  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  through- 
out almost  the  entire  Northern  Peninsula  many  varieties  of  apple,  plum, 
cherry,  and  small  fruits  may  be  grown  to  great  perfection,  .to  supply  not 
only  the  growing  markets  in  that  section  of  the  country,  but  also  to  pro- 
long the  season  of  supply  for  more  southern  markets. 

The  limestone  formation  which  prevails  about  the  Straits  of  Mackinac 
seems  particularly  well  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  many  of  the  finer 
fruits.  Remains  of  numerous  Indian  apple  orchards,  some  of  them  still 
in  bearing  condition,  may  be  found  throughout  this  region.  Wild  fruits 
of  various  species  grow  here  in  great  profusion.  Huckleberries  in  large 
quantities  are  annually  shipped  from  Cheboygan  and  neighboring  ports, 
and  other  wild  berries  which  grow  there  in  equal  abundance  might  also 
find  a  market  if  they  possessed  equally  good  shipping  qualities.  I  have 
seen  wild  blackberries  of  the  finest  flavor  brought  into  market  at  Petoskey 
by  the  Indians  as  late  as  November,  but  too  soft  and  too  carelessly  han- 
dled to  bear  distant  transportation. 

The  red  raspberry  (Rubus  strigosus)  grows  and  bears  abundantly  in  all 
this  region  but  the  fruit  is  shipped  away  only  for  the  purpose  of  making- 
brandy.  The  essential  hardiness  of  this  species  is  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  upon  the  north  shores  of  Lake  Superior,  where  the  timber  has  been 
swept  away  by  forest  fires,  there  may  be  seen  thousands  of  acres  covered 
with  it.  There  would  appear  to  be  no  reason  therefore  why  cultivated 
varieties  of  the  red  raspberry  having  suitable  market  qualities  might  not 
be  successfully  grown  throughout  the  whole  of  northern  Michigan. 

Plums  also  are  being  grown  with  success  in  some  parts  of  the  Upper 
Peninsula,  where  wild  plums  of  excellent  quality  are  occasionally  found. 
Northern  Michigan  is  particularly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  plums  by 
reason  of  the  absence  of  the  rot  which  is  often  disastrous  to  this  fruit  in 
warmer  climates.  The  curculio  and  black  knot  are  also  thus  far  less  de- 
structive there  than  farther  south.  For  these  reasons  plum  growing  in 
that  region  is  likely  to  see  greater  development. 

Of  the  peculiar  advantages  of  Michigan  for  the  pursuit  of  horticulture 
we  are  doubtless  well  convinced,  but  success  depends  mainly  on  the 
adaptation  of  the  different  crops  to  the  required  soil  and  location — and  no 
state  has  these  conditions  in  greater  variety  than  our  own.  The  last 
edition  of  the  Michigan  fruit  catalogue  shows  that  varieties  which  are 
considered  valuable  in  one  locality  are  not  always  grown  with  success  in 
other  localities,  often  but  a  short  distance  away.  Thus,  such  thin-skinned 
peaches  as  Mountain  Rose  and  Old  Mixon,  which  are  favorites  in  the  moist 
climate  of  the  Lake  Shore,  cannot  be  grown  successfully  in  the  peach 
growing  regions  of  the  interior  of  the  state  which  have  a  drier  climate. 
The  vigorous  Late  Crawford,  which  often  fails  to  bear  well  on  the  Lake 
Shore  is  much  more  productive,  and  a  favorite  market  variety  inland 
wherever  it  proves  sufficiently  hardy.  The  slow  growing  Hill's  Chili,  on 
the  other  hand,  which  in  the  dry  interior  points  fails  to  bring  its  heavy 
load  of  fruit  to  perfection,  gives  entire  satisfaction  in  western  Michigan. 
It  is  frequently  the  same  with  other  fruits  and  with  vegetables.  The  Tay- 


36  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF     SCIENCE. 

lor  raspberry,  which  cannot  be  grown  to  advantage  in  Washtenaw  county 
on  account  of  the  drouth,  is  a  desirable  sort  along  the  lake  shore.  The 
Gregg  raspberry,  which  is  almost  the  only  market  sort  in  the  above 
county,  gives  place  in  a  measure  to  more  productive  but  less  vigorous 
varieties  in  other  parts  of  the  state.  Cauliflowers,  which  on  suitable  soil 
may  be  grown  on  upland  in  western  and  northern  Michigan,  are  a  reliable 
crop  only  on  reclaimed  swamps  in  the  central  and  southern  parts  of  the 
state.  Much  remains  to  adopt  the  various  horticultural  crops  to  the  local 
conditions  found  in  the  state,  and  fruit  and  vegetable  growers  are  fully 
aware  of  the  necessity  of  understanding  the  influence  of  their  local  condi 
tions.  But  while  these  minor  adjustments  are  still  going  on  and  are  far 
from  complete,  the  broader  lines  are  better  understood;  the  hills  are 
being  devoted  to  fruit,  the  reclaimed  swamps  to  vegetables,  and  the  fertile 
plains  are  left  for  the  purposes  of  general  agriculture. 


FUTILE  EXPERIMENTS  FOR  THE  IMPROVEMENT  OF  AGRICUL- 
TURE. 

BY  MANLY  MILES,   M.   D. 

(Read  before  the  Academy,   December   27,  1S94.) 

[Abstract.] 

In  the  popular  demand  for  experiments  to  develop  and  establish  cor- 
rect principles  in  farm  practice,  the  limits  of  experimental  methods  in 
the  advancement  of  science,  and  especially  in  the  application  of  science 
in  agriculture,  are  entirely  overlooked. 

The  established  principles  of  science  may  be  successfully  applied  to 
explain  the  results  of  farm  practice,  while  many  of  the  problems  pre- 
sented cannot  be  solved  by  direct  experiment. 

In  pointing  out  the  futility  of  empirical  experiments  for  the  discovery 
of  the  underlying  principles  of  farm  practice  we  do  not  belittle  or  under- 
value the  advantages  of  the  legitimate  applications  of  science  to  agricul- 
ture. The  farmer  is  constantly  dealing  with  the  forces  of  nature,  and 
a  knowledge  of  the  laws  that  determine  and  give  direction  to  their  vari- 
ous manifestations  cannot  fail  to  be  of  practical  value  in  his  every  day 
work. 

Investigations  in  pure  science  must  then  be  looked  upon  as  the  most 
direct  and  efficient  means  of  progress  in  the  improvement  of  agriculture, 
and  the  short  cuts  or  royal  roads  to  exact  knowledge  that  are  marked 
out  ostensibly  for  the  farmer's  benefit  must  lead  him  astray  out  of  sight 
of  the  landmarks  of  real  progress. 

The  same  lines  and  methods  of  research  cannot  be  followed  in  the 
different  departments  of  science  from  the  marked  difference  in  the  condi- 
tions and  problems  presented  for  investigation.  Physics  and  chemistry 
are  emphatically  experimental  sciences,  as  their  fundamental  principles 
and  progress  and  development,  from  the  very  nature  of  the  phenomena 
with  which  they  deal,  must  depend  upon  exact  experiments  in  research 
and  for  the  purposes  of  verification.  In  astronomy  and  biology  on  the 
other  hand  there  are  insuperable  difficulties  in  the  application  of  experi- 


MILES    ON     FUTILE     EXPERIMENTS     IN     AGRICULTURE.  37 

mental  methods  of  research,  and  they  must  largely  depend  upon  the 
critical  observation  of  phenomena  as  they  occur  for  their  progressive 
development. 

In  nearly  all  of  the  problems  requiring  investigation  in  agriculture 
biological  activities  are  the  dominant  factors  concerned  in  the  reactions 
of  matter  and  transformations  of  energy,  and  the  complexity  of  the  con- 
ditions presented  is  intensified  by  the  involved  interdependent  relations 
of  the  biological,  physical  and  chemical  factors  that  cannot  be  separately 
investigated. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  life  history  and  habits  of  organisms,  and  the 
development,  morphological  relations,  and  functions  of  mere  organs  of 
nutrition  and  reproduction  has  been  derived  almost  exclusively  from 
the  observation  of  the  various  forms  of  life  under  normal  conditions, 
and  there  is  an  obvious  limit  to  the  application  of  exact  experimental 
methods  from  the  interference  of  the  required  artificial  conditions  with 
the  normal  activities  of  the  organisms  that  are  the  subject  of  inquiry. 

The  heredity  of  acquired  characters  is  generally  accepted  as  a  funda- 
mental principle  in  the  improvement  of  domestic  animals,  and  culture 
and  heredity  are  looked  upon  as  the  essential  factors  in  the  improvement 
of  the  pure  breeds. 

On  theoretical  grounds  the  followers  of  Weissman  claim  that  acquired 
characters  are  not  inherited  and  it  is  proposed  to  test  the  truth  of  their 
assumptions  by  an  appeal  to  direct  experiments.  There  are  however 
insuperable  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  application  of  this  method. 
There  are  many  diverse  characters  inherited  by  each  individual,  and  the 
frequently  observed  facts  of  atavism  indicate  that  no  limit  can  be  as- 
signed to  the  inheritance  of  ancestral  characters. 

There  is  a  decided  preponderance  of  evidence  in  favor  of  the  view  that 
all  characters  of  all  ancestors  are  inherited,  and  that  the  dominant  or 
obvious  characters  may  obscure  less  pronounced  characters  that  may 
remain  latent  for  many  generations  until  favorable  conditions  of  habit 
or  environment  bring  them  to  the  surface  as  dominant  characters. 

In  the  inheritance  of  an  acquired  character  it  is  obvious  that  modified 
tunctional  activities  must  precede  morphological  changes,  and  this  ex- 
plains why  the  results  of  accidents  are  not  inherited. 

The  incipient  indications  of  the  inheritance  of  an  acquired  character 
must  be  manifest  in  functional  changes  of  the  organism  that  are  not 
as  readily  observed  as  morphological  changes.  An  acquired  character 
might  be  inherited  and  transmitted  for  several  generations  without  be- 
ing noticed,  as  it  would  at  first  in  all  probability  be  obscured  by  the 
dominance  of  some  well  established  ancestral  characters.  The  history 
of  the  improved  breeds  and  the  observation  of  breeders  furnish  better 
evidence  in  regard  to  the  laws  of  heredity  than  can  be  obtained  by  direct 
experiment. 

Similar  difficulties  arise  in  field  and  feeding  experiments,  so  far  as 
the  discovery  of  principles  that  can  be  profitably  applied  in  practice  are 
concerned.  The  conditions  presented  are  too  complex  to  permit  of  the 
isolation  of  the  various  factors  involved  to  determine  their  real  signifi- 
cance as  required  in  exact  methods  of  research. 

Experiments  to  determine  the  relative  nutritive  value  of  foods  are 
fallacious  from  the  number  of  variable  factors  involved  in  the  problem 


38  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

that  cannot  be  measured  or  brought  under  control,  so  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  determine  their  relative  or  combined  influence  on  the  results  ob- 
tained. 

The  appetite  and  previous  habits  of  the  animals  consuming  the  food, 
the  amount  eaten,  and  the  efficiency  of  their  organs  of  nutrition  in  per- 
forming the  work  of  digestion  and  assimilation  must  be  recognized  as 
modifying  factors  that  are  quite  as  important  in  determining  nutritive 
values  as  the  composition  of  the  food  itself,  and  it  is  evident  that  experi- 
ments cannot  be  repeated  under  the  same  precise  conditions  for  the 
purpose  of  verification. 

The  chemical  composition  of  foods  cannot  be  made  to  represent  their 
nutritive  value,  as  there  are  physical  and  biological  factors  that  are  quite 
as  significant.  Liebig's  false  theory  that  the  nitrogenous  constituents 
of  foods  (proteids)  were  exclusively  used  in  the  building  of  tissues,  and 
that  the  non-nitrogenous  constituents  were  burned  in  the  system  to  pro- 
duce animal  heat,  has  been  a  fruitful  source  of  error  in  planning  and 
conducting  feeding  experiments.  Carbon  and  oxygen  and  the  ash  constit- 
uents of  food  are  quite  as  important  factors  in  tissue  building  as  nitro- 
gen to  which  attention  is  almost  exclusively  directed,  and  food  constit- 
uents are  not  burned  in  the  system  to  produce  animal  heat. 

The  law  of  the  conservation  of  energy  is  as  strictly  observed  in  organic 
processes,  as  in  the  reactions  of  inorganic  matter,  and  the  transforma- 
tions of  energy  in  the  economy  of  living  organisms  are  now  attracting 
the  attention  of  physiologists  as  the  most  significant  results  of  the  meta- 
morphoses of  matter.  Work  must  be  done  in  the  building  and  repair  of 
tissues,  and  the  energy  so  used,  derived  from  the  food  consumed,  is 
stored  up  in  the  organic  substances  formed.  In  the  destructive  metabol- 
ism that  follows  from  the  wear  and  tear  of  tissues  in  their  functional 
activities,  this  stored  energy  is  liberated  and  what  is  not  immediately 
required  in  the  constructive  processes  of  the  system  appears  as  animal 
heat. 

No  general  statement  in  regard  to  the  nutritive  value  of  foods  can  be 
formulated  from  the  results  of  experiments  in  which  the  chemical  factors 
are  alone  considered  and  Liebig's  classification  of  foods  has  not  the  phy- 
siological significance  claimed  for  it.  The  same  animal  may  give  quite 
different  results  with  the  same  food  at  different  times,  and  different  ani- 
mals are  not  likely  to  agree  in  the  returns  given  for  the  same  food  under 
the  same  conditions. 

From  the  complex  processes  of  soil  metabolism  and  the  various  con- 
ditions that  have  an  influence  for  good  or  ill  on  the  well  being  of  the 
plants  themselves,  and  the  micro-organisms  concerned  in  the  elaboration 
of  plant  food  it  may  be  readily  shown  that  the  sources  of  fallacy  are  quite 
as  evident  in  field  experiments  as  in  the  feeding  of  animals.  In  both 
cases  the  farmer  is  dealing  with  living  organisms  that  thrive  best  when 
fully  satisfied  with  the  conditions  in  which  they  are  placed.  In  nearly 
all  problems  that  arise  in  these  departments  of  his  calling  the  farmer 
will  be  best  aided  by  researches  in  pure  science  for  the  increase  of  knowl- 
edge relating  to  the  facts  and  principles  of  biology. 


THE     UREDINE^E    OF    MICHIGAN.  39 


THE  UREDINE^E  OF  MICHIGAN. 

BY  HARRIET   L.   MERROW. 

(Read  before  the  Academy,  December  27,  1894.) 
[Abstract.] 

One  hundred  and  fifteen  species  of  Uredineae  are  enumerated  by  the 
writer,  the  specimens  in  each  case  being  referred  to  the  herbarium  where 
the  specimen  recorded  is  to  be  found.  The  date  of  collection,  the  parts 
of  the  host  attacked,  and  the  effect  on  the  host,  when  that  could  be 
observed,  are  recorded.  The  writer  calls  attention  to  various  observa- 
tions of  ecological  interest,  describes  as  forms  that  have  escaped  notice 
in  systematic  works  the  uredo  spores  of  Uromyces  Howei,  Pkv  Uromyces 
pisiformis,  Cke.,  and  Uromyces  Sparganii,  C.  &  P.,  records  the  collection 
of  the  rare  (in  this  latitude)  Ravenelia  epiphylla  (S)  Dietel  in  Jackson 
county,  Mich.,  and  adds  important  notes  on  distribution. 


SECOND    ANNUAL    MEETING,    DECEMBER    1895. 


The  second  annual  meeting  of  the  Academy  was  held  in  the  pioneer 
room  of  the  Capitol  at  Lansing  on  Thursday  and  Friday,  December  26 
and  27,  1895,  President  Bryant  Walker  in  the  chair. 

The  first  session,  Thursday,  3  p.  m.,  opened  with  about  twenty  members 
present  and  the  attendance  increased  during  this  and  the  subsequent 
sessions  to  a  maximum  of  about  sixty,  many  of  the  members  being  absent 
from  the  sessions  of  the  Academy  much  of  the  time  in  necessary  atten- 
dance on  the  meetings  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association,  which  also 
was  in  session. 

The  treasurer's  report  showed  the  finances  of  the  Academy  to  be  in 
a  satisfactory  condition,  with  a  balance  of  about  $86.00  on  hand. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  meeting  the  membership  roll  bore  the  names 
of  106  resident  members  and  three  corresponding  members.  Twelve 
new  resident  members  were  elected  on  December  26,  and  one  on  December 
27,  thus  increasing  the  number  to  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
two.     The  new  members  were: 

Arthur  G.  Baumgartel,  Holland. 

A.  H.  Boies,  Hudson. 

Geo.  H.  Cattermole.  M.  D.,  Lansing. 

Myron  T.  Dodge,  Saginaw,  E.  S. 

Edgar  G.  Haymond,  Flint. 

John  Hazelwood,  Port  Huron. 

Frederick  Chas.  Irwin,  Bay  City. 

William  Jackman,  Iron  Mountain. 

W.  A.  Oldfield,  Port  Sanilac. 

Chase  S.  Osborn,  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 

*James  B.  Purdy,  Plymouth. 

Julius  O.  Schlotterbeck,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 

Norman  A.  Wood,  19  Church  St.,  Ann  Arbor. 

The  officers  elected  for  the  ensuing  year  were  as  follows: 

President — William  H.  Sherzer,  Ypsilanti. 

Treasurer — Charles  E.  Barr,  Albion. 

Secretary — Walter  B.  Barrows,  Agricultural  College. 

Vice  Presidents — Botany,  F.  C.  Newcombe,  Ann  Arbor;  Zoology,  J.  E. 
Keighard,  Ann  Arbor;  Sanitary  Science,  Henry  B.  Baker,  M.  D.,  Lan- 
sing. 

'Declined  membership. 


SECOND    ANNUAL    MEETING,     DECEMBER,     1895.  41 

It  was  voted  to  recommend  to  the  Council  that  the  next  winter  meet- 
ing be  held  at  Ann  Arbor  during  the  spring  vacation  of  the  public  schools 
of  the  State,  in  1897. 

Notice  was  given  by  Prof.  C.  E.  Barr  of  intention  to  ask  at  the  next 
regular  meeting  for  changes  in  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  as  follows: 
Striking  out  of  Article  IX  of  the  constitution  the  words  "provided  that 
notice  of  the  proposed  amendment  shall  have  been  given  at  a  previous 
meeting;"  and  striking  out  of  Chapter  IX  of  the  by-laws  the  words  "pro- 
vided that  notice  of  the  substance  of  the  proposed  amendment  has  been 
given  at  a  previous  meeting." 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  the  Section  of  Zoology  be  hereby  directed  to  take  such 
means,  by  securing  proper  legislation  or  otherwise,  as  will  more  effectu- 
ally preserve  the  useful  and  harmless  birds  of  the  State." 

Notice  was  given  of  intention  to  organize  a  Section  of  Agriculture 
under  the  rules  prescribed  by  the  constitution  and  by-laws.  Eleven 
members  signified  their  intention  of  joining  this  section. 

The  following  resolution,  introduced  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal,  was  referred 
to  the  Council: 

Resolved  by  the  members  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science, 
That  we  are  earnestly  in  favor  of  a  law  similar  to  one  enacted  in  1887. 
providing  for  a  State  Forest  Commission,  and  that  we  hereby  pledge  our- 
selves to  see  that  the  next  Legislature  carry  out  our  views  on  this  im- 
portant subject. 

PAPERS  PRESENTED  AT  THE  SECOND  ANNUAL  MEETING  OF  THE  MICHIGAN 
ACADEMY  OP  SCIENCE,   DECEMBER  26  AND  27,  1895: 

1.  The  Origin  and  Distribution  of  the  Non-Marine  Mollusca  of  North  America. 
Mr.  Bryant  Walker.     (Presidential  Address.)     Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

2.  The  Evolution  of  Conventional  Decorative  Forms.     Mr.  Zach.  Rice. 

3.  The  Sub-carboniferous  Limestone  Exposure  at  Grand  Rapids.  Mr.  Chas.  A. 
Whittemore.     Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

4.  The  Significance  of  Results  in  Dairy  Stock-Feeding  Experiments.    C.  D.  Smith. 

5.  Some  Plans  for  a  Botanic  Garden.  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal.  Printed  in  Rep.  Secy. 
State  Board  of  Agr.,  1S95,  pp.  51-7G. 

6.  Notes  on  the  Seismic  Disturbances  in  Missouri,  Oct.  31st,  1895.  Mr.  John  M. 
Millar.     Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

7.  Michigan  Birds  that  Nest  in  Open  Meadows.  Mr.  L.  Whitney  Watkins. 
Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

8.  Sulfur  and  Celestite  in  Monroe  County,  Michigan.  Prof.  Wm.  H.  Sherzer. 
Printed  in  Am.  Jour.  Science,  New  Series. 

9.  Recent  Advances  in  Agricultural  Botany.  A.  A.  Crozier.  Unpublished.  Copy 
never  in  hands  of  the  Secretary. 

10.  Work  which  may  be  done  by  the  Non-Professional  Observer  to  assist  the 
Michigan  Geological  Survey.     Dr.  L.  L.  Hubbard.     Unpublished. 

11.  The  Needs  of  Michigan  Forests.  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal.  Printed  in  Rep.  Secy. 
State  Board  of  Agr.,  1895,  pp.  51-76. 

12.  Food  Habits  of  Michigan  Birds.  Prof.  Walter  B.  Barrows.  Published  in 
part,  under  the  title  "Birds  and  Horticulture,"  in  Report  of  Secy.  Mich.  State  Hort. 
Soc,  1895,  pp.  127-132. 

13.  New  Species  of  Plants  for  Michigan,  and  New  Localities  for  Old  Species. 
Mr.  O.  A.  Farwell.  Published  under  the  title  "Contributions  to  the  Botany  of  Mich- 
igan" in  the  Asa  Gray  Bulletin,  Vols.  II  and  III,  1894,  1895. 

14.  An  Unpublished  Paper  on  the  Geology  of  Western  Michigan.  Dr.  Alexandei 
Winchell.     Unpublished. 

15.  Preliminary  Notes  on  Trillium  grandiflorum.  Prof.  Chas.  A.  Davis.  Ab- 
stract in  this  report. 


42  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

In  addition  to  the  fifteen  papers  listed  on  the  printed  program,  two 
others  were  presented,  namely : 

16.  On  the  Smallest  Parts  of  Stentor  Capable  of  Regeneration.     Dr.  Frank  R. 
Lillie.     Printed  in  Jonrn.  of  Morphology,  Vol.  12,  May,  1896,  pp.  239-249. 

17.  The  New  Science  of  Sanitation.     Dr.  Henry  B.  Baker.     Printed  in  this  report. 


WALKER    ON     ORIGIN     AND     DISTRIBUTION     OF     MOLLUSCA.       43 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  DISTRIBUTION  OF  THE  LAND  AND  FRESH- 
WATER MOLLUSCA  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

BRYANT   WALKER.    DETROIT. 
•  Address  of  the  Retiring  President  of  the  Academy,  delivered  Dec.  26,  1895.) 

The  origin  of  life  has  been  a  favorite  topic  for  thought  and  discussion 
among  the  philosophers  from  the  earliest  times,  of  which  we  have  any 
literary  records.  From  the  time  when  the  mere  struggle  for  existence 
ceased  to  occupy  the  whole  attention  of  primitive  man,  and  the  advance 
of  civilization  afforded  the  leisure  and  opportunity  for  intellectual  life, 
the  great  problem  of  its  own  existence,  and  that  of  the  world  around  it, 
necessarily  obtruded  itself  upon  the  thoughtful  mind. 

There  is  scarcely  a  race  or  tribe  of  mankind,  except  perhaps  those  in 
the  very  lowest  stages  of  barbarism,  who  have  not,  at  least  some  legend 
or  tradition  as  to  the  creation  of  the  world  and  its  inhabitants,  and  with 
every  advance  in  civilization  there  has  been  a  corresponding  widening  of 
the  intellectual  horizon,  which  has  enabled  the  successive  genera- 
tions of  man  to  put  aside  the  crude  imaginings  of  the  savage  for 
the  adoption  of  a  better  and  more  rational  system  of  natural  philosophy. 
The  evolution  of  a  world's  philosophy  must  always  be  a  subject  of  the 
greatest  interest,  and  when  the  complete  history  of  human  knowledge 
comes  to  be  written,  there  will  be  no  chapters  exceeding  in  interest  those, 
which  shall  elaborate  the  rise  and  development  of  those  great  laws  of 
science,  art,  politics  and  religion,  which  are  today  considered  to  be  the 
fundamental  principals  of  our  modern  civilization. 

In  the  centuries  which  lie  between  Thales  of  Ionia  and  Darwin  of 
England,  much  has  been  written  and  many  theories  have  been  advanced 
upon  the  origin  of  life,  only  to  be  thrown  aside  again  by  each  succeeding 
school  of  philosophy.  And  today,  after  twenty-five  hundred  years  of 
speculation  and  research,  the  question  of  origin  of  the  ultimate  principle 
of  life — the  vital  essence — is,  from  a  scientific  point  of  view,  still  un- 
solved and  apparently  insolvable.  But  while  the  speculative  minds  of 
the  nineteenth  century  are  still  groping  'and  grasping  unsuccessfully 
for  the  same  will-o'-the-wisp,  which  danced  before  the  Ionian  phil- 
osophers half  a  millennium  before  the  Christian  Era,  there  are  others  and 
more  practical  phases  of  the  question,  to  which  the  science  of  today 
believes  it  has  the  key,  and  which  can  be  made  to  yield  their  mysteries 
to  the  patient  seeker  after  scientific  truth. 

The  origin,  not  of  life  in  the  abstract,  but  of  the  manifold  and  varied 
forms  of  animated  nature,  which  now  and  in  ages  past  have  peopled 
the  world,  is  the  fruitful  field  in  which  modern  science  has  won  her 
choicest  triumphs. 

The  speculation  of  the  early  Greek  philosophers  in  this  subject,  while 
they  may  seem  crude  and  too  often  absurd  to  our  modern  eyes,  are  re- 
markable in  many  instances  for  their  keen  insight  into  nature  and  their 
foreshadowing  of  those  great  principals  of  evolution  and  design,  which 
todav  mould  the  thoughts  of  the  scientific  world.  Broadly  speaking,  how- 


44  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

ever,  the  natural  philosophy  of  the  Greeks  was  wiped  out  under  the 
mental  glaciers  of  the  dark  ages  and  prior  to  the  time  of  Linna?us,  the 
origin  and  distribution  of  animal  life  was  a  closed  book  sealed 
by  ecclesiastical  anathema  to  any  one,  who  might  have  desired  to  read 
therein.  The  doctrine  of  special  creation,  which  was  almost  universally 
accepted  in  the  eighteenth  century,  was  the  necessary  and  inevitable 
result  of  a  prevalent  and  powerful  theological  scholasticism,  which 
pervaded  and  controlled  all  the  great  centers  of  intellectual  life. 

To  Linnreus  and  his  school  there  were  "as  many  species  as  issued 
in  pairs  from  the  hands  of  the  Creator."  Specific  creation  was  the 
origin  of  all  forms  of  life,  and  every  species  lived  in  the  place  appointed 
for  it  by  the  wisdom  of  the  Omnipotent.  The  termination  of  each  of 
the  great  geological  epochs  was  signalized  by  a  general  massacre  of  all 
existing  forms  of  life,  and  the  advent  of  the  new  era  was  signalized  by  the 
creation  of  a  new  fauna  specially  adapted  to  the  peculiar  conditions  of 
the  new  world. 

To  such  a  philosophy,  "the  structural  relations  found  to  exist  between 
the  fossil  forms  themselves,  and  between  the  fossil  and  living  forms  are 
meaningless  and  unimportant,"  and  all  speculations  as  to  the  reason  for 
the  many  apparent  anomalies  and  excentricities  found  in  the  distribu- 
tion of  life  at  the  present  time  are  not  only  useless,  but  even  blasphemous. 
The  publication  of  the  "Origin  of  Species"  in  1859  marked  an  epoch  in 
the  intellectual  history  of  the  world.  Whether  the  evolutionary  theory 
and  the  means  by  which  it  has  operated  be  true  or  not,  there  can  be 
no  question,  but  that  its  general  acceptation  as  a  working  hypothesis 
has  done  more  to  stimulate  scientific  work,  and  to  increase  the  sum  of 
human  knowledge  than  any  other  factor  in  the  history  of  science. 

The  adoption  of  the  Darwinian  postulates  that  "the  several  species  of 
the  same  genus,  though  now  inhabiting  the  most  distant  quarters  of 
the  world,  must  originally  have  preceded  from  the  same  source,  as  they 
are  descended  from  the  same  progenitor"  and  that  "individuals  of  the 
same  species,  though  now  inhabiting  distant  and  isolated  regions,  must 
have  proceeded  from  one  spot,  where  their  parents  were  first  produced." 
necessarily  involves  the  careful  and  systematic  study  of  the  distribution 
of  animal  life  from  its  earliest  appearance  to  the  present  time.  If  the 
theory  of  evolution  be  true,  there  must  be  an  adequate  explanation  for 
the  present  existence  of  every  species  where  it  is  now  found.  In  the 
comparatively  few  years  that  have  elapsed  since  this  door  of  research 
was  opened,  under  the  stimulating  influences  of  the  new  doctrine,  much 
has  been  done  in  that  direction.  Indeed  when  it  is  considered  that 
successful  investigation  in  this  direction  involves: 

1st.  A  comparative  knowledge  of  the  existing  faunas  of  all  the 
different  countries  of  the  world. 

2d.     A  true  and  natural  classification  of  the  animal  kingdom. 

3d.  A  consideration  of  the  methods  of  dispersal  and  of  the  barriers 
which  prevent  it;  the  effects  of  changes  in  physical  geography  and 
climate  and  the  various  modes  in  which  such  changes  affect  the  struc- 
ture, distribution  or  the  very  existence  of  faunal  life,  and 

4th.  As  the  existing  distribution  is  the  result  and  outcome  of  all 
preceding  changes  of  the  earth  and  its  inhabitants,  a  knowledge  of  the 
animals  of  each   country  during  past   geological  epochs,   their  migra- 


WALKER    ON    ORIGIN     AND     DISTRIBUTION     OF     MOLLUSCA.       45 

tions  during  the  various  ages  and  the  changes  of  physical  geography 
that  they  imply — the  wonder  is  that  so  much  has  been  accomplished  up 
to  the  present  time. 

In  no  department  of  Zoology  has  better  work  been  done  than  in  the 
nioilusca  and  it  is  to  a  review  of  what  has  been  accomplished  towards 
the  elucidation  of  the  origin  and  development  of  the  existing  non- 
marine  molluscan  fauna  of  our  own  country,  that  I  ask  your  attention 
this  evening. 

North  America,  north  of  Mexico,  has  usually  been  considered  as  a 
distinct  Zoological  province,  and  forms  the  Nearctic  Kegion  of  Wallace 
and  other  earlier  writers  on  the  subject.  It  corresponds  with  the 
Palsearctic  Region  of  the  old  world,  which  embraces  Europe,  the  Northern 
part  of  Africa  and  Asia,  north  of  the  Himalayas.  Later  writers,  on  the 
ground  of  "the  absence  of  both  positive  and  negative  faunal  characters 
of  sufficient  importance  to  separate  them  from  each  other,"  have  com- 
bined these  regions  into  one,  extending  around  the  entire  northern 
part  of  the  globe  under  the  name  of  the  Holarctic  Realm.  Be  this  as 
it  may,  when  viewed  from  the  standpoint  of  the  zoogeographer,  whose 
generalizations  are  based  upon  the  fauna  of  all  classes  taken  as  a  whole, 
it  must  be  admitted  that  from  the  standpoint  of  the  conchologist,  the 
fauna  of  North  America  has  many  features,  which  stamp  it  with  all  the 
indices  of  a  peculiar  region.  Indeed  under  either  scheme,  the  sub- 
provinces  are  substantially  the  same.  The  main  difference  being,  that 
the  Northern  Province,  so  called,  of  America,  is  combined  with  the  corres- 
ponding region  of  the  old  world,  into  a  single  circumpolar  region,  as 
the  remaining  subprovinces  or  regions  remaining  the  same.  With 
this  distinction  in  mind,  it  will  be  convenient,  for  the  purpose  of 
this  paper,  to  follow  substantially  the  arrangement  of  Binney  who, 
in  studying  the  terrestrial  mollusca,  divided  the  continent  into  four 
regions — The  Northern,  Interior,  Californian,  and  Central. 

The  Northern  or  Boreal  Region  comprises  the  entire  northern  por- 
tion of  the  continent.  Its  southern  border  is  not  clearly  defined.  It 
has  been  stated  to  be  approximately  fixed  by  the  northern  limits 
of  the  cultivation  of  tht  cereals,  and  "may  be  indicated  in  general 
terms  as  the  same  with  the  political  division  between  the  British  posses- 
sions and  the  United  States,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  New  York,  where 
it  runs  southeasterly  along  the  Appalachian  chain  of  mountains  to 
Chesapeake  bay." 

The  Interior,  or  Appalachian  Region,  includes  the  entire  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  continent,  south  of  the  Northern  Region,  and  east  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascade  mountains.  From  this,  however,  on  the 
south,  may  be  separated  such  portions  of  Florida,  Texas,  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  Nevada  and  California,  as  from  the  admixture  of  tropical  forms 
seem  better  included  in  the  Transition  Region,  so  called,  lying  between 
the  Holarctic  and  Neotropical  Realms.  This  includes  the  Southern 
Region  of  Binney.  The  Central  or  Rocky  Mountain  Region,  lies  be- 
tween the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascade  mountains  on  the  west,  and  the 
Rocky  mountains  on  the  east.  While  the  California  or  Pacific  Region, 
comprises  the  entire  coast  lands  of  the  Pacific,  west  of  the  Rocky 
mountains,  and  extending  from  Lower  California  to  Alaska. 

The  exact  boundaries  of  these  regions  are  often  more  or  less  indefinite, 
except  where  natural  barriers  of  ranges  of  mountains,  deserts  or  great 


46  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OP    SCIENCE. 

bodies  of  water  exist.  And,  in  the  absence  of  these,  they  seem  often  to 
overlap  along  their  borders,  owing-  to  the  eccentric  distribution  of  many 
species,  resulting-  from  peculiar  local  conditions  of  climate,  temperature, 
etc.  In  the  main  they  are  well  characterized  by  the  peculiarities  of  their 
respective  faunas.  Thus  in  regard  to  the  land  shells  the  Northern  Region 
is  entirely  deficient  in  the  larger  Helices,  which  seem  unable  to  with 
stand  the  extreme  vigor  of  the  climate,  and  is  peopled  by  a  multitude  of 
smaller  forms  such  as  the  Zonitidw  and  Pupidw,  whose  greater  tenacity  of 
life  has  enabled  them  to  occupy  an  enormous  territory  to  the  exclusion  of 
their  larger  and  more  sensitive  brethren.  Not  .only  have  these  genera 
possessed  to  themselves  the  entire  Boreal  Region  proper,  but  they  have 
extended  south  in  all  directions.  Many  of  them  are  now  cosmopolitau 
in  the  broadest  sense  of  the  word,  having  an  almost  world  wide  dis- 
tribution, while  others,  following  the  lines  of  the  great  mountain  chains, 
have  found  congenial  homes  all  along  the  extent  of  the  eastern  and 
western  highlands.  That  the  extension  of  these  forms  into  the  southern 
provinces  has  been  from  the  north  rather  than  from  the  east  or  west 
is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  neither  direction  have  they  been  accompanied 
by  the  species  peculiar  to  the  eastern  and  western  regions,  as  there  is 
little  doubt  they  would  have  been  had  this  latter  hypothesis  been  true. 

The  Interior  Region,  which  as  above  limited  includes  the  greater  part 
of  the  United  States,  is  characterized  by  a  large  and  abundant  fauna, 
both  in  species  and  individuals,  which  is  purely  indigenous  in  its  char- 
acter. With  the  exception  of  a  few  species  which  have  effected  a  lodg- 
ment in  some  of  the  West  Indian  islands,  or  wandered  southerly  into 
Mexico,  and  a  stray  colony  located  in  the  California!!  and  Central 
Regions  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  United  States,  the  great  genus 
known  as  "Polygyra"  is  peculiar  to  eastern  North  America.  Its  species 
are  essentially  forest  loving  and  consequently  rapidly  diminish  as  the 
deciduous  forests  disappear  toward  the  north,  and  with  the  exception  of 
a  limited  number  of  the  more  hardy  forms  it  is  not  represented  in  the 
dry  arid  regions  of  the  western  states. 

The  Californian  Region  is  the  home  of  a  large  and  beautiful  group  of 
species  very  different  in  appearance  from  the  somber-colored  denizens 
of  our  eastern  forests,  and  strikingly  similar  to  the  Helices  character- 
istic of  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia  on  one  hand,  and  of 
Central  America  and  Western  South  America  on  the  other. 

The  Central  Region,  which  includes  the  dry  and  elevated  region  lying* 
between  the  Rocky  and  Sierra  Nevada  ranges  of  mountains  is,  as  might 
be  expected  from  its  physical  peculiarities,  very  destitute  in  the  number 
of  its  mollusca.  But  these,  such  as  they  are,  barring  the  small  forms, 
which  have  crept  in  from  the  north  and  some  of  like  genera,  but  speci- 
fically peculiar  to  the  Californian  Region,  which  have  been:  able  to 
surmount  the  mountain  barriers,  are  generically  related  to  forms  pecu- 
liar to  the  Interior  Region.  They  are  not  true  ReMcidce,  however,  but 
belong  to  a  more  primitive  stock,  of  wide  range  through  the  entire 
Boreal  Region.  Neither  the  peculiar  Helices  of  the  Californian  Region, 
nor  the  authocthonous  species  so  widely  distributed  through  the 
Interior  Region,  seem  to  have  been  able  to  surmount  the  mountain  ranges 
which  separate  it  on  either  side. 

In  regard  to  the  existing  fluviatile  fauna  of  North  America,  while  in 
the  main  the  regional  limits  above  defined  hold  good,  yet  in  many  cases 


WALKER    ON    ORIGIN     AND    DISTRIBUTION     OF     MOLLUSC  A.       47 

the  barriers,  which  seem  to  have  been  sufficient  to  determine  the  range 
of  the  land  species,  have  apparently  been  overcome  or,  at  least,  do  not 
apply. 

Thus  the  fresh  water  pulmonate  families,  while  they  have  their  metrop- 
olis in  the  north,  like  the  land  species  peculiar  to  the  Boreal  Region, 
probably  from  greater  powers  of  endurance  and  greater  adaptability 
to  environmental  changes,  and  possibly  also  from  the  greater  facilities 
for  migration  afforded  by  the  medium  in  which  they  live,  have  a  wide 
distribution.  Thus  while  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  St. 
Lawrence  drainage  system  has  the  largest  collection  of  species,  yet  there 
is  not  a  state  in  the  Union  that  has  not  some  representatives  of  nearly 
every  genus,  and  some  species  can  be  found  in  nearly  every  state.  In- 
deed these  genera  have  spread  over  the  whole  world,  and  some  species 
are  not  only  circumpolor.  but  almost  cosmopolitan  in  their  range. 

These  forms  have  been,  almost  everywhere  in  this  country,  also  ac- 
companied by  certain  genera  of  small  operculate  mollusks,  such  as 
Yalvata  and  Amnicola,  etc.  As  has  already  been  stated  in  regard  to  the 
distribution  of  the  boreal  land  species  and  for  similar  reasons,  the  present 
range  of  these  forms  was  undoubtedly  effected  from  the  north  to  the 
south. 

In  the  operculate  family  of  the  Pleuroceridce,  or  American  melanians 
we  have,  as  in  the  Polygrm  among  the  land  snails,  a  group  of  wholly 
American  origin  and  one  surprisingly  like  that  in  its  distribution.  Of 
enormous  abundance  (Tryon's  monograph,  1874,  containing  404  species) 
in  the  prolific  rivers  draining  the  lower  parts  of  the  Appalachian  chain, 
where  it  exists  in  such  an  infinite  variety  of  forms  as  to  almost  do  away 
with  any  attempt  to  define  specific  limitation,  it  has  spread  out  in  all 
directions.  The  great  majority  of  these  species  are  confined  to  the  rivers 
flowing  from  the  Cumberland  mountains  and  in  these  they  are  generally 
confined  to  the  upper  portions  as  they  are  particularly  partial  to  rapidly 
flowing  streams  with  rocky  bottoms.  On  the  west  the  Mississippi  river 
seems  to  have  been  a  barrier  aud  but  few  species  are  found  in  the  states 
lying  west  of  it.  Curiously  enough  a  colony  of  detached  species  of  peculiar 
aspect  is  found  in  the  Californian  Region,  a  circumstance  analogous  to 
the  group  of  Californian  Polygyrce.  already  mentioned.  A  remarkable 
genus  of  this  family,  Schizostoma,  embracing  nearly  thirty  species,  is 
confined  to  the  Coosa  river  in  Alabama.  To  the  north  but  few  species 
have  extended  beyond  the  Ohio;  a  very  few  reach  into  the  rivers  tributary 
to  the  great  lakes — thirteen  species  being  found  in  Michigan.  From  Vir- 
ginia to  the  north,  the  Appalachian  range  has  proved  an  effective  barrier 
against  immigration  into  the  Atlantic  states.  New  England  has  no 
representative  of  the  family.  A  single  species  of  Gomobasis,  which  singu- 
larly enough  is  not  found  west  of  these  mountains,  and  a  species  or  two 
of  Anculosa  are  the  only  representatives  in  eastern  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania. 

The  remaining  family  of  operculate  mollusks  represented  in  our 
fauna,  the  Tlviparidw,  which  includes  the  larger  forms  usually  met 
with,  is  also  peculiar  in  its  distribution.  The  typical  Miipanc  have  a 
widespread  range  in  the  Northern  Hemisphere,  being  well  represented 
in  Europe,  and  exceedingly  abundant  in  Southern  and  Eastern  Asia.  A 
curious  example  of  local  development  may  be  mentioned  in  connection 
with  this  genus.     The  species  are  many  of  them  ornamental  with  trans- 


48  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

verse  bands  of  green  or  brown.  In  such  case,  all  European  species  have 
three  bands,  the  American  four  bands  and  the  Asian  are  multilineate. 
There  is  no  exception  known  to  this  rule.  The  American  forms  are 
closely  related  to  the  European,  and  indeed  in  the  case  of  the  two  more 
common  species  in  these  countries,  the  difference  in  the  number  of 
bands  is  almost  the  only  distinguishable  characteristic.  Curiously 
enough,  although  the  European  species  are  found  in  England,  and,  at 
least,  one  American  form  extends  as  far  north  as  Minnesota,  the  family 
is  wholly  wanting  in  the  Pacific  states,  whose  fauna  in  many  other 
respects  is  more  closely  allied  to  that  of  the  old  world  than  that  of  any 
other  part  of  this  continent.  In  addition  to  the  true  Viviparas  we  have 
three  genera  peculiar  to  North  America.  One,  Campeloma,  is  of  almost 
universal  extent  throughout  the  Interior  Region.  Another,  Lioplax,  has 
only  two  species.  One  abundantly  extended  through  the  Mississippi 
valley  and  the  other  confined  in  the  Coosa  river  in  Alabama.  While 
the  third  and  most  remarkable  of  all  is  its  bizarre  appearance,  Tulotoma, 
is  confined  wholly  to  the  upper  portion  of  that  river. 

Passing  now  to  the  bivalves,  we  find  in  the  enormous  development  of 
the  Unionidw  by  far  the  most  striking  feature  of  our  fauna.  No  less 
than  645  species  of  this  family  are  catalogued  by  Lea  in  his  last 
synopsis.  While  the  increase  of  our  knowledge  of  the  great  amount  of 
variation  exhibited  by  this  family  under  local  influences  has  already  re- 
sulted in  the  diminution  of  recognized  species  and  the  future  will  un- 
doubtedly increase  the  result,  the  enormous  and  peculiar  development 
of  this  family,  particularly  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  United 
States,  forms  with  the  Polygyrw  among  the  land  shells,  and  the 
Pleurocerida1  among  the  fluviatile  univalves,  the  distinguishing  features 
of  our  fauna.  The  distribution  of  these  forms  over  the  continent  is 
general.  That  is,  there  is  no  portion  affording  a  suitable  habitat  that 
is  without  some  representative  of  the  family,  yet  the  limitations  upon 
the  distribution  of  many  of  the  various  groups  of  species,  and  even  upon 
individual  forms  are  well  marked  and  often  very  remarkable,  and  offer 
to  the  inquiring  mind  many  problems  for  investigation.  In  the  main, 
there  are  substantially  what  may  be  called  four  sub-faunas  represented. 
The  great  lines  of  archean  rocks  now  known  as  the  Sierra  Nevada 
range  on  the  west  and  Appalachian  on  the  east  have  proved  to  be  almost 
impassable  barriers  to  the  dispersion  of  this  family,  and  the  existence 
of  the  distinct  faunas  separated  by  these  ranges  is  conclusive  proof  that 
they  antedate  the  origin  or  the  immigration  of  the  forms  peculiar  to 
them.  The  California  Region  so  peculiar  in  its  land  species  is  equally 
well  characterized  by  its  unione  fauna.  The  great  genus  T^nio,  which 
is  represented  in  the  Eastern  States  by  more  than  200  species  in  Ala- 
bama and  40  in  Michigan,  is  wholly  wanting  west  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains, this  being  the  largest  area  destitute  of  unio  life  in  the  temper- 
ate or  tropical  regions  of  the  globe.  The  only  Margaritina  is  a  European 
species  of  circumpolar  range.  While  the  Anodontas  belong  to  a  peculiar 
group  entirely  distinct  from  those  found  in  the  eastern  states,  and 
so  closely  allied  to  the  prevalent  palaearctic  type,  that  by  eminent 
conchologist  they  have  considered  no  more  than  a  geographical  race 
of  a  well  known  European  form. 

In  the  same  way  east  of  the  Appalachian  Range,  is  a  group  of  distinct 
species  extending  aloug  the  entire  Atlantic  coast  from  the  extreme  north 


WALKER    ON    ORIGIN    AND    DISTRIBUTION    OF     MOLLUSCA.       49 

to  Florida.  In  the  Boreal  Region  some  of  these  forms  have  a  wide 
range  to  west  extending  as  far  as  Manitoba,  if  not  further,  and  from 
this  region  some  of  them  have  acquired  a  considerable  range  into  the 
states  south  of  the  great  lakes.  As  a  whole  this  fauna  has  closer  rela- 
tions with  the  Californian  and  Eurasian  fauna  than  with  the  species 
peculiar  to  the  interior  region  of  this  continent.  Thus  the  European 
Margaritlna  margaritifera  is  common  to  both  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic 
states,  but  curiously  enough  is  wholly  wanting  in  the  broad  territory 
lying  between  them.  The  Anodontas  are  also  very  similar  to  those  of 
California,  but  are  sufficiently  different  to  be  generally  accorded  specific 
distinction.  The  TInios  while  peculiar  to  the  region  have  no  relation  to 
the  European  forms,  and  as  already  stated,  this  genus  does  not  occur  in 
the  Californian  Province  at  all.  In  the  immense  region  comprising  the 
greater  portion  of  the  continent  lying  between  these  narrow  coast 
provinces  is  to  be  found  an  exuberance  of  Unione  life,  as  is  without 
parallel  in  any  other  portion  of  the  world.  Here  under  the  kindly  in- 
fluences of  what  must  be  a  peculiarly  favorable  environment,  are  to  be 
found  a  multitude  of  species  which  in  size,  shape  and  manner  of  orna- 
mentation exhibit  almost  infinite  variety,  and  which  nevertheless  are 
throughout  stamped  with  such  local  peculiarities  that  to  even  the  tyro 
in  conchology,  no  label  is  needed  to  indicate  their  fatherland. 

But  even  in  this  great  assembly  of  similar,  yet  dissimilar  forms,  there 
can  without  difficulty  be  distinguished  two  great  races,  or  faunal  groups. 
The  one,  and  by  far  the  larger  one  embracing  the  massive  triangular, 
plicate  and  nodulous  forms,  which  are  distinctly  North  American  types, 
has  its  headquarters  in  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  from  thence 
has  spread  out  northerly  into  the  St.  Lawrence  valley  and  southerly  into 
the  rivers  of  Texas  and  Alabama. 

To  the  southeast,  however,  it  is  to  a  large  extent  replaced  by  a  numer- 
ous group  of  smaller  and  plainer  species  which,  as  though  from  a  met- 
ropolis in  the  mountains  lying  between  Tennessee,  Alabama,  the  Caro- 
linas  and  George,  has  peopled  the  mountain  streams  on  either  side, 
east  toward  the  Atlantic  and  south  and  west  to  the  Gulf  with  a  multitude 
of  forms  wdiose  susceptibility  to  local  influences  has  played  almost  as 
much  mischief  with  current  standards  of  specific  distinction  as  their 
neighbors  and  associates,  the  Pleuroccridw  from  the  same  region. 

Besides  the  Uniondce,  there  is  but  one  other  family  of  bivalve  mollusks 
represented  in  our  existing  fauna.  The  Cyrenidce  represent  a  large 
number  of  species  of  small  size  (the  largest  being  one-half  inch  and  the 
smallest  less  than  one-fifteenth  of  an  inch  in  its  greatest  diameter)  of 
general  distribution.  Some  of  them  indeed  ranging  over  nearly  the 
whole  continent.  Like  the  Linmwidw  among  the  univalves,  it  reaches 
its  maximum  development  in  the  north,  and  from  thence  has  apparently 
extended  southward  in  all  directions.  As  a  necessary  consequence  the 
great  mountain  ranges,  which  have  so  effectively  limited  the  range  of 
the  Unionidw  have  apparently  had  no  influences  in  determining  the  range 
of  these  little  species. 

Passing  now  from  the  consideration  of  the  distribution  of  the  various 
orders  and  families  represented  in  our  fauna  and  collating  the  details 
of  their  distribution  in  order  to  get  a  general  idea  of  the  leading  features 
of  our  fauna,  as  a  whole  we  find  that  both  among  the  land  and  fluviatile 
species  evidence,  which  is  substantially  the  same  in  both  classes,  tending 
7 


50  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

to  show  the  existence  of  three  separate  faunas,  which  though  in  their 
present  distribution  more  or  less  overlap  each  other,  nevertheless  are 
essentially  distinct. 

Thus  we  find  the  Boreal  Region,  which  is  substantially  coincident  with 
British  North  America,  while  lacking  almost  entirely  the  larger  and 
more  highly  organized  Helices,  the  Viviparidce,  the  Plmroceridw  and 
the  characteristic  types  of  North  American  Unionidce,  is  the  metrop- 
olis of  the  Zcmitidce,  Pupidce  and  Succineidce  among  the  land  shells, 
the  Limnceidw  and  Physidce  comprising  the  fresh  water  pulmonates 
the  Rissoidce  and  Valvatidce  in  the  operculates  and  the  Cyrenidce  in  the 
bivalves.  These  families  comprise  the  greater 'majority  of  the  smaller 
species  of  mollusca  represented  in  our  fauna  and,  as  already  stated, 
from  this  broadly  extended  home  in  the  north,  aided  no  doubt  by  their 
hardy  nature  and  greater  vitality  and  consequent  greater  ability  to 
adapt  themselves  to  vicissitudes  incident  to  changes  of  environment, 
many  of  them  have  succeeded  in  establishing  themselves  in  nearly  every 
portion  of  the  continent.  Associated  with  these  groups  are  certain  of 
the  Unionidce,  which  ranging  nearly  across  the  continent  in  the  north 
do  not  occur  south  of  the  great  lakes  west  of  the  Alleghaney  mountains, 
but  east  of  that  range  occupy  the  entire  Atlantic  drainage  to  the  almost 
entire  exclusion  of  other  forms.  This  apparent  extension  of  the  Boreal 
Eegion  along  the  entire  Atlantic  coast,  may  at  first  sight  seem  anomalous. 
But  when  it  is  considered  that  these  mountains,  while  offering  no  ob- 
stacle to  immigration  from  the  north,  have  formed  an  almost  insurmount- 
able barrier  to  the  incursion  of  the  species  of  the  Interior  Region  from 
the  west  and  that  thus  the  region  has  been  left  open  to  the  exclusive 
occupation  of  the  northern  forms,  the  explanation  is  so  obvious  as  to  be 
almost  self  demonstrative.  In  the  same  way  we  find  that  west  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  along  the  entire  Pacific  coast,  a  peculiar  fauna,  which 
apparently  for  the  same  reason  has  never  extended  itself  toward  the 
east.  Excluding  the  species  which  have  crept  in  from  the  north,  the  Cali- 
fornian  fauna  in  many  of  its  features  is  quite  as  different  from  that  of 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  continent,  as  that  is  from  the  fauna  of  northern 
Europe. 

The  fauna  of  the  Central  Region  both  land  and  fluviatile,  is  too  sparse 
almost  to  be  considered.  Its  claims  to  regional  distinction  are  based 
almost  wholly  upon  its  negative  rather  than  any  positive  characteristics. 
It  is  wanting  in  the  distinctive  forms,  both  of  the  Californian  and  Interior 
Regions.  Its  distinctive  land  shells  belong  to  a  group  characteristic  of 
the  Boreal  Region.  A  few  fresh  water  species  are  peculiar  and  are  prob- 
ably the  last  existing  local  remnant  of  the  abundant  fauna  which  existed 
there  in  tertiary  times. 

The  Interior  Region,  lying  between  the  great  eastern  and  western 
mountain  ranges,  is  the  only  one  which,  in  its  mollusca,  exhibits  any 
of  the  peculiarities  of  a  great  continental  fauna.  Here  are  found  the 
exclusively  North  American  genera  of  Polygyra  among  the  land  species 
and  Campeloma,  Tulotoma  and  the  several  genera  of  the  Pleuroceridce 
among  the  fluviatile  univalves  and  the  extraordinary  development  of  the 
Unionidce  already  mentioned.  The  greater  part  of  this  enormous  fauna 
is  found  south  and  east  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  A  few  of 
the  hardier  species  of  Polygyra  have  extended  north  to  the  limits  of  the 
deciduous  forest,  while  the  more  favorable  conditions  of  temperature 


WALKER    ON     ORIGIN     AND     DLSTRIBUTION     OF    MOLLUSCA.       5L 

and  moisture  along  the  south  Appalachians  has  enabled  a  number  of 
species  to  extend  their  range  into  the  Southern  Atlantic  states. 

In  a  similar  manner  some  species  of  Gampeloma  and  Goniobasis  among 
the  Univalves  and  Unio  and  Margaritina  and  Anondonta  among  the 
bivalves,  have  spread  out  to  the  northern  reaches  of  the  Missouri  and 
Mississippi  and  even  into  the  St.  Lawrence  drainage  and  from  thence 
into  the  waters  of  eastern  New  York  and  New  England. 

Toward  the  south  a  few  of  the  species  range  into  Mexico  and  Central 
America  where  they  mingle  with  the  northern  outposts  of  the  tropical 
fauna  of  South  America.  And  in  a  similar  manner,  a  few  stragglers 
from  the  West  Indies  and  South  America  have  obtained  a  foothold  along 
the  gulf  states  and  the  Mexican  boundary.  To  Binney,  treating  the 
North  America  fauna  as  separate  entirety,  the  occurrence  of  these 
species  along  our  southern  borders  justified  the  establishment  of  a 
southern  region  or  province.  But  a  broader  generalization  based  upon 
the  zoological  relations  of  the  two  continents,  requires  its  union  with 
the  mixed  fauna  of  Central  America  and  Mexico,  which  is  now  con- 
sidered a  transition  region  between  North  and  South  America. 

Taken  as  a  whole,  however,  there  is  very  little  in  common,  so  far  as 
the  existing  mollusca  are  concerned,  between  the  two  great  divisions 
of  the  New  World.  Indeed  it  would  not  be  far  from  true  to  say,  that 
not  only  are  there  no  common  species,  which  would  scarcely  be  ex- 
pected, but  that  common  genera  as  well,  are  almost  wholly  lacking.  In 
almost  every  class  of  molluscan  life,  the  corresponding  place  in  the 
economy  of  nature,  is  filled  by  radically  different  groups.  Thus  the 
northern  indigenous  Helices  are  replaced  by  the  tropical  Bulimuli,  the 
Viviparas  by  the  Ampullarias,  the  Pleuroceridce  by  the  Melaniadw  and  the 
Vnionid(B  (largely)  by  the  Mutelidw  and  so  on,  almost  indefinitely.  In 
short  the  differences  are  quite  as  great  as  between  the  fauna  of  North 
America  and  Asia.  There  is  one  remarkable  exception,  however,  which 
must  not  be  passed  by  unnoticed.  The  peculiar  helicoid  fauna  of  the 
Pacific  coast,  which  is  so  conspicuously  absent  from  eastern  North 
America,  is  found  not  only  through  Mexico  and  Central  America,  but 
all  over  South  America  as  far  south  as  Argentina.  The  importance  of 
this  fact  as  bearing  upon  the  evolutionary  history  of  our  fauna  will  be 
referred  to  later. 

In  striking  contrast  with  this  radical  separation  between  the  existing 
faunas  of  North  and  South  America  is  the  close  relationship  between 
those  of  the  great  continental  areas  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere.  With 
the  exception  of  the  American  melanians  and  the  peculiar  polygyrine 
Helices  of  the  eastern  states,  not  only  the  families,  but  the  character- 
istic genera,  are  in  the  main  the  same.  The  minor  groups  peculiar  to 
each  are  but  differentiations  of  types  common  to  both.  Moreover,  in 
addition  to  their  general  generic  resemblance,  according  to  one  recent 
authority,  there  are  no  less  than  thirty-five  species  common  to  them  all. 

These  are  the  great  elemental  facts  of  present  distribution,  and  to  ac- 

*  count  not  only  for  them,  but  for  the  many  peculiarities  of  the  provincial 

faunas,  which  have  been  indicated,  upon  a  basis  of  acceptable  scientific 

theory,  is  the  problem  which  is  now  engaging  the  attention  of  all  students 

interested  in  the  study  of  the  origin  and  distribution  of  animal  life. 

Before  attempting  to  present  the  leading  facts  and  theories  which  bear 
upon  the  origin  and  introduction  of  the  existing  fauna  of  North  America, 


52  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OP    SCIENCE. 

a  few  words  in  regard  to  the  geological  history  of  the  continent  and  its 
relation  to  the  subject  may  not  be  out  of  place. 

By  the  general  concurrence  of  scientific  opinion,  the  sometime  theories 
of  the  existence  of  an  Atlantis  or  other  ancient  land  connection  across 
either  the  Atlantic  or  Pacific  oceans  between  the  old  and  new  worlds  have 
been  put  aside  as  wholly  untenable,  and  "the  general  permanence  of 
what  are  now  the  great  continents  and  deep  oceans"  is  now  generally 
accepted  as  an  established  fact.  The  great  changes  which  from  time  to 
time  in  the  world's  history  have  occurred  from  the  constantly  recurring 
submergence  of  the  land  beneath  the  sea  and  it's  subsequent  unheavals, 
are  believed  to  have  only  changed  the  configuration  of  the  surface  of 
these  ancient  continents,  and  from  time  to  time  altered  their  area  and 
extent.  There  is  no  reason  to  believe  that,  from  the  time  when  the  dry 
land  first  appeared  above  the  surface  of  the  palaeozoic  sea,  there  has  ever 
been  a  period  when  any  of  the  great  continental  areas  have  been  wholly 
submerged.  There  has  always  been  a  refuge  where  at  least  a  remnant 
of  the  existing  fauna  has  been  preserved,  that  might  again  under  favor- 
able auspices,  though  with  changed  surroundings,  re-people  the  earth. 
But.  while  modern  geology  fails  to  bridge  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  it  is 
free  to  admit  what  palaeontology  claims  must  have  been  the  fact,  that  at 
certain  periods  there  has  been  a  land  connection  between  the  old  and  the 
new  world.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  in  ages  past  there  has  been 
from  time  to  time  such  an  elevation  in  the  extreme  north  as  to  unite 
Asia  and  what  is  now  Alaska. 

Whether  there  has  ever  been  a  similar  Antarctic  continent  uniting 
Africa  and  South  America  with  perhaps  New  Zealand  is  not  yet  generally 
admitted.  With  one  exception  perhaps,  it  is  a  question  which  has  no 
bearing  upon  the  scope  of  the  present  discussion,  and  it  may  be  passed 
by  with  the  remark  that  such  an  extension  of  the  earth  surface  is  con- 
tended for  many  able  authorities,  and  that  it  is  a  hypothesis  which  would 
solve  some  of  the  most  perplexing  questions  now  before  the  zoogeograph- 
ers. 

As  all  of  the  palaeozoic  strata  are  considered  to  be  of  marine  origin, 
with  the  possible  exception  of  the  coal  deposits  of  the  Carboniferous 
age,  in  which  are  found  the  earliest  known  non-marine  mollusca,  the 
following  account  by  C.  A.  White  of  the  United  States  Geological  Sur- 
vey will  be  a  sufficient  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  continent  at 
the  time  when  the  non-marine  fauna  first  appeared.  "East  of  west  longi- 
tude 95°  (the  western  part  of  the  Mississippi  valley),  North  America  is 
mainly  occupied  by  Paleozoic  and  Archaean  rocks,  as  is  also  a  large 
area  which  extends  northward  and  southward  through  western  North 
America,  the  eastern  border  of  which  is  not  far  from  the  113th  meridian 
of  west  longitude.  These  two  great  areas  are  taken  to  represent  approxi- 
mately the  outline  and  extent  of  the  principal  portions  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent  that  were  above  the  level  of  the  sea  at  the  beginning  of 
the  Mesozoic  time.  A  broad  expanse  of  Mesozoic  sea  then  stretched 
between  these  two  continental  factors,  which  were  finally  united  by  a  gen- 
eral continental  elevation  and  the  consequent  recedence  of  the  sea.  This 
elevation  was  not — properlj-  speaking — catastrophal,  but  gradual  and 
oscillatory."  Without  going  into  detail  in  regard  to  gradual  elevation 
of  the  continental  area,  it  is  sufficient  for  our  present  purpose  to  add,  that 


WALKER    ON     ORIGIN    AND     DISTRIBUTION    OP     MOLLUSCA.       53 

during  the  Mesozoic  and  Tertiary  periods  this  great  sea  was  by  the 
general  continental  elevation  separated  from  the  great  open  ocean  and  be- 
came first  brackish  and  then  fresh  water,  and  finally  after  the  elevation 
of  the  Kocky  mountains  in  its  midst,  was  wholly  drained  off  or  evaporated, 
leaving  the  great  western  plains  of  the  present  day  as  surface  evidence 
of  its  former  existence.  The  existence  of  this  great  body  of  water, 
stretching  from  what  is  now  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Arctic  ocean,  salt 
when  first  separated  from  the  primeval  ocean  by  the  continental  eleva- 
tion at  the  north  and  south,  and  gradually  becoming  a  series  of  great 
fresh  water  lakes,  is  perhaps  the  most  important  factor  in  evolutionary 
history  of  our  mollusca.  For  not  only  in  its  waters  were  developed  the 
ancestral  types  of  nearly  all  of  our  existing  fresh  water  forms,  an  almost 
unbroken  series  of  which,  from  the  earliest  Mesozoic  times  to  the  present 
have  been  preserved  in  its  sedimentary  deposits,  but  as  we  shall  see,  it 
has  also  played  a  most  important  part  in  limiting  the  immigration  from 
other  regions. 

And  in  connection  with  this,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  great 
coast  ranges  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  on  the  west  and  the  Appalachians  on 
the  east  have  been  in  existence  substantially  as  they  now  are  from  the 
earliest  times,  and  in  this  way,  must  have  to  no  small  degree  affected 
not  only  the  distribution  of  the  great  faunas  of  the  prehistoric  ages,  but 
that  of  many  of  our  recent  species. 

The  third  great  factor,  which  in  past  ages  has  influenced  the  distribu 
tion  of  our  molluscan  fauna,  was  the  glacial  epoch  toward  the  close  of  the 
Tertiary  period.  The  advance  of  the  post  pleiocene  ice  sheet,  not  only 
wiped  out  of  existence  all  forms  of  life,  which  were  unable  to  escape  be 
fore  it,  but  the  influence  of  its  attendant  low  temperature  extending  far 
beyond  the  line  of  the  ice  itself,  absolutely  extinguished  the  great  fauna 
of  southern  forms  which  had  poured  into  North  America  from  South  Am- 
erica in  early  Tertiary  times,  and  were  unable  to  withstand  the  radical 
change  in  the  climate,  the  bones  of  whose  gigantic  mammals  now  alone 
remain  to  astonish  the  beholder  and  to  play  their  part  in  the  elucidation 
of  the  world's  history.  That  the  gradual  advance  of  the  ice  must  neces- 
sarily have  sounded  the  death  knell  for  all  animal  life  through  the 
entire  northern  portion  of  the  continent,  as  far  south  as  the  valley  of  the 
Ohio,  can  be  easily  appreciated  when  it  is  remembered  that  its  height 
is  estimated  to  have  been,  at  least,  nine  thousand  feet,  and  that  when 
it  receded  it  left  the  lowlands  of  New  England  and  the  northern  states 
buried  under  a  bed  of  boulder  clay  and  glacial  drift  from  ten  to  two 
hundred  feet  deep.  It  is  estimated  by  Prof.  Newberry  that  the  average 
depth  of  the  drift  in  the  state  of  Ohio  is,  at  least,  sixty  feet. 

Upon  the  recedence  of  the  glacier,  the  fall  of  the  waters  left  the  sur- 
face of  the  continent  as  we  now  find  it,  and  the  scattered  remnants  of 
the  Tertiary  fauna  along  its  southern  border  were  enabled  to  spread  out 
over  the  new  land  and  to  establish  the  fauna  of  the  continent  as  it  exists 
today. 

More  than  twenty-five  hundred  years  ago  the  philosophers  of  ancient 
Greece,  influenced  no  doubt  by  the  teeming  life,  which  swarmed  in  their 
native  seas,  taught  their  disciples  that  all  life  came  from  the  ocean,  and 
today  the  exponent  of  modern  scientific  thought  can  but  reaffirm  the 
happy  speculation  of  these  wise  men  of  old  and  assert  it  as  one  of  the 


54  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

fundamental  facts  upon  which  rest  the  whole  structure  of  the  modern 
science.  For,  if  the  accepted  theories  of  the  creation  of  the  world  and 
the  evolution  of  the  life  upon  it  be  true,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
first  land  which  appeared  above  the  surface  of  the  primordial  ocean  was 
peopled  from  the  waters  that  gave  it  birth,  and  that  to  the  marine  forms 
of  life  must  be  traced  the  origin  of  all  existing  forms  of  animated  nature. 
According  to  Bronn,  "the  principal  change  affecting  the  external  condi- 
tions of  the  existence  of  animal  life  is  to  be  found  in  the  progressive 
development  of  the  surface  of  the  earth,  in  the  subdivision  of  the  univer- 
sal primordial  ocean  into  great  inland  seas  and  "in  the  elevation  of  the 
plateaus  and  ranges  of  mountains.  Simultaneously  a  correlative  change 
manifests  itself  in  the  organic  world.  To  the  original  fauna  exclusively 
pelagic  and  natatory  is  added  first  a  deep  sea  fauna,  then  a  littoral  one 
in  the  shallow  waters,  and  finally  one  inhabited  exclusively  the  land." 
But  while  this  is  the  accepted  theory  and  notwithstanding  the  enormous 
amount  of  facts,  which  have  been  already  accumulated  to  substantiate 
it,  there  are  yet  wanting  in  almost  every  department,  owing  partially  to 
the  imperfection  of  the  geological  record,  and  partially  to  the  magnitude 
of  the  work  involved,  many  links  necessary  to  complete  the  genealogy  of 
existing  forms  of  life,  and  in  no  class  of  the  animal  kingdom  is  the  break 
as  complete  as  in  the  phylogeny  of  the  land  and  fresh  water  mollusca. 
The  earliest  forms  of  terrestrial  mollusks  yet  known  are  from  the  Carbonif- 
eronus  deposits  of  North  America.  The  fresh  water  univalves  first 
appear  in  the  rocks  of  the  upper  Jurassic,  as  do  also  the  Cyrenidae. 
The  Unionidpe  do  not  appear  until  the  lower  Cretaceous,  although  cer- 
tain forms  as  yet  imperfectly  known,  but  which  may  be  connected  with 
them  have  been  described  from  the  Carboniferous  period.  But  in  all 
cases  the  families  and  genera  are  fully  differentiated  and  substantially 
identical  with  those  now  in  existence.  And  although  this  fact  indi- 
cates that  these  forms  must  even  then  have  had  a  long  existence  in 
order  to  have  acquired  such  a  high  degree  of  differentiation,  there  is  yet 
a  total  lack  of  the  earlier  ancestral  and  more  primitive  types  connecting 
them  with  the  marine  forms.  By  the  study  of  the  embryology,  anatomy 
and  morphology  of  existing  forms,  we  can  more  or  less  clearly  arrive  at 
theoretical  conclusions  as  to  their  relations  with  the  marine  mollusca 
and  the  probable  line  of  descent,  and  from  the  habits  and  mode  of  life 
of  recent  mollusks  can  postulate  theories  more  or  less  satisfactory  as  to 
the  manner  in  which  these  great  changes  were  brought  about.  But  more 
than  that  is  now  and  will  be  impossible  until  the  earth  shall  yield  the 
secret  to  her  inquiring  children.  But  putting  speculation  aside  and 
relying  wholly  upon  the  palaeontological  evidences  already  in  our  pos- 
session, we  find  that  from  the  time  these  primitive  mollusks  first  ap- 
peared, they  have  existed  in  constantly  increasing  numbers  and  with  a 
greater  degree  of  specialization  in  each  succeeding  epoch.  And  by  a 
comparative  study  of  the  fossil  and  recent  forms  both  in  their  phy- 
logenetic  relations  and  their  distribution  in  time  and  in  connection  with 
the  theories  of  the  geologists  in  regard  to  the  successive  changes  in  the 
earth's  surface,  we  can  frequently  trace  back  the  history  of  many  of  our 
recent  species  to  remote  times  and  satisfactorily  account  for  their  present 
oftimes  seeming  erratic  distribution.  For  when  the  chronological 
order  of  the  appearance  of  the  different  families  and  genera  coincides 


WALKER    ON    ORIGIN     AND    DISTRIBUTION     OF     MOLLUSC  A.       55 

with  the  evidence  given  by  their  geographic  distribution  and  these  are 
also  consistent  with  the  accepted  doctrines  of  geology  as  to  the  changes 
in  the  earth's  surface,  which  would  afford  a  possibility  and  opportunity 
for  such  distribution,  the  consensus  of  all  these  elements  amounts  to 
practically  positive  proof.  With  these  considerations  in  mind  let  us  now 
return  to  our  present  fauna  and  see  how  far  the  existing  distribution  of 
our  mollusca  can  be  explained  from  the  paleontological  and  geological 
evidences  at  our  command. 

As  already  stated  the  earliest  forms  of  terrestrial  Mollusks  now  known 
are  from  the  carboniferous  deposits  of  our  northern  United  States  and 
Canada.  The  genera  there  represented  Pupa  and  Zonites  are  indistin- 
guishable from  these  genera  as  they  exist  today.  And  it  is  a  notable 
fact  that  these  genera  are  now  not  only  universally  distributed  over  this 
continent,  but  that  they  have  an  almost  worldwide  range  over  the  globe. 
The  vast  antiquity  of  these  forms  and  their  present  almost  universal 
distribution  must  "be  recognized  as  correlative  facts,  the  significance  of 
which  is  obvious. 

The  remarkable  and  peculiar  helicoid  fauna  of  the  Pacific  coast  has 
also  been  mentioned.     These  snails  are  not  entirely  different  from  the 
eastern  American  fauna  in  their  conchological  characters,  but  in  anatomi- 
cal features  as  well,  and  belong  to  an  entirely  different  sub-family,  which, 
from  its  more  specialized   character,  is  believed  to  be  of  much  later 
origin  in  time,  and  whose  affinities  are  wholly  with  the  present  fauna 
of   eastern   Asia.     Without   going   into   the   evidence  upon   which   the 
theory  is  based,  it  may  be  stated  there  is  reason  to  believe  during  the 
time  when  the  great  Mesozoic  sea  divided  the  eastern  Archean  conti- 
nent  from  the   western,   there   were   two    successive    immigrations    of 
helicoid  life  from  Asia  over  the  inter-continental  bridge,   which  then 
existed  across  Behring  Straits.     The  first  of  these  occurred  at  a  very 
early  period,  probably  in  Secondary  times.     Prevented  from  spreading 
to  the  east  by  the  Mesozoic  sea,  the  invading  mollusks  spread  southward 
along  the  Pacific  into  Mexico  and  Central  America.     From  thence,  one 
division  continued  south  into  South  America  where  today  it  constitutes 
a  large  part  of  the  helicoid  fauna.     About  the  same  time,  or  as  soon 
as  opportunity  was  offorded  by  the  elevation  above  the  sea  of  the  land 
bridge  between  Central  America  and  the  West  Indian  Islands  (which 
has  undoubtedly  existed),  another  division  spread  eastward  and  peopled 
what  are  now  known  as  the  Greater  and  Lesser  Antilles.     In  this  in- 
vasion the  helices  were  in  all  probability  accompanied  by  the  ancestral 
forms  of  the  operculated  mollusca  now  so  abundant  in  that  region  and 
by  a  detached  colony  of  the  Clausilias  peculiar  to  northeastern  Asia, 
which  found  a  permanent  home  in  the  mountains  of  Equador  and  Peru. 
No  remnants  of  this  invasion  now  exist  along  its  line  of  travel  down  the 
Californian  coast  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  forms,  wdiich  later 
passed  from  the  West  Indies  into  southern  Florida,  none  are  found  in 
North  America  north  of  Mexico.     Whether  the  failure  of  these  mollusks 
to  effect  a  permanent  footing  along  the  Californian  coast,  was  owing  to 
the  fact  they  were  exterminated  by  some  subsequent  submergence  of  that 
region,  or,  as  suggested  by  Huxley,  that  they  passed  to  the  south  along 
some  continental  extension  to  the  west,  which  is  now  covered  by  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  cannot  now  be  told.     But  that  was  the  manner  in  which 
one  great  tribe  of  mollusks  attained  in  its  present  distribution  in  the 


56  MTCHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

western  hemisphere  seems  to  be  justified  by  the  latest  and  best  scientific 
opinion. 

The  belief  that  this  invasion  was  long  antecedent  to  that  which  later 
gave  rise  to  the  present  fauna  of  the  Pacific  slope,  is  based  upon  the  fact 
that  the  structural  peculiarities  of  the  group  are  of  a  more  primitive 
type  than  belongs  to  the  later  invaders  and  that  its  present  universal 
range  through  the  Carribean  region  indicates  that  it  was  "an  older 
faunal  element"  and  was  in  position  to  take  advantage  of  certain  earlier 
continental  extensions,  which  ceased  to  exist  before  the  period  of  the 
later  immigration. 

The  second  Asiatic  invasion  is  supposed  to  have  occurred  in  the  early 
part  of  the  Eocene  period.  Its  members  belong  to  a  more  specialized 
type  of  molluscan  development,  and  hence  presumably  of  later  origin. 
Passing  over  the  Behring  bridge,  it  traveled  south,  leaving  along  its  track 
the  ancestors  of  the  present  west  coast  fauna.  The  presence  of  the 
Mesozoic  sea  at  that  time  and  later  the  mountains  and  arid  regions 
of  the  central  province,  have  hitherto  effectually  prevented  any  advance 
toward  the  east.  The  southern  extension  of  this  tribe  has  been  essen- 
tially the  same  as  its  predecessor.  From  it  has  decended  a  very  large 
part  of  the  existing  fauna  of  central  and  southern  America  and  the  West 
Indian  Islands. 

As  has  already  been  intimated,  the  continental  elevations  which  united 
the  Greater  Antilles  with  Central  America  undoubtedly  afforded  a  land 
bridge  between  Cuba  and  the  then  islands  of  Florida,  which  gave  the 
handful  of  the  tropical  species  now  found  there  an  opportunity  to  pass 
into  that  region  and  spread  as  far  north  as  climatic  conditions  would 
allow.  That  this  invasion  was  comparatively  recent,  is  shown  by  the 
small  amount  of  differentiation  which  has  taken  place  between  the 
Floridan  and  Cuban  forms. 

The  helicoid  fauna  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  continent  is  composed  of 
two  elements,  both  comparatively  simple  in  organization  and  undoubtedly 
of  great  antiquity. 

The  one,  comprising  the  patuloid  snails,  is  probably  nearest  to  the 
primitive  type  of  all  existing  forms.  It  is,  as  might  be  expected,  of  almost 
universal  distribution  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  on  this  continent, 
while  its  representatives  are  found  in  all  the  provinces,  occupies  the  cen- 
tral region  to  the  exclusion  of  the  forms  so  abundantly  developed  both  in 
the  east  and  along  the  Pacific. 

The  other,  the  Polygyrw,  is  wholly  confined  to  America  and  is  be- 
lieved to  be  one  of  the  few  remaining  races  of  the  earlist  forms  of 
helicoid  life.  Although  the  palseontological  history  of  the  group  is  very 
scant,  there  cannot  be  much  doubt  that  its  ancestors  have  occupied 
eastern  American  soil  ever  since  it  had  a  fauna  of  Helicidw.  The  same 
barriers  which  operated  to  prevent  the  eastern  extension  of  the  successive 
invasions  of  the  Pacific  coast  from  the  old  world,  in  all  probability  have 
been  the  means  of  preserving  these  native  races  from  what  might  have 
proved  a  fatal  competition  with  the  more  highly  organized  invaders 
from  the  west. 

Of  the  source  and  method  of  distribution  of  the  pulmonate  fresh  water 
mollusca  little  can  be  said.  There  has  not  been  so  much  splitting  up  into 
families   and   genera   as  has   occurred   on   the   terrestrial    forms.     The 


WALKER    ON     ORIGIN    AND     DISTRIBUTION     OF    MOLLUSCA.       57 

genera  as  they  exist  today  are  substantially  the  same  as  they  were  when 
the  race  first  appeared  on  the  geological  horizon,  and  this  fact  of  great 
antiquity  is  borne  out  by  their  worldwide  and  almost  universal  dis- 
tribution at  the  present  time. 

There  is,  however,  a  single  genus  of  this  class,  whose  peculiar  distribu- 
tion in  recent  times  is  one  of  the  yet  unsolved  puzzles  to  the  zoogeog- 
rapher.  This  is  a  little  group  of  limpet-shaped  snails  known  as  Gund- 
lachia,  originally  discovered  by  the  German  naturalist,  Gundlach,  in 
Cuba  and  named  after  him.  Subsequent  discoveries  have  shown  that  it 
ranges  north  into  the  United  States  from  Long  Island  to  California  and 
south  into  South  America.  It  is  not  found  in  any  other  part  of  the 
world,  except  southern  Australia,  Tasmania  and  New  Zealand.  That 
it  spread  into  North  America  from  the  south  is  shown  both  by  its 
present  distribution  into  that  direction,  and  its  absolute  tailure  to  appear 
either  in  former  ages  or  at  the  present  time  in  the  fauna  of  Asia  and 
Europe.  It  is  possibly  one  of  the  few  survivors  of  that  mighty  army  of 
tropical  forms  which  poured  into  North  America  in  early  Tertiary  time 
from  the  southern  continent  and  which  later  perished  so  miserably  upon 
the  advent  of  the  glacial  period.  Its  concurrent  existence  in  South  Am- 
erica and  Australia  is  very  interesting  and  is  one  of  the  many  evidences 
both  in  fauna  and  flora  which  go  to  support  the  theory  of  the  Antarctic 
continent  in  Tertiary  times.  "A  strip  of  land  with  a  mild  climate  extend- 
ing across  the  pole  from  Tasmania  to  Terra  del  Fuego  would  have 
afforded  a  possible  route  *  *  *  and  the  theory  of  a  Mesozoic  or  older 
Tertiary  migration  to  or  from  Australia  *  *  *  would  explain  its  present 
position."  Whatever  may  be  the  fate  of  the  theory,  the  instance  is  an 
interesting  one,  as  exhibiting  the  methods  by  which  modern  science  from 
all  possible  sources — geological,  palaeontological  and  biological — seeks  to 
reach  the  truth  and  reconstruct  the  history  of  the  world. 

All  of  the  existing  families  of  fresh  water,  gill-bearing  mollusca  date 
back  to  the  era  of  the  great  inland  lakes,  which  resulted  from  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Mesozoic  sea  from  the  adjacent  oceans  by  the  general  conti- 
nental elevation,  which  then  took  place.  Not  only  every  family,  but 
"almost  every,  if  not  every,  genus  and  many  of  the  subordinate  divisions 
of  those  genera,  that  are  now  among  the  living  North  American  fresh 
water  mollusca,  have  been  recognized  among  the  species  that  constitute 
the  different  faunae,  the  fossil  remains  of  which  have  been  collected  from 
the  Mesozoic  and  Cenozoic  strata  of  western  North  America." 

The  present  distribution  of  the  two  great  families  of  Viviparidw  and 
Pleuroceridm  which  now  constitute  a  most  important  feature  of  our 
fauna,  is  in  some  respects  quite  dissimilar,  and,  while  our  present 
knowledge  of  the  distribution  of  these  families  and  their  progenitors  in 
time,  is  not  sufficient  to  enable  us  to  speak  of  with  the  same  certainty 
that  may  be  done  in  regard  to  other  groups,  the  facts,  as  they  exist,  give 
rise  to  the  same  interesting  speculations. 

The  Yiviparidm  are  a  family  of  almost  universal  distribution  in  the 
northern  hemisphere  and  of  ancient  lineage,  dating  back  to  Jurassic  times 
in  both  the  old  and  new  world.  It  is  very  abundantly  distributed 
through  the  eastern  United  States,  but  curiously  enough,  it  is  lacking 
absolutely  in  the  region  west  of  the  mountains  along  the  Pacific  coast. 
Nor  does  it  extend  into  South  America. 

The  Pleuroceridw   on   the   other  hand,    while  dating  back   at   least, 


58  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

as  far  as  the  Laramie  period  is  purely  a  native  American  family  and 
ranges  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  and  as  far  south  as  Central  Am- 
erica. Its  affinities  are  very  close  to  the  old  world  family  of  the 
Melaniidw,  which,  however,  is  also  found  in  South  America,  but  does 
not  range  further  north  than  Mexico.  It  is  a  fact  of  great  significance 
and  one  which  may  point  to  the  origin  of  the  North  American  family 
that  representatives  of  both  families  are  found  associated  in  the  fresh 
water  deposits  of  the  Laramie  epoch.  The  local  conditions  which  resulted 
in  the  extinction  of  the  Melanidw,  but  which  permitted  the  survival  of 
the  Pleuroceridw  can  only  be  surmised. 

The  occurrence  of  the  Pleuroceridw  on  the  Pacific  coast,  where  the 
Viviparidw  are  not  found,  is  also  an  interesting  and  important  circum- 
stance. As  is  also  the  further  fact  that  the  Californian  species  have 
certain  peculiarities,  which  separate  them  from  the  eastern  forms. 

While  there  is  not  at  present  sufficient  evidence  perhaps  to  warrant  it, 
a  pleasing  theory  can  be  formulated,  which  accounts  for  the  apparently 
anomalous  distribution  of  these  families.  Assuming  that  the  Pleuroceridw 
are  an  offshoot  from  the  old  world  Melaniidce  it  would  be  easy  to  account 
for  their  introduction  into  North  America  as  a  part  of  the  molluscan 
immigration  in  secondary  times  already  alluded  to  in  connection  with 
the  land  mollusks.  Passing  south  along  the  Pacific  coast,  entrance  to 
Central  and  South  America  would  be  had  and  the  subsequent  eruption 
of  South  American  forms  into  the  north  of  Eocene  times,  would  give 
an  explanation  of  their  appearance  in  the  Laramie  fauna.  This  would 
also  give  a  rational  explanation  for  the  present  existence  of  the  Cali- 
fornian colony. 

On  the  other  hand  if  such  were  the  history  of  the  introduction  of  the 
Viviparidw,  it  is  difficult  to  see  why  it  is  not  shown  by  a  similar  dis- 
tribution to  the  west  and  south.  In  the  same  way,  if  the  Californian 
Pleuroceridw  are  derived  from  the  former  inhabitants  of  the  Laramie 
Sea  it  is  difficult  to  understand  why,  when  we  find  the  two  families  there 
associated  under  similar  and  evidently  favorable  circumstances,  that 
the  Sierra  Nevada  mountains  should  have  proved  an  insurmountable 
barrier  to  the  one  and  not  to  the  other.  The  failure  of  the  Unionidw 
of  the  same  fauna  to  effect  an  entrance  into  California  is  also  signifi- 
cant. 

But  if  we  would  assume  that  instead  of  coming  from  the  orient,  the 
Viviparidw  originated  in  North  America,  where  from  the  earliest  times 
there  has  been  the  greatest  generic  differentiation,  and  that  like  the 
Camelidw  among  the  mammals,  they  passed  around  the  mountains  to  the 
north  and  spread  westward  over  the  Behring  bridge  into  the  old  world, 
all  such  apparent  inconsistencies  would  be  obviated  and  theoretical  con- 
clusions would  be  in  entire  harmony  with  the  known  distribution. 

The  present  unione  fauna  of  North  America  far  exceeds  that  of  any 
other  country  in  the  abundance  of  its  species  and  the  almost  infinite 
diversity  of  shape,  size  and  ornamentation.  The  questions  connected 
with  the  origin,  differentiation  and  distribution  of  this  family  are  there- 
fore of  peculiar  interest  to  the  American  student.  Like  the  other 
families  of  non-marine  mollusca  the  ultimate  origin  or,  rather,  point  of 
separation  of  these  forms  from  the  marine  type,  is  unknown  and  even 
upon  theoretical  conclusions  naturalists  are  not  agreed  as  to  the  probable 
line  of  descent.     "Although  certain  shells  found  in  the  Carboniferous 


WALKER    ON    ORIGIN     AND    DISTRIBUTION    OF    MOLLUSCA.       59 

and  Devonian  strata  of  Europe  and  America  have  been  referred  to  the 
Unionidce  by  different  authors,  the  accuracy  of  such  reference  has  been 
seriously  questioned  and  American  palaeontologists  have  not  generally 
recognized  as  belonging  to  that  family  any  shells  found  in  the  strata 
earlier  than  Mesozoic  time.  "Beginning  with  the  Jurassic  period,  how- 
ever, undoubted  Unionidce  are  found  and  toward  the  end  of  the  Creta- 
ceous age  a  large  and  greatly  differentiated  fauna  is  found  in  both  the 
new  and  old  world."  "As  a  rule  the  types  that  have  hitherto  been  dis- 
covered in  the  Mesozoic  and  Cenozoic  strata  of  the  western  part  of  North 
America,  are  such  as  now  exist  in  different  parts  of  the  continent,  espec- 
ially its  eastern  half.  This  similarity  of  type,  although  it  is  somewhat 
more  apparent  in  the  later  than  in  the  earlier  formations  extends  as  far 
back  as  the  Mesozoic  epochs  *  *  *  and  even  in  the  case  of  a  majority 
of  exceptions  to  this  rule,  the  relationship  to  existing  forms  is  readily 
recognized.  In  short  the  almost  exact  identity  of  types  of  the  fossil  and 
living  species  is  such  as  to  leave  no  doubt  that  the  former  represent  the 
latter  ancestrally.  The  fact  also  that  the  types  of  these  Mollusks  had 
become  so  differentiated  before  the  close  of  Mesozoic  time,  and  that  they 
have  changed  so  little  since,  points  back  to  a  previous  evolutionary 
history,  which  doubtlessly  began  in  Paheozoic  time." 

The  separation  of  Mesozoic  sea  from  the  open  ocean  and  its  gradual 
change  of  its  waters  from  salt  to  fresh,  was  undoubtedly  the  cause  of  the 
great  diversity  of  type,  which  so  early  developed  itself  in  this  family 
during  that  epoch,  and  which  has,  in  this  country,  been  perpetuated  to  the 
present  time.  "It  is  well  known  that  the  maximum  of  differentiation 
of  mulluscan  types  takes  place  in  marine  waters,  that  it  is  much  less  in 
brackish  waters,  and  that  the  minimum  in  this  respect  is  reached  in 
purely  fresh  waters."  "We  should,  therefore,  naturally  expect  to  find 
in  those  strata  which  bear  evidence  of  having  been  deposited  in  purely 
fresh  waters  a  fauna  meagre  both  in  species  and  development,  while  in 
those  strata  that  have  evidence  of  having  been  deposited  in  waters  which 
were  a  little  salt,  the  Unionidce  would  be  much  more  differentiated." 
"This  is  exactly  what  is  found  to  be  the  case,  and  indeed  it  is  only  in  the 
last  mentioned  strata  alone,  that  those  species  of  Unio  have  been  found, 
that  possess  the  peculiar  North  American  characteristics."  "Judging 
from  these  facts,  it  would  seem  that  these'  ancient  Unionidce  were  not 
only  capable  of  living  in  waters  that  were  a  little  salt,  but  that  the  in- 
fluence of  the  salt  upon  them  was  such  as  is  in  a  general  way  exerted 
by  it  upon  all  molluscan  life  producing  a  greater  differentiation  than 
would  have  been  produced  in  fresh  lacustrine  waters,  and  such  as  has 
generally  been  supposed  to  have  exerted  upon  the  family  in  existing 
fluviatile  waters.  While  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  assume,  that  much 
of  the  differentation  that  now  prevails  in  the  living  North  American 
Unionidce  took  place  in  fresh  waters,  the  facts  brought  out  by  the  study 
of  the  fossil  forms  seem  to  indicate  plainly,  that  the  characteristics  which 
we  call  "North  American"  have  been  directly  inherited  from  these  fossil 
species,  and  the  possibility  also,  that  the  later  species  received  in  Mesozoic 
and  Tertiary  times,  their  -differentation  under  the  influences  of  other 
conditions,  among  which  was  the  diffusion  of  a  small  portion  of  salt  in 
the  waters  in  which  they  lived." 

"If  it  be  assumed,  therefore,  as  is  believed  to  be  the  case  that  the  con- 


60  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

ditions  of  unione  life  have  been  preserved  unbroken  notwithstanding  tbe 
physical  changes  that  have  taken  place  during  the  Mesozoic  and  Tertiary 
periods,  it  was  doubtless  accomplished  through  streams  that  are  now 
western  tributaries  of  the  great  Mississippi  river  system  and  which  were 
then  outlets  of  those  great  lakes  in  the  deposits  of  which  the  fossil 
FJnionidw  are  now  found."  By  this  means  an  entrance  was  afforded 
into  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  valley  and  an  escape  from  the  extinc- 
tion which  overtook  their  ancestors  upon  the  final  dessication  of  the 
Laramie  sea.  That  this  invasion  into  the  Mississippi  valley  took  place, 
at  a  very  early  date  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  tie-immigrants  had  time 
under  their  changed  environment  to  develop  into  the  species  as  they  now 
exist  before  the  advent  of  the  glacial  epoch.  The  extension  of  these  forms 
through  the  eastern  portion  of  the  continent,  both  in  preglacial  and 
recent  times,  has  been  limited  only  by  the  physical  barriers  caused  by  the 
great  water-sheds  lying  between  the  Mississippi,  St.  Lawrence  and  At- 
lantic drainage  systems  and  unfavorable  climatic  conditions  toward  the 
far  north  and  south. 

Of  their  preglacial  range  to  the  north  nothing  is  now  known.  But  their 
hardy  nature  and  ability  to  extend  into  new  territory  is  shown  by  the 
fact,  that  during  the  temporary  recedence  of  the  great  glacier,  certain 
species  found  their  way  north  through  the  then  existing  southern  outlet 
of  Lake  Michigan  into  the  St.  Lawrence  valley  as  far  east,  at  least,  as 
Toronto  and  were  subsequently  extinguished  by  the  return  of  glacier. 
Upon  the  final  disappearance  of  the  glacier,  but  before  the  present  drain- 
age of  the  St.  Lawrence  system  to  the  east  had  been  established,  a  second 
immigration  took  place  whose  descendants,  all  possible  retreat  to  the 
south  having  been  cut  off,  now  people  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  states 
bordering  on  the  great  lakes.  To  the  east,  the  Appalachian  mountains  had 
proved  an  almost  total  barrier  at  all  times  to  any  general  extension  in 
that  direction. 

The  relations,  if  any,  which  the  peculiar  fauna  now  found  in  the  states 
east  of  those  mountains  bear  to  the  Mississippi  valley,  fauna  have  not 
yet  been  worked  out.  There  is  reason  to  believe,  however,  that  it  may  be 
genetically  connected  through  some  early  migration  which  spread  around 
the  southern  end  of  the  range  and  thence  northward  along  the  coast, 
and  has  been  enabled  to  develop  its  characteristic  form  under  peculiar 
conditions  of  isolation  and  local  environment. 

The  peculiar  and  exclusive  fauna  of  California  has  already  been  alluded 
to,  but  this  characteristic  is  nowhere  more  strangely  emphasized  than 
in  respect  to  its  Vnionidce.  There  is  absolutely  no  relation  whatever 
with  the  eastern  forms,  and  there  is  not  the  slightest  evidence  that  a 
single  one  of  the  multitudinous  unione  inhabitants  of  the  Laramine  sea 
ever  succeeded  in  passing  over  the  mountains  into  the  low  lands  of  the 
coast.  As  has  already  been  stated,  the  entire  fauna  of  this  region  con- 
sists of  a  single  European  Margaritina  and  a  few  Anodontw,  which  are 
so  closely  related  to  existing  European  forms  that  their  specific  dis- 
tinction is  very  doubtful.  And  thus  again,  and  most  unmistakably,  is  the 
theory  of  the  foreign  origin  of  the  fauna  of  the  Pacific  coast  substan- 
tiated by  the  undeniable  facts  of  the  present  characteristics  and  distribu- 
tion of  its  molluscan  inhabitants. 


WALKER    ON     ORIGIN     AND     DISTRIBUTION    OP     MOLLUSCA.       61 

The  present  range  of  the  European  Margaritina  above  mentioned  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  facts  brought  to  light  by  the  study  of  the 
recent  distribution  of  our  molluscan  fauna. 

It  is  common  both  upon  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts,  but  is  wholly 
wanting  in  the  Mississippi  valley  and  the  interior  region  lying  to  the 
north.  That  it  must  have  been  an  early  immigrant  from  the  old  world  is 
shown  the  fact,  that  to  have  allowed  its  present  range  it  must  have  at 
one  time  extended  clear  across  the  northern  portion  of  the  continent. 
Its  total  disappearance  in  the  interior  region  is  in  all  probability  to  be 
attributed  in  common  with  so  many  of  our  faunal  peculiarities  to  the 
effect  of  the  glacial  period.  Upon  the  approach  of  the  ice,  there  was 
undoubtedly  a  retreat,  as  far  as  possible,  before  it  of  all  forms  of  animal 
life  toward  the  south.  By  what  means  the  eastern  Margaritinm  were 
enabled  to  escape  from  the  total  destruction  which  overwhelmed  their 
brethren  in  the  interior  cannot  be  told.  But  there  must  have  been  some 
factors  connected  either  with  the  advance  of  the  glacier  or  the  means  of 
retreat,  which  saved  the  eastern  contingent  from  extermination  and  by 
which  upon  the  subsequent  recedence  of  the  ice  cap,  the  survivors  were 
able  to  regain  their  former  foothold  in  the  northern  Atlantic  states,  al- 
though prevented  by  physical  changes  from  spreading  again  toward  the 
west  into  the  interior  region. 

The  relations  existing  between  the  peculiar,  so  called  "North  Ameri- 
can" types  of  Unionidce  and  both  the  Tertiary  fauna  of  southeastern 
Europe  and  the  fossil  and  living  fauna  of  Asia  are  very  interesting  and 
when  fully  known  seem  likely  to  give  important  data  as  to  the  origin 
of  this  widely  extended  family  and  the  manner  in  which  it  has  attained 
its  present  world-wide  distribution.  But  the  existing  material  is  as  yet 
too  scanty  to  be  used,  even  for  speculative  purposes. 

Of  the  many  interesting  details  of  the  local  distribution  of  existing 
species,  both  in  this  and  other  families  represented  in  our  fauna,  the 
already  too  greatly  extended  limits  of  this  paper  forbid  mention. 

From  the  roughly  drawn  outlines  which  have  been  given  of  the  prin- 
cipal theories  now  advanced  to  account  for  the  distribution  of  our  exist- 
ing fauna  and  of  the  main  facts  upon  which  they  are  based,  some  idea  can 
perhaps  be  obtained  from  the  nature  of  the  work,  which  modern  science 
seeks  to  accomplish,  of  the  measure  of  success  that  has  already  been 
attained  and  of  the  possibilities,  which  lie  before  the  student,  »f  the 
geological  and  geographical  distribution  of  the  mollusca.  The  enormous 
advance  that  has  been  made  within  the  few  years  that  have  elapsed  since 
Darwin  and  Wallace  opened  the  doors  to  untrammeled  thought  and 
investigation,  it  is  but  a  foretaste  of  that,  which  surely  is  to  come.  And 
while  perhaps  it  is  too  much  to  expect  that,  from  the  scattered  debris 
of  the  wreckage  of  past  ages,  the  chain  of  animal  life  can  ever  be  re- 
constructed in  its  entirety,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that,  in  the 
years  to  come,  much  that  is  now  inexplicable  will  be  made  plain  and 
that  in  its  broad  outlines,  at  least,  and  to  a  high  degree  of  certainty  the 
true  history  of  its  origin  and  development  will  be  elucidated. 


62  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OP    SCIENCE. 


THE  SUB-CARBONIFEROUS  LIMESTONE  EXPOSURE  AT  GRAND 

RAPIDS,  MICH. 

BY  CHARLES  A.  WHITTEMORE,  GRAND  RAPIDS. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,  Dec.  26,  1895.) 

My  work  as  a  member  of  the  Kent  Scientific  Institute  of  Grand  Rapids 
has  called  for  many  excursions  to  our  limestone  quarries  and  I  now  offer 
you  a  few  notes  from  observations  taken  in  the  field  and  from  what  I 
could  gather  from  those  whose  interest  or  business  led  them  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  subject.  Before  entering  upon  the  work  I  trust  you 
will  allow  me  to  say  a  few  words  about  the  society  I  have  the  honor  to 
represent.  The  Kent  Scientific  Institute  was  organized  in  January,  1868, 
and  was  shortly  after  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state  "for  the 
study  of  the  natural  sciences  and  to  maintain  a  natural  history  museum.'' 

It  succeeded  a  society  known  as  "The  Grand  Rapids  Lyceum  of  Natural 
History." 

Museum  material  rapidly  flowed  into  the  society  both  by  donation  and 
purchase  and  in  a  short  time  there  was  a  valuable  collection  on  hand. 

The  society  was  organized  as  an  independent  body,  but  an  agreement 
was  soon  entered  upon  with  the  board  of  education  of  the  city  whereby 
the  board  furnished  a  place  for  the  meetings,  and  room  for  the  collect- 
tions.  In  return  the  society  allows  the  board  to  use  the  museum  material 
for  instruction  in  natural  history  in  the  public  schools.  Therefore  any 
teacher  in  the  city  can  send  for  what  he  may  wish  to  illustrate  his 
science  work.  We  have  a  collection  of  700  mounted  birds,  1,150  skins. 
1,400  eggs,  and  nearly  10,000  species  (30,000  specimens)  of  shells.  There 
are  165  bottles  of  alcoholic  specimens,  more  than  0,000  minerals  and 
fossils,  and  1,500  plants.  Like  most  societies  of  this  kind  we  are  sadly 
in  need  of  means  to  properly  display  our  collection.  In  the  28  years  of 
its  existence  the  society  has  supported  its  meetings  twice  a  month,  and 
has  kept  alive  a  spark  of  interest  in  natural  history.  The  museum  has 
given  pleasure  and  instruction  to  hundreds  of  scholars,  and  many  a  young 
man  can  date  from  it  his  inspiration  to  a  life  of  natural  science. 

Although  the  general  course  of  Grand  river  is  to  the  west,  opposite  the 
city  it  flows  to  the  south.  Just  below  the  city  it  begins  a  large  bend  to 
the  west.  In  the  river  bed  the  rock  comes  nearly  to  the  surface  of  the 
water  and  in  some  places  it  is  below  low  water  level.  Consequently  there 
is  considerable  current,  whence  our  city  gets  its  name,  from  the  grand 
rapids  of  Grand  river.  On  each  side  of  the  river  there  are  hills,  making  a 
valley  one  and  one-half  miles  wide.  The  highest  point  on  the  east  side, 
our  city  engineer  who  gives  me  these  figures  tells  me,  is  165  feet  high;  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river  near  the  John  Ball  park,  the  hill  is  148  feet  above 
low  water  mark,  hence  another  name,  The  "Valley  City"  of  the  Wolverine 
State.     But  we  are  not  responsible  for  the  latter  part  of  the  title. 

The  rock  makes  its  appearance  in  the  river  bed  at  a  point  about  100 
feet  above  Pearl  street  bridge.     That   it   is  limestone  needs  no  argu- 


WHITTEMORE    ON     LIMESTONE    EXPOSURE,     GRAND    RAPIDS.      63 

ment,  as  it  answers  the  acid  test,  has  been  burned  for  lime,  and  is  identi- 
fied by  means  of  fossils  which  will  be  mentioned  later. 

On  the  the  east  side  of  the  river  the  same  rock  was  found  in  the  exca- 
vations for  Sweet's  Hotel,  but  it  had  many  holes  through  it.  The  same 
feature  was  seen  in  digging  for  the  foundations  for  the  National  City 
Bank  building.  At  Mr.  Power's  well,  in  the  Arcade,  just  north  of  Pear 
street,  the  lime  rock  was  found  14  feet  thick  under  6  or  8  feet  of  drift. 
These  features  indicate  the  southern  edge  of  the  formation,  as  shown  on 
the  map.  In  the  west  side  canal  bedrock  was  struck  at  a  little  more  than 
100  feet  south  of  the  dam.  Away  from  the  river  the  limerock  was  not 
found  south  of  Bridge  street,  its  boundaries,  however,  I  do  not  know. 
The  ridge  is  found  in  the  river  bed  at  a  point  near  the  Kent  Furniture 
Co's  shops,  and  slopes  rapidly  to  the  north.  The  apparent  dip,  as  seen  in 
the  river  bed,  is  to  the  south,  but  the  true  dip  is  N.  E.  by  E.*  Such  must 
evidently  be  the  case  in  order  that  the  strata  may  pass  under  the  coal 
measures  of  the  center  of  the  State.  The  upper  line  on  the  west  side  runs 
a  little  north  of  west,  but  has  not  been  determined. 

To  Hon.  Wm.  T.  Powers  I  am  indebted  for  much  valuable  information 
concerning  this  outcrop. 

The  thickness  of  the  rock  at  the  head  of  the  rapids  is  52  feet.  It  is 
found  under  a  drift  deposit  of  two  or  three  feet  and  in  some  places  is 
covered  only  by  the  sod.  The  same  kind  of  limestone,  with  the  same 
crystals,  is  found  at  Kellogsville,  six  miles  south  of  the  city. 

The  strata  have  been  extensively  worked  for  building  stone,  both  in 
the  river  bed  and  on  shore.  The  rock  is  very  shaly  so  that  it  cannot  be 
used  for  much  more  than  foundation  walls.  The  openings  are  indicated 
by  the  spots  on  the  map.  Large  piles  have  been  frequently  stored  up 
for  market,  so  that  many  opportunities  for  examination  were  given,  both 
in  the  stone  heaps  and  in  the  workings.  The  evidence  that  our  limestone 
is  sub-carboniferous,  Prof.  Strong  tells  me  is  abundant  and  satisfactory, 
both  on  the  organic  and  stratigraphical  sides.  Evidence  is  given  by  the 
borings  for  salt  wells,  by  seeing  actual  contact  with  the  lower  numbers 
of  the  carboniferous  measures  on  the  east,  and  contact  with  the  Marshall 
sandstone — generally  regarded  as  equivalent  to  the  Waverly  group,  on  the 
west.  Additional  evidence  is  given  from  the  fossil  remains,  of  which 
Prof.  Strong  published  a  preliminary  list,  as  K.  S.  I.  Miscellaneous  Col- 
lections No.  3.  He  describes  Helodus  crenulatus,  Ciadodus  irregularis, 
scales  of  C  ten  acanthus,  four  species  of  Nautilus  three  of  Allorisma,  and 
several  others  too  imperfect  to  be  determined.  Lithostrotion  canadense, 
Prodiictus  sanctatus,  and  some  specimens  of  Hemiphronites  are  also  relied 
on  for  further  evidence.  Dr.  DeCamp  has  found  trilobites  which  he 
identified  as  "Phacops  bufo."  He  sent  them  to  Prof.  A.  Winchell  for 
further  examination.  He  has  also  found  tesselated  teeth  in  the  Taylor 
street  quarry  and  bony  plates  for  such  teeth.  Of  corals  I  have  found 
Cyathophi/llum  divaricatum  and  G.  flexnosus.  Many  other  corals  are  found 
in  the  drift,  but  need  not  be  mentioned  here.  The  division  of  the  sub- 
carboniferous  is  a  more  difficult  matter.  The  Lithostrotion,  Prof.  Win- 
chell writes  indicates  the  St.  Louis  group  of  the  Mississippi  valley.  The 
strata,  are  slightly  undulating  and  in  one  opening  there  are  several 
layers  of  the  red  limestone  which  will  burn  to  hydraulic  lime. 

*50  to  60  ft.  to  the  mile. 


64  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

Although  our  lime  rock  is  the  same  formation  there  is  a  marked  differ- 
ence in  the  crystals  from  the  different  openings.  The  Davis  street  quarry 
was  worked  to  a  depth  of  28  feet  below  the  sidewalk.  Dog-tooth  spar 
crystals  were  found  abundantly  and  increased  both  in  size  and  numbers 
nearly  to  the  depth  of  the  excavation.  They  were  found  in  cavities  in 
what  are  called  "Geode  Beds,"  In  the  deeper  part  of  the  pit  the  supply 
of  crystals  suddenly  stopped.  These  crystals  (specimens  shown)  came 
from  that  opening.  I  have  at  home  two  pieces  of  limestone,  each  about 
14  inches  long  and  0  inches  wide,  one  with  crystals  as  large  as  this  one, 
and  the  other  with  six  or  eight  crystals  of  half  this  size,  both  imbedded 
in  a  surface  of  pyrite  crystals.  These  crystals  "may  not  be  large  for 
other  places  but  they  are  the  largest  we  have  found. 

Iron  pyrites  crystals  were  found  common  at  Davis  street  but  seldom 
larger  than  f  cubes.  The  variety  Marcasite  was  found  in  much  greater 
quantity.  I  found  one  piece  in  the  shape  of  a  ball  1%  inches  in  diameter. 
A  piece  of  stone  4  feet  long  and  2|  wide  was  found  covered  with  pyrite 
cubes.  I  could  have  had  it  but  it  was  too  large  for  me.  It  is  now  doing 
duty  in  a  cemetery.  Deposits  of  calcite  or  brown  spar  were  found  here 
in  larger  pieces  than  in  any  other  place.  One  piece  was  nearly  a  cubic 
foot  contents.  It  is  usually  found  as  a  nodule  imbedded  in  the  solid 
rock.  Sometimes  it  is  found  in  flakes  which  make  up  a  vein  through  the 
stone.  In  this  quarry  also*  I  found  these  curious  double-colored  crystals 
not  found  elsewhere.     (Specimens  exhibited.) 

In  the  lowest  heading  of  this  pit,  28  feet  deep,  I  found  several  cavities 
with  the  inside  pitted  instead  of  covered  with  c^stals.  I  took  out  a  few 
of  the  holes  (?)  which  are  represented  by  this  sample.  At  the  Davis 
street  extension  scalenohedrons  were  found  in  plenty,  and  here  I  found 
a  cavity  with  loose  crystals — the  only  one  discovered.  The  crystals  were 
imbedded  in  sand  or  clav,  and  had  evidentlv  fallen  from  the  roof  of  the 
opening.  There  was  so  much  outside  earth  in  the  cavity  that  it  was 
useless  to  consider  any  of  it  as  a  residue  of  crystallization.  In  the  open- 
ing just  below  the  dam  nodules  of  calcite  were  found,  but  nothing  worth 
taking  home. 

In  the  excavation  for  the  filter  in  the  bed  of  the  river  just  above  the 
city  water  works,  brown  cubical  crystals  were  found  in  good  numbers. 
Here  I  found  cavities  containing  gypsum — lime  sulphate  instead  of  the 
carbonate.  Some  of  them,  cavities  as  large  as  my  fist,  had  the  surface 
of  the  gypsum  level.  The  holes  were  about  two-thirds  full,  and  the 
level  surface  indicated  a  deposit  from  solution. 

In  stone  near  the  upper  end  of  the  exposure  I  found  a  few  cavities 
lined  with  pyrites.  These  are  rare  and  I  have  seen  only  one  other,  which 
was  spoiled  in  taking  out. 

Many  valuable  specimens  were  found  at  the  Taylor  street  quarry,  but 
that  was  abandoned  and  filled  before  I  came  to  the  city,  so  I  can  only 
repeat  what  I  hear  from  others.  I  have  broken  more  specimens  in  the 
quarry  than  I  ever  took  home  with  me,  on  account  of  the  shaly  nature 
of  the  stone.  However  carefully  I  might  line  out  my  work  the  piece 
would  often  break  at  right  angles  to  my  marks  and  the  disturbance  of 
my  temper. 

At  the  Myrtle  street  opening  white  and  brown  cubical  crystals  were 
found.  The  white  crystals  were  rare  and  were  not  found  in  other  places. 
Much  iron  pyrites  was  found  here  but  in  a  decomposed  condition.     Joints 


MILLAR    ON    THE     MISSOURI    EARTHQUAKE     IN     1895.  65 

and  seams  could  be  studied  in  this  opening  better  than  elsewhere.  The 
principal  joints  were  vertical  and  about  four  feet  apart.  The  faces  were 
as  smooth  as  if  dressed  by  hand.  Their  direction  was  to  the  northwest, 
evidently  at  right  angles  to  the  dip  of  the  strata.  Between  the  principal 
seams  were  smaller  and  irregular  joints.  The  upper  layers  were  here 
much  disintegrated,  and  gave  a  good  chance  to  study  transition  from 
rock  to  soil.  There  is  no  drift  here — nothing  but  a  thin  sod — and  we  are 
evidently  on  the  highest  part  of  the  limestone.  The  first  10  or  12  inches 
could  be  moved  with  a  shovel;  a  pick-axe  could  take  10  or  12  inches  more. 
Many  pieces  are  found  here  yellow  on  the  outside  and  with  the  grey  un- 
changed stone  in  the  center.  I  thought  at  first  that  the  change  was  due 
to  carbonic  acid  (C  O2)  but  Prof.  Carmen  applied  a  test  and  showed  that 
iron  was  present.  On  the  west  bank  of  the  river  three  openings  have 
been  made,  to  a  depth  of  about  6  feet.  A  few  brown  cubical  crystals 
were  found  in  a  limited  area. 

The  best  years  for  crystals  were  1888  and  '89.  Those  were  phenomenal 
years  and  I  was  so  situated  that  I  could  make  frequent  collecting  trips, 
and  succeeded  in  getting  an  unusually  good  assortment,  both  in  varieties 
and  number  of  specimens.  I  made  an  effort  to  be  on  good  terms  with 
the  workmen  in  the  quarries,  and  they  were  always  ready  to  save  spec- 
imens and  to  assist  me.  The  display  of  crystals  in  the  years  mentioned 
attracted  much  public  attention.  On  a  pleasant  morning  it  was  a  com- 
mon thing  to  see  30  persons  looking  for  specimens.  Most  of  them  were 
attracted  by  the  bright  yellow  pyrites,  and  it  was  an  easy  matter  for  me 
to  get  from  them  what  I  saw  were  good  specimens. 


NOTES     OX     THE     SEISMIC     DISTURBANCES     IN     MISSOURI, 

OCTOBER,  31.  1895. 

BY  JOHN  M.   MILLAR,   ESCANABA. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,   Dec.  26,   1895.) 

Ex-Governor  H.  C.  Brockmeyer,  in  a  report  of  the  earthquake  of  Octo- 
ber 31,  1895,  states  that  the  site  of  the  disturbance  in  Missouri  is 
almost  identical  with  that  of  the  years  1811-12;  that  at  Charleston  the 
earth  was  cracked  and  volumes  of  water  and  sand  poured  through  these 
fissures. 

Sir  Charles  Lyell,  in  his  Principles  of  Geology,  devotes  several  pages 
to  the  earthquake  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.  in  1811-12,  and  refers  to  the  emi- 
nent Von  Humboldt  as  follows  : 

"It  has  been  remarked  by  Humboldt  in  his  Cosmos  that  the  earthquake 
in  New  Madrid  presents  one  of  the  few  examples  on  record  of  the  inces- 
sant shaking  of  the  ground  for  several  successive  months,  far  from  any 
volcano,"  and  then  proceeds  to  say  "that  the  inhabitants  relate  that  the 
earth  rose  in  great  undulations,  and  when  these  reached  a  certain  fear- 
ful height,  the  soil  burst  and  vast  volumes  of  water,  sand  and  pit  coal 
were  discharged  as  high  as  the  tops  of  trees.  Flint  saw  hundreds  of 
these  deep  chasms  running  in  an  alluvial  soil  several  years  afterwards." 

In  1841,  Lyell  visited  the  disturbed  region  of  the  Mississippi  which 
was  said  to  extend  along  the  course  of  the  White  River  and  its  tributaries, 
9 


66  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

to  a  distance  of  between  seventy  and  eighty  miles  north  and  south,  and 
thirty  miles  east  and  west,  and  saw  on  its  borders  many  full  grown  troes 
still  standing  leafless,  the  bottoms  of  their  trunks  several  feet  under 
water,  and  a  still  greater  number  lying  prostrate.  And,  even  on  dry 
ground  along  the  margin  of  the  submerged  area  he  observed  that  all  the 
trees  of  prior  date  to  1811  were  dead  and  leafless. 

He  also  made  a  careful  examination  of  many  of  the  cavities  and  rents, 
some  of  them  still  several  feet  wide,  and  a  yard  or  two  in  depth,  finding 
abundance  of  sand  which  some  of  the  inhabitants,  still  living,  had  seen 
spouting  from  these  deep  holes. 

It  would  appear  from  the  foregoing,  that  these  seismic  disturbances 
are  not  new  to  the  district;  and  it  would  be  interesting  to  have  a  report 
of  the  recent  disturbances  to  compare  with  those  of  nearly  three-fourths 
of  a  century  ago,  that  attracted  the  attention  of  such  scientists  as  Baron 
Von  Humboldt  and  Sir  Charles  Lyell. 


MICHIGAN    BIRDS    THAT    NEST    IN    OPEN    MEADOWS. 

BY  L.  WHITNEY  WATKINS,   MANCHESTER. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,   Dec.  26,  1895.) 

AH  have  noticed  that  the  places  chosen  by  different  species  of  wild 
birds  for  their  nests  are  not  the  same.  Their  homes  vary  in  location  and 
style  of  architecture  as  much  as  do  the  characteristics  of  the  birds  them- 
selves. 

Some  species  choose  the  dark,  unfrequented  forest  for  their  home, 
others  the  open  field  in  the  full  glare  of  the  sun;  some  the  barren  cliffs 
of  huge  mountains,  while  others  build  floating  rafts  of  mud  and  weeds 
in  the  marshy  ponds.  Again  others  are  content  to  tenant  perhaps  the 
corner  of  a  tumble  down  rail  fence  or  nest  in  hollow  trees  or  barns. 
Some  nest  high  up  in  the  branches  of  trees  while  others,  equally  shy, 
choose  to  rear  their  broods  in  bushes  or  upon  the  ground. 

As  the  great,  orchard-like  trees  of  the  oak  openings  were  girdled  and 
destroyed  and  great  tracts  of  the  heavy  timbered  land  cleared,  the  lower 
peninsula  of  Michigan  became  more  and  more  similar  in  physical  aspect 
to  the  vast  grass-land  prairies  of  the  southwest.  Coincident  with  this 
greatly  altered  environment,  and  continuing  to  the  present  time,  was 
inaugurated  an  unsettled,  unbalanced  condition  in  our  avi-fauna  resulting 
in  a  great  change  in  the  relative  preponderance  of  species. 

Those  inhabiting  the  woodlands  were  crowded  in  a  short  time  from 
great  areas,  while  species  which  had  heretofore  been  fortunate  in  the 
finding  of  even  small  tracts  of  open  land  to  suit  their  tastes,  were  turned 
loose  over  thousands  of  acres  of  improved  land  within  the  period  of  a  few 
years. 

The  Pileated  Woodpecker  was  pushed  north  to  the  Canadian  border, 
disgusted  with  so  called  civilization.  The  Wood  Duck  found  her  old 
stub  nesting  sites  tipped  over  and  burned;  the  Wild  Turkey  her  briar 
patches  and  brush  pile  homes  destroyed.  The  Passenger  Pigeon,  while 
enjoying  the  grain  fields  and  fattening  thereon  in  place  of  the  wild  acorns 
and  nuts,  was  exposed  to  the  destructive  devices  of  those  who  soon  learned 


WATKINS     ON     BIRDS    THAT     NEST     IN     MEADOWS.  67 

that  fat  pigeons  in  the  markets  of  the  east  were  in  demand  at  a  good 
price,  and  they  were  rendered  practically  extinct  in  a  short  time.  The 
Ruffed  Grouse  is  now  confined  within  fenced  wood  lots  and  is  often  found 
to  wander  into  great  cities  and  upon  our  lawns  in  absolute  bewilderment. 

Human  beings  have  pushed  their  way  into  nearly  every  nook  and 
corner  of  this  continent  and  with  them  have  been  taken' all  the  revolu- 
tionizing influences  of  civilization.  Changes  have  been  and  are  now 
taking  place  before  our  very  eyes,  iu  all  the  forms  of  life,  as  profound  as 
any  already  chronicled  in  the  great  epochs  of  geological  history.  Cer- 
tainly this  is  the  age  of  man's  absolute  supremacy  among  the  living 
things.  He  has  destroyed  whole  species  of  birds  and  mammals  and 
driven  others  to  the  verge  of  extinction;  he  has  conquered  the  forests  and 
wrought  havoc  with  the  wild  flowers. 

To  make  more  plain  and  limit  the  scope  of  this  treatise,  which,  of  nec- 
essity must  be  longer  than  I  hoped,  I  will  include  in  my  list  only  such 
species  as  I  have  found  nesting  upon  the  ground  or  in  the  open  fields  and 
meadows,  excluding  those  found  nesting  upon  the  boundary  fences  or 
in  the  border  shrubbery  and  brush  piles  or  in  lone  trees  in  the  open 
ground;  also  those  nesting  in  the  open  marsh  lands  which  are  undrained 
and  boggy  to  the  extent  of  being  unfit  for  hay  or  pasture. 

As  a  further  aid  in  clearness,  I  will  separate  meadows  into  two 
classes,  namely,  the  typical  upland  hayfield  or  pasture  and  the  so  called 
"marsh"  meadow  which  is  drained  and  pastured  or  grown  to  its  native 
grasses  and  sedges  for  hay. 

We  will  first  consider  the  upland  nesters: 

The  American  Bittern,  Botaurus  lentiginosus,  is  included  among  the 
nesters  of  the  upland  fields  from  one  instance  only,  which  came  under 
my  personal  observation.  I  have  never  heard  of  a  like  case  in  connec- 
tion with  this  species  and  it  was  to  me  a  very  interesting  one. 

On  June  27  1892,  I  received  a  letter  from  a  friend  in  Bridgewater, 
Washtenaw  county,  telling  that  "a  bittern  had  its  nest  in  his  clover 
field"  and  if  I  wanted  the  eggs  to  come  at  once.  As  the  location  was 
a  peculiar  one  I  lost  no  time  and  arrived  to  find  the  nest  undisturbed 
in  a  small  bunch  of  standing  hay  which  had  been  skipped  in  mowing 
on  its  account.  This  nest  was  a  mere  platform,  upon  the  ground,  of  the 
surrounding  clover  stems  bent  down  with  some  plucked  and  carried  to  the 
spot.  The  American  Bittern  almost  invariably  builds  its  nest  either 
very  near  the  border  of  sloughs  and  lakes,  composed  of  rushes  and  flags 
made  into  a  rude  platform  raised  slightly  above  the  water  in  the  bogs 
and  reeds,  or  situated  in  the  wet  marsh  lands,  made  up  of  grasses  and 
sedges.  Of  the  many  nests  which  I  have  observed,  all  were  so  situated 
save  in  this  one  instance.  In  the  spring  of  1892,  the  marshes  were 
flooded  from  continuous  rains  until  the  bogs  and  wet  flats  became  sheets 
of  open  water,  entirely  uninhabitable  by  birds  which  usually  nested 
therein,  and  this  fact  I  will  venture  as  a  possible  reason  for  this  nest 
being  located  in  the  clover  field  upon  a  hill,  within  twenty  rods  of  a 
farm  house  and  nearly  one-half  mile  from  any  water.  The  four  or  five 
eggs  are  slate  color  or  mud  color.  The  food  of  this  species  consists  of 
frogs,  fishes,  pollywogs  and  grasshoppers.  Arriving  before  or  by  the 
middle  of  April,  it  at  once  begins  its  odd  and  unaccountable  notes  which 
give  it  the  name  of  Thunder  Pumper  and  Stake  Driver.  The  American 
Bittern  is  probably  of  little  economical  importance  and  does  no  harm, 


68  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

serving  to  add  to  the  picturesqueness  of  the  water  landscape  as  it  wings 
its  way  in  measured  flaps  over  the  placid  waters,  or  stands  motionless 
with  beak  pointing  straight  upwards,  in  the  bog. 

The  Bartramian  Sandpiper  or  Field  Plover,  Bariramia  hngicauda, 
is  a  very  interesting  bird.  Unique  in  its  class  as  caring  little  or  nothing 
for  the  proximity  of  water,  this  long-legged  bird  of  the  uplands  is  little 
noticed  or  generally  known,  on  account  of  its  stealthy  measured  move- 
ments. It  arrives  with  us  usually  in  the  last  week  in  March  and  builds 
its  nest  in  a  rather  open  spot  such  as  the  border  of  a  gravelly  knoll, 
with  scarcely  any  material  to  protect  the  eggs.  Like  the  Kflldeer  it 
sometimes  makes  its  nest  close  to  the  hills  of  growing  corn  upon  the 
mellow  soil.  The  eggs  are  four  in  number  of  a  brown  or  clay  color, 
variously  spotted  with  darker  shades  and  black.  The  food  of  the  Upland 
Plover  consists  of  both  seeds  and  insects.  In  the  early  part  of  the  smm 
mer,  it  consists  about  equally  of  each;  in  haying  time,  more  largely  of 
grasshoppers,  crickets,  et  cetera;  and  later  on  when  the  grain  is  harvested, 
the  stubble  fields  are  sought  and  the  birds  fatten  upon  the  grain  left  on 
the  ground.  As  this  bird  stands  motionless,  as  is  its  habit,  it  is  not 
easily  detected  owing  to  its  close  mimicry  of  the  natural  surroundings 
and  the  passerby  is  not  aware  of  its  presence  until  two  sharp,  quick 
whistles,  exactly  as  a  man  would  whistle  to  his  dog  if  near  him,  arrest 
his  attention.  This  is  the  note  of  alarm  and  as  the  supposed  person  is 
sought  on  all  sides,  the  graceful  flight  of  the  rather  large  bird  betrays 
the  mistake.     It  is  of  much  benefit  to  the  farmer  and  of  no  harm. 

The  Killdeer  Plover,  JEgiaZitis  vooif&ra,  is  a  very  generally  known 
species  of  which  I  need  say  but  little.  Coining  to  us  from  the  south 
the  last  of  February  or  first  of  March  and  usually  remaining  late  in 
November  or  in  some  instances  even  all  winter,  it  makes  itself  known  at 
all  times  by  its  characteristic  note,  which  is  its  name,  as  it  runs  before 
us  upon  the  ground  or  flies  round  and  round  overhead.  Nest  is  in  thin 
grass  lands,  in  corn  fields  or  plowed  ground,  preferably  within  a  short 
distance  of  water.  Eggs,  four,  clay  colored,  with  black  and  brownish 
spots  especially  about  the  larger  end.  Food  mostly  of  insects,  some 
seeds  and  grains.     A  very  useful  bird,  and  does  no  harm. 

The  Quail  or  Bob  White,  Colinus  uirginicmus,  is  a  bird  equally  well 
known  to  the  tiller  of  the  soil,  the  sportsman  and  the  fastidious  epicure 
of  the  city  cafe.  It  is  said  not  to  be  a  migrant  because  it  is  a  winter 
resident  wherever  it  is  found.  When  the  Quail  betakes  itself  to  the  tam- 
arack swamp  or  to  the  farmyard  for  food  and  for  protection  from  the  cold 
storms  that  sweep' the  hills  where  it  has  passed  the  summer,  it  is  per- 
haps as  truly  migrating  as  are  the  species  which  regularly  recede  south- 
ward on  the  same  account.  We  see  this  same  gathering  together,  in  pro 
tected  spots  or  where  food  is  abundant,  of  many  other  of  our  winter  resi- 
dents. Many  species  go  south  because  of  cold  weather  while  others  only 
go  because  their  food  becomes  unobtainable  as  in  the  case  of  most  of  the 
•  ducks,  and  the  Robin,  Crow,  etc.  The  Quail  begins  to  whistle  with  the 
first  warm  days  of  spring  not  nesting  however,  until  the  latter  part  of 
May  and  usually  not  until  June.  Some  nests  have  been  found  late  in 
October  or  even  in  November,  if  I  recall  correctly  reports  at  different 
times  in  our  ornithological  publications,  these  of  course  being  second 
broods  or  the  nests  made  after  the  first  nests  have  been  broken  up. 
The  mother  remains  with  her  brood  usually  until  they  are  grown,  and  in 


WATKINS     ON     BIRDS    THAT     NEST    IN     MEADOWS.  69 

the  fall  of  the  year  the  different  coveys  represent  one  or  more  entire 
broods,  they  not  separating  until  they  pair  off  the  next  April.  The 
Quail  is  confined,  I  think,  in  Michigan,  to  the  lower  peninsula,  although 
there  are  reports  which  would  show  that  it  has  straggled  farther  north. 
It  is  not  found,  as  near  as  I  can  determine,  in  any  numbers  much  north 
of  the  southern  boundary  of  Roscommon  county,  the  influence  of  the 
great  lakes  upon  the  isothermal  lines  in  this  state  probably  influencing 
the  boundary  line  of  their  habitat  on  the  north.  In  the  southern  tiers, 
of  counties,  the  Quail  usually  nests  in  the  hay  fields,  and  now  that  the 
mowing  machine  and  horse  rake  do  nearly  all  the  work,  every  nest  so  sit- 
uated is  destroyed.  The  farmer  usually  wishes  to  protect  the  Quails, 
but  the  nests,  which  are  hidden  in  a  tuft  of  clover  or  grass,  with  the 
blades  neatly  pulled  together  overhead,  defy  apprehension  and  when 
once  frightened  away  by  the  machines,  the  sitters  never  return.  This 
fact  of  so  many  nests  being  broken  up  coupled  with  the  lack  of  pro- 
tection from  the  rigor  of  winter  as  the  thrifty  agriculturist  has  each 
and  every  shrub  and  vine  cut  from  the  fence  corners  and  along  the  road 
side,  means  fully  as  much  in  its  very  noticeable  diminution  in  numbers, 
as  does  the  yearly  onslaught  of  the  hunters.  Various  gun  clubs  in  the 
state  have  already  made  efforts  at  restocking  the  country  with  Quails 
by  importations  from  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  The  eggs  are  usually  from 
eighteen  to  twenty-five  in  number,  pure  white  and  top  shaped.  Its  food 
consists  of  insects,  grains  and  seeds  in  the  summer  and  fall,  and  in  winter 
almost  entirely  of  wild  seeds.  In  the  crop  of  one  which  I  examined,  a 
remarkably  large  seed  for  the  bird  to  swallow  was  sent  for  identification 
to  Prof.  Wheeler,  our  courteous  consulting  botanist,  who  reported  it  to 
be  that  of  the  Skunk  Cabbage,  Symplocarpus  foetidus.  Of  little  or  no 
harm,  as  the  grains  eaten  are  almost  wholly  waste,  and  of  great  econom- 
ical importance.  Both  confiding  and  beautiful,  it  deserves  whatever  en- 
couragement and  protection  we  may  be  able  to  give.  A  brood  of  Quails 
which  I  hatched  and  reared  with  a  bantam  hen,  grew  to  be  very  tame  and 
kept  our  vegetable  garden  entirely  free  from  insects  the  summer  through. 
(For  full  notes,  see  The  Oologist,  Vol.  XI,  No.  12  and  Vol.  XII,  No.  1.) 

The  Mourning  Dove,  Zenaida  macroura,  I  have  found  once  and  only 
once  nesting  upon  the  ground  in  an  open  field.  A  few  bushes  growing 
in  a  slight  hollow  had  been  rut  and  burned  and  the  ground  sown  broad- 
cast to  timothy.  One  little  branch  lay  unburned  upon  the  ground  with 
the  grass  growing  up  through  it  and  about  two  feet  from  this,  where  the 
grass  was  short  and  sickly  looking,  was  the  nest,  built  flat  upon  the 
ground  and  composed  of  a  few  small  twigs  and  grass  stems.  The  bird 
was  flushed  and  the  two  white  eggs  seen.  I  understand  that  in  prairie 
regions  this  is  a  common  habit  of  the  Mourning  Dove,  but  here  where 
abundance  of  favorable  nesting  sites  are  at  hand,  it  is  certainly  very 
curious  that  this  bird  should  have  chosen  to  spend  her  time  in  incubation 
and  rear  her  brood  where  any  and  all  the  night  marauders  would  be  likely 
to  molest  her  home,  and  when  she  had  been  brought  up  differently.  Food 
consists  of  insects,  grains,  seeds,  etc. 

The  Marsh  Hawk.  Circus  hudsonius,  is  the  most  graceful,  most  beauti- 
ful hawk  on  wing,  that  is  found  in  our  state,  and  the  only  representative 
of  the  birds  of  prey,  with  the  possible  exception  of  the  Short-eared  Owl, 
found  nesting  in  the  open  fields.  Coming  to  us  late  in  February  or  early 
in  March  and  remaining  very  late  in  fall,  this  bird  is  almost  constantly 


70  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

seen  in  favored  localities,  soaring  low  over  the  meadows,  poising  with 
flapping  wings  about  to  dart  below  upon  some  unsuspecting  rodent,  or 
dashing  into  our  faces,  as  we  come  over  a  hill,  as  suddenly  to  vanish 
from  view,  and  we  are  always  thrilled  by  this  fairy  form  in  blue  or  brown 
(the  colors  of  the  male  and  female  bird,  respectively).  Nests  with  eggs 
may  be  found  from  the  first  of  May  to  the  first  of  August.  Perhaps  the 
more  usual  site  is  the  wet,  bushy  marsh  or  bog,  where  the  nest  is  raised 
several  inches  above  the  wet  moss  and  water,  composed  of  various  sized 
sticks  for  a  foundation  and  reeds,  grasses  and  sedges — a  rather  coarse 
structure  and  bulky  as  is  usual  with  the  nests  of  hawks.  Nearly  as  often 
is  the  nest  placed  flat  upon  the  ground  in  the  hay-fields,  or  in  the  growing 
wheat,  rye,  oats  and  barley.  In  such  places  it  is  composed  simply  of  a 
few  spears  of  the  grass  or  grain  plucked  and  laid  upon  that  which  may  be 
bent  and  trampled  down  upon  the  spot.  With  few  exceptions  these  nests 
are  destroyed  before  the  young  are  ready  to  fly.  I  find  many  broken  up 
each  year.  Eggs  five,  pale  blue,  usually  unmarked.  The  food  of  the 
Marsh  Hawk  consists  of  mice,  frogs,  grasshoppers,  crickets,  etc.,  with  very 
seldom  a  young  bird  which  is  learning  to  fky.  It  has  never  been  seen,  I 
think,  to  molest  poultry,  or  birds  which  are  able  to  fly.  Of  no  harm 
whatever  and  of  exceeding  benefit  to  the  farmer. 

The  Horned  Lark,  or  if  I  am  to  be  technically  correct  I  suppose  I  must 
say  the  Prairie  Horned  Lark,  Otocoris  alpestris  praticola,  (although  I 
always  protest  in  my  heart  these  varietal  species  which  I  could  not  dis- 
tinguish with  certainty  one  from  another  if  I  had  them  here  before  me) 
remains  with  us  throughout  the  year  and  whether  chasing  each  other 
about  the  snow-clad  fields  or  running  before  the  carriage  in  the  dusty 
road,  they  are  always  the  same  sprightly  cheery  little  fellows,  showing 
scarcely  any  fear.  The  nests  are  usually  placed  in  a  slight  depression 
by  a  tuft  of  grass  and  composed  of  grasses  and  rootlets,  without  any 
great  care  being  manifest  in  the  construction.  The  five  eggs  are  of  a 
drab  color  made  up  of  innumerable  spots  of  that  tint  so  close  together 
as  to  give  a  nearly  solid  effect.  The  nests  of  this  species  may  be  found 
from  the  first  of  March  to  the  middle  of  April  or  perhaps  a  little  later  than 
that.  I  have  found  about  the  middle  of  March  the  usual  time,  and  it  is 
a  common  thing  to  find  the  sitter  surrounded  or  nearly  covered  with 
snow.  The  food  of  this  bird  consists  of  both  insects  and  seeds.  Of  no 
harm  and  of  some  use  though  I  am  not  as  yet  certain  to  what  extent 
insects  are  taken. 

The  Bobolink,  Dolichonyx  oryzivonis,  arrives  in  Washtenaw  county 
from  the  south  usually  between  April  30  and  May  5.  This  bird  being 
one  of  the  few  species  dressed  in  black  and  white  that  we  can  boast  as 
summer  residents,  at  once  tells  of  its  return  in  one  of  the  most  animated 
songs  which  the  woods  and  fields  can  furnish.  The  nest  is  built  during 
the  latter  half  of  May  and  is  so  concealed  beneath  the  thick  growth  of 
clover,  timothy,  etc.,  as  to  practically  preclude  all  chance  of  finding. 
It  is  composed  simply  of  grasses  upon  the  ground,  and  the  five  eggs,  of  a 
mottled,  stony  color,  so  resemble  their  surroundings  as  to  make  it  very 
inconspicuous  even  when  actually  exposed  to  view.  Early  in  the  fall, 
the  male  Bobolink  changes  its  garb  of  black  and  white  to  the  usual  and 
more  sombre  plumage,  of  brown  tinged  with  yellow,  of  the  female  bird 
and  proceeds  southward  to  become  the  dreaded  ''Rice-bird1'  of  the  planta- 


WATKINS    ON    BIRDS    THAT    NEST    IN     MEADOWS.  71 

tions,  where  it  is  killed  by  thousands  and  sent  to  the  markets.  The  food 
consists  of  grains,  seeds  and  insects.  With  us  in  the  north  it  is  of  no 
harm  and  some  importance.  In  the  south  a  pest.  One  of  our  finest 
open  meadow  species. 

The  Cowbird,  Molotlirus  ater,  presents  a  subject  in  ornithology  hard  to 
treat  by  a  person  who  loves  birds  as  I  do.  He  neither  builds  his  nest 
nor  feeds  his  family  and  as  is  usual  with  the  biped  loafer,  we  find  the 
above  traits  accompanied  by  those  of  bold  trespass  and  destruction  of  his 
neighbors  belongings,  at  the  same  time  requiring  and  expecting  the  lat- 
ter to  rear  his  family  by  their  hard  work.  The  eggs  of  the  Cowbird, 
which  are  white  or  bluish-white,  varyingly  speckled  with  brown  and 
black,  are  parasitically  installed,  apparently  at  the  convenience 
of  the  layer,  as  occasion  presents  itself,  within  the  nests  of  so  many 
species  that  it  would  be  out  of  the  question  to  think  of  naming 
them  here.  Of  the  meadow  nesters,  which  are  included  in  the  present 
list,  the  eggs  of  the  Cowbird  have  been  found  in  the  nests  of  the  Mourn- 
ing Dove,  Bobolink,  Red-winged  Blackbird,  Meadowlark,  Black-throated 
Bunting,  Grass  Finch,  Song  Sparrow,  Grasshopper  Sparrow  and  Prairie 
Horned  Lark.  The  food  of  this  bird  consists  of  seeds  and  grain  and 
some  insects,  especially  ticks  from  the  newly  shorn  sheep.  A  pernicious 
pest,  setting  a  miserable  example  to  man  and  beast. 

The  Grass  Finch,  Poocaetes  gramineus,  is  a  bird  so  well  known  the 
State  over  as  the  "Ground  bird,"'  that  the  mention  of  that  term  is  at  once 
understood  in  every  household.  In  all  homes  the  ''ground-bird"  is  a 
well  known  and  significant  term  to  those  who  seem  to  think  that  all  small 
birds  of  a  brown  color  seen  upon  the  ground  in  the  fields  belong  to  one 
species  and  that  species  is  the  ''Ground  bird."  I  have  several  times  been 
hotly  arraigned  because  I  said  that  the  terms  "sparrow,"  "blackbird," 
"ground-bird,"  etc.,  were  misleading  and  should  never  be  carelessly  used 
to  designate  a  particular  species;  and  even  called  a  "bird  crank"  when 
I  asked  some  ornithologists  of  this  type  to  pick  out  a  "ground-bird"  from 
the  skins  in  the  sparrow  drawers  of  my  cabinet.  I  wish  that  every  mem- 
ber of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science  would  aid  in  introducing  the 
correct  and  less  confusing  English  names  for  birds,  mammals,  plants, 
etc.,  among  the  common  people  who  may  be  interested  enough  to  learn, 
for  until  this  is  done,  the  popular  influence  of  the  scientist,  who  has 
spent  years  in  preparing  himself  to  be  of  use  to  the  masses,  will  be  of  lit- 
tle avail.  The  Grass  Finch,  Vesper  Sparrow  or  Bay- winged  Bunting,  as 
it  is  variously  and  correctly  called  in  different  places,  is  one  of  the 
ground  nesting  species  which  has  increased  particularly  in  numbers, 
since  the  clearing  up  of  the  land  and  bids  fair  in  time  to  outnumber  in 
individuals  any  other  species.  Arriving  usually  in  April,  it  is  seen  every- 
where about  the  fields  and  along  the  roadside.  The  nest  is  situated  in  the 
grass  upon  the  ground  almost  anywhere  and  is  in  such  situations  com- 
posed of  grasses  and  stems  with  rootlets  and  occasionally  horse  hairs 
for  a  lining.  Other  nests  are  made  in  the  cornfields  next  to  the  hills  of 
grain  and  this  seems  to  be  a  favorite  location,  where  the  materials  used 
are  mostly  grass  roots  placed  in  a  natural  depression  in  the  mellow  soil. 
The  outside  rows  are  most  used  for  their  nests.  In  one  corn  row  eighty 
rods  long,  I  have  found  nine  different  nests  on  the  same  day,  all  with 
eggs.     The  nesting  season  extends  through  May,  June  and  July.     Eggs 


72  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

four  or  five,  pale  bluish-white,  variously  marked,  splashed  and  mottled 
with  lilac,  chocolate  and  darker  shades.  There  seems  to  be  no  limit  to 
the  variation  of  markings  in  eggs  of  the  Grass  Finch.  Food  mostly  seeds 
— some  insects.  Of  no  harm  and  probably  from  its  great  numbers  a  very 
useful  species. 

The  Lark  Sparrow,  Chondextes  grammacus,  I  have  found  only  once 
nesting  here  at  Manchester,  though  the  late  dates  on  which  they  are 
occasionally  seen,  lead  me  to  believe  that  they  quite  frequently  do  breed. 
On  May  20,  1896,  I  took  a  set  of  five  fresh  eggs  and  fully  identified  the 
female  bird  which  was  taken  to  make  positive  the  find.  The  nest  was 
upon  the  ground,  in  an  open  field,  in  a  slight  depression  at  the  foot  of  a 
bitter  dock  plant.  It  was  composed  of  grasses  and  rootlets  and  very 
much  resembled  the  usual  nests  of  the  Grass  Finch.  The  female  bird  was 
so  tame  that  sbe  would  return  to  sit  upon  the  eggs,  after  being  flushed, 
while  I  was  standing  within  ten  feet  of  the  nest.  The  eggs  of  the  Lark 
Sparrow  are  creamy  white,  penciled  and  splashed  with  markings  of  choc- 
olate brown  and  delicate  lilac  especially  about  the  larger  end.  They 
resemble  very  much  those  of  the  Orchard  Oriole  in  size  and  color.  The 
pencilings  upon  the  eggs  also  remind  one  of  the  markings  upon  the  eggs 
of  the  Eed-wing!  This  is  not  a  common  bird,  though  each  spring  a  few 
are  noted.  They  arrive  in  April  rather  later  than  most  of  the  sparrows 
and  remain  until  into  May  with  the  last  of  the  Juncos  and  White-crowned 
and  White-throated  Sparrows. 

The  Song  Sparrow,  Mclospha  fasciata,  is  by  far  the  most  attractive 
sparrow  that  we  have.  One  of  the  first  birds  to  greet  us  in  March,  in- 
habiting any  and  all  sorts  of  ground,  whether  dry  or  damp,  bushy  or  open, 
especially  seeking  the  proximity  of  the  farm  yard  and  garden,  he  pours 
forth  the  sweetest,  purest  praise  of  spring  that  comes  from  all  the  feath- 
ered chorus,  and  when  all  birds  are  gay.  The  nests,  composed  of  grasses 
and  usually  lined  with  finer  ones  and  hair,  are  situated  in  bushes,  upon 
the  ground,  in  tufts  of  grass,  in  brush  piles  and  even  inside  of  buildings; 
in  fact  in  every  conceivable  place.  The  eggs  are  five,  bluish-white  with 
markings  of  reddish  brown  in  endless  variety.  The  food  of  the  Song 
Sparrow  is  almost  wholly  of  insects  if  they  can  be  found  and  the  seeds 
of  grasses  and  weeds.     A  bird  of  no  bad  habits  and  of  inestimable  benefit. 

The  Grasshopper  Sparrow,  Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus,  is  a 
common  bird  in  the  hay-fields  and  yet  some  very  competent  observers 
have  never  noted  its  presence  owing  to  its  rather  shy  ways  and  its  gen- 
eral resemblance,  when  not  specially  noticed,  to  others  of  its  class  such 
as  Field  Sparrow,  Grass  Finch,  etc.,  though  it  is  smaller  than  either. 
However,  if  the  peculiar,  tremulous,  balancing  flight,  very  like  that  of 
the  Spotted  Sandpiper,  is  observed,  and  the  rasping  tones  of  the  singer 
are  heard,  our  attention  should  be  seriously  attracted  to  the  odd  little 
bird  whose  every  move  is  characteristic.  It  is  named  Grasshopper  Spar- 
row from  the  peculiar  resemblance  of  its  song  to  the  stridulating  note  of 
the  grasshopper.  It  is  usually  found  singing  from  a  windrow  of  hay,  the 
top  rail  of  a  fence,  or  any  prominent  object  not  very  high  above  the 
ground.  This  bird,  which  is  increasing  in  abundance  each  year,  arrives 
from  the  south  about  the  first  of  May,  and  the  first  brood  is  grown  before 
haying  time  comes,  the  second  being  very  often  destroyed  when  the 
grass  is  cut.     The  nest  is  situated  upon  the  ground,  close  to  a  tuft  of 


WATKINS     ON     BIRDS    THAT    NEST    IN     MEADOWS.  73 

grass,  where  the  general  growth  is  rather  thin,  and  if  possible  in  some 
natural  depression  such  as  is  made  by  a  cowT  or  horse  stepping  in  the 
mud,  or  where  a  small  stone  has  been  turned  over,  etc.  It  is  composed 
loosely  of  grasses,  roots  of  grasses,  and  sometimes  hairs,  carelessly  placed. 
The  usual  clutch  of  eggs  is  live,  white,  speckled  and  in  some  cases  splashed 
slightly,  with  reddish  brown.  The  food  of  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow,  1 
am  very  positive  consists  largely  of  insects.  The  young,  at  least,  are  fed 
almost  entirely  with  insects  and  I  have  often  seen  the  parent  birds  car- 
rying larvae  about  in  their  beaks  for  hours  after  the  nests  had  been 
destroyed,  looking  for  their  brood.  The  adults  feed  also  upon  seeds  to 
some  extent.     Of  no  harm  and  of  great  benefit. 

The  Black-throated  Bunting,  Spiza  americana,  is  the  latest  species 
to  follow  the  opening  up  of  the  country,  bidding  fair  to  become  a  com- 
mon species  where  it  has  been  heretofore  very  rare  or  wholly  unknown. 
It  is  as  3ret  abundant  only  in  certain  restricted  localities  but  is  becoming 
more  generally  distributed  each  year.  It  is  with  us  at  Fairview  Farm 
already  somewhat  common,  several  pairs  usually  occupying  each  forty 
acre  hay  lot.  The  nests  are,  so  far  as  I  have  observed,  always  situated 
upon  the  ground  in  the  thick  grass,  or  clover  fields,  or  fastened  among 
the  growing  stems  a  few  inches  from  the  ground.  The  four  eggs  are 
laid  usually  in  early  June  and  are  almost  exact  counterparts  in  color  and 
size  of  those  of  the  Bluebird.  They  are,  however,  of  a  more  round-oval 
form  than  those  of  the  latter,  one  end  being  about  as  large  as  the  other. 
In  fact  they  come  nearer  being  round  than  the  eggs  of  any  species  that  I 
can  recall.  Many  nests,  also,  of  this  bird  are  destroyed  in  haying  time. 
The  food  consists  mostly  of  insects — some  seeds.  We  should  welcome 
this  bird  to  a  place  among  the  common  species  in  our  State. 

The  Meadowlark,  Sturnella  magna,  is  one  of  the  most  universally 
known  species  in  the  entire  list.  Its  unmistakable  identity,  bright 
appearance  and  attractive  notes,  cause  it  to  be  noticed  particularly  and 
remembered  by  all  who  meet  it.  The  Meadowlark  arrives  in  Michigan 
usually  between  March  first  and  tenth  and  at  once  fills  the  air  with  its 
mellow,  whistling  song.  The  first  nests  are  made  early  in  May  and  nidi- 
fication  is  continued  through  June.  They  are  built  upon  the  ground  and 
are  among  the  most  elaborately  formed,  for  protection,  found  in  bird 
architecture.  Built  usually  in  the  side  of  an  .especially  thick  tuft  of  grass 
in  the  meadow,  the  blades  near  at  hand  being  drawn  down  and  woven 
together  over  the  nest  proper,  which  consists  almost  entirely  of  dried 
grasses,  we  very  often  find  in  connection  a  tunnel  of  woven  grass  stems 
conveying  the  bird  as  she  leaves  the  nest  several  yards  unseen  before  she 
rises  to  fly.  The  eggs  are  five,  crystal  white,  speckled  and  blotched  with 
reddish  brown.  The  food  of  the  Meadowlark  consists  largely  of  insects, 
both  of  imagos,  such  as  beetles,  flies,  bugs,  etc.,  and  the  various  lepidop- 
terous,  hymenopterous  and  dipterous  larvae  which  infest  our  hay  fields. 
Grasshoppers  and  crickets  are  also  taken.  When  insect  food  cannot  be 
obtained,  as  when  an  individual  occasionally  winters  with  us,  seeds  and 
grains  are  readily  taken. 

I  have  little  doubt  that  the  Field  Sparrow,  Spisella  piisilla,  and  the 

Brown  Thrasher,  Harporhynchus  rufus,  occasionally  nest  upon  the  ground 

in   the  grassy  borders  of  open   fields.     Their  nesting  sites  vary  much 

and  they  seek  the  brush  heaps  and  shrubby  borders  of  the  open  country 

10 


74  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

rather  than  the  deep  woods.  Indeed,  I  have  been  informed  that  they  have 
nested  upon  the  ground  in  the  open,  but  as  I  have  not  personally  known  of 
such  an  instance  I  will  not  include  them  positively  within  this  list  of 
species. 

In  the  mucky  lowlands  or  marsh  meadows,  we  find  that  of  the  above  list 
of  upland  nesters  all  are  found  to  be  present  except  the  Prairie  Horned 
Lark,  Grass  Finch,  Grasshopper  Sparrow,  Lark  Sparrow,  Mourning 
Dove  and  Dickcissel  or  Black-throated  Bunting.  With  these  exceptions 
we  find  the  same  list  holding  good  but  with  the  addition  of  three  species 
not  found  nesting  in  the  uplands.     These  we  will  briefly  consider. 

The  Prairie  Hen,  Tympanuclius  americanm,  was  found  in  great  abund- 
ance by  the  first  settlers  of  Michigan,  inhabiting  the  marshes  and 
patches  of  prairie  land  and  among  the  more  open  hills  upon  which  the 
scattered,  wide-spreading  oak  trees  grew.  As  the  land  was  cleared, 
they  continued  to  thrive  and  fatten  in  the  grain  stubbles,  but  when 
every  man  came  to  own  a  gun,  and  they  became  scattered  in  the  fall 
over  the  whole  upland  country  they  were  slaughtered  without  mercy. 
The  heavy,  bungling  rise  of  the  Prairie  Chicken  makes  it  so  easy  a  mark 
that  it  can  scarcely  be  missed  and  it  was  persecuted  for  fun  until  it  was 
practically  extinct  except  in  the  prairie  regions  of  the  southwest  of  the 
State  where  yet  a  few  remained.  On  April  13,  1894,  however,  a  flock  of 
sixteen  were  all  at  once  discovered  near  Norvell,  Jackson  county.  (For 
full  notes  concerning  this  flock  see  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  XXVIII, 
No.  355.)  Since  that  time  they  have  done  very  well  until  last  fall  when 
the  hunters  ruthlessly  slaughtered  eleven  birds  and  this  after  I  had 
distributed  signs,  warning  hunters  to  keep  off,  among  the  owners  of  all 
the  land  where  they  were  found.  These  signs  were  generally  tacked  up, 
but  under  the  softening  influence  of  a  few  cigars  the  land  owners  yielded 
to  so  called  friends  and  the  birds  suffered.  They  have  become  very  shy 
and  are  so  scattered  now  that  they  are  in  reality  very  difficult  to  obtain 
so  I  hope  for  their  presence  for  a  few  years  yet,  at  least.  The  nests  are 
made  of  grasses  and  leaves  in  the  thick  herbage  of  the  drier  marshes, 
early  in  May.  One  nest  found  last  summer  contained  ten  eggs  of  a 
brownish  drab  color.  The  food  of  the  Prairie  Hen  consists  of  grass- 
hoppers or  locusts,  crickets — in  fact  almost  any  insects,  through  the 
summer.  They  usually  resort  to  the  grain  stubbles  after  harvest  where 
the  waste  kernels  are  eaten  until  the  bird  becomes  almost  helplessly  fat. 
Of  no  harm,  to  speak  of,  and  undoubtedly  of  great  service  to  the  farmer 
in  ridding  the  fields  of  noxious  insects.  Why  will  he  not  protect  them? 
Is  it  stupidity  or  ignorance?    Probably  both. 

The  Red-winged  Blackbird,  Agelakis  plwrniceus,  has  in  one  instance  been 
found  to  leave  its  customary  reeds  and  cat-tails  in  the  bog  and  build  its 
nest  in  a  tuft  of  grass  in  an  open  marsh,  well  drained  and  regularly  cut 
for  hay  and  afterwards  pastured.  It  was  situated  at  least  one-fourth  mile 
from  water  and  entirely  away  from  any  bush  or  other  protection. 
Usually  coming  to  us  about  March  4th,  we  must  admit  that  the  red-wing, 
as  it  gathers  in  huge  flocks  in  the  trees  near  our  homes,  furnishes  us 
with  a  sleigh-bell  chorus  of  undeniable  richness,  interspersed  with  the 
"tweck,"  "tweck,"  of  those  stopping  for  breath.  This  is  one  of  the  few 
species  which  are  gregarious  in  their  song.  The  nests  are  usually  built 
in  reeds,  boggy  tufts  of  sedge,  or  among  cat-tails,  standing  in  the  water, 


WATKINS    ON     BIRDS    THAT    NEST     IN     MEADOWS.  75 

and  composed  of  coarse  grasses  and  the  leaves  and  shreds  torn  from  the 
surrounding  flags.  The  four  eggs  are  light  blue,  with  a  slaty  tinge, 
splashed,  spotted  and  penciled  with  black,  brown  and  purple,  especially 
about  the  larger  end.  The  young  are  fed  largely  with  insects,  those 
species  found  about  the  water,  which  are  of  little  if  any  harm  to  us, 
being  most  taken,  while  the  adults  feed  almost  entirely  upon  wild  seeds 
and  grains  when  they  can  be  obtained  and  are  frequently  of  great  damage 
to  the  farmer.  As  is  the  case  with  every  species  possessed  of  grain 
eating  tendencies,  it  is  apparently  of  little  damage  until  the  young  are 
fledged  and  all  are  gathered  together  preparatory  to  their  migration 
south.  The  red-winged  blackbird  is  of  doubtful  reputation,  probably 
just  about  paying  for  its  board.  We  will  at  present  give  him  the  generous 
benefit  of  the  doubt. 

Henslow's  Sparrow,  Ammodmmus  henslowi,  is  a  rare  species  with  us 
excepting  in  a  few  restricted  localities.  Its  habits  are  little  known  from 
study  in  this  State.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  marsh  lands,  preferably 
such  as  bear  an  open  growth  of  short,  shrubby  plants,  called  locally 
with  us  'mard  hack"  (Potentilla  fruticosa).  Its  flight  and  habits  are  much 
as  in  the  case  of  the  Grasshopper  Sparrow,  to  which  it  is  closely  related, 
being,  however,  much  more  shy  and  less  easily  seen.  I  have  taken  in  all, 
six  specimens  of  Henslow's  Sparrow,  all  at  or  near  Fairview  farm  at 
Watkins  Station,  Mich.  Three  of  them  are  now  in  my  collection,  one  is 
at  Lake  Forest  University,  Illinois,  one  at  the  Indiana  Academy  of 
Science,  in  charge  of  Amos  W.  Butler  of  Brookville,  that  State,  and  the 
other  taken  to  Ann  Arbor  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Covert,  presumably  in  the  collec- 
tions of  the  University  of  Michigan.  Mr*  Covert  took  a  specimen  of  this 
species  at  Pittsfield  Junction,  on  the  Ann  Arbor  &  Lake  Shore  rail- 
ways, I  believe  in  the  spring  of  1894.  The  nest  is  not  distinguishable  from 
those  of  other  sparrows,  situated  usually  in  a  tuft  of  grass  and  composed 
of  dry  grasses.  It  was  my  good  fortune  to  have  the  pleasure  of  recording 
the  first  nest  of  Henslow's  Sparrow,  reported  from  Michigan,  (See  The 
Nidiologist,  Vol.  1,  No.  12.)  It  was  found  late  in  May,  and  contained  five 
eggs  of  a  bluish-white,  speckled  with  reddish-brown.  Mr.  Arnold,  of 
Battle  Creek,  tells  me  that  another  nest  of  this  species  has  been  taken 
near  Pine  Lake,  east  of  Lansing. 

Of  the  species  which  might  be  included  among  the  nesters  of  the  open 
marshes,  but  which  usually  at  least  select  the  more  wet  or  bushy  ground 
are:  Short-eared  Owl,  Asio  accipitrinus,  Maryland  Yellowthroat,  Geo- 
tlilypis  trichas,  Swamp  Sparrow,  Melospiza  georgiana,  Long-billed  Marsh 
Wren,  Cistothorus  palustris,  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren,  Cistothorus  stcllaris, 
King  Rail,  Rallus  elegans,  Mallard,  Anas  boschas,  aud  Sandhill  Crane, 
Grus  mexicana. 

In  the  list  of  meadow  nesters  of  which  I  have  spoken,  we  find  of  the 
various  orders,  as  follows: 

Herodiones  (cranes,  herons,  bitterns,  etc.),  one. 

Limicolre  (waders),  two. 

Gallina?  (scratchers — quail,  grouse,  etc.),  two. 

ColumbaB  (doves),  one. 

Raptores  (birds  of  prey),  one. 

Passeres  (perchers  proper — sparrows,  thrushes,  etc.),  eleven. 

Total,  eighteen  species. 


76  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


PRELIMINARY  NOTES  ON   TERATOLOGICAL  FORMS  OF  TRIL- 
LIUM GRANDIFLORUM  (MX.)  SALISB. 

BY   CHARLES   A.   DAVIS,    ALMA. 

(Read  before  the  Academy,   Dec.   27,  1S95.) 

[Abstract.] 

Teratological  forms  of  this  plant  are  very  common  in  Michigan,  al- 
though references  to  them  in  literature  are  mainly  confined  to  short  notes 
in  various  botanical  journals.  The  most  common  change  found  is -a 
striping  of  green  in  the  otherwise  white  petals.  This  is  usually  accom- 
panied by  elongation  of  the  petioles  of  the  leaves,  the  peduncle  of  the 
flower,  and  a  lessening  of  the  amount  of  pollen  in  the  anthers,  and  al- 
most universally  by  a  more  or  less  complete  atrophy  of  the  pistil,  which 
commonly  contains  no  ovules,  even  where  there  is  a  very  slight  green 
line  in  the  petals.  Doubling  of  the  parts,  reversion  of  the  stamens  and 
pistils  to  green  leaves,  suppression  of  the  foliage  leaves,  elongation  of 
the  petioles  and  peduncle  so  that  they  arise  from  the  rootstock,  occur- 
rence of  whorls  of  two  or  four  leaves  in  all  the  parts  of  the  plants,  change 
of  color  in  the  sepals  so  that  a  double  white  flower  was  produced,  change 
of  color  in  the  white  petals  to  green,  conversion  of  ovules  to  green  leaf- 
like bodies,  were  noted.  No  definite  conclusion  as  to  the  probable 
cause  of  these  changes  has  been  reached. 

Abstract  of  a  more  complete  paper  bv  the  author  is  to  be  found  in 
proceedings  of  the  A.  A.  A.  S.,  Vol.  XLVI,  p.  271,  1897. 


A  NEW  SCIENCE,— THAT  OF  SANITATION. 

BY   HENRY   B.    BAKER. 
(Presented  to  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science,  Dec.  27,  1S93. ) 

This  paper  does  not  relate  to  any  of  the  prominent  sciences  which  go 
to  make  up  sanitary  science,  such  branches  of  knowledge,  for  instance, 
as  bacteriology,  and  the  germ  theory  of  disease,  now  well  established. 
It  is  limited  to  a  branch  not  heretofore  accepted  as  a  science,  but  only 
as  an  art,  the  art  of  sanitation.  In  recent  years  what  was  formerly  called 
hygiene,  authors  have  called  sanitary  science.  Some  have  adhered  to 
the  old  term, — hygiene,  but  have  claimed  that  it  has  come  to  be  a 
science,  including  several  branches,  bacteriology,  climatology,  etc. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  ago  hygiene  was  defined  as  ''The  art  of  preserv- 
ing health."*  Not  long  ago,  in  the  opening  lecture  of  the  course  on 
military  hygiene,  in  the  U.  S.  Army  Medical  School  in  Washington,  D. 
C.  Dr.  Smart  has  said:  "Hygiene  is  the  science  of  health.  It  was  called 
by  Prof.  Parkes  the  art  of  preserving  health;  but  since  he  wrote  the 
introduction  to  his  classical  work,  hygiene  has  been  developed,  by  study 

*First  sentence  of  the  introduction  to  "A  Manual  of  Practical  Hygiene,-'   etc.,   by  Edmund   A 
Parkes. 


BAKER    ON    A     NEW    SCIENCE— THAT    OF     SANITATION.  77 

and  observation,  into  a  science;  and  its  art,  or  the  practical  applica- 
tion of  its  laws,  has  received  the  name  of  sanitation."*  Herbert  Spencer 
has  maintained  that  generally  the  arts  have  preceded  the  evolution  of 
the  sciences  upon  which  those  arts  were  afterwards  securely  based. 
This  instance,  mentioned  by  Dr.  Smart,  may,  I  think,  be  extended  one 
step  further;  because,  as  I  shall  endeavor  to  show,  what  he  has  called  the 
art  of  sanitation  has  now  been  developed  "by  study  and  observation,  into 
a  science" — the  Science  of  Sanitation.  A  science  is  knowledge  which  has 
become  accurate,  and  systematically  organized  or  arranged  so  as  to 
supply  general  rules  or  laws. 

For  the  past  twenty-five  years  a  movement  has  been  in  progress  in 
Michigan  which,  during  the  past  few  years,  has  been  crystallizing  into 
a  Science  of  Sanitation.  Sanitary  arts  have  been  practiced,  and  their 
results  have  been  observed  and  recorded,  these  records  have  gradually 
become  more  accurate,  they  have  been  systematically  arranged,  so  as 
to  evolve  general  statements  or  rules  which  year  by  year  have  been 
found  to  be  approximately  uniform,  until  today  it  is  possible  by  means 
of  this  science  to  predict,  with  reasonable  accuracy,  what  will  be  the 
result  of  action  or  of  non-action  according  to  the  arts  of  sanitation 
which  have  been  adopted  in  this  State.  When  knowledge  has  been  so 
collected,  recorded,  and  arranged,  as  to  serve  the  purposes  of  prophecy, 
it  is  worthy  of  being  styled  a  science.  Let  me  now  introduce  the  evi- 
dence that  this  has  been  done: 

Here  are  a  number  of  diagrams,  constructed  accurately,  representing, 
according  to  fixed  scales,  the  results  of  isolation  and  disinfection,  and  the 
results  of  neglect  of  these  two  measures,  in  two  diseases.  A  study  of 
these  diagrams  proves  that,  in  two  diseases  (scarlet  fever  and  diphtheria) 
there  occur  about  five  times  as  many  cases  and  deaths  in  those  localities 
where  isolation  and  disinfection  are  not  enforced  as  in  those  localities 
in  which  these  measures  are  enforced.  The  points  to  which  I  wish 
here  to  ask  attention  are:  (1)  that — in  a  series  of  areas  of  about  the 
same  extent,  such  as  the  townships,  villages  and  small  cities  in  Michi- 
gan (the  large  cities  being  excluded),  given  the  introduction- of  a  case  of 
diphtheria  or  of  scarlet  fever,  if  nothing  is  done  to  restrict  it  the  disease 
tends  to  spread  until,  on  the  average,  there  have  been  about  thirteen 
cases,  and  two  or  three  deaths.  This  is  one  general  rule  or  statement 
of  fact.  (2)  Another  general  rule  or  statement  of  fact  is  that  in  a  simi- 
lar series  of  areas,  given  the  introduction  of  a  case  of  diphtheria  or 
scarlet  fever,  if  isolation  and  disinfection  are  enforced  not  thirteen  cases 
and  two  or  three  deaths,  but  only  about  one-fifth  of  those  numbers  occur. 
A  comparison  of  these  two  general  facts,  leads  to  a  third  general  state- 
ment,— that  about  four-fifths  of  the  cases  and  deaths  from  scarlet  fever 
and  diphtheria  are  prevented  by  isolation  of  first  cases  together  with 
such  disinfection  as  has  been  practiced  in  Michigan  under  the  direction 
of  the  State  Board  of  Health. 

*The  Journal  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  Dec.  21,  1S95,  p.  1070. 


78 


MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 


Scarlet  Fever  in  cMiehigan  in  /X<?0:-  £xhi biting  the  aver- 
age numbers  of  casesjand  deaths  ^er  outbreak:-  in  all  out- 
breaks in  which  Ssolation  and  Disinfection,^  u/.er>e  hottv 
%/Ceglected  -,  and  in  all  outbreaks  inu/kich  hotk  are  re 
Enforced.  (  Compiled  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  ike 
State  Board  of  Health,  front  reports  made  by  local healtk  officers.) 


isolation  and  Disinfection, 

(fnfo  reed. 


2-4'  isolation  and  Disinfection 


Si, 


/2, 


//- 


o/feglected 


^Jl ire  rage 


.8  §[  Cases 


/Z./o 


i 


Deaths. 


o4 uer  aa  e . 


Cases 


Heaths. 


+&- 


^~ 


f- 


II       II      i 


3- 


+ 


■    IL 

life 


+y+ 


1  

4 


Vt 


IP!!' ' 
1 

Mm. 


0 


0.3Z 

mm 


'»i|i|!""i|i"||"'i 


11 


CO  z 


■  ■  T  - 1  1-1111   I1H     I      II 


Plate  532. 


BAKER  ON  A  NEW  SCIENCE,— THAT  OF  SANITATION. 


79 


^Scarlet  Fever  in  Michigan  in  IVQ/i-Sxhibiting  thedjv- 
erage  rvurnhers  of  cases  and  deaths  joev  outbreak:- in  all 
outbreaks  in  which  isolation  and  Disinfection  were  both  JfegleeU 
ed;  and  in  all  outbreaks  in  which  both  were  SnforcecL. 

(Compiled  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  ot ate  Board 
of  Mea.lt h9 front  reports  made  by  loeal  health  officers-) 


^  * 


Y2r 


H~ 


isolation  and  J)  is  infer.  Hon, 

Jf  e ql ect e d  . 


Ji  y  e  v  a  g  e,  . 


Cases. 


Illlllll|l|i|iillii|l!llllii|l 


Deaths. 


^Average  . 


isolation  and  Disinfection, 

£  rtfo  r  c  e  a  . 


Cases. 


JDeaths. 


'mi,^,,,,,,,      .Lilj, 


%t%.of 


IjHiriJiiiiiiBffl 


■&■ 


I UiM 


mm 


'  yj  II 


i- 


liii 


flit 

,il 


. 


4- 


"jl 


Hi 


ill  1    I  Li 


IllilUlllIli 


Q.4-7 


^. 


0.02L 


Plate  547. 


80 


MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


ISOLATION  AND  DISINFECTION  RESTRICTED  DIPHTHERIA  IN  1890. 


Diphtheria  in  J&iehigan  in  l8?0:-(?xhi biting  the  average 
numbers  of  eases  and  deaths  fjer  outbreak:- in  all  out- 
breaks  in  which  isolation  and  Disinfection  were  JbotA, 
%/fcglected'j  and  in  all  ouihreafts  in  which  both  u/ere  (fn- 
"orced*  (Comfoiled  in  the  off  iee  of  the  Secretary  of  l^e  State 

toard  of  ]HeaUh,frorn  re  jo  or  is  m  ade  hu  local  health  officers. ) 


§  ^Ssolatio  n  and  Bis  infection, 
§£ 

^a  I         Jl  i/erage 
5  fc|  Cases. 


<Jfeglectec£ . 


Ssolation  and  Disinfection 


Average  • 


Plate  530. 


BAKER     ON     A     NEW     SCIENCE,— THAT     OF     SANITATION. 


81 


Diphtheria,  in  Michigan  inlX9/:-£*hibitingtheJver- 
age  numbers   of  cases  and  deaths   fer.  outbreak:-  in  all 
outbreaks   in  uihich  isolation,  and  pisinjection.  were 
both  Jfeglected;  and  in  all  outbreaks  in  winch  both  were  £n- 
forced.(  Compiled,  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  State  Jtoard 
gf/fealth,jrom  reports  made  by  local  health  officers.  J 


rtii 


isolation  and  Disinfection 

Jfe gle  c  t  e  cL  , 


Jl  v  e  r  a  g  e  . 


Ssolation  and  Disinfection 

£  77  jo  reed. 


Average. 


Plate  53? 


11 


82 


MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF     SCIENCE. 


ISOLATION  AND  DISINFECTION  RESTRICTED 
SCARLET  FEVER  AND  DIPHTHERIA  IN  MICHI- 
GAN DURING  THE  5  YEARS  1886-90. 


SCARLET  FEVER. 

SOLATION  AND  DISINFECTION 


NEGLECTED. 


U 


366  OUTBREAKS, 
AVERAGE 


ENFORCED.  IN 


361  OUTBREAKS, 
AVERAGE 


CASES.DEATHS. 


T0TAL8i0UTBII£AK8,lfIS'7*;CASES,JI.3l2:DEATHS.S3l 
HOICATED  SAVIIC  OF  CASES  13.23  X  i.857  •  ITJI2  :  13,366 
INDICATED  SAVIRC  OF  LIVES  .S3  X  1.857  -  531  a  S30 


mrta**  vtt* 


tiamitm   Vlyiumf  *  *r  ~£n/»r*if 


DIPHTHERIA. 

ISOLATION  AND  DISINFECTION 


NEGLECTED, 


UN 


317  OUTBREAKS, 
AVERACE 


ENFORCED,  IN 


252  OUTBREAKS, 
AVERAGE 


TOTALS,  OUTB  REAKS.  1.9  85.  CASES.  11,63  «|UEATHS,  IS  73 

INDICATED   SAVING  OF   CASES   13.57  X  1.385  •  II, t  J  4:15.302 

INDICATED  SAVING  OF  LIVES  267  X  1,38$ -2,3  73:2.722 


Plate  No.  51t*. 


BAKER  ON  A  NEW  SCIENCE,— THAT  OF  SANITATION.    83 

Incidentally,  too,  a  comparison  of  these  two  general  facts  leads  to 
another  important  fact,  namely,  that  at  least  four-fifths  of  the  cases  of 
the  scarlet  fever  and  diphtheria  experienced  in  Michigan  must  have  been 
spread  directly  or  indirectly  from  previous  cases.  Otherwise  they 
would  not  be  prevented  by  isolation  and  disinfection. 

Please  notice  that  the  results  in  one  year  are  not  very  widely  different 
from  the  results  in  other  years,  so  that  a  prophecy  relative  to  the  year 
1891,  for  instance,  from  the  experience  in  preceding  years,  would  have 
approached  the  actual  experience  in  1891. 

1  think  I  have  now  demonstrated  that  the  art  of  sanitation  has  now 
been  put  upon  a  scientific  basis,  that  the'  results  are  capable  of  numeri- 
cal expression,  in  fact  that  there  is  a  Science  of  Sanitation. 


SECOND    ANNUAL    FIELD    MEETING,    JUNE    1896. 


The  second  annual  field  meeting  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science 
was  held  at  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  Ingham  county,  June 
13,  1896. 

Sixteen  members  of  the  Academy  were  present,  together  with  a  num- 
ber who  were  not  members.  Most  of  the  day  was  spent  in  roaming 
about  the  college  grounds,  visiting  the  general  museum,  the  zoological 
and  botanical  laboratories,  the  botanic  garden,  etc.,  and  enjoying  a  ride 
over  the  college  farm  and  through  the  deep  woods. 

Some  of  the  members  collected  shells  along  the  Cedar  river,  others 
gathered  plants  and  insects,  and  all  enjoyed  the  meeting  thoroughly.  A 
substantial  dinner  was  served  in  Abbott  Hall,  and  the  business  meet- 
ing was  held  there  also. 

The  business  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  1:30  p.  m.  by  President 
W.  H.  Sherzer,  twelve  members  present.  Formal  permission  was  given 
for  the  organization  of  a  Section  of  Agriculture,  in  accordance  with  the 
request  and  notice  filed  at  the  last  regular  meeting. 

Permission  was  also  given  for  the  formation  of  a  Subsection  of 
Conchology. 

The  secretary,  on  written  request  of  Professor  Reighard,  brought  up 
the  matter  of  subscription  to  the  Huxley  Memorial,  which  was  referred 
to  the  Council,  with  power. 

After  a  brief  intermission,  the  Academy  was  again  called  to  order  and 
informed  of  the  organization  of  the  Section  of  Agriculture,  with  Prof. 
Clinton  D.  Smith  as  vice  president,  and  A.  A.  Crozier,  secretary.  This 
organization  was  approved  by  the  Academy.  The  report  of  the  Council 
was  read,  recommending  for  resident  members  the  following  thirteen 
candidates  who  were  duly  elected: 

Luther  H.  Baker,  Lansing;  Cheshire  L.  Boone,  Ypsilanti;  Leon  J.  Cole, 
Grand  Rapids;  Miss  Hester  T.  Fuller,  Greenville;  Dr.  E.  A.  A.  Grange, 
Lansing;  Thomas  L.  Hankinson,  Agricultural  College;  Henry  S.  Hul- 
bert,  Detroit;  Willard  E.  Mulliken,  Grand  Rapids;  E.  D wight  Sander- 
son, Lansing;  C.  F.  Schneider,  Lansing;  Miss  Anna  A.  Schryver,  Ann 
Arbor;  Percy  S.  Selous,  Greenville;  Prof.  Philip  B.  Woodworth,  Agri- 
cultural College. 

In  the  absence  of  Professor  Barr,  and  in  view  of  the  small  number 
of  members  present,  it  was  deemed  best  not  to  take  action  on  the  pro- 
posed amendment  to  the  constitution,  notice  of  which  was  given  by 
Professor  Barr  at  the  last  meeting. 


SECOND    ANNUAL    FIELD     MEETING,     JUNE,     1896.  85 


COUNCIL  MEETING. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science,  held 

at  Jackson,  February  6,  1897,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted: 

Resolved,    That  it  is  the  function  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science, 

1.  To  afford  opportunities  for  representatives  of  the  various  sciences 
in  the  different  parts  of  the  State  to  meet  one  another  socially,  to  dis- 
cuss plans  for  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  their  sciences,  and  to 
secure  the  co-operation  of  all  scientific  workers  and  local  associations 
in  the  State. 

2.  To  promote  in  every  possible  way,  as  a  representative  scientific 
body,  any  project  for  the  furtherance  of  the  interests  of  science  within 
the  State. 

3.  To  s%cure,  at  as  early  a  date  as  possible,  the  initiation  of  biologi- 
cal and  other  scientific  surveys  of  this  State,  and  to  encourage  individual 
and  associated  effort  toward  the  same  end. 

4.  To  stimulate  the  discussion  of  the  aims  and  methods  of  science 
teaching,  with  the  purpose  of  unifying  and  improving  the  practice  of 
teachers  of  science  in  the  schools  and  colleges  of  the  State. 


THIRD    ANNUAL    MEETING. 

ANN    ARBOR,   MARCH    31,    APRIL    1  AND    27  1897. 


The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  2:45  p.  m.,  President  Sherzer  in 
the  chair;  about  forty  persons  present.  The  minutes  of  the  lgst  regular 
meeting  were  read,  amended,  and  approved.  The  minutes  of  the  last 
field  meeting  (June  13,  1896)  .were  also  read  and  approved. 

The  report  of  the  treasurer,  Chas.  E.  Barr,  was  read,  accepted  and  re- 
ferred to  an  auditing  committee,  which  reported  later  that  the  accounts 
were  correct. 

Twenty  new  members  were  elected,  as  follows: 

(Miss)  Alice  Brown,  Ann  Arbor;  Flemming  Carrow,  M.  D.,  Ann  Arbor; 
H.  H.  Chase,  Linden;  Paul  A.  Cowgill,  Cassopolis;  Charles  J.  Davis, 
Lansing;  Delos  Fall,  M.  D.,  Albion;  Mary  E.  Greene,  M.  D.,  Charlotte; 
Thomas  Gunson,  Agricultural  College;  E.  M.  Houghton,  M.  D.,  Detroit; 
Burton  O.  Long-year,  Agricultural  College;  Charles  E.  Marshall,  Ph.  B., 
Agricultural  College;  J.  G.  McClymonds,  M.  D.,  Ann  Arbor;  Jason  E. 
Nichols.  Lansing;  G.  D.  Perkins,  M.  D.,  St.  Paul,  Minn,  (corresponding); 
Rufus  H.  Pettit,  Agricultural  College;  Albert  B.  Prescott,  Ph.  D.,  Ann 
Arbor;  (Miss)  Harriett  Putnam,  Saginaw;  Herbert  E.  Sargent,  Detroit; 
P.  D.  Smith,  Greenville;  Louis  H.  Strong,  Grand  Rapids. 

Prof.  Jacob  Reighard,  from  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Council 
to  formulate  a  by-law  relative  to  the  organization  of  sub-sections,  re- 
ported as  follows: 

"No  plan  which  is  adapted  to  all  sub-sections  seems  feasible.  We 
recommend  that  the  organization  of  subsections  be  left  to  the  members 
of  the  section  concerned,  and  that  the  chairman  of  each  sub-section 
shall  indicate  annually  what  progress  is  being  made."  Report  accepted 
and  adopted. 

The  secretary  was  authorized  to  make  such  verbal  changes  in  the 
constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  Academy  as  are  necessitated  by  the 
change  in  time  of  holding  the  annual  meeting. 

The  following  resolution,  submitted  by  Bryant  Walker,  was  adopted 
and  the  secretary  was  instructed  to  send  a  certified  copy  to  the  post- 
master general   at  Washington: 

"Whereas,  The  free  interchange  of  scientific  material  is  of  great  public 
utility  as  aiding  in  scientific  research,  and,  whereas  the  rates  of  postage 
as  now  fixed  by  the  Universal  Postal  Union  are  excessive  and  practically 
prohibit  the  use  of  the  mails  for  scientific  exchanges, 


THIRD    ANNUAL    MEETING.  87 

"Resolved,  That  the  Postmaster  General  of  the  United  States  be  re- 
quested  by  this  Academy  to  instruct  the  delegate  of  the  U.  S.  govern- 
ment to  the  International  Postal  Congress,  about  to  meet  in  Washington, 
to  vote  in  favor  of  the  proposed  amendment  to  Article  XIX  of  the  Regu- 
lations of  the  Universal  Postal  Union,  which  shall  permit  specimens  of 
natural  history  to  be  sent  through  the  mails  at  the  same  rate  of  postage 
as  samples  of  merchandise,  and  that  packages  be  allowed  according  to  the 
English  Parcel  Post." 

The  amendment  to  the  constitution  proposed  by  Prof.  Barr  at  the 
second  annual  meeting  was  adopted.  In  accordance  with  this  resolu- 
tion Article  IX  of  the  constitution  is  changed  to  read:  "This  constitu- 
tion may  be  amended  at  any  annual  meeting  by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  all 
the  resident  members  present,"  and  Chapter  IX  of  the  by-laws  is  changed 
to  read  "these  by-laws  may  be  amended  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  mem- 
bers present  at  any  regular  meeting." 

The  secretary  read  brief  necrological  notices  of  the  Honorable  Bela 
Hubbard,  Mr.  Willard  S.  Pope,  and  Mr.  Lorenzo  X.  Johnson,  resident 
members  deceased  since  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Academy. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  hereafter  it  be  the  duty  of  the  vice  president  of  each 
section  to  present  at  the  annual  meeting  some  paper  on  the  work  of  the 
section. 

Resolved,  That  the  Academy  endorse  Senate  bill  Xo.  121,  and  that  the 
secretary  transmit  a  copy  of  this  resolution  to  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  in  whose  hands  the  bill  now  is. 

Resolved,  That  the  Academy  formally  meet  in  Detroit  at  the  time  of 
the  meeting  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Sci- 
ence, and,  after  transacting  anjr  business  which  may  be  desirable,  ad- 
journ to  attend  the  meetings  of  that  association. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  sincere  thanks  to  the  regents  and  faculty 
and  committee  of  arrangements  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  who 
have  done  so  much  to  make  this  meeting  pleasant  and  profitable. 

In  the  zoological  section,  vice  president  Reighard  appointed  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  W.  B.  Barrows,  D.  C.  Worcester  and  L.  Whitney  Wat- 
kins  to  look  up  the  subject  of  bird  legislation,  and  to  the  same  committee 
was  subsequently  referred  the  question  of  obtaining  information  about 
the  birds  of  the  state  from  persons  holding  licenses  to  shoot  for  scientific 
purposes. 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  resulted  as  follows: 

President — Volney  M.  Spalding.  Ph.  D.,  Ann  Arbor. 

Vice  Presidents — Sanitary  Science,  Frederick  G.  Xovy,  M.  D.,  Ann 
Arbor.  Zoology,  Jacob  Reighard,  Ph.  B.,  Ann  Arbor.  Botany,  C.  F. 
Wheeler,  B.  S.,  Agricultural  College.  Agriculture,  Clinton  D.  Smith, 
M.  S.,  Agricultural  College. 

Treasurer — Prof.  W.  H.  Munson,  Hillsdale. 

Secretary — Walter  B.  Barrows,  S.  B.,  Agricultural  College. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  meeting,  Friday,  April  2,  at  9:45  a.  m.,  the 
Academy  listened  to  the  address  of  the  retiring  president.  Prof.  W.  H. 
Sherzer,  and  at  its  conclusion  took  up  the  joint  program  of  the  Academy 
and  the  Michigan  Schoolmasters'  Club,  the  subject  being  a  biological 
conference   or   symposium,   entitled,   Biologieal  Teaching   in   the  Second 


88  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

ary  Schools — What  Should  be  Taught?     How  Much  and  How?     The  pro- 
gram was  completed  at  4  p.  m.  and  the  Academy  adjourned. 

PAPERS   PRESENTED   AT    THE    THIRD   ANNUAL    MEETING    OF    THE    MICHIGAN 
ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCE,   MARCH   31,    APRIL   1  AND   2,    1897. 

1.  Black  Plague.  Victor  C.  Vaughan,  M.  D.,  Ann  Arbor.  Published  in  Apple- 
ton's  Popular  Science  Monthly,  May,  1897. 

2.  Notes  and  Observations  regarding  the  Habits  and  Characteristics  of  the 
Massasauga,  Sistrurus  oatenatus,  during  captivity.  Percy  ,S.  Selous,  Greenville. 
Published  in  Bull,  de  la  Soc.  Zool.  de  France,  XXII,  pp.  157-1G1  (1897).  Reprinted 
in  full  in  present  report. 

3.  Newton's  Third  Law  as  a  Factor  in  Organic  Evolution.  Manly  Miles.  M.  D., 
Lansing.     Printed  in  full  in  present  report. 

4.  An  Ascent  of  Mt.  Ranier.     Illustrated  Lecture  by  Professor  Israel  C.  Russell. 

5.  Comments  on  the  Nature  of  the  work  suited  to  a  Botanical  Club  of  an  Agri- 
cultural College.  Wm.  J.  Beal,  Ph.  D.,  Aerriouluiral  College.  Printed  in  pres- 
ent report  under  the  title  "Suitable  Topics  for  Discussion  by  Young  Members  of  a 
Botanical  Club." 

6.  The  Mechanism  of  Root  Curvature.     James  B.  Pollock,  Ann  Arbor. 

7.  Remarks  concerning  the  Saprophytic  Fungi  grown  in  the  Vicinity  of  the 
Agricultural  College.  B.  O.  Longyear,  Agricultural  College.  Published  in  pan 
in  Report  State  Board  of  Agriculture  for  1897,  p.  48.     Reprinted  in  this  report. 

8.  The  Russian  Thistle  and  Tumbling  Mustard  in  Michigan.  C.  F.  Wheeler, 
Agricultural  College.  Mostly  included  in  the  paper  entitled  "Additions  to  the 
Flora  of  Michigan."  Rep.  State  Board  of  Agr.  for  1898,  pp.  82-91. 

9.  Early  Stages  in  the  Development  of  the  Pollen  in  Asclepias  corrmti.  Fanny 
E.  Langdon,  Ann  Arbor. 

10.  A  Remarkable  Forest  in  Michigan,  not  Hitherto  Known.  S.  Alexander, 
Birmingham.     Abstract  printed  in  this  report. 

11.  Some  Alpena  County  Plants  Observed  in  1896.     C.  F.  Wheeler.     Unpublished. 

12.  Notes  on  Michigan  Mollusca.     Bryant  Walker,  Detroit.     Not  published. 

13.  The  Shells  of  the  Quaternary  Deposits  in  Huron  County.  Alfred  C.  Lane. 
Houghton,  and  Bryant  Walker,  Detroit.  To  be  published  in  forthcoming  report  of 
the  Geol.  Survey  of  Michigan. 

14.  Demonstration  of  an  Apparatus  for  Mechanically  Passing  Objects  through 
Fluids  of  Different  Densities.     D.  C.  Worcester,  Ann  Arbor. 

15.  The  Structure  of  the  Olfactory  Lobe  of  the  Sturgeon.     J.  B.  Johnston,  Ann 
Arbor.     Published  in  Zoological  Bulletin  (Ginn  &  Co'.)  Vol.  1,  No.  5  (1898),  pp.  221 
241.     Abstract  or  summary  printed  in  this  report. 

16.  The  Peripheral  Nervous  System  of  Nereis  virens.  Fanny  E.  Langdon,  Ann 
Arbor. 

17.  On  the  Fertilization  of  the  Eggs  of  Undo  complan-ata.  F.  R.  Lillie,  Ann  Ar- 
bor.    Abstract  in  "Science,"  March  5,  1897,  new  series,  Vol.  V,  pp.  389-390. 

18.  Poisonous  Germs  found  in  Drinking  Water.  J.  McClymonds,  M.  D,  ^  nn 
Arlor.     Abstract  printed  in  this  report. 

19.  Poisonous  Germs  found  in  Foods.     Miss  A.  Brown,  Ann  Arbor. 

20.  Distinctions  between  the  Typhoid  and  Colon  Bacilli.  G.  D.  Perkins.  M.  D., 
St.  Paul,  Minn.  , 

21.  Antitoxins.     E.  M.  Houghton,  M.  D.,  Detroit. 

22.  Results  from  the  use  of  Antitoxin.     Frederick  G.  Novy.  M.  D.,  Ann  Arbor. 

23.  Some  Vital  Statistics  of  Michigan.  Cressy  L.  Wilbur.  M.  D.,  Lansing. 
Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

24.  Observations  on  toe  Methods  of  I'istribution  of  the  Seeds  of  some  Michigan 
Trees.  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal,  Agricultural  College.  Published  under  the  title  "Seed  Dis- 
persal," by  Ginn  &Co.,  Boston,  1898. 

25.  The  Geographical  Distribution  of  Life  in  Michigan.  Walter  B.  Barrows, 
Agricultural  College.     Unpublished. 

26.  The  Relation  of  the  Academy  to  the  Elementary  Schools.  Address  of  the 
retiring  president.     Professor  W.  H.  Scherzer,  Ypsilanti.     Not  published. 

27.  Notes  on  the  Flora  of  Huron  County.  Chas.  A.  Davis,  Alma.  To  be  pub- 
lished in  forthcoming  bulletin  of  Geol.  Survey  of  Michigan. 

28.  The  Evening  Grosbeak  in  Central  Michigan.  Chas.  A.  Davis.  Printed  in 
this  report. 


SELOUS    ON    HABITS    OF    THE    MASSASAUGA.  89 

29.  Public  Health  Service  in  Michigan.     Henry  B.  Baker,  M.  D.     (Read  by  title.) 
Biological  Conference;  joint  program  of  the  Academy  of  Science,  and  Michigan 

Schoolmasters'  Club. 

Subject:        Biological   Teaching    in    the     Secondary     Schools— What    Should   be 
Taught,  How  Much,  and  How? 

30.  Botany.     Paper  by  Professor  C.  A.  Davis,  of  Alma. 

31.  Paper  by  Miss  F.  M.  Lyon,  Chicago. 

Discussion  opened  by  Professor  V.  M.  Spaulding  of  the  University. 

32.  Zoology:     Paper  by  Professor  W.  H.  Munson  of  Hillsdale. 
Discussion  opened  by  Professor  W.  B.  Barrows,  of  the  Agricultural  College. 

33.  Physiology:     Paper  by  Miss  Alice  Lyon  of  Detroit. 
Discussion  opened  by  Professor  W.  P.  Lombard,  of  the  University. 

34.  Hygiene  and  Sanitary  Science:     Paper  by  Professor  Delos  Fall,  of  Albion. 
Discussion  opened  by  Professor  Victor  C.  Vaughan.  of  the  University. 


NOTES   AND   OBSERVATIONS    REGARDING   THE    HABITS   AND 

CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  MASSASAUGA  OR  GROUND 

RATTLESNAKE.   SISTRURUS   CATENA  TUS,  DUR 

ING  CAPTIVITY. 

BY  PERCY  S.  SELOUS,  GREENVILLE. 

(Read    before    the    Academy,    March    31,    1S97.      Reprinted    from    Bull,    de    la    Societe    de 

France,    vol.    xxii.   pp.   157-161,    1897.) 

Having  kept  these  snakes  now  for  several  years — in  fact  I  may  say 
that  they  have  been  a  hobby  with  me — I  have  had  considerable  op- 
portunity of  studying  them  and  their  ways.  Harmless  snakes  I  had 
often  made  pets  of  both  here  and  in  Europe,  but  without  much  regard 
to  scientific  data;  and  my  first  massasauga  soon  showed  me  that  the 
habits  of  the  one,  were  very  different  from  those  of  the  other.  The  first 
thing  I  found  out  was  that  cold  blooded  food  in  any  shape  would  not 
be  taken  and  although  I  have  tried  a  great  variety  and  under  all  sorts 
of  conditions,  I  have  never  yet  been  able  to  get  a  massasauga  to  touch 
other  than  warm  blooded  prey.  I  have  tried  frogs,  toads,  various 
snakes,  grasshoppers,  etc.,  without  avail  and  although  I  believe  that 
the  massasauga  will  take  living  birds,  I  have  never  yet  succeeded  in 
making  them  devour  anything  but  mice. 

Then  again,  the  mode  of  seizing  is  so  different.  It  matters  little  to  a 
striped  snake  where  it  catches  a  frog;  fore  or  aft  it  goes  down,  and  there 
and  then  and  alive.  The  massasauga  on  the  contrary,  if  it  be  hungry, 
strikes  with  lightning  rapidity,  inoculates  its  victim  and  as  speedily  with- 
draws, at  least  in  the  great  majority  of  cases.  Once  I  saw  one  hold  on  for 
a  few  seconds.  In  any  case  the  prey  is  left  and  after  scampering  around 
the  cage  gradually  weakens,  totters  and  succumbs.  I  have  seen  my 
snakes  do  this  scores  of  times  and  I  can  safely  state  that  thirty  seconds 
is  a  fair  average  of  life  for  the  mouse,  after  being  bitten.  The  snake 
seems  to  have  a  good  idea  of  how  long  the  mouse  will  live,  which  is  an 
advantage  if  it  can  keep  it  in  sight,  but  this  it  rarely  does.  As  a  rule 
the  mouse  kicks  itself  down  between  the  turf  sod  and  the  back  or  front 
of  the  cage,  tumbles  into  the  water  tank  or  crawls  into  some  crevice. 

The  snake,  however,  will  ferret  it  out.  Sometimes  it  reconnoiters  a  bit, 
but  rarely  fails  to  locate  the  dead  mouse.  Now  it  is  often  necessary  to 
*  12 


X 


90  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF     SCIENCE. 

seize  it  by  the  tail  or  other  part  than  the  head,  for  it  is  always  dragged 
out  again  before  being  absorbed.  In  case  it  has  not  been  first  seized 
by  the  nose  it  is  again  released  and  seized  by  the  nose  and  I  have  never 
yet  seen  a  massasauga  swallow  a  mouse  in  any  other  way  than  by  com- 
mencing at  the  nose. 

The  massasauga  according  to  my  observations,  must  kill  its  own 
prey.  I  have  tried  mice  killed  by  the  cat,  often;  not  a  bit  of  use.  I 
once  took  a  living  but  injured  mouse  from  the  cat  and  presented  it. 
The  snake  noticed  it,  transiently  only,  and  the  mouse  speedily  dying 
was  ignored.  Yet  a  living  one  introduced  directly  after  was  speedily 
accounted  for.  I  have  not  noticed  any  of  my  rattlers  take  more  than 
two  mice  consecutively.  As  a  contrast  to  this,  a  striped  snake  in  an 
adjoining  cage,  no  bulkier  than  my  largest  massasauga,  though  longer, 
took  eight  half  grown  frogs  one  after  the  other  as  fast  as  it  could 
swallow  them,  and  from  its  attitude  was  ready  for. more.  The  frogs 
were  Rana  pipiens.  What  was  very  interesting  to  me  was  the  way 
the  Sistrurus  drinks.  As  often  as  not,  after  absorbing  a  mouse,  the 
snake  goes  to  the  little  water  tank  and  lowering  its  head  until  within 
a  half  inch  of  the  water,  commences  to  lap,  exactly  after  the  manner 
of  a  cat.  The  tongue  is  protruded  and  drawn  back  at  regular,  rather 
slow  intervals,  three  or  four  seconds  between  each  lap.  I  have  known 
them  to  keep  lapping  for  a  couple  of  minutes  in  this  leisurely  way;  it  is 
also  interesting  to  see  the  jaws  stretched  wide  apart  two  or  three  times, 
with  a  kind  of  yawning  movement  and  giving  a  good  view  of  the  internal 
structure  of  the  palate  and  adjacent  parts;  also  the  erected  fangs.  (The 
fangs  are  always  erect  when  the  mouth  is  open.) 

On  August  7th,  last  year,  six  young  were  born  to  a  pair  of  my  rattle- 
snakes and  a  few.  days  after  six  more  to  another  pair.  These  little 
fellows  had  all  shed  their  skins  within  a  week  of  their  birth  and  at  the 
time  I  put  them  down  in  the  cellar  to  hybernate,  had  about  doubled 
in  size.  So  far  as  1  have  been  able  to  determine,  the  massasauga,  when 
not  a  baby  of  the  year,  sheds  its  skin  twice  annually;  in  May  and  in  July. 
The  change  appears  to  be  pretty  regular.  The  dates  of  one  of  mine  in  a 
separate  cage  are  July  28,  1895;  May  23,  1896  and  July  29,  1896.  I  shall 
keep  this  individual  one's  time  this  season. 

With  regard  to  the  rattles,  I  have  give  up  trying  to  find  anything 
further.  The  one  I  have  had  longest,  had  six  pairs  when  I  first  took  it; 
it  got  another  pair  the  same  year  and  has  remained  in  statu  quo  ever 
since  so  far  as  tail  goes,  although  it  has  grown  prodigiously  otherwise. 

One  thing  is  rather  mysterious  to  me,  I  allude  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  young  subsist  and  grow  so  rapidly.  Mine  certainly  have  not  had 
any  nourishment.  The  mice  are  always  swallowed  by  the  parents.  Of 
this  I  am  positive,  and  furthermore  if  they  are  not,  I  remove  them,  for 
I  never  allow  a  mouse  to  remain  in  the  box  unswallowed,  dead  or  alive. 
I  see  them  absorbed  or  I  take  them  out.  I  have  seen  the  voung  of  H. 
platyrhinus  and  S.  natrix  take  refuge  in  the  parent's  throat.  I  wonder 
if  this  is  only  done  in  case  of  alarm,  or  whether  there  may  be  something 
in  the  theory  I  have,  that  they  may  derive  nourishment  from  the  old 
ones  in  this  manner.  I  tried  my  best  to  induce  these  young  snakes  to 
exhibit  this  trait  to  me,  but  without  success.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  secure 
an  instantaneous  photograph. 


SELOUS    ON    HABITS     OF    THE     MASSASAUGA.  91 

Whilst  on  the  subject  of  surmise,  one  other  matter  occurs  to  me. 
Last  summer  several  massasaugas  were  killed  in  Greenville,  and  closelv 
and  naturally  perhaps,  it  was  hinted  that  I  had  been  careless  and  allowed 
one  to  escape,  for  such  a  thing  had  not  been  known  for  a  long  time. 
But  mine  were  all  safe.  We  all  know  that  snakes  and  rattle-snakes 
too,  will  congregate  to  den  up  and  that  they  come  long  distances  and 
hybernate  year  after  year  in  the  same  spot.  There  is  another 
instinct  as  firmly  instilled  as  that  of  migration;  that  which  en- 
ables the  male  to  locate  the  female  and  at  long  distances.  May 
this  not  be  the  solution  of  the  massasauga  being  found  right  in 
the  center  of  civilization?  If  a  dog  or  a  moth  be  thus  attracted,  why 
not  a  rattle  snake?  Unfortunately  I  had  no  opportunity  of  examining 
the  specimens  killed,  all  I  could  see  was  the  rattles.  If  they  had  proved 
to  be  males,  my  theory  would  have  been,  in  my  opinion,  considerably 
strengthened. 

In  disposition,  I  have  found  the  massasauga  particularly  docile.  For 
a  dog  they  appear  to  have  a  special  antipathy.  One  of  these  has  only 
to  sniff  around  the  cages  to  set  the  whole  colony  rattling.  Their  sense 
of  smell  appears  to  be  particularly  acute  and  they  will  detect  a  dog 
at  the  back  of  the  cage  directly.  For  a  cat  they  do  not  seem  to  enter- 
tain the  same  dislike. 

On  the  approach  of  a  thunder  storm  they  always  become  restless  and 
noisy  and  are  excellent  barometers  in  this  respect.  I  have  stated  before 
that  about  half  a  minute  is  the  limit  of  a  mouse's  life  after  it  is  bitten. 
A  sheep  died  in  twenty-five  minutes  and  beyond  this  I  have  not  had  any 
personal  experience  with  regard  to  the  power  of  the  venom.  But  this 
was  not  a  captive  snake  and  as  the  sheep  trod  on  it,  it  was  naturally 
enraged  and  without  doubt  the  blow  would  be  given  with  all  the  more 
vehemence  and  a  more  copious  supply  of  virus  injected. 

Last  summer  I  had  rather  an  uncomfortable  thing  happen.  I  was 
skinning  a  massasauga  and  wishing  to  preserve  head  and  fangs,  so  that 
I  could  set  it  up  open  mouthed  and  being  also  chary  of  coming  in  con- 
Tact  with  the  teeth,  for  it  had  been  killed  fighting  and  I  knew  the  fangs 
would  have  more  or  less  venom  on  them,  I  tied  a  piece  of  thread  around 
the  head  to  keep  it  from  me  and  attached  it  to  a  nail  whitst  I  pulled 
gently  at  the  skin.  The  thread,  however,  broke  and  down  came  the 
head  on  my  hand  inflicting  a  slight  puncture.  '  I  did  not  relish  this  at  all, 
but  set  immediately  to  sucking  the  place,  and  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
or  twenty  minutes,  I  do  not  think  I  desisted.  I  never  felt  the  least  in- 
convenience from  it,  but  I  shall  be  more  careful  in  future. 

I  shall  probably  be  set  down  as  exceedingly  foolhardy,  but  I  have 
several  times  held  a  mouse  by  the  tail  with  1113-  naked  hand  and  allowed 
my  tamest  snake  to  strike  it.  I  do  not  know  that  I  would  do  this  with 
them  all. 

Addendum:     (November,  1S98.) 

As  before  stated  my  rattlesnakes  had  fed  on  mice  only,  now  they 
take  birds  with  avidity.  Some  time  since,  I  put  a  sparrow  into  the  cage 
containing  two  of  my  largest  massasaugas.  Both  struck  at  it  the  same 
instant.  I  would  say  here  that  when  a  snake  strikes  a  mouse  it  releases 
it  at  once;  when  it  strikes  a  bird  it  holds  on  till  it  is  dead,  the  reason  for 
which  is  not  hard  to  see.     One  struck  the  bird,  the  other  the  other  snake. 


92  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

at  the  back  of  the  head,  and  I  had  some  difficulty  in  getting  them  apart. 
The  head  and  neck  of  the  bitten  serpent  rapidly  became  swollen,  but 
after  a  time  it  subsided,  and  it  seemed  little  the  worse  for  it.  More 
than  once  I  have  seen  my  snakes  throw  up  pellets  of  fur  and  feathers 
similar  somewhat  to  those  ejected  by  the  Raptores. 

On  July  22,  1807,  I  was  bitten  by  one  of  my  rattlers.  I  had  long  been 
in  the  habit  of  handling  several  with  impunity,  but  on  the  evening 
named,  I  was  routing  for  one  in  its  blanket  to  show  to  some  friends,  and 
presumably  irritated  it,  for  it  struck  me  on  the  forefinger.  I  immed- 
iately opened  the  wound  with  my  knife  and  sucked  vigorously  for  some 
minutes,  until  I  thought  I  must  have  practically'extracted  all  the  venom. 
I  would  say  here,  that  what  I  extracted  I  swallowed,  for  I  know  I  didn't 
spit  much.  I  haven't  the  least  fear  of  the  venom  taken  internally,  so 
long  as  there  is  no  abrasion  of  the  lips  or  mouth  parts.  I  then  filled 
the  wound  with  permanganate  of  potash,  rinsed  it  out  and  repeated  the 
operation.  This  was  all  I  did,  and  I.  took  no  whisky.  All  the  same,  I 
soon  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  poison  and  was  compelled  to  see  a 
doctor.  Strychnine  pills  at  last  overcame  its  potency,  but  I  was  just 
as  sick  as  I  want  to  be,  and  would  not  go  through  a  similar  experience 
for  a  good  deal.* 

With  regard  to  the  snake  that  was  bitten,  it  could  not  cast  its  skin 
when  the  time  came,  and  it  died.  Since  then  I  had  an  almost  exactly 
similar  accident  occur,  but  this  time  I  sucked  the  wound  of  the  bitten 
snake  and  served  it  the  same  way  as  I  did  my  own  finger,  very  much  to 
its  disgust,  apparently.  When  the  time  came  for  it  to  shed  its  skin 
it  had  no  difficulty  in  doing  so,  and  did  well  after. 


NEWTON'S  THIRD  LAW  OF  MOTION  A  FACTOR  IN  ORGANIC 

EVOLUTION. 

BY   MANLY   MTLES,    LANSING,    MICH. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,  March  31,  1S97.) 

One  of  the  most  striking  results  of  progress  in  the  several  departments 
of  science  is  the  constantly  increasing  evidence  that  they  have  a  common 
basis  in  a  few  fundamental  laws  of  universal  application. 

Newton's  laws  of  motion  and  the  principle  of  the  conservation  of 
energy  appear  to  be  as  significant  factors  in  biological  activities  and 
processes  as  they  are  in  the  domain  of  physics. 

What  Grove  termed  the  "affections  of  matter"  (heat,  light,  etc.)  are 
resolved  by  physicists  into  modes  of  motion,  and  physiologists  are 
obliged  to  consider  vital  activities  in  their  ultimate  analysis  from  the 
same  standpoint  so  that  matter  might  be  defined  as  the  medium  for 
the  transformations  of  energy  in  organic  as  well  as  in  inorganic  pro- 
cesses. 

*[While  these  pages  were  passing  through  the  press,  on  April  6.  1900,  Mr.  Selous  was 
bitten  on  the  hand  by  one  of  his  snakes,  a  water  moccasin,  Agkistrodon  piscivorus, 
from  Florida,  and  in  spite  of  the  immediate  care  of  several  physicians  he  died  from 
the   effects  of  the  bite  after  about   fifty  hours   of  intense   suffering.    Ed.] 


MILES     ON     NEWTON'S     THIRD     LAW.  93 

The  most  satisfactory  definitions  of  "life"  and  "living  matter"  are 
alike  in  making-  continuous  molecular  changes  in  response  to  external 
impressions  the  essential  characteristic. 

Tseviranus  at  the  beginning  of  the  century  defined  life  as  "consisting 
in  the  reaction  of  the  organism  to  external  influences,"  and  fifty  years 
later,  after  an  extended  discussion  of  the  subject,  Herbert  Spencer  tells 
us  that  "the  broadest  and  most  complete  definition  of  life  will  be  the 
continuous  adjustment  of  internal  relations  to  external  relations,"  which 
is  in  effect  a  restatement  of  the  definition  of  Tseviranus. 

Foster,  still  later,  from  the  standpoint  of  the  physiologist,  defines  lift- 
ing matter  as  "not  a  thing  or  body  of  a  particular  chemical  composition, 
but  matter  undergoing  a  series  of  changes"  which  he  likens  to  a  "com- 
plex whirl"  or  an  "intricate  dance"  in  which  chemical  composition  and 
histological  structure  are  the  figures,  and  he  compares  the  whole  body 
of. man  to  a  fountain  of  water.  "As  the  fountain  remains  the  same, 
though  fresh  water  is  continually  rising  and  falling,  so  the  body  seems 
the  same,  though  fresh  food  is  always  replacing  the  old  man,  which  in 
turn  is  always  falling  back  to  dust,  and  the  conception  we  are  now  urg- 
ing is  one  which  carries  an  analogous  idea  into  the  study  of  all  the 
molecular  phenomena  of  the  body." 

From  these  definitions  of  life  we  may  look  upon  biological  processes 
and  activities  as  modes  of  motion  involving  transformations  of  energy 
in  accordance  with  Newton's  third  law  which  must  then  be  accepted 
as  an  important  factor  in  organic  evolution. 

As  formulated  by  Newton,  this  law  appears  to  be  alike  applicable  to 
organic  and  inorganic  processes.  "To  every  action  there  is  always  an 
equal  and  contrary  reaction;  or  the  mutual  actions  of  any  two  bodies  are 
always  equal  and  oppositely  directed." 

The  struggle  for  existence  implies  the  sum  of  the  actions  and  reactions 
of  competing  species  with  one  another  and  with  their  environment,  and 
the  fittest  to  survive  are  those  that  most  readily  conform  in  habits  and 
requirements  to  the  constantly  changing  conditions  so  that  an  equilib- 
rium in  the  conflicting  forces  with  which  they  have  to  deal  may  be  main- 
tained. 

The  surviving  individuals  and  species  must  then  be  endowed  with 
a  plasticity  or  elasticity  of  organization  that  enables  them  to  adapt  their 
functional  activities  to  varying  conditions  of  the  environment. 

It  follows  from  this  that  the  first  step  in  the  development  of  a  new 
species  must  be  a  physiological  or  functional  adjustment  of  the  organs  of 
certain  individuals  to  changes  in  the  environment,  and  when  these  func- 
tional adaptations  are  well  established  by  frequent  repetition  morphologi- 
cal or  structural  peculiarities  may  be  developed  that  are  recognized  as 
specific  characters,  but  which  are  in  fact  manifestations  of  the  functional 
adaptions  that  have  preceded  them. 

These  preliminary  steps  in  the  development  of  a  new  species  can  only 
be  observed  in  living  organisms,  and  in  our  laboratory  methods  of  study- 
ing dead  organisms  we  niay  fail  to  distinguish  species  that  are  clearly 
distinct  in  habits,  functional  activities  and  powers  of  adaption  from  their 
resemblance  in  external  or  morphological  characters. 

In  the  geographic  distribution  of  species  there  must  be  a  balance  of 
organisms  in   conformity  with  the  mutual  needs  of  competing  species 


94  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

under  the  prescribed  conditions,  as  is  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  re- 
sults of  the  introduction  of  the  mongoose  in  the  island  of  Jamaica.  (V. 
Science,  Vol.  5,  p.  15,  Jan.  1,  1897.) 

With  the  decline  and  final  disappearance  of  the  discomfited  species 
in  the  struggle  for  existence  from  their  inability  to  adapt  themselves  to 
the  changed  conditions  they  have  aided  to  bring  about,  there  must  be 
an  equivalent  readjustment  of  the  habits  and  essential  requirements 
of  the  fittest  to  survive  to  establish  harmonious  relations  with  their 
fellows  and  the  resulting  changes  in  their  environment. 

The  reaction  of  less  favored  species  to  the  sum  of  the  influences  of 
their  environment  and  their  ultimate  decline  and  disappearance  should 
not  be  overlooked  in  the  evolution  of  new  species,  as  the  plasticity  of 
organization  and  powers  of  adaptation  to  changing  conditions  are  inten- 
sified in  the  survivors  by  their  exercise,  and  every  element  of  change 
tends  to  a  further  divergence  in  functional  activities. 

From  the  point  of  view  here  outlined  the  importance  of  systematic 
local  biological  surveys  for  the  solution  of  problems  in  evolution  can- 
not be  too  emphatically  urged.  The  field  naturalist  should  not,  how- 
ever, limit  his  observations  to  the  identification  and  geographical  range 
of  species.  The  conditions  of  environment  that  have  an  influence  on  the 
distribution  and  grouping  of  species  should  also  be  carefully  noted,  and 
the  data  obtained  by  systematic  observations  in  the  several  depart- 
ments of  botany  and  zoology  must  then  be  correlated  to  obtain  con- 
sistent views  of  the  fundamental  laws  of  nature  in  organic  evolution. 

The  field  is  so  broad  that  a  subdivision  of  labor  in  special  lines  of 
research  will  be  required,  but  a  common  purpose  should  be  kept  in 
view  with  a  full  recognition  of  the  interdependence  of  relations  in  the 
facts  observed  in  the  several  lines  of  investigation. 

Lansing,  March  22,  1S!)7. 


SUITABLE  TOriCS  FOR  DISCUSSION  BY  YOUNG  MEMBERS  OF  A 

BOTANICAL  CLUB. 

BY  W.  J.   BEAL,   AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE. 
(Read  before   the  Academy.   Arril   1.   1S97.) 

In  some  respects  the  botany  taught  in  our  Agricultural  College  should 
be  unlike  that  introduced  into  a  portion  of  the  courses  in  a  university. 
For  example,  the  young  person  bent  on  agriculture  or  horticulture  in  any 
of  their  departments  would  not  need  to  spend  time  in  the  study  of  mosses, 
liverworts,  lichens,  or  algae,  or  many  of  the  saprophytic  fungi.  On  the 
contrary,  he  does  need  to  learn  the  names  and  many  of  the  peculiarities  of 
our  native  and  introduced  trees  and  shrubs,  the  same  of  the  leading 
grasses,  clovers  and  other  forage  crops;  he  needs  a  familiarity  with  our 
weeds,  including  the  seeds  of  cereals  and  other  field  crops,  our  parasitic 
fungi,  especially  those  injurious  to  cultivated  crops  and  weeds  of  all 
kinds,  and  some  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  and  physiology  of  the  higher 
plants.    In  a  word,  he  seems  to  have  a  greater  need  of  the  old  fashioned 


BEAL    ON     TOPICS    FOR    A     BOTANICAL    CLUB.  95 

systematic  botany  than  is  generally  expected  in  these  times  in  the  courses 
of  a  university. 

Especially  should  the  agricultural  student  from  the  start  take  much 
pains  to  become  a  close  and  accurate  observer  of  plants  in  the  field, 
orchard,  and  garden,  in  fact  anywhere  found. 

For  such  a  course  the  electives  need  not  be  numerous. 

For  many  years  past  at  the  State  Agricultural  College  there  has  been 
a  Natural  History  Society  with  meetings  once  a  month  at  which  the  obser- 
vations reported  referred  mainly  to  agriculture,  horticulture,  botany, 
zoology,  and  entomology. 

A  little  over  six  years  ago,  a  Botanical  Club  was  established  with  meet- 
ings in  the  botanical  laboratory  three  or  four  times  a  month.  The 
attendance  averages  from  ten  to  fifteen,  with  a  membership  of  about 
twenty-five. 

During  these  six  years  of  its  existence,  there  have  been  presented  two 
hundred  and  nineteen  topics.  Most  of  the  members  are  mentally  young. 
I  have  here  a  list  of  seventy-five  or  more  of  these  topics  which  seem  to 
be  models  of  their  kind  for  such  members  to  consider.  As  one  of  the 
objects  of  the  State  Academy  of  Science  is  to  encourage  young  people — 
or  older  ones  either — to  pursue  some  lines  of  investigation  appropriate 
to  oar  aims,  I  thoughl  this  list  of  topics  would  be  interesting  to  such 
young  workers  or  members  of  a  young  Natural  History  Society.  It  may 
be  needless  to  say  that  in  nearly  every  instance  the  paper  or  talk  gave 
the  results  of  personal  observation. 

A  comparison  of  the  fruits  of  our  three  elms. 

The  Flora  of  Michigan,  some  notes  on. 

Beech  drops. 

The  odor  of  plants. 

The  box  elder. 

Proper  work  of  a  botanical  club. 

Thistles  of  the  neighborhood. 

A  study  of  the  leaves  of  Arbor  vitae. 

Comparison  of  the  buds  of  several  oaks. 

The  fruit  of  the  red  mulberry. 

Comparison  of  the  twigs  of  three  pines. 

The  roots  of  the  red  clover. 

Pop  corn,  before  and  after  popped. 

The  roots  and  leaves  of  a  young  wheat  plant. 

The  report  of  a  field  day. 

The  flowers  of  Campanula. 

The  flowers  of  the  common  sage. 

Petiolar  glands. 

The  life  history  of  corn  smut. 

Notes  on  how  to  observe. 

Notes  on  leaf  galls. 

The  attractions  of  the  botanic  garden. 

A  talk  on  wheat. 

Remarks  on  native  goldenrods  and  asters. 

A  comparison  of  beech  nuts  from  several  trees. 

Large  varieties  of  fruits  of  a  hawthorn. 

Autumn  leaves. 


96  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

How  botany  is  taught  at  the  state  university. 

Notes  concerning  Dr.  Watson  of  Harvard,  recently  deceased. 

Detecting  the  adulteration  of  buckwheat  flour. 

A  talk  on  some  of  our  ferns. 

A  talk  on  the  origin  of  cultivated  plants. 

Some  of  our  fresh  water  algre  by  an  amateur. 

A  fungus  growing  from  the  neck  of  a  larva. 

The  adulterations  of  tea. 

Observations  on  the  black  knot  of  the  plum. 

The  adulteration  of  coffee. 

Fasciation  in  a  dandelion. 

Our  erysiphae  and  their  hosts  illustrated. 

Report  of  the  meeting  of  the  A.  A.  A.  S. 

Different  forms  of  leaves  on  the  same  plant. 

Carnations,  structure,  etc. — the  models. 

The  ''flow''  of  sap  in  the  sugar  maple. 

Questions  asked  of  the  botanist  of  the  experiment  station. 

Our  willows — illustrated. 

Some  of  our  earliest  grasses. 

The  structure  of  a  puff  ball. 

Plans  of  some  experiments  for  preventing  smut  in  oats  and  barley. 

How  to  kill  quack  or  couch  grass, — why? 

Botany  as  seen  in  the  German  exhibit  at  Chicago. 

Some  of  the  curious  plants  grown  in  the  greenhouse. 

Four  persons  talked  of  as  many  different  kinds  of  smuts. 

Our  native  orchids. 

Two  kinds  of  wild  potatoes  grown  in  the  botanic  garden. 

Some  of  the  fungi  grown  on  tomatoes. 

The  cross-fertilization  of  wheat. 

The  improvement  of  our  wild  fruits. 

Some  monstrosities  among  plants  and  their  meaning. 

History  and  development  of  some  of  our  grapes. 

The  mode  of  distribution  of  some  seeds. 

Observations  on  Michigan  pines. 

The  irregularity  in  the  germination  of  seeds  of  weeds  and  the  advantage 
to  these  plants. 

Sub-irrigation  in  the  forcing  house. 

An  exhibit  of  seedling  willows. 

Observations  on  oak  galls. 

A  comparison  of  plants  of  wheat  and  chess. 

An  exhibit  of  tomatoes  grafted  on  potatoes,  both  bearing  crops. — 
double  cropping. 

Experiments  with  smut  on  wheat. 

Concerning  the  State  Academy  of  Science  which  met  at  Ann  Arbor, 
June,  '94. 

A  visit  to  Greenland  by  one  of  the  founders  of  the  club,  Mr.  Ortli. 

An  exhibit  of  fruits  of  our  native  trees  and  shrubs. 

A  plant  of  wild  strawberry  in  the  botanic  garden  had  produced  1,234 
plants. 

The  structure  and  use  of  bulliform  cells  in  the  leaves  of  some  grasses. 

The  structure  of  root  tips  of  wheat,  and  some  branching  hairs. 


LONGYEAR  ON  SAPROPHYTIC  FUNGI.  97 

• 

Squirrels  dropping  cones  from  trees  and  biting  off  limbs. 

Exhibition  and  description  of  an  artificial  cell  to  show  turgescence. 

Report  regarding  the  abundance  of  variegated  corn  in  the  field. 

The  life  history  of  Monilia — plum  rot. 

An  exhibit  of  chess  which  had  germinated  on  ice. 

An  account  of  cutting  wild  rice,  rafting  down  the  river  aiui  curing  for 
hay  in  '95. 

Report  concerning  a  visit  to  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  and 
the  M.  A.  C.  men  there  employed. 

The  management  of  the  woodlands  of  the  college  farm. 

The  structure  and  history  of  the  Navel  orange. 

Fairy  rings  on  our  lawns  (Marasmius). 

A  meeting  in  the  evening  at  the  botanic  garden  to  observe  the  opening 
of  flowers  of  the  evening  primrose  and  to  see  insects  at  work  on  various 
flowers. 

The  crossing  of  pop  corn  and  field  corn. 

Life  history  of  rust  on  wheat  and  barberry. 

The  seeds  of  weeds. 

I  hardly  need  to  add  that  any  botanical  club  or  natural  history  club 
will  make  slow  progress  and  work  to  very  great  disadvantage  unless  one 
or  more  of  the  members  possesses  already  a  very  good  knowledge  of  one 
or  more  divisions  of  natural  science.  If  possible,  such  members  will  be 
of  more  aid  in  securing  interest  than  a  library. 


REMARKS  CONCERNING  THE  SAPROPHYTIC  FUNGI  GROWN  IN 
THE  VICINITY  OF  THE  AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE. 

BY   B.    O.    LONGYEAR,    AGRICULTURAL   COLLEGE. 

(Read   before   the   Academy,    April   1,    1S97,    and   printed   in   part    in   Rep.    State   Board   of 

Agriculture  for  1S97,  p.  4S.) 

The  study  of  the  saprophytic  fungus  flora  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Agri- 
cultural College  was  begun  in  the  spring  of  1896.  first  in  a  rather  desul- 
tory manner  by  collecting  at  random  all  sorts  that  were  encountered  in 
the  brief  trips  to  nearby  woods  and  fields.  The  specimens,  at  first,  were 
merely  dried  and  stowed  away  in  boxes  with  some  record  of  locality  and 
date  of  collection  and  left  until  a  more  convenient  time  for  study  and 
identification.  "It  was  soon  found  necessary,  however,  to  observe  the 
color  of  the  spores  of  the  Agaricinea?,  and  this  is  best  done  while  the 
specimens  are  yet  fresh.  We  have  succeeded  in  securing  good  spore- 
prints  in  the  usual  manner  by  carefully  removing  the  pileus  and  placing 
it  gills  down  on  a  piece -of  gummed  paper  and  covering  the  whole  with  a 
bell  jar.  The  process  usually  requires  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours. 
White  paper  is  used  for  all  specimens  having  colored  spores,  and  black 
paper  for  those  having  white  or  colorless  spores.  The  moisture  of  the 
fungus  is  usually  sufficient  to  soften  the  gum  on  the  paper  so  that  the 
spores  are  held  when  dry.  The  spore  prints  are  also  accompanied  with 
drawings  of  a  vertical  section  of  the  fungus,  thereby  showing  the  width 
of  the  gills  and  their  relation  to  the  stipe,  besides  other  features  of  the 
13 


98  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF     SCIENCE. 

specimen  which  often  determine  its  generic  position.  Notes  are  also 
taken  of  odor,  taste,  colors,  etc.,  of  the  specimen  when  fresh. 

"Our  collections  are  arranged  in  interchangeable  pasteboard  trays,  one 
inch  deep  and  varying  in  size  from  four  and  one-half  by  six  to  nine  by 
twelve  inches.  These  are  temporarily  placed  in  wooden  trays  which  will 
just  contain  four  of  the  largest  pasteboard  trays.  We  have  been  able  to 
collect  during  every  month  of  the  year  and  have  secured  many  specimens 
of  such  genera  as  Polyporus,  Polystictus,  Fomes,  Stereum,  Corticium, 
Peniophora,  and  allied  genera,  since  the  first  snow  came.  Some  species 
of  gill  fungi  also  persist  throughout  the  winter,  ready  to  take  advantage 
of  every  warm  day.  Among  the  most  persistent* are  those  belonging  to 
the  following  genera:  Lenzites,  Schizophylum,  Pleurotus,  Collybia,  and 
Myeena  in  the  white  spored,  and  Crepidotus  in  the  yellow  spored  sections. 
The  most  tenacious  species  are  those  tha.t  grow  on  wood.  Not  a  few 
species  belonging  to  the  Hydne;e  and  Tremellinere  are  also  available  to 
the  winter  collector.  Among  some  of  the  notable  specimens  which  were 
secured  last  season  may  be  mentioned  a  plant  of  Lycoperdon  giganteum 
weighing,  when  fresh,  seven  pounds  ten  ounces  and  measuring  forty-five 
inches  in  circumference,  while  compared  with  this  are  some  specimens  of 
Geaster  minimus,  a  star  puff  ball,  weighing  only  a  few  grains.  The 
moist,  warm  weather  of  189G  also  brought  out  some  very  large  specimens 
of  gill  fungi.  Among  the  attractive  species  we  have  a  large  tray  of  the 
bright  red  Polyporus  cinnabarinus,  brought  from  Lewiston,  Montmorency 
county,  by  Dr.  Beal  when  on  institute  work.  This  grows  on  canoe  or 
paper  birch. 

"We  have  between  two  hundred  and  fifty  and  three  hundred  species  of 
Basidiomycetes,  representing  ten  of  the  thirteen  families  of  this  group 
and  covering  nearly  seventy  genera.  The  identification  of  this  material 
is  the  most  serious  problem  that  we  have  encountered.  This  is  partly 
due  to  the  meager  literature  on  the  subject  in  the  United  States.  The 
North  American  Fungi  of  Ellis  and  Everhart  have  aided  us  much,  and 
we  are  also  especially  indebted  to  Prof.  Chas.  H.  Peck,  of  the  New  York 
state  museum,  for  the  identification  of  some  of  this  material.  The  reports 
of  this  botanist  have  been  of  much  assistance  to  us. 

"That  this  subject  presents  an  economic  as  well  as  a  scientific  side  is 
becoming  more  clearly  recognized.  While  mushroom  eating  has  been 
practiced  for  many  years,  yet  the  persons  indulging  in  this  semi-hazardous 
practice  almost  invariably  confine  themselves  to  the  ascomycetous  morel 
or  the  common  mushroom,  Agaricus  compestris.  All  others  are  called 
'toadstools'  and  considered  poisonous.  But  the  progressive  fungus  eater 
will  not  be  satisfied  to  confine  himself  to  these  two  forms,  but  will  enlarge 
his  list  to  at  least  a  score  of  species  suitable  to  cater  to  his  wants.  The 
gnawed  remnants  of  Polypori  found  on  stumps  and  logs  during  the  winter 
seem  to  attest  to  the  high  estimation  in  which  some  of  these  fungi  are 
held  by  the  squirrels.  Many  pounds  of  fairy-ring  mushrooms,  Marasmius 
oreades,  grew  on  the  college  campus  last  season  and  were  eagerly  sought 
for  by  people  from  the  city  of  Lansing.  No  doubt  many  persons  are  re- 
strained from  the  use  of  these  plants  as  food  through  fear  of  the  poisonous 
qualities  of  certain  species;  and,  while  this  fear  has  been  a  safeguard 
against  accident,  it  has  also  been  the  means  of  depriving  these  persons 
from  a  food  of  palatable  and  highly  nutritious  qualities.     While  care  is 


A    REMARKABLE    FOREST     IX     MICHIGAN.  A9 

necessary  in  the  collection  of  mushrooms  for  food,  still  one  can  learn 
with  careful  observation  to  readily  discriminate  between  species  so  that 
the  deadly  Amanita  and  its  noxious  relatives  may  be  avoided. 

''The  handsomely  illustrated  book,  'Our  Edible  Toadstools  and  Mush- 
rooms,' by  the  late  Hamilton  Gibson,  is  doing-  much  toward  popularizing 
the  eating  of  mushrooms  among  those  who  have  access  to  the  book.  The 
forty-eighth  report  by  Trof.  Peck,  recently  received,  should  be  mentioned 
in  this  connection,  as  it  contains  many  illustrations  and  descriptions  of 
edible  fungi  found  in  the  state  of  New  York.  A  smaller  work  of  similar 
character  by  Julius  A.  Palmer,  Jr.,  is  also  a  desirable  book  for  those 
wishing  to  become  familiar  with  the  commonest  forms  of  edible  fungi. 
The  scientific  side  of  the  subject  is  a  field  which  seems  to  have  been  but 
little  worked  in  our  State,  although  our  woods  and  fields  and  even  our 
dooryards  can  furnish  abundant  material.  A  surprising  number  of  species 
can  be  found  in  a  limited  area.  Very  much  the  larger  part  of  our  collec- 
tion has  been  made  in  a  piece  of  woods  about  seven  acres  in  extent  lying 
a  little  north  of  the  College  campus.  It  is  our  intention  to  continue 
making  a  careful  study  of  these  plants  in  our  county  and  State,  and  we 
should  be  pleased  to  communicate  with  persons  interested  in  this  subject. 
We  will  endeavor  to  indentify  specimens  sent  us." 


A  REMARKABLE  FOREST  IN  MICHIGAN  NOT  HITHERTO  KNOWN 

TO  SCIENCE. 

BY     S.     ALEXANDER.     BIRMINGHAM. 

(Read  before  the  Academy,  April  1,  1S97.) 

(Abstract.) 

At  Birmingham.  Oakland  county,  in  1805.  I  found  an  oak  tree  nearly 
four  feet  in  diameter  and  one  hundred  feet  high,  the  leaves  and  fruit  of 
which  resembled  Quercus  prinoides  and  Q.  acuminata.  Later  many  other 
large  trees  were  found.  After  seeing  specimens.  Prof.  Sargent  concludes 
that  it  is  Quercus  acuminata,  although  the  bark  differs  from  that  usually 
found  on  this  species.  On  studying  numerous  specimens  from  this  and 
other  trees  of  the  neighborhood,  G.  B.  Sud worth  pronounces  it  Quercus 
prinoides,  although  this  species  has  heretofore  been  known  as  a  shrub 
five  to  fifteen  feet  high.  Mr.  Sudworth  notes  that  different  trees  of  some 
species  of  oaks  vary  much  and  are  difficult  to  identify,  but  he  can  see  no 
reason  for  suspecting  a  new  species  in  this  specimen. 

Dr.  N.  L.  Britton,  on  first  examination  in  the  field,  believed  it  was  a  new 
tree,  possibly  Quercus  MichauwU,  but  later  he  decided  it  could  not  be  that 
species. 


100  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


STRUCTURE  OF  THE   OLFACTORY  LOBE   OF  THE   STURGEON. 

BY  J.   B.   JOHNSTOX,   ANN  ARBOR. 

(Read  before  the  Academy,   April  1.   1S9T.    Summary,   reprinted   from   Zoological   Bulletin, 

Vol.  1,  No.  5,  p.  240.) 

Summary  of  Results. 

A.  The  olfactory  lobe: 

(1)  In  addition  to  mitral  cells  of  two  sorts,  six  other  forms  of  cells, 
concerned  in  receiving-  and  transmitting  olfactory  impulses,  are  found  in 
the  olfactory  lobe. 

(2)  The  granule  cells  are  provided  with  axis  cylinders  and  glomerular 
dendrites,  and  are  therefore  nerve  cells. 

(3)  The  olfactory  lobe  contains  cells  which  are  morphologically  iden- 
tical with  the  cells  of  Cajal. 

(4)  The  glomerular  zone  of  the  olfactory  lobe  contains  cells  with 
short  axis  cylinders  (associatibnal  cells). 

(5)  The  large  mitral  cells  are  provided  with  non-glomerular  dend- 
rites. 

B.  The  fore-brain: 

(6)  There  is  in  the  dorso-median  region  of  the  fore-brain  a  large 
incompletely  differentiated  nucleus  of  cells  with  short  axis  cylinders, 
constituting  an  imperfect  epi striatum. 

(7)  A  group  of  cells  is  found  on  the  lateral  surface  of  the  fore-brain 
which  agrees  in  position  and  apparently  also  in  connections  with  the 
cortex  lateralis  of  ReptiUa, 

(8)  The  cortical  region  of  the  fore-brain  is  connected  with  the  gang- 
lion habennlae  b}T  a  tractus  cortico-habenularis.  A  tractus  olfacto- 
habenularis  is  also  present. 

C.  The  habenular  tracts: 

(9)  Meynert's  bundles  do  not  end  in  the  corpus  interpedunculare,  but 
undergo  partial  decussation  there  and  pass  on  toward  the- medulla. 


POISONOUS  GERMS  FOUND  IN  DRINKING  WATER. 

BY    JULIAN    T.    McCLYMONDS,     M.     D.,     ANN     ARBOR. 

(Read  before  the   Academy.   April  1.   Is'j".) 

(Abstract.) 

Since  Hippocrates  wrote  on  air,  waters  and  places,  water  as  a  cause  of 
disease  has  been  given  a  prominent  place.  The  first  experiments  proving 
the  correctness  of  this  belief  were  made  by  Pasteur,  in  1878,  when  he 
inoculated  animals  with  polluted  water  causing  death  with  symtoms 
of  septicemia.  Three  years  later  Gaffky  carried  out  similar  experi- 
ments and  isolated  the  bacillus  of  rabbit  septicemia.    Mori  in  1888.  using 


McCLYMONDS     ON     GERMS    IN    DRINKING     WATER.  101 

water  from  the  Berlin  canals,  obtained  from  the  bodies  of  animals  dying 
from  the  inoculation,  the  bacillus  of  mouse  septicemia,  the  short  canal 
bacillus  and  the  capsulated  bacillus. 

Koch's  discovery  of  the  spirillum  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  1884  and  Mich- 
ael's isolation  of  the  bacillus  of  Eberth  from  a  well  in  Grossburck,  1886, 
clearly  established  the  causal  relation  of  water  to  diseases  in  man. 

While  nearly  all  the  pathogenic  bacteria  have  been  found  in  water, 
but  three,  the  spirillum  of  Asiatic  cholera,  the  bacillus  of  Eberth,  and 
the  bacterium  Coli  Communis,  have  great  practical  importance.  The 
detection  of  the  cholera  and  colon  germs  is  a  matter  of  comparative  ease. 
Unfortunately  it  is  otherwise  with  the  Eberth  bacillus  and  its  isolation 
from  drinking  water  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  problems  with  which  the 
bacteriologist  has  to  deal. 

During  an  outbreak  of  typhoid  in  Budapest,  lasting  for  three  months 
and  over,  one  thousand  cases  coming  down,  Fedor  made  hundreds  of 
examinations  and  succeeded  in  isolating  the  bacillus  but  five  times. 

From  two  thousand  examinations  made  by  Kawalski  in  Vienna,  but 
five  gave  positive  results.  In  the  hundreds  of  examinations  made  in  the 
laboratory  of  hygiene,  many  of  them  with  suspected  waters,  the  bacillus 
of  Eberth  has  been  found  but  once. 

This  lack  of  success  is  in  part  explained  by  the  following: 

(1)  The  slow  growth  of  the  bacillus  in  water,  at  the  usual  tempera- 
ture, compared   with  ordinary  water  bacteria. 

(2)  Its  short  life  in  water,  especially  water  rich  in  non-toxicogenic 
bacteria  and  other  lower  forms  of  vegetable  and  animal  life. 

(3)  Their  unequal  distribution. 

(4)  The  germicidal  action  of  light. 

(5)  The  sedimentation  of  bacteria. 

(6.)  The  presence,  usually  in  far  greater  numbers  of  Colon  germs. 
Many  special  methods  have  been  devised  to  overcome  some  of  these  diffi- 
culties. (1)  Rodet  added  the  water  to  bouillon  and  heated  it  from 
45°  to  45.5°  C.  for  ^  to  one  hour.  (2)  Chantimesse  and  Widal  em- 
ployed a  .25$  carbolic  acid  gelatin.  (3)  Virricent  used  five  drops  of  a 
five  per  cent  solution  of  carbolic  acid  to  10  c.  c.  bouillon  and  incubated 
at  42°  for  twenty-four  hours.  These  methods  are  faulty  in  that  they 
often  destroy  the  Eberth  bacillus.  (4)  The  method  of  Parrietti  has  been 
widely  used  and  has  given  fair  results.  To  tubes  containing  10  c.  c. 
bouillon  is  added  1-10  2-10  3-10  c.  c.  of  Parrietti  solution. 

» 

Carbolic  acid o     grammes. 

Hydrochloric   acid   C.   P 4     grammes. 

Distilled   water    100  grammes. 

The  tubes  are  incubated  at  37°  for  twenty-four  hours,  then  to  each 
tube  is  added  ten  drops  of  the  suspected  water,  and  the  tubes  again 
incubated.  If  growth  takes  place,  indicated  by  the  turbidity  of  the 
bouillon,  the  bacillus  of  Eberth  was  said  to  be  present. 

As  now  employed  the  bacillus  must  be  obtained  in  pure  cultures  and 
grown  on  various  media.  (5)  Wasbutski  examined  larger  quantities  of 
water  by  adding  to  it  sufficient  of  a  nutrient  solution  containing  10$ 
each  of  glucose,  peptone  and  sodium  chloride  to  make  a  1$  solution. 


102  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

This  he  incubates  at  37$  for  four  to  six  hours,  when  he  finds  the  Eberth 
bacillus,  if  present,  enormously  increased.  He  suggests  the  solution  be 
made  slightly  acid  with  Parrietti  solution. 

The  method  used  in  the  hygienic  laboratory  was  devised  by  Doctor 
Vaughan  in  1888,  previous  to  the  work  of  Rodet. 

(1)  The  water  for  examination  must  be  sent  in  sterile  bottles. 

(2)  Three  to  four  gelatin  plates  are  made  from  one  drop  of  the  water. 

(3)  Tubes  of  beef  tea  are  inoculated  with  10,  20  and  <>0  drops  of  water 
and  incubated  at  38°  to  39°  C.  for  twenty-four  hours. 

(4)  If  no  growth  occurs  the  water  is  pronounced  safe  as  it  contains 
no  bacteria  capable  of  growth  at  body  temperature. 

(5)  If  growth  occurs,  plates  are  made  from  tubes  by  Koch's  method 
and  animals  inoculated  intra-abdominally  with  one-half  to  one  c.  c. 

(6)  Animals  dying  from  inoculations  are  posted  and  plates  made  from 
abdominal  organs.     Smears  and  hanging  drop  are  made. 

1 7)  Colonies  developing  on  plates  made  from  water,  beef  tea  and 
abdominal  organs  are  studied,  pure  cultures  made  and  bacteria  classi- 
fied. 

(8)  If  animals  are  unaffected  by  inoculations  the  water  can  be  pro- 
nounced safe;  in  case  animals  die  the  water  is  condemned. 

Two  groups  are  made  of  the  germs  found:  1.  Those  resembling  the 
bacillus  of  Eberth,  the  typhoid  group,  and  those  resembling  the  Bac- 
terium coli  communis,  the  colon  group.  It  is  only  in  the  method  of 
distinguishing  these  groups  that  any  change  has  been  made  in  the 
original  method. 

For  their  differentiation  we  rely  upon:  1.  The  coagulation  of  milk. 
2.  The  Indol  reaction.  3.  The  production  of  acids  as  shown  by  litmus 
gelatin. 

These  tests  are  positive  for  the  colon  group,  negative  for  the  typhoid 
group. 

In  the  coagulation  of  milk  we  have  one  of  the  best  methods  for  the 
separation  of  the  typhoid  group  from  the  colon  group  when  on  the  same 
plates,  the  appearance  of  colonies  being  often  so  atipical  as  to  be  of  little 
value.  Twenty  or  more  tubes  of  sterile  milk  are  inoculated  from  the 
colonies  and  these  incubated  for  twenty-four  hours  at  from  37°  to  38°. 
Tubes  not  coagulated  contain  the  typhoid  group. 

During  the  past  year  I  have  isolated  nine  bacteria  belonging  to  the 
colon  group,  two  belonging  to  the  typhoid  group,  differing  in  some 
respects  from  the  bacillus  of  Eberth,  and  from  one  water  the  bacillus 
pyocianeus. 


SOME  VITAL   STATISTICS  OF  MICHIGAN. 

BY   CRESSY  L.   WILBUR,    M.    D.,    LANSING. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,  April  1,  1897.) 

Lord  Bacon,  the  apostle  of  modern  inductive  science,  "has  said:  "The 
true  greatness  of  a  state  consisteth  essentially  in  population  and  breed 
of  men."  If  this  aphorism  be  true,  then  it  must  follow  that  exact 
knowledge  of  the  character  of  the  population  of  Michigan  and  its  quan- 


WILBUR    ON     VITAL    STATISTICS    OF    MICHIGAN.  103 

titative  and  qualitative  fluctuations  must  be  of  interest  to  all  loyal  and 
intelligent  citizens  of  the  state,  and  of  direct  value  to  all  workers  for 
the  common  weal,  whether  in  her  legislative  halls  or  in  the  quieter  but 
oftentimes  more  effective  spheres  of  private  influence. 

Such  knowledge  may  be  derived,  to  a  very  considerable  extent,  from 
the  "Vital  Statistics  of  Michigan,'"  published  annually  by  the  Secretary 
of  State.  I  wish  especially  in  this  paper  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
members  of  this  scientific  society  to  certain  conclusions  presented  in 
the  last  published  report  (that  for  the  year  1894)  which  have  a  very  direct 
and  important  bearing  upon  the  probable  future  condition  of  our  state, 
at  least  so  far  as  regards  the  source  of  its  population  in  the  years  to 
come.  Indeed,  the  data  presented  have  a  broader  meaning  and  one  not 
solely  applicable  to  the  future  of  our  own  state;  they  may  be  taken, 
it  is  believed,  as  an  index  of  the  prospects  for  the  continuance  of  the 
native  American  race  in  this  country. 

I  shall  not  pause  here  to  answer  the  sneer  that  an  editorial  writer 
in  a  leading  state  journal  threw  upon  discussions  of  this  character  and 
upon  vital  statistics  in  general.  He  said,  after  ridiculing  certain  alleged 
statistical  absurdities  that  were  purely  of  his  own  imagination,  referring 
to  the  statistics  of  births:  "Even  if  the  state  were  engaged  in  scientific 
stirpiculture — as  it  is  not — the  facts  could  hardly  be  regarded  as  having 
anv  definite  value."     To  a  bodv  of  men  accustomed  to  regard  everv  new 

t  t.  CD  t 

fact  in  nature  as  of  precious  importance,  even  though  its  practical 
or  economic  application  may  be  unknown,  such  an  objection  will  have 
little  weight.  But  it  is  no  less  true  in  sociology  than  in  science  gen- 
erally that  abstract  knowledge  may  be  the  forerunner  of  many  unforeseen 
applications  in  daily  life  and  use,  and  the  sort  of  knowledge  of  the 
movement  and  destiny  of  the  American  race  that  these  statistics  reveal 
may  vet  have  a  direct  influence  in  modifying  the  current  of  our  national 
life.  " 

The  following  tabular  comparison  presents  the  fecundity  of  marriage 
in  Michigan  for  native  and  foreign-born  mothers  for  four  consecutive 
quinquennial  periods,  extending  from  1875  to  1894.  It  is  necessary  in 
computing  the  fecundity  of  marriages  to  compare  the  children  born  in 
one  period  with  the  marriages  in  the  preceding  period,  so  that  the  data 
really  extend  from  1870  to  1894  and  include  twenty-five  years  of  regis- 
tration. Nearly  a  million  births  and  nearly  four  hundred  thousand 
marriages  are  represented  in  this  table  for  Michigan,  so  that  the  statis- 
tical basis  is  amply  large  for  satisfactory  conclusions.  As  to  the 
technique  employed,  the  necessary  allowance  for  imperfect  returns  in 
certain,  respects,  etc.,  the  original  report  may  be  consulted,  where  the 
method  employed  is  fully  explained.  It  may  be  said  in  corroboration 
of  the  conclusions  given  in  this  table  that  results  obtained  from  a  special 
inquiry  by  the  last  state  census,  and  which  were  not  available  until 
after  the  report  was  printed,  closely  agree  with  it. 


104 


MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


Fecundity  of  marriage  in  Michigan. 


Five-year  periods. 

Children  born 

per  marriage,  with 

mother- 

Native- 
born. 

Foreign- 
born. 

1875-79 

3.6 
3.3 

3.0 
3.0 

5.8 

1880-84 -  -    

6.5 

1885-89 

4.9 

1890-94 '. 

5.1 

*Twenty-eighth  Annual  Registration  Report  of  Michigan,  1894,  p.  119. 

Children  to  a  marriage  in  various  countries. 


Country. 


Russia  in  Europe,  1888 

Ireland 

New  Zealand 

Italy 

Scotland 

Holland 


Children 

to  each 

marriage. 


5.7 
5.5 
5.2 
4.6 
4.4 
4.3 


Country. 


Victoria 
Belgium. 
England. 
Sweden. 
Denmark 
France. . 


Children 
to  each 

marriage. 


4.2 
4.2 
4.2 
4.0 
3.6 
3.0 


It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  expatiate  on  the  above  statistics.  The 
figures  speak  for  themselves.  There  has  been  some  decline  in  the  rates 
of  fecundity,  both  for  native  and  for  foreign-born  mothers,  in  the  suc- 
cessive quinquennial  periods,  but  the  relative  rates  have  remained  about 
the  same.  About  three-fifths  as  many  children  are  born  to  native  women 
as  to  foreign  women  in  proportion  to  the  number  married.  The  signifi- 
cance of  the  low  rate  of  fecundity  reached  by  the  native-born  women 
of  Michigan  appears  further  from  comparison  with  the  corresponding 
rates  of  European  countries,  and  especially  with  that  of  France.  The 
population  of  France  is  now  stationary,  or  even  decreases  in  certain 
years;  the  normal  natural  increase  of  population  depending  upon  the 
excess  of  births  over  deaths  has  almost  entirely  disappeared.  The  at- 
tention of  French  demographers  has  been  emphatically  called  to  the  con- 
dition existing,  and  French  patriotism  has  been  excited,  for  it  is  certain 
that  France,  if  her  population  fails  to  increase  while  that  of  Germany 
continues  to  augment  in  the  usual  ratio  from  year  to  year,  will  never 
be  able  to  avenge  Sedan,  nor  even  to  long  retain  her  place  as  a  first-rate 
European  power. 

Now  the  fecundity  of  the  native-born  women  in  Michigan  is  the  same 
as  the  fecundity  of  the  women  of  France.  If  that  fecundity  is  unable  to 
maintain  the  French  people  intact,  then  it  is  highly  probable  that  the 
native  inhabitants  of  Michigan  are  failing  to  hold  their  own.     The  com- 


WILBUR    ON     VITAL     STATISTICS    OF     MICHIGAN.  105 

parison  would  be  even  more  disadvantageous  to  the  natives  if  pure 
native  stock  were  included  only  under  that  term.  By  "native-born 
women,"  the  descendants  of  foreigners  in  the  first  generation  are  in- 
cluded in  part,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  birth-rate  of  this  class  is 
higher  than  that  of  the  Americans  of  longer  residence  in  this  country. 
The  fact  that  the  present  fecundity  of  the  native  population  of  the 
state  is  insufficient  to  maintain  it  intact,  will  also  appear  from  direct 
consideration  of  the  figures.  Two  individuals  are  merged  in  the  family, 
and  in  time  are  removed  by  death,  their  places  being  made  good  by  their 
children.  It  is  evident  that  the  average  number  of  children  per  marriage 
must  be  sufficiently  great  to  enable  at  least  two  children  to  survive  to 
maturity  in  order  to  maintain  the  population  in  a  stationary  condition. 
The  losses  by  death  of  infants  and  children  before  reaching  reproductive 
vears  are  verv  large.     Moreover,  under  our  social  conditions,  very  many 

t/  ft/  C  t'  ft/ 

adults,  and  perhaps  an  increasing  number,  refrain  from  marriage.  The 
ratio  given  in  the  table,  3.0  children  per  marriage,  may  be  slightly 
understated  on  account  of  the  prevalence  of  divorce,  whereby  the  same 
woman  may  appear  in  the  records  of  marriages  several  times,  but  on 
The  whole  it  seems  clear  that  the  margin  of  one  child  per  marriage  is 
insufficient  to  repair  the  losses  indicated  and  leave  the  native  popula- 
tion of  the  state  infarct. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  decline  in  fecundity  through  the  four 
quinquennial  periods  is  comparatively  slight,  being  only  from  3.6  children 
per  marriage  to  native  women  in  ls7.~)-79  to  3.0  in  1890-94.  I  believe, 
although  I  have  no  statistics  to  prove  it  for  Michigan  as  our  registra- 
tion records  began  in  1867,  that  the  great  decline  in  the  fecundity  of 
native  marriages  took  place  in  the  preceding  generation.  Xot  the 
fathers  but  the  grandfathers  of  the  present  generation  of  Americans 
were  men  of  large  families. 

The  native  American  race,  comprising  largely  the  descendants  of 
settlers  from  New  England  and  New  York,  has  played  a  large  and  im- 
portant part  in  the  development  of  the  state,  and  has  impressed  upon 
its  institutions  those  characteristics  that  stamp  it  as  one  of  the  states 
in  the  union  most  typically  representative  of  true  American  ideas. 
Even  today  nearly  ten  per  cent  of  the  population  of  the  state  were  born 
in  New  York.  The  splendid  school  system  of  Michigan,  her  courts  of 
justice  and  public  institutions,  her  magnificent  record  in  the  civil  war, 
— all  these  speak  in  emphatic  tones  of  the  worth  of  that  "population  and 
breed  of  men,"1  the  native  American  citizens  of  the  state,  which  is  now 
giving  way,  so  our  statistics  indicate,  to  the  recent  immigrants  and 
their  descendants. 

About  three-fifths  of  the  present  population  of  Michigan  are  either 
foreign-born  or  the  children  in  the  first  generation  of  foreign-born  par- 
ents. And  our  cities  are  even  to  a  greater  degree  so  constituted,  nearly 
four-fifths  of  the  inhabitants  of  Detroit  being  of  foreign  birth  or  parent- 
age. 

The  present  paper  has  not  been  presented  from  the  standpoint  of  an 
alarmist,  but  simply  that  the  attention  of  the  members  of  the  Academy 
might  be  called  to  the  data  bearing  upon  the  important  social  changes 
now  proceeding  in  the  state.  No  consideration  will  be  paid  to  the  causes 
and  probable  consequences  of  the  variations  in  the  constitution  of  the 
14 


106  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

population.  I  only  hope  that  the  statistics  presented  may  seem  worthy 
of  further  study,  and  that  they  may  thus  incidentally  call  attention  to 
the  valuable  resources  now  available  in  the  official  vital  statistics  of  the 
state  for  better  knowledge  concerning  the  constitution  and  tendencies 
of  our  people. 


THE  EVENING  GROSBEAK  IN  CENTRAL  MICHIGAN. 

BY  CHARLES  A.    DAVIS,   ALMA. 
(Read  before  the  Academy,   April  2,   1S8T.) 

In  the  early  part  of  1800,  the  writer's  attention  was  attracted  to  a 
flock  of  birds  of  considerable  size,  conspicuous  coloring  and  loud  clear 
notes  which  were  noticed  first  in  a  small  grove  of  beech  and  maple  trees 
near  the  College.  Their  notes  were  strange,  consisting  of  a  loud,  clear, 
short  whistle,  often  repeated,  and  unlike  the  notes  of  any  of  our  native 
birds.  It  did  not  take  long  to  secure  specimens,  for  the  birds  were  exceed- 
ingly tame  and  unsuspicious,  evidently  being  entirely  unfamiliar  with  man 
and  his  weapons.  The  species  was  easily  determined  to  be  the  Evening- 
Grosbeak,  Coccothrmtstes  vespertimts,  that  rather  rare  migrant  from  the 
great  northwest.  The  flock  was  a  large  one,  consisting,  when  first  noted, 
of  two  or  three  hundred  individuals,  possibly  more,  for  it  was  larger  at 
some  times  than  at  others.  The  birds  had  a  habit  of  visiting  the  grove 
wdiere  they  were  first  noted  and  spent  a  portion  of  every  day  there,  usu- 
ally the  morning,  feeding  on  the  ground  or  perching  about  in  the  taller 
trees.  This  flock  remained  in  the  neighborhood"  of  Alma  until  May,  but 
the  numbers  gradually  decreased,  until  but  few  individuals  were 
left.  The  decrease  was  partly  due  to  the  fact  that  many  were  shot,  and 
partly  also  to  the  withdrawal  of  small  flocks  from  time  to  time.  The 
species  was  reported  from  Saginaw  as  being  abundant  there  during  this 
season,  disappearing  in  May  as  it  did  from  the  vicinity  of  Alma. 

The  species  was  not  again  observed  about  Alma  until  March  10,  1807, 
when  a  small  flock  of  perhaps  fifty  individuals  again  appeared  in  the 
grove  which  they  had  before  frequented.  At  this  time  it  was  noted  that 
they  spent  a  considerable  portion  of  the  time  on  the  ground  picking  up 
the  fruits  of  the  hard  maple,  of  which  there  had  been  an  abundant  crop 
the  fall  before.  The  birds  came  and  went  almost  always  in  a  flock, 
calling  back  and  forth  as  they  flew,  in  their  peculiar  full  whistle.  The 
feeding  time  at  this  spot  was  almost  invariably  during  the  forenoon. 

Addendum: 

This  Hock  did  not  decrease  so  rapidly  as  the  former  one,  and  Anally  left 
on  May  8,  1807. 

On  April  G,  1800,  two  or  three  straggling  specimens  of  this  species 
were  seen  in  the  same  locality  where  they  appeared  before,  but  were 
not  seen  nor  heard  of  again. 


& 


THIRD  ANNUAL   SUMMER   MEETING. 

DETROIT,    AUGUST   10,    1837. 


The  third  annual  summer  meeting  of  the  Academy  was  held  at  the 
high  school  building,  Detroit,  on  the  afternoon  of  August  10,  1897. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  4:30  p.  m.,  by  the  president,  Prof. 
Yolney  M.  Spalding,  and  the  minutes  of  the  last  regular  meeting  were 
read  by  the  secretary  and  approved. 

Owing  to  the  absence  of  a  'quorum  of  the  Council,  no  report  was  pre- 
sented from  that  body,  and  no  new  members  could  be  elected. 

An  informal  report  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal  of  the  legislative  committee, 
explained  the  failure  of  the  bill  which  it  had  been  hoped  would  authorize 
the  printing  of  the  Academy's  proceedings. 

Owing  to  the  small  attendance  no  attempt  wTas  made  to  transact  further 
business,  and  the  Academy  adjourned  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Ameri- 
can Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science  then  in  session  in  De- 
troit. 


FOURTH  ANNUAL  MEETING. 

ANN  ARBOR,   MARCH  30,   APRIL  1   AND  2.   1898. 


The  fourth  annual  meeting  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science  was 
held  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor,  beginning  Thursday, 
March  31,  1898.  The  academy  was  called  to  order  at  9:30  a.  m  by  vice- 
president,  Jacob  Reighard,  and  the  minutes  of  the  last  regular  meeting 
were  read  and  approved. 

The  report  of  the  treasurer,  W.  H.  Munson,  showed  a  balance  on  hand 
of  |128.30.  The  report  was  referred  to  an  auditing  committee  and  ap- 
proved. 

New  members  were  elected  as  follows: 

Resident  Members : 

(Mrs.)  Laura  E.  Burr,  Lansing. 
Horatio  N.  Chute,  Ann  Arbor. 
Wm.  Mnmford  Gregory,  East  Tawas. 
Asa  Edson  Mattice,  Concord. 
(Miss)  Louise  Miller,  Detroit. 
Charles  E.  Miller,  Jr.,  Grand  Rapids. 
Norman  B.  Sloan,  Flint. 
EclwaTd  H.  Stein,  Grand  Rapids. 
Eugene  Straight,  Howard  City. 
David  Trine,  Lansing. 

Corresponding  Member: 

H.  A.  Mumaw,  M.  D.,  Elkhart,  Indiana. 

Important  changes  in  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  Academy, 
recommended  by  the  Council,  were  adopted,  as  follows: 

1.  Making  date  for  balancing  treasurer's  accounts  the  first  day  of  the 
annual  meeting. 

2.  Providing  that  the  president,  vice  presidents,  secretary,  treasurer, 
and  editor,  shall  be  elected  annually  and  be  eligible  to  re-election  with- 
out limitation. 

3.  Providing  that  four  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  of  the 
Council. 

4.  That  all  past  presidents  are  members  of  the  Council. 


FOURTH    ANNUAL    MEETING.  109 

5.  That  officers  shall  be  elected  at  the  annual  meeting  and  enter  on 
their  duties  at  the  end  of  the  meeting. 

6.  The  Council  shall  nominate  a  candidate  for  each  office,  but  each  Sec- 
tion may  recommend  to  the  Council  a  candidate  for  its  vice  president. 
Additional  nominations  may  be  made  by  auy  member  of  the  Academy. 

The  secretary  read  a  necrological  notice  of  Dr.  Manly  Miles,  of  Lansing, 
a  charter  member  of  the  Academy,  who  died  February  15,  1898.  Mr. 
Bryant  Walker  made  further  remarks  on  the  character  and  work  of  Dr. 
Miles. 

It  was  voted  that  one  thousand  copies  of  Dr.  Volney  M.  Spalding's  pres- 
idential address,  entitled  "A  Natural  History  Survey  of  Michigan,"  be 
printed  and  distributed  by  the  secretary  to  members  of  the  Academy,  and 
to  others  in  his  discretion.* 

In  the  absence  of  Dr.  Spalding,  who  was  too  ill  to  be  present  at  the 
meeting.  Professor  Chas.  A.  Davis  explained  his  views  as  to  a  preliminary 
forestry  survey,  and  after  some  discussion  it  was  voted  that  Dr.  V.  M. 
Spalding  be  chairman  of  a  committee  which  should  prepare  for  the  signa- 
tures of  the  members  of  the  Academy  a  petition  that  the  U.  S.  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  should  take  steps  to  send  a  special  commissioner  to 
investigate  the  forestry  problem  of  Michigan. 

Dr.  Lucius  L.  Hubbard,  State  Geologist,  in  response  to  requests,  ex- 
plained the  value  and  importance  of  a  careful  survey  of  the  State,  and 
exhibited  samples  of  the  maps  made  by  the  U.  S.  Geological  and  Geo- 
graphical Survey. 

Officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year  as  follows: 

President — Henry  B.  Baker,  M.  D.,  Lansing. 

Vice  Presidents — Botany,  Charles  F.  Wheeler,  Agricultural  College; 
Zoology.  Jacob  Reighard,  Ann  Arbor;  Sanitary  Science,  I>e*&§^  Fall, 
M.  D..  Albion:  Agriculture,  Clinton  D.  Smith,  Agricultuj 

Secretary — Walter  B.  Barrows,  Agricultural  College 

Treasurer — W.  H.  Munson,  Hillsdale. 


PAPERS  PRESENTED  AT  THE  FOURTH  ANNEAL  ME 
ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCE,   MARCH  30,   APRIL 

1.  Spanish  Colonial  Administration.     Illustrated  lecture  (stereopti 
Worcester,  A.  B.     Not  published. 

2.  Methods  of  Plankton  Investigation.  Jacob  .Reighard,  Ph.  B.  Published  in 
full  in  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Commission,  Vol.  XVII,  pp.  169-175. 

3.  Factors  in  the  Origin  and  Distribution  of  Species  of  Land  Birds  in  Island 
Groups.  D.  C.  Worcester,  A.  B.  Published  as  part  of  ''Contributions  to  Philip- 
pine Ornithology."     Proceedings  U.  S.  Natl.  Museum,  Vol.  XX  (1898),  pp.  567-625. 

-1.  Mill:  Fat  in  Comparison  with  Meat  Fat  and  Seed  Fats.  Albert  B.  Prescott, 
M.  D.,  LL.  D.     Annual  Report  Mich.  Dairy  and  Food  Commissioner  for  1899. 

5.  A  Word  for  Systematic  Botany.  W.  .7.  Beal.  Ph.  D.  Not  printed;  abstract 
on  a  following  page. 

6.  A  Contribution  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Flora  of  Tuscola  and  Huron  Counties. 
Charles  A.  Davis.  Published  in  full  in  Botanical  Gazette,  1898,  p.  453.  Abstract  in 
this  report. 

7.  How  Palm  Seedlings  Appropriate  Their  Food.     F.  C.  Xewcombe,  Ph.  D. 

8.  Development  of  the  Seed  of  Gossypittm   lierbaceum.     A.    Van  Zwaluwenburg. 

9.  Concerning  Some  Michigan  Plants.     Charles  F.  AVheeler,  B.  S. 

10.  The  Morels  Collected  at  the  Agricultural  College.     Burton  O.  Longyear. 

11.  Recent  Investigations  of  Unicellular  Algae.    Julia  W.  Snow. 

12.  Morphology  of  the  Flower  of   Cypripcdhtm;     Burton  E.   Livingstone. 

*The  address  was  printed  as  directed  and  copies  may  be  obtained  from  the  secretary. 


110  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OP    SCIENCE. 

13.  The  Distribution  of  the  Unionidae  in  Michigan.  Bryant  Walker.  Published 
by  the  author. 

14.  A  Leaf-miner  in  Water  Lilies.     Rufus  H.  Pettff,  B.  8.     Printed  in  this  report. 

15.  Some  Modifications  of  the  Zeiss  Microphotographie  Apparatus.  Jacob  Roig- 
hard,  Ph.  B.  Published  in  present  report  under  the  title  "Apparatus  foi'  Photo- 
graphing Vertebrate  Embryos." 

16.  The  Habits  of  Eucleniensia  bassettella,  a  True  Parasite  Belonging  to  the  Lep- 
idoptera.     Rufus  H.  Pet  tit,  B.  S.     Printed  iu  this  report. 

17.  On  the  Effects  of  Temperature  on  the  Development  of  Animals.  F.  R. 
Lillie,  Ph.  D.  Published  (in  conjunction  with  P.  P.  Knowlton)  in  Zoological  Bul- 
letin (Ginn  &  Co.,^  Vol.  I,  pp.  179-193. 

18.  The  Hind  brain  and  Cranial  Nerves  of  Acipenser.  J.  B.  Johnston.  Pub- 
lished in  Anatomischer  Anzeiger.  XIV  Band,  Nr.  22  and  23,  1898,  pp.  580-601.  Re- 
print of  summary  of  results  in  this  report. 

19.  Origin  and  Structure  of  the  Cell  Plate.     H.  G.  Timberlake. 

20.  A  Natural  History  Survey  of  Michigan.  Presidential  address.  Volney  M. 
Spalding,  Ph.  D.  Published  by  the  Academy,  1S98.  (Copies  may  be  obtained  from 
the  Secretary.) 

21.  Nature  Study  in  the  Common  Schools.  W.  J.  Beal,  Ph.  D.  Substance  printed 
in  a  series  of  eight  bulletins  published  by  the  Agricultural  College  under  the  head- 
ing "Elementary  Science." 


A  WORD  FOR  SYSTEMATIC  BOTANY. 

BY  W.  J.  BEAL,. 
(A  brief  abstract.) 

The  author  believes  that  most  students  acquire  a  first  love  for  botany 
by  rambling  over  the  fields,  through  forests  and  swamps.  This  brings 
them  in  contact  with  a  great  variety  of  plants  in  various  stages  of  growth 
and  arouses  their  curiosity  to  learn  their  names  and  places  in  the  plant 
kingdom,  and  incidentally  they  desire  to  learn  their  habits  and  peculiar- 
ities. Any  young  person  is  sure  to  have  his  interest  awakened,  if  he  is 
accompanied  by  a  congenial  friend  who  is  a  botanist. 


A  LEAF-MIXER,  CHEIRONOMUS  SP.}  IX  WATER  LILIES. 

BY   R.   H.    PETTIT,    AGRICULTURAL,   COLLEGE. 

So  far  as  is  known  to  the  writer,  the  members  of  the  genus  Cheiron- 
omus  are  tube-builders  in  their  larval  stages.  They  are  small  flies  closely 
resembling  mosquitoes  and  the  larvae  inhabit  the  water  where  they  act 
the  part  of  scavengers.  These  larvae  are  usually  blood-red  in  color 
and  very  small  and  slender,  rarely  exceeding  %  of  an  inch  in  length. 
They  build  tubes  out  of  particles  of  vegetable  matter  and  carry  these 
tubes  about  with  them  much  as  do  caddice-flies.  However,  if  at  any 
time  the  larva  wishes  to  leave  his  dwelling  he  does  so  and  if,  after  wander- 
ing about  for  a  time,  be  is  unable  to  find  his  home,  he  soon  builds  another 
just  as  good.  This  seems  to  be  the  general  habit  of  the  members  of  the 
genus.  An  exception  was  found  last  summer  in  which  the  larvae  made 
tubes  but  built  them  of  fresh  green  material  and  made  them  fast  in  a 
furrow  or  minute  ditch  cut  in  the  upper  surface  of  a  water-lily  leaf. 


LILY-PAD  SHOWING   WORK  OF  CHEIRONOMUS  SP? 


REIGHARD     ON     PHOTOGRAPHING     VERTEBRATE    EMBRYOS.        Ill 

On  May  15,  1807,  Professor  Wheeler  called  the  attention  of  the  writer 
to  the  damage  being  done  to  water-lily  pads  in  the  wild-garden.  The  pads 
of  both  NupJtar  advcna  and  of  Nymphea  odarata  were  furrowed  by  some 
miner.  The  pads  had  been  badly  eaten  in  some  places  and  many  con- 
tained living  larvae  and  pupae.  A  quantity  were  collected  and  placed  in 
cages;  after  two  or  three  days  the  adults  emerged.  The  following  is 
taken  from  notes  made  at  the  time. 

The  insect  works  by  tunneling  or  plowing  a  furrow  which  extends 
from  the  top  of  the  leaf  to  the  lower  epidermis.  This  tunnel  is  often 
several  inches  in  length  and  winds  about  in  all  directions  in  a  serpentine 
manner.  At  the  end  of  the  tunnel  in  which  the  insect  is  feeding  is  a 
tube  made  of  fresh  green  parenchyma  from  the  leaf,  this  is  chewed  up 
fine  and  bound  together  with  silk.  From  the  front  end  of  this  tube  the 
insect  extends  its  head  and  feeds;  the  tube  is  fast  in  the  furrow  and  is 
not  drawn  along  like  a  true  case  as  was  suspected. 

The  pupae  are  partially  active  and  lie  in  the  tubes  with  the  head 
toward  the  front.  They  are  light  apple-green  in  color  as  are  the  larvae, 
but  both  have  wine-colored  spots  or  patches  of  irregular  form  and  in- 
definite in  position  in  the  different  specimens. 

After  two  or  three  days  from  the  time  the  pads  were  placed  in  the 
cages  the  adults  commenced  to  emerge.  They  belong  to  the  genus  Cheir- 
onomus  and  are  probably  a  new  species.  The  color  is  uniform  light  apple 
green. 

On  August  1  a  second  brood  was  seen  at  Pine  Lake,  Ingham  county. 


APPARATUS  FOR  PHOTOGRAPHING  VERTEBRATE  EMBRYOS. 

BY  JACOB   REIGHARD,    ANN   ARBOR. 

The  purpose  of  the  apparatus  is  to  secure  the  greatest  possible  depth 
of  focus  with  a  magnification  of  ten  to  twenty  diameters.  For  this  pur- 
pose a  low  power  lens  (80mm.  Leitz)  is  used  on  a  long  vertical  camera. 

The  large  photomicrographic  camera  of  Zeiss,  which  may  be  extended  to 
about  five  feet,  is  attached  to  the  wall  in  a  vertical  position.  The  micro- 
scope is  clamped  to  a  bed  plate  which  is  provided  with  levelling  screws, 
so  that  the  optical  axis  of  the  microscope  may  be  made  coincident  with 
that  of  the  camera. 

Attached  to  the  wall  alongside  the  camera  is  a  vertical  metal  rod  which 
bears  at  intervals  large  milled  heads  by  means  of  which  it  may  be  rotated. 
The  lower  end  of  the  rod  is  connected  by  means  of  a  bevel  gear  and  two 
Hookes'  keys,  to  a  pair  of  grooved  brass  wheels  which  are  supported 
by  a  pillar  that  rises  from  the  bed  plate.  From  these  wheels  cords  pass 
over  the  coarse  adjustment  screws  of  the  microscope.  The  cords  may 
be  tightened  by  adjusting  the  grooved  wheels  along  a  horizontal  rod. 
By  this  arrangement  it  is  possible  to  focus  with  the  coarse  adjustment, 
with  the  camera  bellows  fully  extended. 

The  embryos  (Amia)  are  attached  by  collodion  to  discs  of  cardboard 
and  photographed  by  light  focused  upon  them  nearly  horizontally  from 
a  90  degree  arc  lamp. 


112  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OP    SCIENCE. 

In  order  to  soften  the  deep  shadows  on  the  embryo  a  circular  card- 
board reflector  one-third  of  an  inch  in  diameter  is  used.  This  is  attached 
to  one  end  of  a  two  inch  piece  of  lead  wire,  the  other  end  of  which  rises 
from  a  heavy  base  of  brass  or  lead  one  inch  square.  The  lead  wire  has  no 
"spring."  The  reflector  may  thus  be  bent  into  any  position  and  will 
remain  there  when  the  wire  is  released. 

In  some  cases  the  image  of  the  object  on  the  glass  screen  has  no 
feature  sufficiently  distinct  to  permit  of  focussing.  In  such  cases  I  have 
found  it  possible  to  focus  by  placing  on  the  surface  of  the  embryo  a 
fine  hair  from  a  sable  brush.  The  hair  is  clamped  into  the  split  end 
of  a  lead  wire  supported  on  a  base  like  that  used  fur  the  reflector.  By 
bending  the  wire  the  hair  may  be  brought  into  position  and  one  may 
focus  it.  The  wire  affords  a  convenient  means  of  removing  the  hair 
before  exposure. 

Zoological  Laboratory,  University  of  Michigan. 


THE  HABITS  OF  ECCLEMEXSIA  (HAMADRYAS)  BASSETTELLA. 
A  TRUE  PARASITE  BELONGING  TO  THE  LEPIDOPTERA. 

BY  R.  H.  PETTIT,  AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE. 

Several  of  the  orders  of  insects  are  well  known  to  include  species  hav- 
ing parasitic  habits.  Diptera,  Coleoptera  and  Hymenoptera  furnish 
numbers  of  interesting  forms.  While  there  are  several  thousand  par- 
asites in  the  three  orders  named,  the  order  -Lepidoptera  contains  but 
very  few  instances  to  the  knowledge  of  the  writer.  Thev  are  so  little 
seen  that  a  short  description  of  one  of  them  may  be  of  interest. 

During  the  spring  of  1800.  at  St.  Anthony  Park,  Minnesota,  a  number 
of  specimens  of  Kerfhes  (a  gall-like  coccid  or  scale-insect)  were  collected 
and  placed  in  a  tight  tin  pill-box  for  the  purpose  of  rearing  any  parasites 
that  might  be  present.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  this  box  was 
opened  and  the  contents  examined.  Two  specimens  of  a  small  Tineid 
moth  were  found  lying  dead  on  the  bottom  of  the  box.  As  this  was  en- 
tirely new  to  the  writer  it  was  the  cause  of  speculation  as  to  how  the 
moths  came  there.  The  tin  box  was  carefully  examined  and  found  to  be 
intact  while  it  was  certain  that  there  were  no  occupants  other  than  the 
Coccids  in  the  box  when  put  away  in  the  autumn.  An  examination  of 
these  Coccids  showed  two  of  them  to  be  punctured,  each  by  a  small  hole 
which  was  about  the  right  size  for  the  moth  to  make  its  exit.  A  closer 
examination  revealed  the  fact  that  one  of  the  openings  was  provided  with 
a  door  of  circular  form  which  had  been  cut  in  the  shell  of  the  Coccid  and 
pushed  out  from  the  inside  so  that  it  remained  fastend  by  a  hinge  on  one 
side.  The  inner  side  of  this  little  door  had  many  scales  adhering  to  it 
and  these  scales  corresponded  to  the  scales  on  the  moth. 

To  make  the  matter  clearer  one  of  the  Coccid  shells  was  opened  and 
a  cocoon  containing  one  of  the  empty  pupal  skins  was  found  inside.  The 
brown  silken  cocoon  occupied  about  one-third  of  the  space  inside  the 
shell  to  which  it  was  attached,  being  curved,  on  account  of  its  cramped 
quarters,  into  a  crescentic  form.    At  the  end  of  the  cocoon  was  found' the 


FIG.  1.  SHOWING  THE  ENTIRE  APPARA- 
TUS. At  the  left  is  the  arc  lamp  with  con- 
denser, the  whole  on  an  adjustable  support.  At 
the  right  the  microscope  on  its  base  plate  and 
the  camera.  At  the  right  of  the  camera  the 
vertical  focussing  rod.  The  whole  apparatus 
stands  on  a  platform,  supported  from  the  brick 
wall. 


FIG.  2.  SHOWS  DETAILS  OF  THE  BASE- 
PLATE AND  OF  THE  FOCUSSING  DEVICE. 
On  the  stage  of  the  microscope  is  a  brass  pan 
''which  contains  the  specimen  immersed  in  fluid. 
The  reflector  and  support  for  hair  are  also  seen 
on  the  stage.  Two  Hook's  joints  (not  shown  in 
the  figure)  are  interposed  in  the  horizontal  rod 
which  connects  the  bevel  gear  with  the  right- 
hand  pulley-wheels. 


PETTIT    ON     HABITS    OF     EUCLEMENSIA     BASSETTELLA.         113 

opening  through  which  the  moth  emerged  and  inside  this  cocoon  was  to 
be  seen  the  amber-brown  pupal"  skin  which  fitted  the  cocoon  quite  snugly. 

It  would  seem  impossible  that  the  larva  of  the  moth  had  hidden 
in  the  dead  Coccid  shell  merely  to  pupate,  for  no  opening  of  any  size 
was  to  be  found  except  the  one  through  which  the  adult  insect  emerged 
and  this  was  plainly  made  from  the  inside.  There  was,  however,  a  small 
scar  on  the  side  of  the  shell  very  near  its  attachment  to  the  wood  and  the 
shell  was  very  thin  at  this  point.  It  is  probable  that  through  this  place 
the  larva  obtained  entrance  and  as  the  Coccid  was  at  this  time  full- 
grown,  it  was  unable  to  heal  the  wound  completely,  so  the  shell  always 
remained  thin  at  this  point. 

Since  that  time  examples  of  the  Coccid  containing  the  larva  have  been 
found,  but  unfortunately  no  attempt  was  made  to  preserve  them  because 
•  at  that  time  the  writer  was  just  on  the  point  of  moving  and  in  the  con- 
sequent hurry  the  material  was  lost. 

The  following  original  description  was  taken  from  "Tineina  of  N.  A. 
by  B.  Clemens"  being  a  collection  of  the  writings  of  Clemens  on  Tineina. 
The  description  was  originally  published  in  the  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  of  Phil., 
Vol.  II,  pp.  415-430,  Mar.,  1804: 

Hamadrijas  N.  gen. 

"This  imago,  which  I  have  placed  in  a  new  genus,  appeared  to  me  to 
be  congeneric  with  a  portion  of  the  genus  Gelechia.  The  hind  wings  are 
lanceolate.  The  sub-median  and  internal  veins  distinct.  Sub-cosral 
<simole  attenuated  toward  the  base.  The  disk  is  closed  and  the  nervules 
are  given  off  from  it.     The  median  vein  is  three  branched. 

The  fore-wings  are  lanceolate,  with  the  inner  margin  dilated  near  the 
base  of  the  wing.  The  sub-costal  vein  has  four  branches,  the  first  aris- 
ing near  the  middle  of  the  wing,  and  the  apical  nervule  furcate.  The 
disk  is  closed,  with  the  nervules  given  off  from  it.  Median  vein 
three-branched,  the  posterior  branch  arising  midway  between  the  space 
opposite  the  origins  of  the  first  and  second  sub-costa-  marginal  nervules. 
Sub-median  furcate  at  the  base.  Head  smooth,  face  and  forehead  broad, 
ocelli  very  small.  Antennae  rather  thick,  about  one-half  as  long  as  the 
fore  wings,  denticulated  beneath.  Labial  palpi  moderately  long,  curved, 
rather  slender,  smooth,  pointed;  the  middle  joint  slightly  compressed, 
rather  thicker  and  longer  than  the  terminal  joint,  which  is  cylindrical. 
Maxillary  palpi  extremely  short.  Tongue  clothed  with  scales  at  the 
base,  and  about  as  long  as  the  anterior  coxae. 

H.  bassettella.  Fore-wings  bright  reddish-orange,  sometimes  tinted  with 
yellowish  orange,  with  a  black  spot  at  the  base  above  the  fold  of  the 
wing  and  a  broad,  black  stripe  showing  bluish  or  greenish  reflections 
along  the  inner  margin,  extending  from  the  middle  of  the  fold  to  the  tip 
of  the  wing  and  occupying  nearly  one-half  of  the  breadth  of  it.  Along 
the  costa,  about  the  middle  of  it,  is  a  shining  black  stripe,  wmich  becomes 
narrower  as  it  approaches  the  apical  third  of  the  wing.  Cilia  blackish. 
Hind-wings  shining,  dark  greenish-black.  Head  and  thorax  black. 
Antenuae  black.     Labial  palpi  yellowish-orange." 

"I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  H.  F.  Bassett  of  Waterbury, 
Conn.,  for  a  number  of  specimens  of  this  interesting  gall-miner.     Mr.  B. 
says  the  species  is  rather  common  in  this  neighborhood, — the  larva  feeds 
15 


114  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

in  a  gall  found  on  'a  species  of  oak  which  I  call  Q.  tinctorial  The  galls 
are  found  on  the  smaller  branches,  three  or  four  being  aggregated,  are 
globular,  yellowish-brown,  shining  and  hard.  The  species  is  dedicated 
to  the  discoverer  who  will  doubtless  work  out  its  larval  history." 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Clemens  mistook  the  Coccid 
for  a  gall,  a  very  natural  mistake  for  a  man  not  well  acquainted  with 
Hemiptera.     His  description  applies  perfectly  to  the  Coccid. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Howard  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
at  Washington,  I  am  able  to  call  attention  to  two  more  references  to  this 
interesting  insect.  Prof.  Comstock  (Rep.  of  U.  S.  Entomologist  for  1879, 
p.  245)  calls  attention  in  1879  to  his  having  .collected  and  bred  the 
insect  at  Cedar  Keys,  Fla.  He  says:  "This  species  was  first  described 
by  Clemens  under  the  name  of  Hamadryas  bassettella,  from  specimens 
received  from  Mr.  Bassett  in  Conn.  The  latter  gentleman  stated  that  he 
had  bred  it  from  a  gall  on  oak,  but  subsequently  Mr.  Riley  pointed  out 
1o  him  that  his  supposed  gall  was  in  reality  a  Coccid.  The  rearing  of  the 
same  moth  from  what  is  evidently,  if  not  the  same,  a  closely  allied  species 
of  Coccid  from  two  such  widely  separated  localities  as  Connecticut  and 
Florida  is  a  strong  indication  of  the  permanence  of  the  carnivorous 
habit  iu  this  species." 

Tn  1881  Mr.  Riley  refers  very  briefly  to  the  insect  as  infesting  the  scales 
or  bodies  of  Kermes  galliformis. 

Dr.  Howard  informs  me  that  he  collected  this  species  in  1882  or  188.S 
in  Kermes  on  an  oak  scrub  in  Ithaca,  "N.  Y. 

The  fact  that  it  has  been  found  in  four  states  as  widely  separated  as 
Connecticut,  New  York,  Florida,  and  Minnesota,  is  a  pretty  safe  indica- 
tion that  the  habit  is  firmly  established. 


THE  HIND  BRAIN  AND  CRANIAL  NERVES  OF  ACIPENSER. 

BY    J.    B.    JOHNSTON. 
(From  Anatomischer  Anzeiger,— XIV.  Band,  Nr.  22  und  32,  1S9S.) 

Summary. 

A.    Facts. 

1.  The  sensory  Vth,  VHIth,  and  lateral  line  nerves  enter  common 
centers,  namely,  the  Nucleus  funiculi,  tuberculum  acusticum,  and  the 
granular  layer  of  rhe  cerebellum. 

2.  A  large  part  of  the  Vth,  VIHth,  and  lateral  line  fibres  go  as  arcuate 
fibres  to  the  opposite  side. 

3.  The  Lobus  trigemini  of  Goronowitsch  is  shown  by  its  structure 
to  be  a  part  of  the  tuberculum  acusticum. 

4.  There  is  continuity  of  structure  between  the  acusticum  and  the 
granular  layer  of  the  cerebellum.  In  fact,  the  acusticum  with  the  cere- 
bellar crest  corresponds  in  every  detail  with  the  cerebellum,  and  the  one 
may  be  considered  as  the  direct  continuation  of  the  other. 

5.  A  large  bundle  of  fibres  (chiefly  from  the  lateral  line  nerve?)  runs 
from  the  tuberculum  acusticum  to  the  Nucleus  funiculi  and  to  a  special 
Nucleus  acustici  spinalis. 


JOHNSTON    ON     HIND    BRAIN     OF    ACIPENSER.  115 

6.  The  cells  of  the  tuberculum  acusticum  send  their  dendrites  to  the 
base  of  the  medulla. 

7.  There  is  a  secondary  tract  from  the  acusticum  which  joins  the 
spinal  Vth. 

8.  The  sensory  Vllth,  IXth,  and  Xth  nerves  (exclusive  of  lateral 
line  and  spinal  Vth  constituents)  enter  a  common  center,  the  Lobos  vagi. 

9.  The  secondary  vagus  tract  divides  into  ascending  and  descending 
bundles.  The  ascending  bundle  ends  in  the  Rindenknoten  as  described 
by  others.     The  descending  bundle  extends  into  the  cord. 

10.  Cells  of  the  II  type  are  found  in  the  Lobus  vagi,  the  acusticum, 
and  in  both  layers  of  the  cerebellum. 

11.  A  remarkable  cell  of  the  II  type  found  in  the  valvula  has 
dendrites  similar  to  those  of  the  Purkinje  cells  and  a  very  coarse  neurite 
with  peculiar  club-like  thickenings. 

12.  Meynert's  bundles  have  two  sets  of  fibres,  one  of  which  after 
decussating  ends  in  a  nucleus  dorsal  to  the  ansiform  commissure  and 
bordering  on  the  central  cavit}*  at  the  posterior  end  of  the  base  of  the 
mid-brain.  The  other,  composed  of  fine  fibres,  probably  ends,  after  par- 
tial decussation,  in  the  granular  layer  of  the  cerebellum. 

13.  The  Corpus  interpedunculare  is  probably  a  nucleus  of  secondary 
importance  in  connection  with  the  bundles  of  Meynert. 

B.     Theoretical  conclusions. 

11.  The  structure  of  the  sensory  nerve  centers  in  the  medulla  indi- 
cates that  the  cranial  sensory  nerves  are  arranged  in  two  quite  distinct 
complexes.  One  of  these  consists  of  the  nerves  supph'ing  structures  of 
ectodermal  origin,  the  Vth,  Vlllth,  and  lateral  line  nerves.  The  other 
consists  of  the  nerves  which  supply  structures  of  entodermal  origin,  the 
Vllth,  IXth,  and  Xth  nerves. 

15.  The  sensory  Vth,  Vlllth,  and  lateral  line  nerves  alone  are  homol- 
ogous with  the  sensory  roots  of  the  spinal  nerves. 

16.  The  tuberculum  acusticum  and  the  cerebellum  are  the  repre- 
sentatives in  the  hind  brain  of  the  dorsal  horns  of  the  cord. 

17.  There  is  in  Acipenser  a  spinal  Vlllth  tract  which  is  probably 
homologous  with  that  in  man. 

18.  The  sensory  Vllth,  IXth,  and  Xth  nerves  are  not  homologous 
with  any  nerves  in  the  trunk  region. 

11).  The  Lobus  vagi  has  no  homologue,  or  only  a  rudimentary  homo- 
logue,  in  the  spinal  cord  of  the  adult. 

20.  The  sensory  roots  of  the  cranial  nerves  can  not  be  considered  as 
serially  homologous  with  (the  dorsal  roots  of)  the  spinal  nerves  in 
determining  the  segmentation  of  the  brain  or  head.  The  motor  roots 
alone  are  directty  comparable  to  (the  ventral  roots  of)  the  spinal  nerves. 

21.  The  peculiar  character  of  the  Purkinje  cell  dendrites  seems  to  be 
due  to  their  physiological  relation  with  the  very  fine  fibres  of  the  molec- 
ular laver  of  the  cerebellum. 


116  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 


A  CONTRIBUTION  TO  THE   KNOWLEDGE   OF  THE   FLORA   OF 

.   TUSCOLA  COUNTY. 

BY  CHARLES  A.  DAVIS,  ALMA. 

(Read  before  the  Academy  April  1.  1898.) 

[Abstract.] 

On  the  so  called  "Prairies"  of  the  bottom  lands  near  tbe  shore  of  Sag- 
inaw Bay  from  the  region  of  Bay  Port  southwestward,  was  found  a  group 
of  plants,  a  considerable  number  of  which  have  not  been  previously  noted 
from  the  central  or  eastern  parts  of  the  state,  and  one  plant  was  found 
which  was  heretofore  only  known  from  the  single  station  on  the  southern 
border  from  which  it  ranges  southwestward.  The  plants  here  found  are 
characteristically  those  of  the  prairies  of  Illinois  and  adjoining  states,  and 
in  Michigan  they  occupy  a  small  area  around  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Mich- 
igan. The  soil  conditions  are  such  as  are  frequently  found  along  shores 
of  large  bodies  of  water  where  deposition  is  taking  place,  i.  ev  sandy 
strips  alternating  with  rich  vegetable  deposit  or  muck.  It  is  probable 
that  local  climatic  conditions  due  especially  to  the  presence  of  Saginaw 
bay  in  the  near  vicinity  are  more  directly  responsible  than  favorable  soil 
conditions  for  the  presence  of  this  colony  of  southern  and  southwestern 
plants  in  this  place.  If  this  is  so,  and  is  capable  of  proof,  the  region 
should  be  a  very  profitable  one  for  the  introduction  of  special  crops 
which. cannot  be  grown  in  less  favorable  localities  so  far  north,  as  it  is  a 
well  known  principle  of  agricultural  economics  that  the  farther  from 
the  center  of  the  greatest  production  of  a  given  crop,  that  crop  can  be 
raised,  the  better  price  it  will  bring.  No  stations  for  the  plants  found, 
intermediate  between  those  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  and  this 
locality,  are  known.  The  most  important  plants  found  were  Asclepias 
purpurascens  L.,  A.  Sullivantii  Englm.,  Acerates  floridana  (Lam.)  A.  S. 
Hitch.,  Crataegus  Crusgalli  L.,  Cacalia  tuberosa  Nutt.,  Ludwigia  poly- 
carpa  Short  &  Peter,  Lythrum  alatum  Pursh,  Lacinaria  spicata  (L.), 
Kuntze,  and  Silphium  terebinthaceum  Jacq. 

This  paper  was  published  in  full  in  the  Botanical  Gazette,  Vol.  XXY. 
No.  6,  pp.  453-8,  and  the  discussion  of  the  entire  flora  of  Tuscola  county 
will  appear  in  a  forthcoming  bulletin  of  the  State  Geological  Survey  on 
Natural  Resources  of  Tuscola  County. 


FIFTH   ANNUAL    MEETING,    YPSILANTI. 

MARCH    29,    30,    31,    1899. 


The  fifth  annual  meeting  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science  was  held 
at  the  State  Normal  School,  Ypsilanti,  March  29,  30  and  31,  1899. 

In  addition  to  the  presentation  of  the  twenty-eight  papers,  list  of 
which  will  be  found  on  a  later  page  of  this  report,  the  following  items 
of  business  were  transacted:  The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were 
read  and  approved. 

The  treasurer,  Prof.  W.  H.  Munson,  submitted  his  report,  showing 
the  expenses  of  the  Academy  for  the  year  to  have  been  $57.50,  the  receipts 
$37.00,  and  the  amount  still  in  the  treasury  $107.78. 

The  secretary  stated  that  in  accordance  with  the  directions  of  the  Acad- 
emy, one  thousand  copies  of  Dr.  V.  M.  Spalding's  presidental  address, 
entitled  "A  Natural  History  Survey  of  Michigan''  had  been  printed,  and 
after  distributing  part  of  them  to  members  and  others,  several  hundred 
remained  at  the  disposition  of  the  Academy. 

The  following  resident  members  were  elected: 

George  Booth,  Bay  City;  Frank  Bradley,  Alma;  William  A.  Brush,  De- 
troit; Benj.  F.  Bush, Grand  Blanc;  AlbertB.  Lyons,  M.  D.,  Detroit;  Edith 
Ellen  Pettee,  Detroit;  Jessie  Phelps,  Ypsilanti;  Orlan  B.  Bead,  Hillsdale; 
Louis  E.  Warren,  Hillsdale;  Geo.  A.  Waterman,  V.  S.,  Agricultural  Col- 
lege; Alfred  H.  White,  Ann  Arbor. 

The  secretary  read  a  brief  obituary  notice  of  Arthur  A.  Crozier,  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  Academy,  who  died  January  28,  1899,  at  his 
home  near  Ann  Arbor. 

Walter  B.  Barrows,  from  the  committee  on  bird  protection,  reported 
the  preparation  of  a  bill  in  the  form  of  an  amendment  to  the  game  laws 
of  the  State,  aiming  to  secure  the  better  protection  of  our  useful  and 
harmless  wild  birds.     The  proposed  amendment  is  as  follows: 

Section  20  of  Act  159  of  the  Public  Acts  of  1897  *  *  *  is  hereby 
amended  to  read  as  follows: 

"No  person  shall  at  any  time  or  in  any  manner  whatever  injure,  kill 
or  destroy,  or  attempt  to  injure,  kill  or  destroy,  any  undomesticated  bird 
of  any  kind,  except  game  birds  and  water  fowl  at  such  times  and  in  such 
places  and  manner  as  the  Public  Acts  of  this  State  shall  permit:  Pro- 
vided, That  it  shall  be  lawful  at  any  time  to  kill  crows,  blackbirds  and 
English  sparrows,  or  to  destroy  their  nests  or  eggs." 

It  was  proposed  to  have  this  bill  introduced  in  the  House  and  try  to 
secure  its  passage.     The  report  was  approved  and  adopted. 


118  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

A  recommendation  from  the  Council  was  adopted  referring  to  a  com- 
mittee of  five  the  question  of  the  advisability  of  a  section  of  the  Academy 
to  be  known  as  the  Section  of  Science  Teachers  or  Section  of  Science 
Teaching,  and  instructing  the  committee  to  report  at  the  next  meeting. 
The  members  were:  Prof.  Jacob  Reighard,  Ann  Arbor;  Prof.  Win.  H. 
Sherzer,  Ypsilanti;  Dr.  W.  J.  Real,  Agricultural  College;  Prof.  Chas. 
A.  Davis,  Alma;  Mr.  N.  R.  Sloan,  Flint.  To  the  same  committee  was 
referred  the  question  of  investigating  the  status  of  science  teachers 
throughout  the  State,  and  in  this  matter  they  were  requested  to  co-operate 
with  a  similar  committee  of  the  Michigan  Schoolmasters'  Club. 

A  resolution  was  introduced  condemning  the  English  sparrow  bounty 
law  and  respectfully  urging  the  legislature  to  repeal  the  act.  Among 
the  reasons  urged  for  this  action  were  the  following: 

1.  Such  bounty  laws  have  been  shown  conclusively  by  the  U.  S.  De- 
partment of  Agriculture  to  be  unscientific,  expensive,  ineffectual,  and 
therefore  injudicious  and  deplorable. 

2.  The  results  of  the  bounty  law  in  Michigan,  as  investigated  by  the 
zoologist  of  the  Agricultural  College,  fully  sustain  the  conclusions  above, 
as  published  by  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington. 

3.  Aside  from  the  useless  expenditure  of  money,  the  law  permits 
and  actually  accomplishes  the  destruction  of  very  many  valuable  native 
birds. 

4.  Michigan  stands  almost  alone  among  the  states  in  thus  persisting 
in  an  expensive  and  utterly  futile  attempt  to  exterminate  this  pest  by  the 
bounty  system.  The  presence  of  this  bounty  law  on  our  statute  books, 
in  the  light  of  all  the  information  at  hand,  is  a  serious  reflection  on  the 
intelligence  of  our  tax  payers. 

This  resolution  was  adopted  and  referred  to  the  committee  on  bird  pro 
tection. 

A  committee  on  a  natural  history  survey  of  the  State  was  appointed  as 
follows: 

Rryant  Walker,  Detroit,  chairman;  Jacob  Reighard,  Ann  Arbor;  Chas. 
A.  Davis,  Alma;  W.  J.  Real,  Agricultural  College;  Frederick  G.  Novy, 
Ann  Arbor. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year: 

President — Jacob  Reighard,  Ph.  R.,  Ann  Arbor. 

Vice  Presidents — Section  of  Rotany,  Prof.  C.  F.  Wheeler,  Agricultural 
College;  Section  of  Zoology,  Rryant  Walker.  Detroit;  Section  of  Sani- 
tary Science,  Cressy  L.  Wilbur,  M.  D.,  Lansing;  Section  of  Agriculture, 
Prof.  Clinton  D.  Smith,  Agricultural  College. 

Treasurer,  Prof.  W.  H.  Munson,  Hillsdale. 

Secretary,  Prof.  Walter  R.  Rarrows,  Agricultural  College. 

PAPERS  PRESENTED  AT   THE  FIFTH  ANNUAL  MEETING  OF  THE  MICHIGAN   ACADEMY 
OF  SCIENCE.  YPSILANTI.  MARCH  29,  30  AND  31,  1899. 

1.  The  Medical  Inspection  of  Schools.  Prof.  Delos  Fall,  Albion  College.  Pub- 
lished in  Teachers'  Sanitary  Bulletin  (Lansing)  Vol.  2,  No.  3,  March,  1899. 

2.  Bacteria  of  Every  Day  Life,  (Stereopticon  Lecture).  Ernest  B.  Hoag,  Univer- 
sity of  Wisconsin. 

3.  A  Plea  for  Greater  Attention  to  the  Sciences,  by  the  Church,  the  School,  by 
Legislatures,  and  the  people  generally— Presidential  Address.  Dr.  Henry  B.  Baker, 
Lansing.     Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 


FIFTH     ANNUAL     MEETING.  119 

4.  Variation  of  Latitude  Observations  at  {he  Detroit  Observatory.  Prof.  A.  Hall, 
Jr.,  Ann  Arbor.     To  be  printed  in  the  Astronomical  Journal. 

5.  Beet  Sugar  Manufacture  in  Michigan  (with  lantern  slides).  Alfred  H.  White, 
Ann  Arbor. 

6.  The  Evolution  of  the  Color-pattern  of  the  Pigeon's  Wing.  Stereoptieon 
Lecture.     Prof.  C.  O.  Whitman.  University  of  Chicago. 

7.  Germination  of  B rasenia  peltate  Pursh.     Prof.  Chas.  A.  Davis,  Alma. 

8.  Notes  on  Utricularia  resupinata  D.  B.  Green,  Prof.  Chas.  A.  Davis,  Alma. 
Abstracts  printed  in  this  report. 

9.  A  Study  of  our  Native  Elms  and  Poplars  in  Winter.  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal,  Agri- 
cultural College. 

10.  The  genus  Antennaria  in  Michigan.  Prof.  C.  F.  Wheeler,  Agricultural  Col- 
lege. 

11.  Some  Boreal  Islands  in  Southern  Michigan.  Prof.  C.  F.  Wheeler,  Agricul- 
tural College. 

12.  Developmental  History  of  Some  Croton  Seeds.  Dr.  J.  O.  Schlotterbeck,  Ann 
Arbor.     Abstract  in  this  report. 

13.  The  Effects  of  Mechanical  Shock  on  the  Growth  of  Plants.  Dr.  J.  B.  Pol- 
lock, Ann  Arbor. 

14.  Plankton  Flora  of  Lake  Erie.     Dr.  Julia  W.  Snow,  Ann  Arbor. 

15.  Origin  of  Cell-wall  Substance  in  Cell  Division.     H.  G.  Timberlake. 

16.  Rheotropism  of  Roots.     Dr.  F.  C.  Newcombe,  Ann  Arbor. 

17.  Terrestrial  Shell-bearing  Mollusca  of  Michigan.  Bryant  Walker,  Detroit. 
Printed  by  the  author,  Detroit,  1899. 

18.  Trees  as  Dwelling-places  for  Animals.  Dr.  W.  J.  Beal,  Agricultural  College. 
Printed  in  present  report. 

19.  A  Jumpinsc  Gall.  Rufus  H.  Pettit,  Agricultural  College.  Mich.  State  Expt. 
Station,  Bulletin  "175,  pp.  367-368  (Fig.  20). 

20.  Is  the  Nucleus  the  Sole  Bearer  of  the  Hereditary  Qualities?  Dr.  Frank  R. 
Lillie,  Ann  Arbor.  Published  in  substance  in  "Adaptation  in  Cleavage,"  Woods 
H.01J    Biological  Lectures,  1898,  pp.  43-66. 

21.  Some  Notes  on  the  Breeding  Habits  of  Amia.  Jacob  Reighard,  Ann  Arbor. 
Abstract  in  present  report. 

22.  The  Development  of  the  Adhesive  Organ  of  Amia.  Jessie  Phelps,  Ypsilanti. 
Abstract  in  this  report. 

23.  Restriction  of  Consumption.  Dr.  Henry  B.  Baker,  Secretary  State  Board  of 
Health,  Lansing. 

24.  Comparative  Statistics  of  Weather  and  Mortality  in  Michigan.  Cressy  L. 
Wilbur,  M.  D.,  Lansing.     Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

25.  Some  Methods  and  Results  in  Micro-photography.  J.  B.  Johnston,  Ann 
Arbor. 

26.  New  Problems  in  Agriculture  and  New  Phases  of  Old  Ones.  Prof.  Clinton 
D.  Smith,  Agricultural  College.     Printed  in  full  in  this  report. 

27.  Some  Points  in  the  Development  of  the  Metanephros.  Dr.  J.  Playfair  Mc- 
Murrich,  Ann  Arbor.  Published  under  the  title  "A  Case  of  Crossed  Dystopia  of 
the  Kidney"  in  Journal  of  Anat.  and  Physiol.,  Vol.  XNXII,  1898,  pp.  652-664,  3 
figs,  in  text. 

28.  The  Existence  of  Nerve  Fibers  in  the  Cerebral  Blood  Vessels.  Dr.  Carl  G. 
Huber,  Ann  Arbor. 


120  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


A  PLEA  FOR  GREATER  ATTENTION  TO  THE  SCIENCES. 

BY   THE   CHURCHES,  BY  THE   SCHOOLS,  BY    LEGISLATURES,  AND   BY 

THE   PEOPLE  GENERALLY. 

(Presidential  Address,  to  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science,  Ypsilanti,  March  30,  1899.) 

BY  HENRY  B.  BAKER,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  PRESIDENT. 

Members  of  the  Academy,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: — As  the  minister  of  the 
gospel  endeavors  to  propagate  emotions  and  desires  toward  a  forsaking 
of  sins,  and  toward  right  conduct  in  every  relation  of  man  to  man  and 
of  man  to  his  Creator,  so  my  present  aim  is  to  propagate  emotions  and 
desires  toward  a  forsaking  of  imperfect  methods  of  action,  in  the 
churches,  in  the  schools,  and  in  the  halls  of  legislation;  and  to  plead  for 
a  new  life,  more  in  harmony  with  divine  laws. 

If,  as  most  of  us  believe,  there  is  an  infinite  God,  who  is  omnipotent, 
omnipresent,  the  creator  of  all  things,  and  ruler  of  the  universe,  then  not 
only  all  the  laws  which  govern  in  the  spiritual  realms,  but  also  all  which 
govern  in  the  material  universe,  are  Divine  laws;  disobedience  of  which 
incurs  penalties,  knowledge  of  which  will  enable  us  to  act  in  harmony 
therewith,  and  complete,  exact  knowledge  would  give  mankind  almost 
infinite  control  over  our  surroundings. 

I  plead  for  an  extension  of  the  emotions  and  desires  of  mankind  so  as 
to  include  a  desire  for  right  relations  not  only  to  our  brethren  and  to  the 
Creator  of  the  universe,  but  also  to  every  created  thing  with  which  man 
comes  into  relation. 

THE  CHURCHES. 

Let  us  grant  that  the  main  function  of  the  church  has  been  to  stimulate 
emotion  toward  right  conduct;  what  does  that  avail  if  ignorance  of  what 
conduct  is  right  continues  to  prevail?  The  contrite  heart,  the  earnest 
prayer  to  be  saved  from  sin,  ought  to  lead  to  a  knowledge  of  how  to  be 
saved  from  sin;  because  if  it  does  not  lead  to  that  knowledge,  sin  is  yet 
likely  to  follow.  It  has  been  customary  for  mankind  to  plead  innocence 
of  sin  when  the  sin  has  been  involuntary  and  without  knowledge;  but 
it  must  be  apparent  to  every  thoughtful  person  that,  with  the  laws  of 
God  as  with  the  laws  of  man,  every  person  is  supposed  to  know  the  laws, 
and  to  obey  them  or  suffer  the  penalities;  and  the  penalties  are  much 
more  certain  to  follow  violations  of  the  laws  of  the  Creator  than  viola- 
tions of  the  laws  of  man.  Under  all  ordinary  conditions,  if  a  person  puts  a 
finger  in  the  fire  it  is  burned.  All  such  common  laws  of  the  Creator  are 
easily  learned,  but  common  business  honesty  is  not  easily  learned  except 
in  the  school  of  actual  business  life,  or  by  special  training  in  social 
science. 

Under  the  present  complex  conditions  of  labor  and  society,  the  proper 
relations  of  man  to  man  can  be  learned  only  by  hard  study,  under  the 
leadership  of  masters  in  social  science.    We  have  ministers  of  the  ancient 


BAKER    ON    GREATER    ATTENTION    TO     THE     SCIENCES.  121 

scriptures;  we  need  also  ministers  of  the  recent  writings  concerning  man's 
complex  relations  to  his  fellowmen.  In  order  to  fit  us  for  right  living, 
in  all  our  various  relations,  the  training  must  not  stop  with  the  stimula- 
tion of  the  emotions  toward  right  conduct;  it  must  extend  to  the  settle- 
ment of  questions  of  what  actions  are  right,  and  what  actions  are  wrong. 
In  order  to  be  most  useful  to  humanity,  the  training  should  extend  still 
further,  and  show  why  certain  actions  are  wrong  and  why  certain 
actions  are  right:  We  ought  to  have  science,  and  also  philosophy.  To 
my  mind  such  training  is  religious  training;  and  it  ought  to  be  entered 
upon  by  the  churches.  This  knowledge,  of  good  and  evil,  of  right  and 
wrong,  is  needed  with  reference  to  man's  proper  relations  to,  and  actions 
toward  every  class  of  persons,  male  and  female,  rich  and  poor,  healthy 
or  sick,  maimed  or  defective,  capitalistic  classes  and  laboring  classes, 
and  under  all  ordinary  combinations  of  circumstances. 

The  labor  question,  the  questions  of  trusts,  of  taxation,  of  inter-state 
and  international  trade  and  commerce,  of  the  spreading  of  devastating 
plague,  influenza  and  fevers;  these  are  all  questions  of  right  conduct  of 
individuals  and  of  peoples,  to  make  possible  right  action  in  relation  to 
which  every  person  who  influences  their  control  should  have  the  guidance 
of  science,  that  is  to  say,  of  exact  knowledge  systematically  organized. 

HowT  easy  it  would  be  to  give  the  inhabitants  of  this  world,  or  at  least 
to  all  Christendom,  a  powerful  impetus  in  the  direction  I  have  indicated! 
Much  of  the  machinery  is  already  planned  and  prepared.  Think  of  the 
immense  educational  value  of  the  present  Sunday  school  system,  if  only 
its  teachings  could  be  extended  so  as  to  include  the  latest  and  best 
revelations  of  the  divine  laws  which  govern  the  universe! 

There  is  no  religious  or  other  training  which  so  broadens  and  deepens 
our  conceptions  of  the  infinite  Creator  as  do  the  studies  of  the  sciences, 
which  convey  exact  knowledge  of  the  exceedingly  numerous,  wonderful 
facts  found  in  every  direction  which  scientific  research  follows,  through- 
out the  universe,  material  and  intellectual. 

The  Sunday  school  work  has  been  less  useful  than  the  pulpit  preach- 
ing, for  stimulating  and  propagating  emotions  toward  right  actions;  al- 
though its  system  of  work  has  been  wonderfully  evolved,  its  teaching  is 
still  primitive.  It  lacks  God's  later  revelations  to  man,  as  chronicled 
by  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  by  Faraday,  Helmholtz,  Darwin,  Tyndall  and  other 
earnest  and  successful  seekers  after  the  eternal  truths. 

Unless  there  can  be  a  modification  of  the  Sunday  school  literature,  so 
as  to  utilize  the  best  work  in  all  the  sciences  (and  this  may  be  a  very 
difficult  undertaking)  I  hope  you  will  join  with  me  in  pleading  for  a  copy- 
ing of  the  methods  of  the  Sunday  school  literature  and  the  adoption 
of  Sunday  school  methods,  to  the  end  that  it  shall  be  possible  to  teach, 
at  least  Sunday  afternoons,  interesting  and  valuable  practical  results 
of  the  wTork  of  leading  scientists  in  every  branch  of  exact  knowledge. 

Why  should  not  religious  training,  why  should  not  the  church  regain 
the  position  of  the  writers  of  the  bible,  who  set  out  to  give  rational 
views  of  man's  relations  to  man,  to  God,  and  to  all  his  creations,  from 
the  beginning,  as  given  in  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis? 

Why  not  reconstruct  our  conceptions  of  the  creation,  according  to  the 
latest  revelations? 

Why  not  listen  to  the  teachings  of  leaders  of  thought,  and  construct 
16 


122  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

conceptions  of  t lie  proper  relations  of  employer  to  employee,  and  of  em- 
ployees to  employer? 

In  short,  why  not  rely  upon  the  best  knowledge  obtainable,  relative 
to  all  our  surrounding  conditions,  bearing  upon  our  present  life  and  upon 
our  destiny  throughout  eternity? 

There  was  a  time  when  one  man  could  compass  the  entire  range  of 
such  knowledge  then  possessed  by  humanity.  Now  that  is  impossible. 
Perhaps  that  is  the  reason  why,  for  many  years,  the  churches  have  been 
making  such  slight  progress.  It  is  claimed  that  the  church  member- 
ship is  not  keeping  pace  wdth  the  increase  of  population,  that  business 
men,  artisans,  men  whose  occupations  teach  them  many  of  the  laws  of 
nature,  do  not  join  the  churches.  Their  minds  are  engrossed  with 
thoughts  of  the  laws  of  sound,  as  taken  advantage  of  in  the  telephone; 
of  the  laws  of  light,  as  revealed  in  the  X  rays  phenomena ;  of  the  laws  of 
electricity,  as  utilized  in  the  electric  light  and  the  electric  motor.  These 
recent  revelations  are  so  real,  so  wonderful,  so  exceedingly  useful  in 
giving  increased  control  over  conditions  tending  so  strongly  to  make  life 
more  complete  and  more  comfortable,  that  it  is  coming  to  be  more  and 
more  difficult  to  listen  to  sermons  based  upon  views  formed  in  the  infancy 
of  the  human  race,  when  language  was  meager,  because  ideas  were  fewer, 
when  conceptions  of  the  Creator  had  to  be  formed  from  the  comparatively 
few  evidences  then  possible,  wdien  therefore  mental  images  of  God  neces- 
sarily had  human  attributes,  which  were  pondered  over  and  recorded, 
but  which  now,  when  used  as  texts,  fail  to  supply  satisfactory  con- 
ceptions of  the  omnipotence,  omnipresence,  and  universality  of  the 
Creator  of  infinite  varieties  of  animals,  plants,  substances  and  forces,  all 
apparently  working  in  accordance  with  fixed  laws.  The  human  attri- 
butes of  the  Creator  which  in  a  past  age  had  comparatively  strong- 
evidence  of  probability,  are  now  very  much  less  apparent  to  minds  which 
have  the  evidence  of  nearly  all  of  their  senses  to  the  materialistic  phe- 
nomena of  His  laws  of  heat,  light,  electricity,  and  sound.  To  the  modern 
scientist,  God  is  less  human,  more  infinite,  than  to  the  unlearned  ancients. 

A  NEW  DEPARTURE  SUGGESTED. 

Is  it  not  possible  for  the  church  to  regain  and  multiply  its  mastery,, 
by  specializing  its  work  along  the  lines  of  the  physical  and  social 
sciences? 

It  being  apparent  that  no  one  minister  can  master  all  the  sciences, 
is  it  not  practicable  for  the  church  not  only  to  retain  its  present  work, 
but  to  do  what  other  kinds  of  workers  have  done — perfect  its  workers 
along  different  lines  of  effort?  Why  not  retain  the  ancient  theology  for 
the  forenoon  service,  and  the  forenoon  Sunday  school,  and  utilize  at  least 
a  portion  of  the  afternoon  services  for  the  modern  theologies — in  other 
words  for  the  sciences? 

Why  not  employ  the  best  available  talent  in  simplifying  and  popu- 
larizing the  social  and  physical  sciences,  by  means  of  Sunday  afternoon 
lectures? 

Why  not  bring  these  valuable  lessons  to  the  children,  by  means  of 
Sunday  afternoon  schools  modeled  after  the  recent  improved  plans  for 
Sunday  schools,  with  their  special  literature  systematically  presented, 


BAKER    ON     GREATER     ATTENTION     TO     THE    SCIENCES.  123 

as  in  the  quarterlies  and  other  literature  used  in  the  congregational 
and  other  Sunday  schools? 

THE   SCHOOLS^— WHAT  EDUCATION  IS  OF  MOST  WORTH— TO  HUMANITY. 

In  his  work  on  "Education,"'  Herbert  Spencer,  if  I  remember  correctly, 
answered  his  own  question  "What  knowledge  is  of  most  worth?1',  with 
reference  to  the  individual  man.  I  propose  to  deal  with  this  question, 
having  in  mind  mainly  the  welfare  of  the  entire  human  race;  also,  not 
simply  extending  the  application  of  Mr.  Spencer's  conclusions,  but  at- 
tempting to  evolve  a  principle, — that,  as  the  Creator  is  infinitely  greater 
and  wiser  than  man.  His  laws  and  works  are  infinitely  more  profitably 
studied  and  mastered  than  are  man's  laws  and  works. 

Before  this  audience  it  is  not  necessary  to  present  arguments  for  the 
value  of  ordinary  education,  which  prepares  the  young  for  their  life 
work  by  supplying  them  with  the  means  for  accurate  communication 
with  their  fellows,  and  for  understanding  the  works  of  others;  it  is  not 
necessary  to  present  arguments  for  the  value  of  strictly  literary  educa- 
tion, we  all  admit  the  immense  value  and  utility  of  education  along 
literary  lines.  I  believe  we  do  not  all  rightly  appreciate  education  along 
scientific  lines,  other  than  in  mathematics  and  in  the  scientific  construc- 
tion of  language.  Beading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  are  indispensable 
as  preparation  for  actual  work,  and  a  mastery  of  any  branch  of  the  world's 
literature  is  a  source  of  power  in  certain  fields  of  effort,  such  as  teaching 
and  lecturing;  but  a  life  work  that  is  to  add  greatly  to  the  progressive 
welfare  of  mankind  must  add  to  man's  control  over  the  conditions  which 
surround  us;  and  for  such  a  life  work,  something  more  than  the  highest 
work  and  laws  of  man  are  essential;  nothing  short  of  the  unchanging 
laws  of  the  Creator  are  required  for  the  highest  progressive  work  of 
man.  And  those  natural  laws,  laboriously  worked  out,  constitute  the 
fundamental  principles  of  the  sciences. 

It  took  centuries  to  build  up  the  science  of  astronomy,  accurate  meas- 
urements of  time,  the  use  of  the  compass,  and  accurate  knowledge  of 
the  winds  and  waves,  so  as  to  enable  man  to  cross  the  trackless  oceans 
as  he  now  does,  to  our  great  benefit  and  pleasure.  One  function  of 
literature  has  been  to  hold  fast  what  has  been  gained  by  science;  but 
literature  alone  could  never  have  built  up  the  commerce  of  the  world, 
nor  have  enabled  man  to  span  continents  with  railroads,  harnessing 
the  power  of  steam  to  carry  immense  loads  across  mountain  ranges ;  liter- 
ature alone  could  not  enable  man  even  to  invent  a  steam  engine. 

The  best  uses  of  literature  are — to  rightly  stimulate  the  emotions,  and 
to  disseminate,  and  preserve  for  future  generations,  scientific  and  other 
progress;  but  an  equal  or  more  important  service  to  mankind  is  the 
revelation  of  knowledge  new  to  man,  to  be  disseminated  and  preserved. 
This  is  the  work  of  science,  in  every  possible  direction,  to  search  out 
and  reveal  the  laws  which  an  infinite  Creator  has  ordained,  and  to  which 
laws  man  must  conform  or  suffer  a  miserable  existence  and'fi  dreadful 
end. 

A  literary  gem  or  an  elegant  oration  fills  the  mind  and  soul  with 
satisfaction  and  enthusiasm;  but,  may  not  the  work  of  a  plodding  ento- 
mologist, who  laboriously  works  out  the  life  history  of  a  parasite  on  a 
potato  bug,  yield  results  of  more  permanent  utility  to  mankind? 


124  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

A  stirring  poem  stimulates  emotions  toward  right  living  and  great 
deeds;  and  a  strong  novel,  like  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  has  great  evolution- 
ary force;  yet  discoveries  due  to  progress  in  exact  knowledge  in  nature's 
realm,  as,  for  instance,  the  working  out,  by  the  immortal  Jenner.  of  the 
nature  of  the  dairymaid's  disease — cowpox,  the  scientific  establishment 
of  vaccination,  and  the  consequent  gaining  of  power  by  man  to  absolutely 
prevent  the  most  loathsome  disease  ever  known,  are  worthy  to  outrank 
any  such  literary  work  ever  done  or  likely  to  be  done.  For  such  work 
as  advances  the  world's  stock  of  useful  knowledge,  accurate  observation 
of  nature,  systematic  arrangement  of  facts,  and,  above  all,  the  habit  of 
scientific  thinking — these  are  the  essentials.  To'  illustrate  my  idea  of 
the  habit  of  scientific  thinking:  Two  men  were  talking  on  several 
topics.  One  who  listened  would  soon  notice  that,  whatever  topic  was 
broached,  one  of  them  uniformly  soon  used  a  literary  quotation,  once 
repeating  something  which  a  philosopher  is  alleged  to  have  said  some 
sixteen  hundred  years  ago.  His  mind  was  stored  with  literature,  his 
habit  of  thought  was  literary,  he  had  in  his  mind  no  stock  of  facts  op 
principles  relative  to  the  great  forces  or  materials  of  nature,  from  which 
to  draw  and  use  in  connection  with  whatever  phenomenon  was  brought 
to  his  attention,  his  mind  was  not  stored  even  with  the  literature  of  any 
of  the  physical  or  social  sciences,  consequently  he  was  and  is  incapable 
of  adding  anything  new  to  man's  control  over  his  surroundings,  his 
knowledge  stopped  with  grasping  what  men  before  him  have  done.  Not 
having  his  mind  stored  with  the  laws  of  nature,  and  not  having  the  habit 
of  scientific  thinking,  his  life  could  not  add  much  to  the  welfare  of  the 
world,  through  material,  moral,  or  social  progress,  however  powerful 
and  useful  he  might  be  in  influencing  emotions,  toward  self-mastery, 
goodness  and  greatness. 

Of  the  two  men,  the  other  man  was  well  known  as  one  who  has  deeply 
studied  certain  sciences,  and  is  believed  to  have  contributed  something 
of  value  to  the  world's  stock  of  exact  knowledge  along  one  of  the  sciences. 
It  was  apparent  that  his  habits  of  thought  were  upon  scientific  subjects, 
his  references  were  not  to  the  literature  of  the  classics,  rarely  even  to  the 
literature  of  the  sciences,  but  he  referred  to  the  universal  law  of  gravi- 
tation, the  doctrine  of  the  indestructibility  of  matter,  the  law  of  the 
persistence  of  force,  the  correlation  of  the  physical  forces,  that  action 
and  reaction  are  equal  and  opposite,  and  to  the  fact  that  heat,  light, 
electricity,  and  sound,  are  modes  of  motion. 

Is  it  not  easy  to  see  why  it  is  impossible  for  the  first  of  these  two 
men  to  advance  the  world's  knowledge  of  the  materials  and  forces  of 
nature,  and  why  it  is  perfectly  possible  for  the  other  one  to  do  so? 

You  may  notice  that  I  am  setting  up  a  standard  by  which  to  judge  of 
the  values  of  educations,  and  ranking  as  of  most  value  that  education 
which  enables  man  to  add  to  the  world's  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  nature 
and  how  to  control  and  utilize  the  conditions  which  surround  us,  for  the 
benefit  of  mankind. 

I  submit  that  this  is  a  higher  standard  than  any  which  looks  merely 
to  the  selfish  interests  of  the  pupil.  But  is  it  not  true  that  most  of  us 
would,  selfishly  or  unselfishly,  choose  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  Sir 
Isaac  Newton,  of  Faraday,  Morse,  Tyndall,  Edison,  Alexander  Graham 
Bell,  and  the  others,  who  have  advanced  the  cause  of  science,  and  brought 


BAKER    ON    GREATER    ATTENTION     TO    THE    SCIENCES.  125 

to  mankind  the  benefits  and  tlie  luxuries  of  the  telegraph,  the  telephone, 
the  electric  light,  the  electric  motor,  the  X-ray,  not  forgetting  the  earlier 
modes  of  control  of  fire  by  the  invention  of  the  lucifer  match;  of  the  con- 
trol of  water,  by  means  of  the  turbine  wheel;  of  the  air,  by  means  of  the 
windmill;  of  fire  and  water  as  steam,  by  means  of  the  boiler  and  steam 
engine? 

Is  it  not  a  fact,  that  all  of  the  material  progress  in  this  world  has 
come  about  through  the  advancements  of  the  sciences?  I  know  it  is 
claimed  that  the  arts  precede  the  sciences,  but  progress  has  been  made 
not  so  much  by  studying  the  works  of  man  as  by  studying  the  works, 
of  the  Creator.  Great  inventions,  so  many  of  which  are  termed  "dis- 
coveries," are  not  made  by  persons  ignorant  of  the  Creator's  laws.  To 
those  who  intelligently  interrogate  nature,  these  great  revelations  are 
made.  They  are  not  made  to  minds  stored  only  with  the  gems  and 
masterpieces  of  classic  literature.  They  are  revealed  to  those  whose 
habits  of  thought  are  in  consonance  with  science,  whose  thoughts  are 
concerning  the  facts  and  general  principles  of  nature.  In  recent  years 
great  discoveries  have  followed  each  other  with  a  rapidity  before  unpre- 
cedented, because  never  before  in  the  world's  history  have  there  been  so 
many  men  skilled  in  the  sciences,  and  also  working  close  to  nature.  And 
it  is  worthy  of  notice  that,  as  a  rule,  the  great  inventions  and  discoveries 
have  been  made  not  by  the  teachers,  who  necessarily  have  been  most 
skilled  in  the  general  facts  in  the  literature  of  their  several  sciences,  but 
by  those  still  nearer  to  nature,  those  who  have  been  studying  nature  in 
one  particular  line  even  more  closely  than  those  occupied  with  the  litera- 
ture of  the  sciences.  Thus  they  have  added  to  the  world's  useful 
knowledge,  and  to  its  literature  on  the  sciences,  what  will  in  time  serve 
as  new  departures  for  still  more  important  inventions,  discoveries,  revela- 
tions. 

What  an  impetus  would  be  given  toward  progress  in  inventions,  if  half 
of  those  who  now  are  trained  in  strictly  literary  studies  until  they  are 
nearly  thirty  years  of  age  could  have  the  last  ten  years  of  that  time 
devoted  to  studies  of  the  sciences,  first  in  technological  s'chools,  and 
later  in  actual  contact  with  those  parts  of  the  world's  work  to  which  the 
sciences  of  chemistry,  physics,  electricity,  metallurgy,  etc.,  are  so  closely 
related,  training  not  so  much  to  make  expert  workmen,  but  with  a  special 
view  to  future  inventions  and  discoveries!- 

If  I  am  right  in  my  belief  that  the  education  of  most  value  to  humanity, 
is  that  which  enables  us  to  add  to  the  world's  knowledge  of  the  laws  of 
nature  and  to  knowledge  of  how  to  control  and  utilize  the  physical  and 
social  conditions  which  surround  us,  for  the  benefit  and  pleasure  of  man- 
kind, it  follows  that  this  is  the  sort  of  education  which  the  people, — 
the  State  should  foster  and  insist  upon. 

And  inasmuch  as  whatever  benefits  the  race,  generally  benefits  the  in- 
dividuals, whose  interests  are  generally  parallel  to  those  of  the  race, 
therefore,  is  not  the  sort  of  education  which  is  of  most  value  to  the 
individual — that  which  enables  him  to  add  to  man's  control  over  exist- 
ing conditions? 

If  I  am  right  in  my  belief  that  it  is  not  knowledge  of  literature,  history, 
grammar  or  geography,  that  gives  man  greatest  power  to  add  to  the 
world's  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  nature,  and  greatest  power  to  control 


126  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

and  utilize  surrounding  conditions,  then  it  follows  that  the  interests  of 
humanity  demand — that  more  attention  than  is  given  to  those  studies 
just  mentioned  should  be  given  to  gaining  a  knowledge  of  the  facts, 
laws  and  general  principles  which  we  know  as  the  sciences. 

If  I  am  right  in  my  belief  that  the  habits  of  thought  of  students  of 
general  literature  are  antagonistic  to  the  accomplishment  of  inventions 
and  discoveries  along  the  lines  of  scientific  progress,  then  not  all  the 
people  should  have  thatv training. 

If  knowledge  of  some  of  the  laws  of  nature  supplies  the  best  prepara- 
tion for  gaining  knowledge  of  other  laws  not  yet  revealed,  then,  for  the 
purpose  of  progress,  the  best  possible  educational  training  is  in  the 
sciences,  and,  as  a  rule,  if  progress  of  the  race  is  sought,  no  more  time 
should  be  devoted  to  other  studies  than  is  sufficient  to  prepare  the  pupil 
for  studies  in  the  sciences. 

Even  if  we  grant  that,  in  teaching  "The  principle  is  to  train  'for  power,' 
to  use  President  Elliot's  phrase,  and  not  primarily  for  information,*'* 
is  it  not  of  far  greater  importance  to  humanity  to  train  "for  power" 
over  the  physical  forces,  over  the  material  universe  and  over  our  social 
surroundings,  than  it  is  for  power  over  the  mere  literary  or  other  works 
of  man? 

However,  I  am  not  willing  to  throw  away  the  literary  works  of  man; 
— what  I  plead  for  is — that  this  be  saved  to  the  race  by  the  few,  while  a 
much  larger  proportion  of  our  young  people  than  heretofore  shall  be 
trained  in  directions  of  far  greater  utility  to  mankind,  namely  in  the 
sciences. 

LEGISLATURES. 

I  have  expressed  the  view  that,  for  the  general  welfare  through  ma- 
terial progress,  the  sort  of  schools  which  the  people  generally  should 
most  liberally  support  are  those  wherein  the  sciences  are  taught;  because 
about  all  progress,  in  man's  control  over  his  surroundings  is  due  to  pro- 
gress in  exact  knowledge,  that  is,  to  progress  in  some  science.  Support 
for  such  schools  can,  as  a  rule,  be  supplied  only  through  legislative 
action.  Thus  far  State  legislatures  generally  have  not  taken  much 
action  in  this  direction;  but  the  United  States  congress  has  shown  great 
wisdom  in  fostering  education  in  that  science  which  has  to  do  with  sup- 
plying the  food  for  mankind;  I  refer  to  the  science  of  agriculture.  In  1857 
Hon.  Justin  S.  Morrill  introduced  in  congress  a  bill,  and  in  1862  con- 
gress made  grants  of  land  to  enable  the  several  States  to  establish  agri- 
cultural colleges.  Some  of  the  State  legislatures  were  wise  enough  to 
act  in  that  direction.  We  ought  to  be  proud  of  Michigan  that,  before  any 
action  by  congress,  the  State  constitution,  framed  in  1850.  provided  for  a 
school  "for  instruction  in  agriculture  and  the  natural  sciences  connected 
therewith."  We  ought  to  be  proud  of  Michigan  legislatures  for  taking, 
as  early  as  1855,  and  for  maintaining  since  that  time,  most  efficient 
measures  for  the  succcess  of  that  college.  Congress  has  established,  at 
Washington,  a  national  department  of  agriculture,  an  important  branch 
of  the  government,  and  it  is  a  great  national  college  of  agricultural  sci- 
ence, which  has  as  pupils  a  large  portion  of  the  people  of  this  country. 

*"The  Teaching  of  Physiology  in  Medical  Schools,"  by  W.   T.   Porter,   M.   D.,   Associate 
Professor  of  Physiology  in  Harvard. 


BAKER    ON    GREATER    ATTENTION    TO     THE    SCIENCES.  127 

The  prosperity  and  growth  of  this  country  has  been  marvelous;  a  very 
great  portion  of  that  growth  and  prosperity  is  due  to  the  agricultural 
work  done;  and  the  character  of  that  work  has  been,  and  is  being,  greatly 
improved  through  the  scientific  training,  in  the  State  agricultural  col- 
leges, of  a  few  who  serve  as  leaders,  and  through  the  scientific  work  of 
the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture.  Congress  has  recognized 
the  fact  that  progress  in  this  direction  cannot  be  made  except  through 
scientific  study  and  experimental  research  work.  Accordingly  it  has 
appropriated  money  to  establish,  in  the  several  States,  agricultural  ex- 
periment stations.  These  scientific  experiment  stations  are  doing  a  grand 
work  for  the  progress  of  those  sciences  on  which  is  based  the  art  which 
feeds  the  civilized  world.  Through  progress  in  the  agricultural  sciences, 
agricultural  products  have  been  increased  and  cheapened;  and  must  con- 
tinue *to  be  cheapened,  so  that  a  smaller  and  still  smaller  proportion  of 
the  people  are  to  be  able  to  supply  mankind  with  food,  and  a  much  larger 
proportion  of  our  people  are  to  be  able  to  engage  in  other  pursuits.  It 
ought  to  result,  also,  in  much  less  hours  of  physical  labor  to  agricultur- 
ists, and  to  all. classes  of  people. 

What  I  plead  for  is  a  continuance  of  the  congressional  and  legislative 
fostering  of  the  agricultural  sciences,  but  more  especially  the  applica- 
tion of  the  same  principles  of  action  to  the  other  sciences.  Let  us  have 
the  science  of  mechanics,  and  the  other  sciences  which  bear  upon  the 
production  of  clothing,  so  fostered  by  governmental  experiment  stations 
and  technological  schools,  that  a  much  smaller  proportion  of  our  people 
shall  be  required  to  labor,  and  during  less  hours,  in  those  industries 
which  supply  our  clothing.  For  several  years  the  artificial  production 
of  silk  has  been  struggling  toward  perfection.  If  the  governments  would 
maintain  experiment  stations  for  this  purpose,  possibly  all  of  us  might 
soon  dress  in  silks,  and  at  much  less  cost  than  now  in  cotton? 

Recently  much  of  the  world's  progress  has  been  through  the  sciences 
of  electricity,  light,  and  sound.  As  an  illustration  of  the  utility  of  the 
telephone:  "There  are  over  one  thousand  telephone  instruments  used 
by  the  United  States  Life  Saving  Service.  A  notable  instance  of  the 
benefit  of  it  was  the  work  achieved  near  Cape  Henelopen,  during  the 
most  destructive  storm  that  ever  visited  the  coast.  The  crews  of  three 
stations  were  brought  together  within  two  hours,  and  rescued  twenty-two 
stranded  vessels  and  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  persons." 

There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  all  the  secrets  of  nature  have  been 
revealed  to  us  relative  to  the  transmission  of  light  and  sound.  Through 
the  wonderful  properties  of  selenium  we  have  been  on  the  point  of  being 
able  to  transmit  to  a  distance,  by  wire,  views  of  objects,  even  photo- 
graphic likenessess  and  views  of  scenes.  Governments  might  well  main- 
tain experiment  stations  for  the  advancement  of  knowledge  in  the  sci- 
ences of  electricity,  light,  and  sound. 

The  United  States  government  has  appropriated  money  to  aid  investi- 
gations into  aerial  navigation;  and  even  to  looking  for  the  north  pole; 
both  of  which  objects  may  be  worth  much  more  than  the  cost,  especially 
as,  by  reason  of  the  comparatively  recent  control  over  electricity,  the 
working  out  of  the  principle  of  the  aeroplane,  the  cheapening  of  the 
manufacture  of  aluminum  by  means  of  the  electric  furnace,  and  the  new 
methods  of  liquifying  air,  successful  aerial  navigation  seems  now  to  be 


128  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

among  the  possibilities  of  the  near  future;  but  the  point  I  wish  to  make 
here  is  that  both  the  general  government  and  the  several  States  might 
well  establish  and  maintain  experiment  stations  for  the  advancement 
of  exact  knowledge  on  those  sciences  with  which  the  every-day  life  of  all 
the  people  is  so  closely  concerned,  as,  for  instance,  the  sciences  relating 
to  heat,  light,  electricity,  sound,  and  locomotion. 

As  regards  locomotion,  the  crude  modes  by  means  of  the  more  or  less 
perfect  control  of  animals,  is  fast  giving  place  to  the  bicycle,  and  to 
electrical  and  other  automobile  methods,  connected  with  which  there  are 
many  lines  of  investigation  which  might  well  be  fostered  by  govern- 
ments. 

THE    SOCIAL    SCIENCES. 

My  plea  for  greater  attention  to  the  sciences  is  not  restricted  to  the 
physical  sciences.  When  great  numbers  of  strong  men  are  unemployed 
and  their  families  suffer  thereby,  great  wrongs  are  apparent;  and  gov- 
ernments are  not  subserving  the  highest  interests  of  the  people  unless 
they  take  prompt  and  effective  measures  to  search  out  the  causes,  and  to 
place  them  before  the  people.  Possibly  "experiment  stations''  are  not 
adequate  for  the  elucidation  of  such  questions,  although  they  may  be  for 
some  of  them,  but  if  the  social  sciences  shall  be  carefully  studied  in  the 
churches,  in  the  schools,  in  legislatures,  and  in  every  domain  of  human 
activity,  can  there  be  a  doubt  that  the  welfare  of  every  class  of  people  will 
be  greatly  enhanced? 

■The  inauguration  of  systematic  studies  of  these  sciences  is  an  impera- 
tive duty  of  the  churches,  of  the  schools,  of  the  legislatures,  and  of 
all   of  us. 

THE    SANITARY    SCIENCES. 

One  of  the  most  important  groups  of  sciences,  thus  far  almost  entirely 
neglected  by  governments,  so  far  as  relates  to  effort  for  the  advancement 
of  the  sciences,  is  that  group  which  collectively  is  known  as  sanitary 
science.  A  few  of  the  States  have  made  small  appropriations.  Scarcely 
anything  has  been  done  directly  by  the  United  States  government,  al- 
though indirectly,  by  fostering  the  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  much 
has  been  done  for  the  welfare  of  the  human  race.  The  agricultural 
experiment  stations,  for  which  the  United  States  makes  annual  appro- 
priations for  every  State,  are,  to  a  great  extent,  for  the  benefit  of  all 
the  people,  but  primarily  they  are  for  the  benefit  of  a  class  only — the 
agriculturalists;  while  progress  in  sanitary  science  is  primarily  and 
finally  for  the  benefit  of  every  person,  therefore,  why  should  not  congress 
appropriate  money  to  establish,  in  every  State,  sanitary  science  experi- 
ment stations?  A  bill  was  prepared  for  this,  which  congress  was  asked 
to  pass,  but  did  not.  I  believe  that  this  is  a  proposition  on  which  the 
people  themselves  would  do  well  to  act,  by  petitioning  congress  to  take 
such  action,  and  the  State  legislature  to  foster  a  sanitary  science  experi- 
ment station  as  it  now  fosters  the  one  for  the  agricultural  sciences. 

The  State  of  Michigan  maintains  one  school  for  the  teaching  of  science, 
the  State  Mining  School  at  Houghton;  and  several  branches  of  science 
are  taught  at  the  State  Agricultural  College,  at  the  University,  and  at 
this  State  Normal  College;  but,  although  there  have  been  small  appro- 


BAKER    ON    GREATER    ATTENTION    TO    THE    SCIENCES.         129 

priations  for  the  geological  survey,  the  State  Board  of  Health,  and  for 
the  Fish  Commission,  which  have  been  used  in  part  for  such  purposes, 
so  far  as  I  know,  this  State  does  not  directly  appropriate  money  for  the 
advancement  of  any  science  by  experimental  work. 

I  claim  that,  in  the  interests  of  progress  for  the  benefit  of  the  people 
generally,  the  State  ought  to  appropriate  money  for  the  advancement 
not  alone  of  the  agricultural  and  mining  sciences,  but  of  all  the  sci- 
ences. Especially  ought  the  State  Laboratory  of  Hygiene,  at  the  Uni- 
versity, to  have  a  liberal  appropriation  for  the  advancement  of  several 
of  the  sanitary  sciences. 

The  State  publishes  the  annual  reports  of  the  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, and  of  the  State  Horticultural  Society.  It  ought  certainly  to  pub- 
lish the  reports  of  this  Michigan  Academy  of  Science,  which  is  not 
limited  as  the  other  societies  mentioned  are,  to  a  special  class  of  citizens, 
but  may  embrace  every  science,  and  subserve  the  interests  of  every  class 
of  citizens. 

THE  PEOPLE  GENERALLY. 

The  people  generally  can  exert  a  powerful  influence  for  the  progress 
of  science,  by  petitioning  congress  and  the  State  legislatures  to  in- 
augurate and  maintain  schools  of  science,  professorships  of  the  sciences, 
and  scientific  experiment  stations. 

Much  can  be  done  by  selecting  for  ordinary  conversations  scientific 
topics,  instead  of  the  usual  topics  which  are  of  much  less  importance. 

Much  good  can  be  done  by  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  local 
scientific  clubs  and  associations. 

Every  intelligent  person  ought  to  become  especially  interested  in  at 
least  one  science;  and  not  only  read,  from  time  to  time,  standard  books 
on  that  subject,  and  take  and  read  a  periodical  devoted  to  that  science, 
but  should  labor  to  contribute  facts,  and  if  possible  envolve  a  general 
principle  to  add  to  the  stock  of  the  world's  exact  knowledge.  Only  in 
some  such  way  can  we  "Make  our  lives  sublime,  and  departing,  leave 
behind  us  footprints  on  the  sands  of  time.'' 

GENERAL  CONSIDERATIONS  OP  THE   SUBJECT. 

I  believe  that  neither  the  people  generally  nor  even  those  among  us 
who  are  engaged  in  scientific  pursuits,  realize  the  extent  of  our  indebted- 
ness to  science.  Nor  do  we  realize  that  we  would  still  be  painfully  grop- 
ing our  way  through  an  imperfect  and  uncomfortable  existence  were  it 
not  for  progress  in  the  several  sciences,  which  progress  was,  for  many 
years,  hindered  by  the  churches,  its  place  in  the  schools  opposed  by  lead 
ing  educators,  not  aided  by  legislatures,  and  ridiculed  by  the  common 
people. 

We  have  not  time  for  the  enumeration  of  the  items  of  our  daily  use 
for  which  we  are  indebted  to  science,  but  let  me  briefly  mention  a  few  of 
the  notable  examples  of  comparatively  recent  achievements  of  science: 
17 


130  •  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

MASTERY   OVER   THE   FORCES   OF   NATURE. 

Speaking  now  somewhat  figuratively: 

Science  has  tamed  the  lightning,  and  made  it  convey  our  messages  far 
over  the  land,  and  under  the  sea,  so  that  our  thoughts  may  almost  in- 
stantly be  sent  around  the  world,  by  the  telegraph.  Great  famines  are  no 
longer  excusable,  because  the  want  of  one  country  can  be  made  known 
to  any  other  country. 

Science  has  educated  the  lighntiug,  and  taught  it  to  carry  voices,  and 
speak  our  words  in  distant  places,  by  the  telephone. 

Science  has  "harnessed  the  lightning"  and  made  it  pull  loaded  cars 
which  until  recently  were  drawn  by  horses  and  mules. 

Science  has  utilized  the  lightning,  to  light  our  streets  and  houses,  to 
heat  furnaces,  to  melt  refractory  substances,  also  to  aid  our  vision  so 
that,  by  means  of  the  X  ray,  interiors  of  bodies  may  be  seen  and  photo- 
graphed, fractured  bones  may  be  seen  and  replaced,  and  surgical  relief  be 
given. 

Science  has  made  it  possible,  by  the  storage  battery,  to  store  up  the  light- 
ning,  and  liberate  it  as  needed  for  various  useful  purposes. 

Science  has  made  it  possible,  by  the  phonograph,  to  store  up  the  tones 
of  the  human  voice,  and  to  so  liberate  them  that  they  shall  be  reproduced, 
from  time  to  time,  and  utilized  for  the  ordering  of  business  affairs;  also 
to  store  up  the  tones  of  musical  instruments  and  voices,  and  liberate 
them  at  will. 

Science  has  made  it  possible  to  harness  Niagara  Falls,  and  to  use  its 
energy,  and  transmit  it  to  distant  places  for  use.  And  the  application 
of  this  principle  is  world-wide. 

MASTERY  OVER  THE  SUBSTANCES  OF  NATURE. 

Science  has  made  it  possible  to  make  the  air  about  us  into  a  liquid 
which  promises  to  be  of  wonderful  utility,  and  perhaps  to  do  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  world's  work  for  humanity. 

MASTERY   OVER    THE    DISEASES    OF    MAN. 

In  our  own  day,  a  science,  bacteriology,  dealing  with  the  excessively 
small  things  of  this  world,  has  revealed  to  man  knowledge  which  gives 
him  power  to  restrict  and  prevent  the  disease  which  destroys  more  lives 
than  does  any  other;  which  as  a  rule  destroys  man  in  the  prime  of  life; 
in  our  own  State  annually  destroying  three  thousand  of  the  best  among 
us,  and  involving  an  annual  loss  of  millions  of  dollars,  beside  the  un- 
speakable anguish  to  thousands  of  those  of  us  who  remain. 

Now,  thanks  to  the  scientific  work  of  many,  to  Robert  Koch  more  than 
to  any  other,  there  has  been  revealed  knowledge  which  is  able  to  make  us 
"wise  unto  salvation"  from  that  "Great  White  Plague" — consumption 
which,  up  to  this  generation,  has  been  the  scourge  and  destroyer  of  the 
flower  of  the  human  race,  but  which  now  bids  fair  to  disappear. 

Let  us  not  dwell  on  the  many  remaining  sufferings  of  mankind,  due 
to  man's  neglect  to  seek  the  truth,  and  govern  his  actions  thereby.  The 
world  has  been  improving  as  a  place  of  comfortable  existence,  but  it  is 
still  far  from  perfect.    Much  remains  to  be  improved.     Man  is  still  far 


DAVIS    ON     GERMINATION     OF    BRASENIA.  131 

below  the  infinite,  but  he  approaches  the  infinite  in  proportion  as  he 
searches  out  and  obeys  the  laws  which  govern  the  universe. 

My  plea  is  for  a  higher  standard — a  better  criterion — toward  which 
and  by  which  to  aim  religious,  educational,  legislative,  and  all  other 
human  effort, — a  plea  for  the  forsaking  of  much  of  the  less  valuable 
work  of  mere  men,  in  the  dim  past,  and  a  vigorous  entry  upon  the  works 
of  the  Divine  Creator  Himself: 

"Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,  O  my  soul, 
As  the  swift  seasons  roll ! 
Leave  thy  low- vaulted  past!" 

My  plea  is  for  humanity,  not  for  selfishness;  but  if  mankind  as  a  whole 
advances,  surely  as  a  rule,  the  individuals  advance.  Philanthropy  is  the 
highest  and  noblest  selfishness, — it  is  the  most  certain  to  secure  what 
no  other  form  of  selfishness  can  secure — the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest 
number  of  persons. 

In  closing,  permit  me  to  summarize,  and  to  exhort  you  that 

THE  ADVANCEMENT  OF  SCIENCE  IS  DIVINE  IMMORTALIZING  PHILANTHROPE. 

Take  up  man's  heaviest  burdens,  O  my  friends, 
And  trace  them  to  their  causes,  speed  their  ends  ! 

All  science  search,  God's  changeless  truths  reveal, 
Add  useful  knowledge  for  the  common  weal  ! 

Approaching  infinite  philanthropy, 
You  thus  approach  to  immortality. 


NOTES  OX  THE  GERMINATION  OF  BRASENIA  PELTATA  Ptjrsh. 

BY  CHARLES  A.  DAVIS,  ALMA. 
[Abstract.] 

The  freshly  gathered  seeds  of  this  species  were  placed  in  water  in 
the  fall  and  kept  through  the  winter,  well  into  the  following  summer, 
never  being  allowed  to  become  dry.  One  seed  germinated  in  December, 
a  few  before  spring,  but  the  greater  number  of  those  which  germinated 
delayed  until  the  following  summer,  in  July.  Many  of  the  seeds  failed 
entirely  to  germinate;  a  few  developed  distorted  monsters  and  a  con- 
siderable number  reached  a  stage  where  they  possessed  several  leaves. 

The  first  external  sign  of  germination  was  the  pushing  out  a  rounded 
plug  or  stopper  of  the  hard  seed-coat  from  the  hilum  end  of  the  oval 
seed.  Through  the  opening  thus  made  the  hypocotyl  and  the  very 
short  petioles  of  the  cotyledons  were  pushed,  the  cotyledons  themselves 
not  emerging.  The  hypocotyl  was  a  very  short,  disk-shaped  organ,  from 
the  lower  end  of  which  a  filiform  unbranched  primary  root  grew.  The 
hypocotyl  did  not  elongate  after  it  had  emerged,  the  stem  and  secondary 
roots,  also  unbranched,  developed  by  the  expansion  of  the  plumule,  the 
roots  appearing  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  The  first  leaf,  as  is  generally 
the  case  in  Nympha?ace«>,  was  bladeless,  elongated  and  filiform.  The 
second  leaf  was  usually  lanceolate  with  a  long  petiole.     The  third  leaf 


132  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

was  sometimes  perfoliate  near  the  margin,  but  notched  at  the  base,  and 
sometimes  the  petiole  was  attached  as  usual,  and  the  base  was  heart- 
shaped.  The  fourth  leaf  was  always  perfoliate,  as  were  the  succeeding 
ones,  the  insertion  of  the  petiole  approaching  nearer  the  center  of  the 
oval  leaf  in  each  successive  form,  but  in  none  of  the  seedlings  studied 
did  the  type  form  of  a  perfectly  elliptical  leaf  with  the  petiole  in  the 
center,  appear. 


NOTES  OX  UTRICULARIA  RESUPINATA  B.  D.  Greene. 

BY  CHARLES  A.  DAVIS,  ALMA. 
[Abstract.] 

This  plant  grows  in  the  sand  along  shallow  margins  of  lakes.  It  has 
been  found  in  Pine  Lake.,  Ingham  county;  Woodward  Lake,  Ionia  county; 
Bass  Lake,  Montcalm  county,  and  one  or  two  other  localities  in  the 
state.  It  is  often  overlooked  because  of  its  resemblance  to  small  grass- 
like submerged  plants,  only  the  tips  of  the  linear  leaves  appearing  above 
the  sand.  The  characteristic  bladders  are  attached  to  the  bases  of  tht 
leaves,  and  to  special  branches  of  the  stem.  The  leaves  in  floating 
specimens  are  in  whorls  of  three.  Two  of  these  are  geotropic,  and  one 
heliotropic,  all  bear  one  or  more  bladders.  The  geotropic  leaves  are 
rather  smaller  than  the  others.  The  growing  tip  of  the  stem  is  also 
slightly  geotropic,  but  apparently  not  decidedly  so.  In  plants  growing 
under  natural  conditions  the  stem  grows  a  short  distance  below  the 
surface  of  the  sand,  the  base  of  the  upright  leaf  being  buried  perhaps  an 
inch.  The  two  geotropic  leaves  then  spread  out  widely  in  the  sand 
and  sometimes  bear  several  bladders.  There  are  also  special  branches 
at  irregular  intervals  which  seem  to  bear  only  bladders  without  any  true 
leaves.  These  seem  more  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of  the  base  of  the 
flower  stalk.  There  are  also  fine  branches  of  the  stem  which  seem 
to  be  roots,  but  it  seems  probable  that  they  are  bladder  bearing  branches 
from  which  the  bladders  had  been  broken  in  the  process  of  collecting.  No 
roots  appeared  on  floating  stems  kept  for  two  years  in  an  aquarium.  The 
stems  survive  the  winter  buried  in  the  sand. 


TREES  AS  DWELLING  PLACES  FOR  ANIMALS. 

BY   W.    J.    BEAL. 

The  rodents  and  the  woodpeckers  seem  to  be  especially  adapted  to 
living  in  trees,  as  the  former  have  stout  chisel  teeth  and  the  latter  a 
beak  for  pecking  holes. 

The  chief  point  I  had  in  mind,  when  I  decided  to  speak  on  this  topic  was 
to  show  how  these  holes  originated  and  how  they  were  kept  in  good  con- 
dition suitable  for  dwellings.  If  you  were  to  hunt  about  in  the  forests, 
you  would  be  surprised  to  discover  the  great  number  of  kinds  of  injuries 
that  trees  are  subject  to.     The  holes  in  trees  were  not  purposely  left 


REIGHARD    ON     BREEDING    HABITS    OF    THE     DOG-PISH.        133 

there  by  the  trees  to  serve  as  homes  for  animals,  but  rather  the  holes 
came  there  bv  some  accident  to  the  tree.  In  the  forests,  trees  crowd 
each  other,  as  they  grow  larger  and  taller,  the  limbs  shading  each  other, 
till  for  want  of  light,  some  of  them  die,  or  the  wind  or  heavy  sleet  or  the 
falling  of  a  neighboring  tree  breaks  off  all  or  a  considerable  portion 
of  a  limb.  W 'hen  the  trees  are  sound  and  thrifty  these  damaged  spots 
usually  grow  over  or  close  up  the  wound,  but  when  the  tree  has  nearly 
completed  its  height  and  has  sent  forth  numerous  large  limbs  and  has 
gone  far  past  its  prime,  these  wounds  heal  slowly  or  not  at  all.  The 
dead  limb,  or  the  spot  where  it  broke  off,  slants  upward,  permitting 
water  and  decay  to  enter,  till  finally,  a  hole  takes  the  place  of  the  dead 
branch,  and  within  the  tree  a  large  cavity  is  often  formed.  Sometimes 
two  or  three  limbs  near  each  other  die  and  there  may  after  a  while  appear 
two  or  three  holes.  Many  of  these  holes,  the  tree  attempts  to  enclose, 
year  after  year,  and  would  finally  succeed  did  not  some  keen  rodent 
need  it  for  a  dwelling.  As  the  hole  grows  dangerously  small,  he  gnaws 
off  the  new  growth,  compelling  the  tree  to  keep  ''open  doors."  Squirrels 
could  use  cavities  entered  through  holes  large  enough  for  coons  or  hedge- 
hogs, but  they  usually  seek  places  entered  through  holes  just  about 
large  enough  for  the  largest  one  of  the  family.  In  this  way,  they  are 
not  molested  by  their  larger  enemies.  Mice  of  the  woods  could  use  holes 
large  enough  for  squirrels,  but  they  usually  seek  lodgings  of  very  small 
size.     When  once  within  hawks  and  owls  can  do  them  no  harm. 

All  of  these  animals  are  shy  of  one  another  and  besides,  their  habits 
are  not  all  alike.  The  coon,  flying  squirrel  and  mouse  are  stirring  about 
by  night  and  remain  at  home  asleep  by  day,  while  the  gray  squirrel 
and  red  squirrel  sleep  nights  and  are  busy  at  work  and  play  by  day. 

Coons  store  up  food  in  the  form  of  fat,  and  during  cold  winter  curl  up 
and  remain  dormant  for  weeks  together,  while  some  squirrels  lay  in 
a  good  store  of  nuts  for  use,  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow. 

[This  paper  was  well  illustrated  by  numerous  blocks  or  sections, 
showing  the  origin  and  formation  and  maintenance  of  homes  for  anim- 
als.] 


THE  BREEDING  HABITS  OF  THE  DOG-FISH,  AMIA  CALVA. 

BY   JACOB    REIGHARD,    ANN    ARBOR. 
[Abstract.] 

The  paper,  of  which  this  is  an  abstract,  is  a  contribution  towards  the 
determination  of  certain  disputed  points  of  fact  concerning  the  breeding 
habits  of  the  dog-fish.  By  way  of  preface  there  is  given  a  brief  statement 
of  those  facts  about  which  there  is  general  agreement. 

In  late  April  and  early  May  the  dog-fish  seek  the  shallower  waters 
of  our  lakes  and  rivers  and  there  prepare  nests  in  which  they  deposit 
their  eggs.  These  nests  are  circular  areas,  from  which  all  leaves  and 
stems  of  water  plants  have  been  removed.  The  bottom  of  the  nest, 
which  is  concave,  is  formed  of  the  fibrous  roots  of  water  plants,  less 
often  in  the  absence  of  these,  of  gravel,  or  of  the  water  soaked  leaves 


134  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

of  the  cat-tail.  Its  sides  are  usually  of  growing  water-plants.  Nests 
built,  as  often  happens,  under  logs,  stumps,  or  bushes,  are  apt  to  be  ir- 
regular in  form  and  to  have  no  vegetation  at  the  sides.  The  bottoms  of 
the  nests  are  covered  by  from  one  to  two  feet  of  water  and  are  closely 
strewn  with  the  adhesive  eggs. 

The  male  fish  remains  on  the  nest  or  in  the  neighborhood  and  guards 
it  until  the  young  fish  are  hatched. 

The  newly  hatched  larvae  remain  for  some  days  attached  to  the  bottom 
of  the  nest  by  means  of  a  peculiar  .adhesive  organ  situated  at  the  end 
of  the  snout.  After  a  time  they  leave  the  nest  in  company  with  the 
male  and  for  some  time  they  remain  together  in  a  dense  swarm  which  is 
attended  and  protected  by  the  male.  When  the  fish  have  grown  larger 
che  swarm  disperses. 

Neglecting  the  earlier  observations  of  Dr.  Estes,1  the  foregoing  state- 
ments are  taken  from  three  published  papers.  Those  of  Fulleborn,2  of 
Dean,3  and  of  Whitman  and  Eycleshymer,4  and  are  corroborated  by  my 
own  observations  extending  over  eight  years. 

The  points  upon  which  these  writers  are  not  in  agreement  are  indicated 
under  the  first  five  headings  below,  while  under  the  sixth  head  I  have 
given  some  observations  on  the  act  of  spawning.  My  observations  were 
nearly  all  made  during  the  springs  of  1898  and  1899,  in  a  small  bay 
of  the  Huron  river — a  bay  which  measures  about  230  bv  30  vards.  In 
this  area  21  nests  were  located  in  1897  and  the  same  number  in  1898. 

1.  Are  the  nests  made  at  the  time  of  spawning  or  earlier  ? 

Whitman  and  Eycleshymer  have  made  no  observations  of  their  own, 
but  quote  with  approval  a  letter  of  Ayres,  who  says:  "The  nest 
is  not  a  premeditated  structure,  but  merely  the  result  of  the  move- 
ments of  the  fish  in  and  about  the  place  selected  for  spawning,  during 
the  period  of  sexual  excitement."  Ayers  does  not  quote  observations 
in  support  of  this  view.  Fulleborn  and  Dean  have  found  nests  prepared 
in  advance  of  spawning  and  Dean  speaks  of  nests  which  were  occupied 
by  fish  for  a  number  of  days  before  the  eggs  were  deposited. 

Of  the  twentv-one  nests  observed  bv  me  in  1898,  thirteen  are  known 
to  have  been  built  in  advance  of  the  deposit  of  the  eggs.  Eggs  were  laid 
in  eight  of  these  nests,  while  five  were  abandoned  without  eggs  having 
been  laid  in  them.  The  interval  between  the  building  of  the  nest  and 
the  laying  of  the  eggs  varied  from  fifteen  hours  to  six  days,  the  latter 
period  an  unusually  long  one. 

2.  Are  the  nests  made  by  the  male,  by  the  female  or  by  both  ? 

The  male  is  distinguishable  from  the  female  by  a  conspicuous  orange- 
bordered  black  spot  on  the  tail  and  by  green  fins.  It  is  possible  to  dis- 
tinguish the  two  at  a  distance  of  ten  feet. 

Fulleborn  observed  nests  occupied  by  male  fish  before  spawning,  in- 

i-Estes,  Dr.:    In  Halleck's.    The  Sportsman's  Gazette. 

2Fulleborn,  P.:  Bericht  ueber  eine  zur  Untersuehung  von  Amia,  Lepidosteus  und 
Necturus  unternommene  Reise  nach  Nord-America.  Sitzungsberichte  den  Aakad.  d.  Wiss 
zu  Berlin.    XL,  pp.  1057-1070.     Oct.  25,  1S94. 

-Dean.  Bashfoiu:  The  early  development  of  Amia.  Quart.  Jour.  Micr.  Sci.  XXXVIII. 
February,  1896. 

4Whitman  &  Evcle^hymer:  The  Egg  of  Amia  and  its  Cleavage.  Jour.  Morphology, 
Vol.  XII,  No.  2,  1896. 


REIGHARD     ON     BREEDING    HABITS     OF    THE     DOG-FISH.        135 

dictating  the  males  as  the  architects.  Dean  and  Ayers  (as  quoted  by 
Whitman  and  Eycleshymer)  believe  the  nests  to  be  made  at  the  spawn- 
ing time  or  jnst  before,  by  the  circling  of  the  fish. 

I  have  collected  two  sorts  of  evidence  bearing  on  this  point.  First. 
By  stretching  a  fyke  net  across  the  mouth  of  the  bay  in  which  the  nests 
are  made,  sometime  in  advance  of  spawning,  I  have  been  able  to  deter- 
mine how  many  and  what  fish  seek  the  spawning  ground  first.  During 
?,even  days  (April  14th  to  20th)  forty-four  fish  were  taken,  of  which 
thirty-nine  were  males.  In  the  thirteen  nests  which  were  observed  to  be 
built  in  advance  of  spawning,  eleven  were  seen  to  be  occupied  by  male 
fish  and  no  females  were  seen  about  them  until  the  eggs  were  laid.  The 
males  had  evidently  built  the  nests  and  were  awaiting  the  females.  In 
eight  cases  the  females  arrived  and  eggs  were  laid  in  the  nests.  Ad- 
ditional evidence  on  this  point  is  given  under  the  next  head. 

3.  What  is  the  method  of  making  the  nests  f 

I  have  examined  no  less  than  a  hundred  nests  to  see  whether  there 
was  any  evidence  of  this  being  produced  \by  a  circling  of  the  fish  at 
the  time  of  spawning,  but  have  never  detected  any  such  evidence.  The 
surrounding  plants  are  not  pressed  aside  nor  arranged  in  any  way  like 
the  materials  of  a  bird's  nest.  The  nests  have  the  appearance  of  having 
been  formed  merely  by  the  removal  of  the  water-plants  or  other  mater- 
ials so  as  to  form  a  concavity,  the  bottom  of  which  is  formed  usually 
of  fibrous  roots. 

The  nests  are  frequently  under  logs  or  stumps  where  a  circling  of  the 
fish  would  be  difficult  of  execution. 

Besides  this  negative  evidence,  we  have  several  times,  while  sitting 
quietly  watching,  seen  the  swirl  of  a  fish's  tail  among  the  water-plants 
at  the  surface  and  have  been  able  to  determine  that  the  fish  was  a  male. 
The  fish  was  in  such  cases  working  at  the  bottom  with  his  head, 
and  freshly  cut  young  shoots  of  water-plants  were  often  seen  floating  over 
such  places.  In  several  cases  I  was  able  to  follow  the  history  of  such 
places  continuously  and  to  make  out  that  they  were  afterward  occupied 
by  nests.  The  male  then  appears  to  make  the  nest  by  biting  and  tear- 
ing away  the  aquatic  plants. 

4.  How  near  are  the  nests  together  ? 

This  depends  on  the  nature  of  the  bottom.  Where  the  locality  is 
favorable,  as  about  a  fallen  log,  nests  may  be  built  within  a  few  feet  of 
one  another.  With  a  wide  area  of  bottom  suitable  for  nest  building 
at  all  points  nests  are  more  scattered.  I  found  the  average  distance  of 
twenty-one  nests  to  be  thirty-five  feet.  Dean  says  that  "as  many  as  half 
a  dozen  nests  were  found  to  occur  within  the  space  of  a  few  square 
yards."  Whitman  and  Eycleshymer  remark,  "this  needs  confirmation." 
They  have  found  the  nests,  "never  more  than  four  or  five  in  a  single  bay 
and  usually  rods  apart."  Both  statements  may  be  true,  the  frequency  of 
nests  depending  mainly  on  the  area  of  suitable  bottom  as  compared  to 
the  number  of  spawning  fish. 


136  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

5.  What  is  the  length  of  time  occupied  in  spawning  ? 

Dean,  on  what  evidence  is  not  clear,  believes  that  the  "spawning  oc- 
cupies considerable  time"  and  conjectures  that  in  some  cases  as  many  as 
twelve  hours  are  thus  consumed.  "In  this"  remark  Whitman  and 
Eycleshyrner  "he  is  probably  much  mistaken."  Again  they  say:  "That 
the  average  period  of  deposition  is  brief,  can  hardly  be  doubted,  since 
in  most  cases  the  eggs  of  a  nest  are  found  in  the  same,  or  nearly  the 
same,  stage  of  development." 

In  several  nests  I  have  found  eggs  in  cleavage  stages  varying  from 
two  to  sixteen  cells.  According  to  the  table  given  by  Whitman  and 
Eycleshyrner,  to  show  the  time  occupied  in  development,  there  is  an 
interval  of  about  three  hours  between  the  two  cell  and  the  sixteen  cell 
si  age.  In  these  cases  then  the  deposition  of  eggs  must  have  occupied 
this  period  at  least.  Additional  evidence  is  given  under  the  sixth  head 
below. 

As  development  proceeds  differences  of  a  few  hours  in  the  age  of  the 
eggs  in  a  nest  are  not  at  all  noticeable — so  that  all  the  eggs  from  a  nest 
appear  to  be  in  the  same  stage.  In  the  cleavage  stage,  on  the  other 
hand,  differences  in  age  may  be  measured  with  great  accuracy. 

I  have  twice  found  nests  which  contained  two  sets  of  eggs  of  widely 
different  stages.  In  one  of  the  cases  my  record  showed  that  the  nest 
had  been  spawned  in  and  then  abandoned,  to  be  subsequently  spawned 
in  by  a  second  fish. 

6.  The  method  of  spawning. 

Having  built  his  nest  the  male  guards  it  and  I  have  several  times 
seen  males  leave  their  nests  in  order  to  drive  other  males  from  the 
neighborhood.  On  such  occasions  the  males  frequently  fight  fiercely, 
so  that  one  often  finds  them  at  the  spawning  season  with  portions 
of  the  fins  bitten  away  or  strips  of  the  skin  torn  from  the  sides.  The 
male  thus  holds  the  nest  until  a  female  arrives,  when  the  spawning 
begins.  This  may  occur  at  any  time  of  day  or  night.  The  females 
lies  in  the  nest  and  the  male  circles  about  her  head,  frequently  stopping 
to  bite  her  gently  on  the  snout  or  sides.  These  maneuvers  continue 
for  ten  to  fifteen  minutes.  The  male  then  places  himself  by  the  side 
of  the  female  and  there  is  a  violent  agitation  of  the  fins  of  both,  dur- 
ing which  the  eggs  and  milt  are  emitted.  This  continues  for  the  frac- 
tion of  a  minute.  The  circling  movements  are  then  again  resumed  to 
be  followed  by  a  brief  interval  of  spawning.  In  one  case  the  spawn- 
ing was  observed  for  an  hour  and  forty  minutes,  and  during  this  time 
four  or  five  batches  of  eggs  were  laid.  At  the  end  of  this  time  the  nest 
contained  but  few  eggs.  Upon  returning  to  it  next  morning  many  more 
eggs  were  found  in  it,  so  that  the  whole  time  of  spawning  was  undoubt- 
edly several  hours. 

I  may  add  here  a  single  unrelated  observation.  The  eggs  in  this  local- 
ity are  much  lighter  in  color  than  those  figured  by  Whitman  and 
Eycleshyrner — so  that  the  nests  may  be  very  conspicuous  when  first  built 
— easily  seen  at  a  distance  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet.  Later  the  eggs 
grow  darker  and  the  nest  itself  less  conspicuous.  Often,  however,  even 
when  first  built  the  nests  are  concealed  by  logs,  stumps,  bushes,  or  the 
floating  stems  and  leaves  of  cat-tails,  and  are  then  very  difficult  to  find. 


';,  « n        :  l 


ytiw 


'i\  ■    '.    ••• 


■  .■ 


FIG.  1.  SKETCH  OF  AMIA  NEST  WITH 
MALE  FISH.  By  permission  of  Professor  Bash- 
ford  Dean.    X  about  1-24. 


I  'ir 


FIG.  2.  MALE  AMIA  WITH  SWARM  OF 
YOUNG.  By  permission  of  Professor  Bashford 
Dean.    X  about  1-24. 


PHELPS     ON    THE    ADHESIVE     ORGAN    OF    AMIA     CALVA.      137 

Summary:  (1.)  The  nests  of  Amia  are  built  by  the  male  fish  a  con- 
siderable time  in  advance  of  spawning. 

(2.)  They  are  made  by  biting  and  tearing  away  the  aquatic  plants  or 
other  materials  on  the  bottom,  so  as  to  form  a  concavity,  the  bottom 
of  which  is  composed  of  fibrous  roots,  gravel,  or  water-soaked  cat-tail 
leaves  or  other  parts  of  plants. 

(3.)  The  frequency  of  the  nests  depends  on  the  area  of  available  bot- 
tom, as  compared  to  the  number  of  spawning  fish,  and  varies  within  wide 
limits. 

1 4.)  The  spawning  occupies  several  hours  and  consists  of  short  periods 
of  actual  egg  laying,  alternating  with  longer  periods  of  circling  by  the 
male. 

(5.)  The  same  nest  may  be  used  by  two  fish  in  succession  and  may 
contain  consequently  eggs  in  widely  different  stages  of  development. 

(6.)  Nests  may  be  very  conspicuous  or  inconspicuous. 

Zoological  Laboratory,  University  of  Michigan,  March,  1899. 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  ADHESIVE  ORGAN 

OF  AMIA  CALVA. 

BY  JESSIE  PHELPS,  YPSILANTI. 
[Abstract.] 

The  adhesive  organs  of  Amia  and  Lepidosteus  and  the  probable 
homologous  fundaments  from  which  the  barbels  arise  in  Acipenser  have 
been  described  by  Dean  ('96),  Balfour  ('81),  and  V.  Kupffer  ('91),  re- 
spectively as  of  ectodermal  origin.  Certain  sections  of  Amia  embryos 
which  Professor  Reighard  obtained  in  1895,  led  him  to  suspect  that  the 
organ  in  this  form  was  of  entodermal  origin.  At  his  suggestion  I  have 
collected  evidence  which  entirely  justifies  this  suspicion  and  which  is 
presented  in  what  follows: 

The  adhesive  organ  of  Amia  is  a  larval  organ  which  is  functional 
for  only  a  few  days  immediately  after  hatching.  At  this  time  the  organ 
consists  of  a  pair  of  semi-circular  or  U-shaped  ridges,  which  are  so  placed 
on  the  end  of  the  snout  as  to  form  an  incomplete  ring.  Each  of  these 
ridges  consists  of  from  six  to  eight  cups  which  open  to  the  surface. 
The  cells  of  these  cups  secrete  a  mucus  by  which  the  young  animal  at- 
taches itself  to  the  water  weeds.  As  far  as  the  general  appearance  and 
structure  is  concerned  one  might  easily  conclude  that  the  organ  is 
ectodermal  for  it  is  embedded  in  the  surface  ectoblast  and  shows  no 
connection  whatever  with  the  entoblast.  But  by  tracing  the  history 
of  the  cells  which  constitute  the  organ,  they  are  found  to  take  their 
origin  from  among  the  entodermal  cells  of  the  foregut  some  time  before 
the  mouth  is  formed.  At  this  early  period,  while  the  embryo  still  lies 
flat  upon  the  yolk,  a  broad  and  high  dorsally  directed  enlargement  of 
the  anterior  extremity  of  the  foregut  causes  a  slight  elevation  on  the 
exterior  immediately  in  front  of  the  tip  of  the  fore  brain.  The  elevation 
is  crescent  shaped  and  lies  with  its  horns  pointing  posteriorly.  This 
enlargement  or  diverticulum  of  the  foregut  is  the  fundament  of  the 
18 


138  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

adhesive  organ.  Its  walls  are  composed  of  a  single  layer  of  high 
columnar  cells,  which  are  in  contact  with  the  two-layered  ectoblast. 

In  slightly  older  embryos  the  crescent  shaped  area  has  given  place  to  a 
pair  of  hemispherical  protuberances  which  are  quite  as  prominent  a 
feature  of  the  head  as  the  optic  vesicles  immediately  in  front  of  which 
they  lie.  In  the  median  line  between  the  two  protuberances  and  directly 
in  front  of  the  tip  of  the  forebrain  is  a  smaller  protuberance,  or  button- 
like elevation,  which  is  a  remnant  of  the  middle  part  of  the  crescentic 
area  of  the  preceding  stage,  while  the  two,  large  paired  protuberances 
are  developed  from  the  horns  of  that  area.  They  each  contain  a  sac-like 
cavity,  which  opens  widely  to  the  foregut  and  the  cells  of  the  walls 
are  higher  and  more  columnar  than  before.  We  now  have  the  funda- 
ments of  each  of  the  halves,  or  U-shaped  ridges  of  the  adhesive  organ. 
The  original  diverticulum  has  become  divided  into  three  diverticula,  a 
small  median  and  two  large  lateral  ones. 

In  somewhat  older  eggs  in  which  the  embryo  extends  over  about 
220  degrees  of  the  circumference  and  in  which  both  the  head  and  tail 
are  protuberant,  the  adhesive  organ  has  the  form  of  two  U-shaped  ridges 
which  lie  at  the  very  end  of  the  snout  in  contact  with  the  optic  vesicles 
and  with  their  concavities  directed  toward  one  another  and  toward  the 
median  plane.  In  fact,  they  have  nearly  the  position  of  the  ridges  in 
the  organ  of  the  newly  hatched  larvae  described  above.  The  median, 
button-like  elevation  is  no  longer  visible.  Internally  it  is  found  that 
the  diverticula  or  the  paired  protuberances  of  the  preceding  stage  have 
become  extended  and  have  taken  on  the  form  of  long,  curved  tubes 
which  open  widely  as  before  into  the  foregut.  The  cells  of  these  diverti- 
cula are  directly  continuous  with  those  of.  the  foregut;  they  are  more 
columnar  than  before  and  their  ends  which  lie  toward  the  luinina  are 
clear,  while  the  opposite  ends  are  filled  with  yolk  granules.  This  stage 
differs  from  the  preceding,  mainly  in  the  fact  that  the  paired  diverticula 
have  become  U-shaped  and  that  the  button-shaped  elevation  has  dis- 
appeared. 

In  embryos  a  very  little  older  than  the  one  just  described,  no  external 
changes  are  seen,  but  sections  reveal  the  fact  that  the  lumina  of  the 
diverticula,  which  are  still  in  connection  with  the  foregut,  are  divided 
into  alternate  wide  and  narrow  portions,  so  that  they  present  a  beaded 
appearance.  The  six  to  eight  dilatations,  or  wider  portions,  are  the 
fundaments  of  a  series  of  spherical,  closed  vesicles,  which  later  give 
rise  to  the  open  cups  of  the  functional  organ.  The  walls  of  the  diverti- 
cula continue  to  be  composed  of  but  a  single  layer  of  columnar  cells  in 
close  contact  with  the  very  thin  ectoblast.  No  mesenchyme  intervenes 
between  the  ectoblast  and  the  fundament  of  the  adhesive  organ. 

The  changes  which  lead  from  this  stage  to  that  of  the  hatching  stage 
first  described,  follow  each  other  closely.  First:  Each  of  the  dilatations 
becomes  independent  and  forms  a  closed  hollow  sphere  or  vesicle. 
Those  in  connection  with  the  foregut  are  also  cut  off  and  the  several 
vesicles  lie  separate,  but  close  together  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
form  two  U-shaped  ridges.  The  external  appearance  is  as  described  in 
the  previous  stage.  Second:  The  cavities  of  the  vesicles  shift  their 
positions  so  that  they  lie  against  the  external  ectoderm  of  the  snout. 
The  wall  of  each  vesicle  is  now  no  longer  of  the  same  thickness  at  all 


WILBUR    ON    CLIMATE    AND     MORTALITY    IN     MICHIGAN.       139 

points,  nor  is  the  cavity  entirely  closed  by  the  entoderm.  That  is,  on 
account  of  the  shifting  of  the  cavities  toward  the  exterior,  the  outer 
walls  of  the  vesicle  have  been  pushed  back  so  that  now  the  cavity  is 
closed  on  the  outside  by  the  ectoderm  alone.  Third:  This  ectoderm 
closing  the  vesicles  breaks  away  and  the  vesicles  are  thus  converted  into 
the  open  cups  of  the  functional  organ.  The  walls  of  the  cups  consist 
of  a  single  layer  of  exceedingly  high,  columnar,  goblet  cells,  which 
secrete  the  mucus  that  renders  the  organ  adhesive.  The  two  layers 
of  ectoderm  come  close  up  to  the  rims  of  the  cavities  and  thus  make 
it  appear  that  they  are  continuous  with  the  walls  of  the  cups.  But  aside 
from  the  historical  evidences  just  stated,  the  fact  of  the  presence  of  the 
yolk  material  which  is  found  at  all  times  in  the  cells  which  constitute 
the  organ,  up  to  and  including  the  hatching  stage,  marks  these  cells  as 
entodermal. 

As  was  stated,  the  adhesive  organ  remains  functionally  active  dur- 
ing the  early  life  of  the  larva  and  enables  the  animal  to  attach  itself 
to  foreign  bodies.  As  the  larva  grows  stronger  and  more  capable  of 
vigorous  muscular  activities,  the  adhesive  organ  gradually  atrophies.  As 
it  disappears  its  cells  become  vacuolated  and  leucocytes  make  their 
appearance  among  them.  At  the  same  time  it  is  gradually  covered  in 
and  pushed  beneath  the  surface  by  the  overlying  ectoblast  which  becomes 
much  thickened.  By  the  time  the  larva  is  20  mm.  long  no  external  sign 
of  the  organ  remains.  Sections,  however,  show  that  it  exists  below  the 
surface  fur  a  few  days,  at  the  end  of  which  it  entirely  disappears.  It 
is  interesting  to  note  that  in  its  atrophy  it  passes  through  stages  which 
resemble  the  degenerating  notochord,  another  entodermal  organ. 

The  adhesive  organ  of  Amia  is  therefore  entoblastic  and  is  unique 
as  an  instance  of  a  vertebrate  organ  of  entoblastic  origin  which  becomes 
incorporated  in  the  ectoblast. 


COMPARATIVE  .STATISTICS  OF  CLIMATE  AND  MORTALITY    IN 

MICHIGAN. 

BY  CRESS Y  L.  WILBUR,  M.   D.,   LANSING. 

In  this  brief  note  I  wish  to  call  attention  to  only  a  single  point,  viz.,  that 
an  opportunity  is  now  presented  for  making  valuable  comparisons  be- 
tween the  records  of  meteorology  for  this  State  and  the  statistics  of 
causes  of  deaths. 

This  has  not  been  possible  until  very  recently.  Our  present  excellent 
system  of  registering  deaths  went  into  effect  on  August  29,  1897,  and 
there  was  published  with  the  December,  1898,  Bulletin  of  Vital  Statistics 
a  graphic  representation  of  the  relations  of  the  death  rates  of  this  State, 
by  months,  to  the  chief  elements  of  sanitary  meteorology,  temperature 
and  precipitation.  Besides  the  curves  representing  the  total  death-rates, 
lines  for  two  of  the  most  important  dangerous  communicable  diseases, 
consumption  and  typhoid  fever,  are  also  given.  The  mortality  is  further 
analyzed  as  urban  and  rural,  thus  enabling  the  study  to  embrace  the 
well  known  effects  of  density  of  population,  and  according  to  its  distribu- 
tion in  the  four  geographical  sections  of  the  State.     The  latter  are  the 


140  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OP    SCIENCE. 

same  as  employed  by  the  Michigan  Weather  Service,  thus  enabling  com- 
parisons to  be  made  with  facility. 

The  accompanying  table  gives  rates  for  several  other  important  causes 
of  death,  whose  graphic  representation  would  be  of  great  interest. 

Besides  the  rates  for  Michigan,  death  rates  are  presented  for  the 
States  of  Connecticut,  New  York,  and  for  the  Province  of  Ontario,  in 
all  of  which  mortality  statistics  are  collected  and  promptly  published 
soon  after  the  end  of  each  month.  There  is  a  favorable  prospect  also 
that  data  from  Indiana  and  Wisconsin  may  soon  be  available  for  this 
purpose. 

As  it  is,  we  have  statistics  of  the  most  important  causes  of  death  for 
Michigan  and  other  states  representing  an  aggregate  population  of 
about  one-seventh  of  the  United  States,  available  for  comparative  study 
in  connection  with  the  statistics  of  weather,  within  30  days  after  the 
close  of  each  month.  The  timely  interest  of  such  studies  is  obvious,  as 
they  may  be  made  while  the  phenomena  considered  are  still  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  the  people. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  calling  attention  to  this  fact  and  of  soliciting  the 
interest  of  the  members  of  this  Academy  in  this  class  of  work  that 
excuses  the  presentation  of  this  hastily  prepared  paper.  For  obvious 
reasons,  the  detailed  analysis  of  the  data  of  mortality  and  weather, 
in  all  its  bearings,  is  impossible  within  the  reasonable  limits  and  scope 
of  a  monthly  report.  In  such  a  report  it  is  only  possible,  as  a  rule,  to 
provide  the  raw  material,  in  as  convenient  a  form  for  use  as  possible, 
and  its  further  study  must  depend  on  the  number  and  activity  of  those 
interested.  Since  the  discontinuance  of  Climate  and  Health,  published 
a  short  time  by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  there 
has  been  no  systematic  attempt  to  make  such  comparative  studies  for 
any  considerable  portion  of  the  United  States,  and  hence  the  field  is 
practically  unoccupied.  Should  any  member  of  the  Academy  desire,  I 
presume  that  the  directors  of  Vital  Statistics  of  the  states  now  pub- 
lishing monthly  bulletins  would  be  pleased  to  send  them  regularly  for 
the  purpose  of  comparative  study,  and  so  far  as  the  Michigan  service  is 
concerned,  we  shall  not  only  be  glad  to  cordially  co-operate  in  supply- 
ing the  data  for  such  work,  but  may  also  be  able,  to  some  degree,  to 
assist  in  presenting  such  papers  to  the  attention  of  students  of  meteorol- 
ogy and  demography  through  the  pages  of  the  Bulletin. 

Lansing,  Mich.,  March  27,  1899. 


WILBUR    ON    CLIMATE     AND     MORTALITY     IN     MICHIGAN.       141 


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SMITH  ON   NEW   PROBLEMS   AND   NEW   PHASES   OF  OLD   ONES.     143 


NEW  PROBLEMS  AND  NEW  PHASES  OF  OLD  ONES. 

BY  CLINTON  D.   SMITH,  AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE. 

I  shall  attempt,  briefly,  to  state  something  about  some  of  the  problems 
that  confront  the  thinker  and  worker  along  lines  of  agricultural  pro- 
gress without  stopping  to  discuss  »any  one  of  them  at  all  thoroughly. 

Whoever  is  interested  in  the  literature  relating  to  soils  has  noted  the 
trend  away  from  chemistry  and  towards  physics  in  the  recent  discussions 
relating  to  the  proper  treatment  and  fertilization  of  fields.  Formerly 
it  was.supposed  that  the  chemical  constitution  of  the  soil  was  a  sufficient 
guide  as  to  what  the  soil  would  do  and  what  it  needed  to  make  it  grow 
any  one  of  our  common  cereals.  The  opposition  of  practical  experience 
to  this  theory  was  attributed  to  the  ignorance  of  the  objector.  Now 
we  are  studying  the  physical  side  of  the  questions  much  more,  perhaps, 
than  the  chemical.  Water  is  the  greater  desideratum  in  plant  growth. 
How  can  we  hold  the  rain  falling  in  the  spring  for  the  use  of  crops  grow- 
ing in  the  late  summer  is  the  great  problem  presented  to  the  practical 
farmer  and  not  how  to  retain  the  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash, 
important  as  that  question  is.  Hence  comes  the  importance  attached 
to  humus  and  the  stress  laid  upon  the  application  of  barn  yard  manure 
or  plowing  under  green  crops  as  a  means  of  maintaining  fertility.  Form- 
erly the  value  of  manure  was  estimated  entirely  by  the  amount  of  nitro- 
gen and  other  plant  elements  it  contained,  now  it  is  valued  because  it 
contributes  decaying  vegetable  matter  to  the  soil  and  thus  helps 
the  physical,  water  holding,  capacity  of  the  soil. 

Cultivation  is  likewise  carried  on  with  this  idea  of  conservation  of 
moisture  clearly  in  mind.  The  fact  that,  through  the  bulletins  of  ex- 
periment stations,  and  later  through  the  current  agricultural  press,  the 
knowledge  of  the  correct  principles  in  this  matter  has  been  widely 
disseminated,  makes  possible  the  successful  culture  of  certain  new  crops 
in  this  State  that  would  not  be  here  at  all  without  this  improvement 
in  method. 

The  careful  work  of  the  scientist  in  the  studv  of  fungus  and  insect 
enemies  of  fruits,  cereals  and  vegetables  is  yielding  an  abundant  harvest 
of  good  to  the  State  at  large.  No  sooner  does  a  new  disease  attack  any 
valuable  plant  than  the  scientist  interested  in  the  department  involved 
is  working  out  a  life  history  and  suggesting  proper  remedies.  Thanks 
to  the  cryptogamic  botanist  we  know  how  to  ward  off  most  of  the 
diseases  that  afflict  our  fruit  trees,  but  we  have  yet  other  work  for  him 
to  do.  Who  shall  diagnose  the  cause  of  peach  yellows,  little  peach,  crown 
gall,  or  rosette?  The  work  in  this  line  is  just  begun  and  new  problems 
are  constantly  confronting  us. 

He  who  is  interested  in  combating  destructive  insects  may  find  his 
best  ingenuity  put  to  the  test  to  suggest  a  remedy  for  the  threatening 
gypsy  moth,  the  introduction  of  which  into  Michigan  would  mean  the 
practical  annihilation,  not  only  of  the  fruit  trees  but  of  the  forests 
themselves. 


144  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

I  will  not  take  up  your  time  by  suggesting  problems  that  confront 
the  practical  agriculturist,  farther  than  to  refer  to  some  that  relate 
to  the  new  industry  recently  assuming  gigantic  proportions  in  the  Pen- 
insular State.  The  widespread  attempt  to  raise  sugar  beets  by  farmers 
who  know  nothing  about  the  industry  is  going  to  call  for  the  best 
wisdom  of  the  scientific  men  of  the  State,  to  prevent  fatal  mistakes. 
It  is  going  to  call  for  a  vast  deal  of  original  work  in  all  phases  of  the 
subject.  The  experiments  we  have  already  carried  on  have  demonstrated 
the  futility  of  relying  upon  German  dicta  for  our  guidance.  The  whole 
subject  must  be  studied  anew  in  this  country.     Let  me  illustrate: 

One  of  the  most  important  matters  that  we  shall  have  to  attend  to  in 
the  development  of  this  industry  is  the  growing  of  thoroughbred  seed. 
This  involves  the  careful  selection  of  the  mother  beets  by  the  polari- 
scope,  then  the  growing  of  the  selected  mothers  under  the  best  con- 
ditions, the  preservation  of  the  seed  of  each  separately  and  the  selection 
the  next  year  of  the  strain  offering  the  greatest  number  of  rich  beets 
conforming  to  the  chosen  type.  Thereafter  the  chemist  must  keep  in 
close  control  of  the  seed  growing  and  thousands  of  dollars  must  be  spent 
annually  in  analyses  of  beets  to  prevent  reversion  to  the  normal  low 
content  of  sugar.  American  ingenuity  is  to  be  put  to  the  test  to  ac- 
complish the  production  of  reliable  seed  without  the  cumbrous  methods 
now  in  vogue  in  Germany.  The  matter  is  of  the  most  immediate  im- 
portance, the  growing  of  seed  must  begin  in  1899  or  the  immediate 
future  of  the  sugar  production  is  in  danger. 

A  second  necessity  confronts  us  in  this  sugar  beet  business,  namely, 
the  necessity  of  inventing  some  way  of  preventing  waste  of  so  much  seed 
in  the  beet  field.  The  Michigan  Experiment  Station,  which  in  1890 
and  1891  was  the  first  to  call  attention  to  the  growing  of  sugar  beets 
in  Michigan,  will  conduct  a  series  of  experiments  this  year  along  this 
line.  I  have  visited  some  twenty-six  counties  in  the  State,  lecturing  to 
farmers,  who  are  wild  with  excitement,  ready  to  believe  anything  in 
regard  to  the  method  of  growing  the  beets,  and  in  constant  danger  of 
being  misled  by  interested  parties  and  I  have  found  one  of  the  chief 
dangers  to  lie  in  their  willingness  to  accept  second  rate  seed,  because 
they  are  ignorant  of  its  quality  and  their  anxiety  to  sow  as  small  a 
quantity  of  seed  as  possible.  As  long  as  the  seed  is  imported  from 
Germany  and  we  have  no  better  guaranty  of  its  germination  and  vitality 
than  the  good  will  of  the  German  Emperor  to  the  American  sugar  in- 
dustry, we  will  do  well  not  to  stint  the  amount  used.  A  good  stand 
is  absolutely  essential  and  to  secure  it  we  must  have  enough  seed  sown 
to  produce  a  strong  beet  every  two  inches. 

A  third  problem  presented  by  this  new  industry  is  the  avoidance  of 
the  excessive  labor  of  thinning.  How  this  is  to  be  done  is  not  yet  clear, 
but  that  it  must  be  done  is  strongly  urged  and  that  it  will  be 
done  is  manifest  when  one  thinks  that  the  problem  is  in  the  hands 
of  Americans  justly  noted  for  their  ingenuity.  A  fourth  problem 
relates  to  a  better'  method  of  harvest,  whereby  the  present  excessive 
labor  may  be  dispensed  with. 

Turning  now  to  the  side  of  the  factory,  we  find  our  ambition  to  go 
at  inconsiderate  speed  into  putting  up  factories  confronted  by  the  cer- 
tainty, well  nigh  absolute,  that  within  a  couple  of  years  our  present 


SMITH  ON  NEW  PROBLEMS  AND  NEW  PHASES  OP  OLD  ONES.     145 

expensive  and,  it  must  be  confessed,  clumsy  machinery  and  methods  of 
manufacturing,  will  be  displaced  by  simpler,  more  economical  and  more 
efficient  apparatus.  I  have  but  to  refer  to  the  experiments  going  on 
in  Belgium  and  also  in  Austria  where,  by  the  use  of  an  electrolytic 
method  the  crystalization  of  the  sugar  from  the  purified  juices  is  greatly 
expedited  and  is  much  more  economically  accomplished. 

It  may  be  rightfully  supposed  that  the  chemicals  found  in  nature 
produce  the  same  results  in  America  that  they  do  in  Europe,  but  much 
light  is  needed  to  answer  the  question  what  are  the  real  melassigenic 
salts?  We  have  condemned  certain  chlorides  and  carbonates,  to  the 
point  of  prohibiting  the  use  of  water  containing  them.  Others  we  have 
pronounced  harmless.  We  have  certainly  done  it  without  sufficient 
authoritative  experiments  in  this  country. 

In  conclusion,  I  refer  to  the  desirability  of  improved  chemical  methods 
in  the  factory  whereby  justice  to  the  patron  bringing  beets  may  be 
better  assured  and  whereby  the  matter  may  be  somewhat  expedited. 
19 


CONSTITUTION 


OF  THE 


MICHIGAN  ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCE. 


ARTICLE  I. 

This  Society  shall  be  known  as  The  Michigan  Academy  op  Science. 

ARTICLE  II:     Objects. 

The  objects  of  this  Academy  shall  be  scientific  research  and  the  diffu- 
sion of  knowledge  concerning  the  various  departments  of  science. 


ARTICLE  III:     Membership. 

The  Academy  shall  be  composed  of  Resident  Members,  Corresponding 
Members,  Honorary  Members,  and  Patrons. 

1.  Resident  Members  shall  be  persons  who  are  interested  in  scientific 
work  and  resident  in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

2.  Corresponding  Members  shall  be  persons  interested  in  science,  and 
not  resident  in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

3.  Honorary  Members  shall  be  persons  distinguished  for  their  attain- 
ments in  science,  and  not  resident  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  and  shall  not 
exceed  twenty-five  in  number. 

4.  Patrons  shall  be  persons  who  have  bestowed  important  favors  upon 
the  Academy,  as  defined  in  Chapter  I,  Paragraph  4  of  the  By-Laws. 

5.  Resident  Members  alone  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  and  hold  office  in 
the  Academy. 

ARTICLE  IV:     Officers. 

1.  The  officers  of  the  Academy  shall  consist  of  a  President,  a  Vice- 
President  of  each  Section  that  may  be  organized,  a  Secretary,  and  a 
Treasurer. 

These  officers  shall  constitute  an  Executive  Committee,  which  shall  be 
called  the  Council. 


148  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

[This  last  sentence  was  amended  April  1,  1808,  to  read  as  follows: 
These  officers,  and  all  past  presidents,  shall  constitute  an  executive  com- 
mittee which  shall  be  called  the  Council.]  * 

2.  The  President  shall  discharge  the  usual  duties  of  a  presiding  offi- 
cer at  all  meetings  of  the  Academy,  and  of  the  Council.  He  shall  take 
cognizance  of  the  acts  of  the  Academy  and  of  its  officers,  and  cause  the 
provisions  of  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  to  be  faithfully  carried 
into  effect.  He  shall  also  give  an  address  to  the  Academy  at  the  closing 
meeting  of  the  year  for  which  he  is  elected. 

3.  The  duties  of  the  President  in  case  of  his  absence  or  disability 
shall  be  assumed  by  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  wJio  shall  be  designated 
by  the  Council. 

The  Vice -Presidents  shall  be  chairmen  of  their  respective  Sections. 
They  shall  encourage  and  direct  research  in  the  special  branches  of 
science  included  within  the  Sections  over  which  they  preside. 

4.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Academy,  and  a  complete  list  of  the  members,  with  the  dates  of  their 
election  and  disconnection  with  the  Academy.  He  shall  also  be  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Council. 

The  Secretary  shall  co-operate  with  the  President  in  attending  to  the 
ordinary  affairs  of  the  Society.  He  shall  attend  to  the  preparation,  print- 
ing and  mailing  of  circulars,  blanks,  and  notifications  of  elections  and 
meetings.  He  shall  superintend  other  printing  ordered  by  the  Academy, 
or  by  the  President,  and  shall  have  charge  of  its  distribution  under  the 
direction  of  the  Council. 

The  Secretary,  unless  other  provision  be  made,  shall  also  act  as 
Editor  of  the  publications  of  the  Academy  and  as  Librarian  and  Custodian 
of  property. 

5.  The  Treasurer  shall  have  the  custody  of  all  funds  of  the  Academy. 
He  shall  keep  an  account  of  receipts  and  disbursements  in  detail,  and 
this  account  shall  be  audited  as  hereinafter  provided. 

6.  The  Academy  may  elect  an  Editor  to  supervise  all  matters  con- 
nected with  the  publication  of  the  transactions  of  the  Academy,  under  the 
dicection  of  the  Council,  and  to  perform  the  duties  of  Librarian  until 
such  time  as  the  Academy  shall  make  that  an  independent  office. 

7.  The  Council  is  clothed  with  executive  authority,  and  with  the 
legislative  powers  of  the  Academy  in  the  intervals  between  the  latter's 
meetings;  but  no  extraordinary  act  of  the  Council  shall  remain  in  force 
beyond  the  next  following  stated  meeting,  without  ratification  by  the 
Academy.  The  Council  shall  have  control  of  the  publications  of  the 
Academy,  under  the  provisions  of  the  By-Laws  and  of  resolutions  from 
time  to  time  adopted.  It  shall  receive  nominations  for  members,  and 
on  approval,  shall  submit  such  nominations  to  the  Academy  for  action. 
It  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  ad  interim,  in  any  of  the  offices  of 
the  Academy. 

8.  Terms  of  Office.  The  President  and  Treasurer  shall  be  elected 
annually,  and  shall  not  be  eligible  to  re-election  for  an  interval  of  three 
years  after  retiring  from  office.  The  Vice  Presidents,  Secretary,  and  the 
Editor  shall  be  elected  annually  and  be  eligible  to  re-election  without  lim- 
itation. [Section  8  was  amended  April  1.  1898,  to  read  as  follows:  The 
President,  Vice  Presidents,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Editor  shall  be 
elected  annually,  and  be  eligible  to  re-election  without  limitation.] 


CONSTITUTION.  149 

f.  ARTICLE  V:     Voting  and  Elections. 

1.  All  elections  shall  be  by  ballot.  To  elect  a  Resident  Member,  Cor- 
responding Member,  Honorary  Member,  or  Patron,  or  impose  any  special 
tax  shall  require  the  assent  of  three-fourths  of  all  Resident  Members  vot- 
ing. 

2.  Any  member  may  be  expelled  by  a  vote  of  nine-tenths  of  all 
members  voting,  providing  notice  that  such  a  movement  is  contemplated 
be  given  at.  a  meeting  of  the  Academy  three  months  previous  to  such 
action. 

3.  Election  of  Members.  Nominations  for  Resident  membership 
shall  be  made  by  two  Resident  Members,  according  to  a  form  to  be  pro- 
vided by  the  Council.  One  of  these  Resident  Members  must  be  personally 
acquainted  with  the  nominee  and  his  qualifications  for  membership. 
The  Council  shall  submit  the  nominations  received  by  them,  if  approved,, 
to  a  vote  of  the  Academy  at  a  regular  meeting. 

4.  Election  of  Officers*.  Nominations  for  office  shall  be  made  by 
the  Council  as  provided  in  the  By-Laws.  The  nominations  shall  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  vote  of  the  Academy  at  its  winter  [Annual]  meeting.  The 
officers  thus  elected  shall  enter  upon  duty  at  the  adjournment  of  the 
meeting. 

T>.  At  the  meeting  in  which  this  Constitution  is  adopted  the  officers 
for  the  ensuing  year  shall  be  elected  in  such  manner  as  the  Academy  may 
determine. 

ARTICLE  VI:     Meetings. 

1.  The  Academy  shall  hold  at  least  two  stated  meetings  a  year — a 
Summer  [or  Field]  Meeting,  and  a  Winter  [or  Annual]  Meeting.  The  date 
and  place  of  each  meeting  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Council,  and  announced 
by  circular  at  least  three  months  before  the  meeting.  The  programme  of 
each  meeting  shall  be  determined  by  the  Council,  and  announced  before- 
hand, in  its  general  features.  The  details  of  the  daily  sessions  shall  also 
be  arranged  by  the  Council. 

2.  All  members  must  forward  to  the  Secretary,  if  possible  before  the 
convening  of  the  Academy,  full  titles  of  all  papers  which  they  propose  to 
present  during  the  meeting,  with  a  statement  of  the  time  that  each  will 
occupy  in  delivery  and  a  brief  abstract  of  their  contents.  From  the 
abstracts  thus  presented,  the  Council  will  determine  the  fitness  of  the 
paper  for  the  programme. 

3.  At  the  Winter  meeting  the  election  of  officers  shall  take  place,  and 
the  officers  elect  shall  enter  upon  duty  at  the  adjournment  of  the  meet- 
ing.     [This  section  stricken  out.  April  1,  1898.] 

4.  Special  Meetings  of  the  Academy  may  be  called  by  the  Council, 
and  must  be  called  upon  the  written  request  of  twTenty  Resident  Members. 

5.  Stated  Meetings  of  the  Council,  shall  be  held  coincidently  with 
the  stated  meetings  of  the  Academy.  Special  meetings  of  the  Council 
may  be  called  by  the  President  at  such  times  as  he  may  deem  necessary. 

0.  Quorum.  At  meetings  of  the  Academy  a  majority  of  those  regis- 
tered in  attendance  shall  constitute  a  quorum.  A  majority  shall  con- 
stitute -a  quorum  of  the  Council.  [Amended  April  1,  1898.  to  read 
"Four  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  of  the  Council."] 


150  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

ARTICLE  VII:     Publications. 

The  publications  of  the  Academy  shall  be  under  the  immediate  control 
of  the  Council,  but  the  Council  shall  accord  to  each  author  the  right, 
under  proper  restrictions,  to  publish  through  whatever  channel  he  may 
choose. 

ARTICLE  VIII:     Sections. 

Members  not  less  than  eight  in  number  may  by  special  permission  of 
the  Academy  unite  to  form  a  Section  for  the  investigation  of  any  branch 
of  science.  Each  Section  shall  bear  the  name  of  the  science  which  it 
represents,  thus:  The  Section  of  (Agriculture)  of  the  Michigan  Academy 
of  Science. 

2.  Each  Section  is  empowered  to  perfect  its  own  organization  as 
limited  by  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  of  the  Academy. 

ARTICLE  IX:     Amendments. 

This  Constitution  may  be  amended  at  any  Winter  [Annual]  meeting 
by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  all  the  Resident  Members  present,  provided 
that  notice  of  the  proposed  amendment  shall  have  been  given  at  a  pre- 
vious meeting.  [Amended,  April  1,  1897,  by  striking  out  the  last  fifteen 
words.] 


BY-LAWS. 


CHAPTER  I:     Membership. 

1.  No  person  shall  be  accepted  as  a  Resident  Member  unless  he  pay 
his  initiation  fee,  and  the  dues  for  the  year,  within  three  months  after 
notification  of  his  election.  The  initiation  fee  shall  be  one  (1)  dollar  and 
the  annual  dues  one  (1)  dollar,  the  latter  payable  on  or  before  the  annual 
meeting  in  advance;  but  a  single  pre-payment  of  twenty-five  (25)  dollars 
shall  be  accepted  as  commutation  for  life. 

2.  The  sums  paid  in  commutation  of  dues  shall  be  invested,  and  the 
interest  used  for  the  ordinary  purposes  of  the  Academy  during  the  payer's 
life,  but  after  his  death  the  sum  shall  be  covered  into  the  Research  Fund. 

3.  An  arrearage  in  payment  of  annual  dues  shall  deprive  a  Resident 
Member  of  the  privilege  of  taking  part  in  the  management  of  the 
Academy  and  of  receiving  the  publications  of  the  Academy.  An  arrear- 
age continuing  over  two  (2)  years  shall  be  construed  as  notification  of 
withdrawal. 

4.  Any  person  eligible  under  Article  III  of  the  Constitution,  may  be 
elected  Patron  upon  the  payment  of  one  hundred  (100)  dollars  to  the 
Research  Fund  of  the  Academv. 


CHAPTER  II:     Officials. 

1.  The  President  shall  countersign,  if  he  approves,  all  duly  author- 
ized accounts  and  orders  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  for  the  disbursement  of 
monev. 

2.  The  Secretary,  until  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Academy,  shall 
perform  the  duties  of  Editor,  Librarian,  and  Custodian  of  the  property 
of  the  Society. 

3.  The  Academy  may  elect  an  Assistant  Secretary. 

4.  The  Treasurer  shall  give  bonds,  with  two  good  sureties  approved 
by  the  Council,  in  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  for  the  faithful  and 
honest  performance  of  his  duties,  and  the  safe-keeping  of  the  funds  of  the 
Academy.  He  may  deposit  the  funds  in  bank  at  his  discretion,  but 
shall  not  invest  them  without  the  authority  of  the  Council.  His  accounts 
shall  be  balanced  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  November  of  each  year.  [Last 
sentence  amended  April  1.  1898.  to  read  ''His  accounts  shall  be  balanced 
on  the  first  day  of  the  Annual  Meeting  of  each  year."] 

5.  The  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Council  shall  be  subject  to 
call  bv  the  Academv. 


152  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

CHAPTER  III:     Election  op  Members. 

1.  Nominations  for  Resident  Membership  may  be  proposed  at  any 
time  on  blanks  to  be  supplied  by  the  Secretary. 

2.  The  form  for  the  nomination  of  Resident  Members  shall  be  as 
follows: 

In  accordance  with  his  desire,  we  respectfully  nominate  for  Resident  Member  of 
the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science 
(Full  name) 
(Address) 
(Occupation) 

(Branch  of  Science  interested  in.  work  already  done,  and  publications  if  any) 
(Signed  by  at  least  two  Resident  Members) 

The  form  when  filled  is  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary. 

3.  The  Secretary  shall  bring  all  nominations  before  the  Council  at 
either  the  winter  [Annual]  or  summer  [Field]  meeting  of  the  Academy, 
and  the  Council  shall  signify  its  approval  or  disapproval  of  each. 

4.  At  the  same  or  the  next  stated  meeting  of  the  Academy,  the  Sec- 
retary shall  present  the  list  of  candidates  to  the  Academy  for  election. 

5.  *  Corresponding  Members,  Honorary  Members,  and  Patrons  shall  be 
nominated  by  the  Council,  and  shall  be  elected  in  the  same  manner  as 
Resident  Members. 


CHATER  IV:     Election  of  Officers. 

1.  The  Council  shall  designate  three  candidates  for  each  office,  except 
the  offices  of  Vice-Presidents,  for  which  but  single  candidates  shall  be 
named. 

2.  Each  Section  may  recommend  to  the  Council  a  candidate  for 
Vice-President. 

3.  The  form  for  the  nomination  and  election  of  officers,  unless  other- 
wise provided  by  the  Council,  shall  be  as  follows: 

The  Council  nominates  for  officers  of  the  Michigan  Academy  of  Science, 

for  the  ensuing  year  the  following  persons: 

(The  voter  will  indicate  his  preference  out  of  each  of  the  sets  of  names  below  by 
erasing,  except  for  Vice-Presidents,  the  two  other  names  in  each  set,  or  will  sub- 
stitute the  name  of  his  choice.) 

1. 
For  President,  2. 

3. 

Section 

For  Vice-President,    Section 

Section 

1. 
For  Secretary,  2. 


For  Treasurer, 


3. 

1. 
•> 

3*. 


The  Secretary  shall  distribute  a  copy  of  this  ballot  to  each  member 
at  the  Winter  Meeting. 

4.  In  case  a  majority  of  all  the  ballots  shall  not  have  been  cast  for 
one  of  the  three  candidates  for  an  office,  the  Society  shall  by  ballot  at 


BY-LAWS.  153 

such  Winter  Meeting,  proceed  to  make  an  election  for  such  office  from  the 
two  candidates  having  the  highest  number  of  votes.  [Chapter  IV  of 
the  By-Laws  was  amended  April  1,  1898,  to  read  as  follows: 

Section  1.  At  the  Annual  Meeting  the  election  of  officers  shall  take 
place,  and  the  officers  elected  shall  enter  on  their  duties  at  the  end  of 
the  meeting. 

Section  2.  The  Council  shall  nominate  a  candidate  for  each  office,  but 
each  Section  may  recommend  to  the  Council  a  candidate  for  its  Vice- 
President.  Additional  nominations  may  be  made  by  any  member  of  the 
Academy.  All  elections  shall  be  made  by  ballot.  Sections  3  and  4  re- 
pealed.] 

CHAPTER   V:     Financial  Methods. 

1.  No  pecuniary  obligation  shall  be  contracted  without  express  sanc- 
tion of  the  Academy  or  the  Council.  But  it  is  to  be  understood  that  all 
ordinal'}*,  incidental  and  running  expenses  have  the  permanent  sanction 
of  the  Academy,  without  special  action. 

2.  The  creditor  of  the  Academy  must  present  to  the  Treasurer  a  fully 
itemized  bill,  certified  by  the  official  ordering  it,  and  approved  by  the 
President.  The  Treasurer  shall  then  pay  the  amount  out  of  any  funds 
not  otherwise  appropriated,  and  the  receipted  bill  shall  be  held  as  his 
voucher. 

3.  At  each  annual  meeting,  the  President  shall  call  upon  the  Acad- 
emy to  choose  two  members,  not  members  of  the  Council,  to  whom  shall 
be  referred  the  books  of  the  Treasurer,  duly  posted  and  balanced  to  the 
close  of  November  thirtieth,  [to  the  first  day  of  the  Annual  Meeting] 
as  specified  in  the  By-Laws,  Chapter  II,  Paragraph  4.  These  Auditors 
shall  examine  the  accounts  and  vouchers  of  the  Treasurer,  and  any 
member  or  members  of  the  Council  may  be  present  during  the  examina- 
tion. The  report  of  the  Auditors  shall  be  rendered  to  the  Academy  be- 
fore the  adjournment  of  the  meeting  and  the  Academy  shall  take  ap- 
propriate action. 

CHAPTER  VI:     Publications. 

1.  The  publications  are  in  charge  of  the  Council  and  under  their  con- 
trol, limited  only  as  given  by  Article  VII,  of  the  Constitution. 

2.  One  copy  of  each  publication  shall  be  sent  to  each  Resident  Mem- 
ber, Corresponding  Member,  Honorary  Member,  and  Patron,  and  each 
author  shall  receive  fifty  copies  of  his  memoir.  This  provision  shall  not 
be  understood  as  including  publications  in  journals  not  controlled  by  the 
Academy. 

CHAPTER  VII:     The  Research  Fund. 

1.  The  Research  Fund  shall  consist  of  moneys  paid  by  the  general 
public  for  publications  of  the  Academy,  of  donations  made  in  aid  of  re- 
search, and  of  the  sums  paid  in  commutation  of  dues  according  to  the 
By-Laws.  Chapter  I.  Paragraphs  2  am]  4. 

20 


154  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

2.  Donors  to  this  fund,  not  Members  of  the  Academy,  in  the  sum  of 
twenty-five  dollars,  shall  be  entitled  without  charge,  to  the  publications 
subsequently  appearing. 


CHAPTER  VIII:     Order  of  Business. 

1.  The  Order  of  Business  at  the  Winter  [Annual]  Meetings  shall  be 
as  follows: 

(1)  Call  to  order  by  the  Presiding  Officer. 

(2)  Introductory  ceremonies. 

(3)  Statements  by  the  President. 

(4)  Report  of  the  Council. 

(5)  Report  of  the  Treasurer,  and  appointment  of  the  Auditing  Committee. 

(6)  Election  of  officers  of  the  next  ensuing  Administration. 

(7)  Election  of  Members. 

(8)  Announcement  of  the  hour  and  place  for  the  Address  of  the  retiring 
President. 

(9)  Necrologieal  notices. 

(10)  Miscellaneous  announcements. 

(11)  Business  motions  and  resolutions,  and  disposal  thereof. 

(12)  Reports  of  committees,  and  disposal  thereof. 

(13)  Miscellaneous  motions  and  resolutions. 

(14)  Presentation  of  memoirs. 

2.  At  an  adjourned  session,  the  order  shall  be  resumed  at  the  place 
reached  on  the  previous  adjournment,  but  new  announcements,  motions 
and  resolutions,  will  be  in  order  before  the  resumption  of  the  business 
pending  at  the  adjournment  of  the  last  preceding  session. 

3.  At  the  Summer  [FieldI  Meeting,  the  items  of  business  under 
numbers  (5),  (6),  (8).  (9),  shall  be  omitted. 

4.  At  any  Special  Meeting  the  Order  of  Business  shall  be  (1),  (2),  (3), 
(7),  (10),  followed  by  the  special  business  for  which  the  meeting  was  called. 


CHAPTER  IX.     Amendments. 

These  By-Laws  may  be  amended  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  members 
present  at  any  regular  meeting,  provided  that  notice  of  the  substance 
of  the  proposed  amendment  has  been  given  at  a  previous  regular  meet- 
ing.    [Amended,  April  1,  1897,  by  striking  out  the  last  eighteen  words.] 


LIST    OF    MEMBERS 


OF   THE 


MICHIGAN"    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


This  list  includes  the  names,  of  all  persons  who  have  been  actual  mem- 
bers of  the  Academy  at  any  time,  but  does  not  include  those  who  have 
been  elected  but  have  declined  membership  or  failed  to  qualify.  Nainea 
of  actual  Resident  Members,  on  June  30,  1S99,  are  preceded  by  an 
asterisk  (*);  names  of  Charter  Members  are  in  capitals. 


RESIDENT  MEMBERS. 

•HENRY  C.  ADAMS,  LL.  D.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 

E.  Arnold,  Battle  Creek.    (Resigned.) 

HATTIE  M.  BAILEY,  Grand  Rapids.    (Resigned.) 
•HENRY  B.  BAKER,  M.  D.,  Lansing. 
•Howard  B.  Baker,  M.  D.,  Lansing.     (Removed  from  State.) 

Luther  H.  Baker,  Lansing.    (Resigned.) 

Enoch  Bancker,  Jackson.    (Resigned.) 
•CHARLES  E.  BARR,  Albion  College,  Albion. 

*  WALTER  B.  BARROWS,  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  Agricul- 
tural College  P.  O. 
•Arthur  G.  Baumgartel,  232  River  St.,  Holland. 

•WILLIAM  J.  BEAL,  PH.  D.,  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  Agricul- 
tural College  P.  O. 
•HERBERT  T.  BLODGETT,  Ludington. 

Albert  H.  Boies,  Hudson.     (Resigned.) 

Cheshire  L.  Boone,  Ypsilanti.     (Resigned.) 
•George  Booth,  1102  Center  Ave..  Bay  City. 
•Frank  Bradley,  Alma. 
*E.  E.  Brewster,  Iron  Mountain. 
•Alice  Brown,  Ann  Arbor. 
•William  A.  Brush,  04  Hastings  St.,  Detroit. 
•Mrs.  Laura  E.  Burr,  Lansing. 
•Benjamin  F.  Bush,  Grand  Blanc. 

CHARLES  K.  CARPENTER,  Ann  Arbor.     (Resigned.) 
•Flemming  Carrow.  M.  D..  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 


156  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

*Oeorge  H.  Cattermole,  M.  D.,  Lansing. 
*Harvey  H.  Chase,  M.  D.,  Linden. 
*FRANCIS  D.  CLARKE,  M.  I).,  Flint. 
*T.  P.  Clark,  Flint. 
*Mrs.  Frank  I.  Cobb,  301  Cass  Ave.,  Detroit. 

FRANK  N.  COLE,  Ann  Arbor.     (Removed  from  State.) 
*Leon  J.  Cole,  703  Chinch  St..  Ann  Arbor. 
•LEARTUS  CONNOR,  M.  D.,  103  Cass  Ave.,  Detroit. 
*W.  M.  COURTIS,  A.  M.,  440  Fourth  Ave.,  Detroit. 
*Paul  A.  Cowgill,  Gas'sopolis. 

ARTHUR  A.  CROZIER,  Ann  Arbor.    (Died  January  28,  1800.) 
*CHARLES  A.  DAVIS,  Alma  College,  Alma. 

GAOER  C.  DAVIS,  M.   S.,  Agricultural   College.     (Removed  from 
State.) 
*JOSEPH  B.  DAVIS,  C.  E.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
*Fisk  H.  Day,  M.  D.,  Lansing. 

ISAAC  N.  DEMMON,  LL.  D.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
(Resigned.) 
*CHARLES  K.  DODGE,  Port  Huron. 
*Mvron  T.  Dodge,  Bearinger  Building,  Saginaw,  E.  S. 
*NEWELL  A.  EDDY,  615  N.  Grant  St.,  Bay  City. 

EDWIN  H.  EDWARDS,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor.     (Re- 
signed.) 
*Delos  Fall,  M.  D.,  Albion  College,  Albion. 
*OLIVER  A.  FARWELL,  1225  Jefferson  Ave.,  Detroit. 
*Hester  T.  Fuller,  Greenville,  Mich. 

CHARLES  W.  GARFIELD,  Grand  Rapids.    (Resigned.) 

HENEAGE  GIBBP]S,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor.  (Resigned.) 

MORRIS  GIBBS,  M.  D.,  Kalamazoo. 

A.  C.  GLIDDEN,  Paw  Paw.     (Resigned.) 

E.  A.  A.  Grange,  V.  S.  Detroit.    (Removed  from  State.) 
*Mary  E.  Green,  M.  D.,  Charlotte. 
*William  M.  Gregory,  East  Tawas. 
*Thomas  Gunson,  Agricultural  College. 

*ASAPH  HALL,  Jr.,  Ph.  D.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
*Thomas  L.  Hankinson,  Hillsdale. 

Edgar  G.  Haymond,  Flint.     (Resigned.) 
*John  Hazelwood,  Port  Huron. 

U.  P.  Hedrick,  B.  S.,  Michigan  Agricultural  College.    (Removed  from 
State.) 

GEORGE  HEMPL,  Ph.  I).,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor.    (Re- 
signed.) 

E.  M.  Houghton,  M.  D..  Detroit.     (Resigned.) 

BELA  HUBBARD,  Detroit.    (Died  June  13,  1806.) 
*LUCIUS  L.  HUBBARD,  Ph.  D.,  Houghton. 

Henry  S.  Hulbert,  Detroit.     (Resigned.) 
♦Frederick  C.  Irwin,  Bay  City. 

William  Jackman.  Iron  Mountain.    (Resigned.) 

STILLMAN  G.  JENKS,  Kalamazoo  College,  Kalamazoo.    (Resigned.) 

LORENZO  N.  JOHNSON,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor.     (De- 
ceased.) 
*JOHN  B.  JOHNSTON.  Universitv  of  Michigan.  Ann  Arbor. 


LIST    OF    MEMBERS.  157 

•FRANCIS  W.  KELSEY,  Ph.  1).,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 

CHARLES  A.  KOFOID,  Ph.  D.,  University  of  Michigan.     (Removed 

from  State.) 
•CLARENCE  H.  LANDER,  University  of  Michigan.  Ann  Arbor. 
•ALFRED  C.  LANE,  Ph.  D.,  Lansing. 
•Harry  L.  Lewis.  510  Hillsdale  St..  Lansing. 

WARREN  H.  LEWIS,  Ann  Arbor.    (Resigned.) 

FRANK  R.  LILLIE,  Ph.  D.,  University  of  Michigan.   Ann   Arbor. 
(Removed  from  State.) 
•WARREN  P.  LOMBARD.  M.  D.,  University  of  Michigan.  Ann  Arbor. 
•Burton   0.   Longvear,   Michigan    Agricultural    College,   Agricultural 

College  P»  O. 
•Albert  B.  Lyons,  M.  D..  Detroit. 
*J.  G.  McClvmonds,  M.  D.,  Ann  Arbor. 
*C.  D.  McLOUTH,  230  Sanford  St..  Muskegon.. 
*M.  J.  Magee,  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 
*W.  P.  MANTON,  M.  D..  32  Adams  Ave..  Detroit. 

•Charles  E.  Marshall,  Ph.  B.,  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  Agricul- 
tural College  P.  O. 
*Asa  E.  Mattice,  Concord. 

MANLY  MILES,  M.  D.,  Lansing.    (Died  Feb.  15,  1898.) 
*John  M.  Millar,  Escanaba. 
*Miss  Louise  Miller,  Detroit. 

J.  MONTGOMERY.  Ann  Arbor.     (Resigned.) 
•Robert  E.  Morrell,  Escanaba. 

Willard  E.  Mulliken,  191  First  Ave.,  Grand  Rapids.    (Resigned.) 
•WILLIAM  H.  MUNSON,  B.  S.,  Hillsdale  College,  Hillsdale. 
•FREDERICK  C.  NEWCOMBE.  Ph.  I).,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann 

Arbor. 
•Jason  E.  Nichols.  Lansing. 

•FREDERICK  G.  NOYY,  M.  D.,  Universitv  of  Michigan.  Ann  Arbor. 
*W.  A.  Oldfield,  Port  Sanilac. 

MRS.  LUCY  A.  OSBAND,  Ypsilanti.    (Resigned.) 
•Chase  S.  Osborn,  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 

Edith  Ellen  Pettee,  83  Harper  Ave.,  Detroit. 
'WILLIAM  H.  PETTEE,  A.  M.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
•Rufus  H.  Pettit,  B.  S.  A.,  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  Agricul- 
tural College  P.  O. 

Jessie  Phelps,  State  Normal,  Ypsilanti. 

Willard  S.  Pope,  Detroit.     (Died  Oct.  10,  1895.) 

HOYT  POST.  Michigan  Fish  Commission.  Detroit.     (Resigned.) 
•Albert  B.  Prescott,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
*Miss  Harriett  Putnam.  900  Congress  Ave.,  Saginaw. 
•Orlan  B.  Read,  Hillsdale  College,  Hillsdale. 

•JACOB  REIGHARD.  Ph.  B.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
•ISRAEL  C.  RUSSELL,  LLD.,  Universitv  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 

MRS.  CYNTHIA  SAGER,  Ann  Arbor.  ' 
•Herbert  E.  Sargent.  Detroit. 

JOHN  H.  SCHAFFNER,  Ann  Arbor.     (Resigned.) 
•Julius  O.  Schlotterbeck,  Ph.  D.,  University  of  Michigan.  Ann  Arbor. 
*C.  F.  Schneider,  Lansing. 
•Miss  Anna  A.  Schryver,  State  Normal,  Ypsilanti. 


* 


* 


158  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF     SCIENCE. 

LOUIS  T.  SCHURRER,  Lakeport.    (Resigned.) 
•Karl  Schwiekerrath,  Ph.  D.,  Parke  Davis  &  Co.,  Detroit. 
*A.  E.  Seaman,  S.  B.,  Michigan  College  of  Mines,  Houghton. 
*Percv  S.  Selous,  Greenville. 
•JAMES  B.  SHEARER,  Bay  City. 
*LOREN  A.  SHERMAN,  Port  Huron. 
•WILLIAM  H.  SHERZER,  M.  S.,  State  Normal,  Ypsilanti. 

EUGENE  C.  SKINNER,  M.  D.,  Detroit.     (Died  January,  1899.) 
•Norman  B.  Sloan,  Flint. 

•CLINTON  D.  SMITH,  M.  S.,  Michigan  Agricultural  College.  Agricul- 
tural College  P.  O. 
*F.  D.  Smith,  Greenville. 

HARLAN  I.  SMITH,  Saginaw,  E.  S.     (Removed  from  State.) 
*VOLNEY  M.  SPALDING,  Ph.  D.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
*Frederick  W.  Sperr,  E.  M.,  Michigan  College  of  Mines,  Houghton. 
*MISS  FRANCEiS  L.  STEARNS,  Adrian  College.  Adrian. 

JOSEPH  B.  STEERE,  Ph.  D.,  Ann  Arbor.    (Resigned.) 

Edward  H.  Stein,  255  12th  Ave.,  Grand  Rapids. 

Oliver  Stewart;  M.  D.,  Port  Huron. 

Charles  B.  Stockwell,  M.  D.,  Port  Huron.     (Resigned.) 
•Eugene  Straight.  Howard  City. 

•Louis  H.  Streng,  335  N.  Prospect  St.,  Grand  Rapids. 
*E.  A.  STRONG;  A.  M.,  State  Normal,  Ypsilanti. 

George  Sultie,  M.  D.,  Detroit.     (Resigned.) 

Calvin  Thomas,  Universitv  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor.    (Removed  from 

State.) 
•David  Trine,  B.  S.,  Lansing. 


* 


•JEROME  TROMBLEY,  Petersburg. 

* 


Victor  C.  Vaughan,  M.  I).,  Ph.  D.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
*M.  E.  WADSWORTH,  Ph.  D.,  Michigan  College  of  Mines,  Houghton. 
•BRYANT  WALKER,  18  Moffat  Block,  Detroit. 

HENRY  B.  WARD,  Ph.  D.,  Ann  Arbor.    (Removed  from  State.) 
•Louis  E.  Warren,  Hillsdale. 

OSCAR  B.  WARREN,  Palmer.    (Removed  from  State.) 
•George  A.  Waterman,  V.  S.,  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  Agricul- 
tural College  P.  O. 
*L.  WHITNEY  W ATKINS,  B.  S.,  Manchester. 

MARGARET  WEIDEMANN,  Ann  Arbor.     (Removed  from  State.) 
•CHARLES  F.  WHEELER.   M.   S.,   Michigan   Agricultural   College, 

Agricultural  College  P.  O. 
*E.  S.  WHEELER,  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 

•Alfred  H.  White,  A.  B.,  Universitv  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 
•CHARLES  A.  WHITTEMORE,  656  Madison  Ave.,  Grand  Rapids. 

Cressy  L.  Wilbur,  M.  D.,  Department  of  State,  Lansing. 

George  E.  Willetts,  Lansing.    (Resigned.) 

MRS.  E.  G.  WILLOUGHBY,  Ann  Arbor. 

MORTIMER  WILSON,  M.  I).,  Oth  and  Water  Sts.,  Port  Huron. 

ROBERT   H.   WOLCOTT,   M.   D.,   Grand    Rapids.      (Removed   from 
State. 

FRANK  E.  WOOD,  Bay  City.    (Removed  from  State.) 
•Norman  A.  Wood,  19  Church  St.,  Ann  Arbor. 


* 


* 


LIST    OF    MEMBERS.  159 

'Philip  B.  Woodworth,  B.  S.,  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  Agricul- 
tural College  P.  O. 
"DEAN  C.  WORCESTER,  A.  B.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor. 


CORRESPONDING  MEMBERS. 

Howard  B.  Baker,  M.  D..  223  E.  48th  St.,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

U.  P.  Hedrick.  B.  S.,  Utah  Agricultural  College.  Logan,  Utah. 

Charles  A.  Kofoid,  Ph.  D.,  University  of  Illinois,  Champaign,  111. 

Frank  R.  Lillie,  Ph.  D.,  Yassar  College,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

H.  A.  Mumaw.  M.  D.,  Elkhart,  Indiana. 

Harlan  I.  Smith.  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  77th  St.,  and 

Central  Park.  New  York,  N.  Y. 
Henry  B.  Ward,  Ph.  D..  University  of  Nebraska,  Lincoln.  Nebraska. 
Oscar  B.  Warren,  Hibbing,  St.  Louis  Co.,  Minnesota. 
Margaret  Weidemann,  390  La  Salle  Ave.,  Chicago,  Illinois. 
Robert  H.  Wolcott,  M.  D.,  University  of  Nebraska,  Lincoln,  Nebraska. 


INDEX. 


21 


INDEX 


A. 

Page 

Abstracts  of  papers   to   be   furnished   Secretary   before   meeting 149 

Acerates  floridana,  near  Saginaw  Bay  116 

Acipenser,  hind  brain  and  cranial  nerves  of 114-115 

Acipenser,  origin  of  the  barbels  in 137 

Acorus  calamus  27 

Adhesive  organ  of  Lepidosteus   137 

Adhesive  organ  of  Amia  calva,  its  origin  and  development 137-139 

Advisory   board    7 

JEgialitis  vocifera,  nesting  habits  of 68 

Aerial  navigation,   a  possibility  of  the  near  future 127 

Africa  and  South  America,  possible   connection  of 52 

Africa  and  New  Zealand,  possible  connection  of 52 

Agaricus   campestris    98 

Agelaius  phoeniceus,  nesting  and  food  habits   74,  75 

Agkistrodon  piscivorus,  death  from  bite  of 92 

Agricultural  botany,  recent  advances  in  (reference) 41 

Agricultural    College,    field    meeting    at 84 

Agricultural    experiment    stations,    importance    of 126-127 

Agriculture,    futile   experiments   for   the   improvement    of 36-38 

Agriculture,    section    organized    84 

Air  drainage  and  horticulture   33 

Aix    sponsa,    decrease    in    numbers    of 66 

Alaska  once  united  with  Asia 52 

Alcohol  of  commerce,  origin  of 15 

Alexander,   S.,   on   a  remarkable   oak  forest 99 

Algae  of  Michigan  lakes  almost  unknown   26,  28 

Algas,   unicellular,   recent  investigations  of   (reference) 109 

Allorisma     63 

Alpena  county   plants    (reference) 88 

Amendment  to  constitution  proposed  41 

Amendment  to  game  lawrs  proposed   117 

Amendments  to  constitution,   how  made   150 

Amendments    to    by-laws,    how    made 154 

Amendments  to   constitution   and  by-laws 10S-109 

Amia,    breeding   habits   of    (reference) 119 

Amia,    photographing    embryos    of 111-112 

Amia  calva,   the   breeding   habits   of 133-137 

Amia  calva,  origin  and  development  of  its  adhesive  organ 137-139 

Ammodramus  henslowi,  nesting  habits   75 

Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus,   nesting  habits  and  food 72.  73 

Amnicola  and  Valvata,  distribution  of   47 

Ampullarias   replacing    "Viviparas    51 

Anas  boschas,  nesting  habits  75 

Ancestral   characters,    inheritance   of -. 37 

Anculosa,  species  found  in  eastern  N.   Y.  and  Pa 47 

Animals,    their   dwelling  places   in   trees 132-133 

Annual  dues  of  members  151 


1«4  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

Page 

Annual  meeting,  first   ' 11 

second    , 40-41 

third : 87-88 

fourth    10S-109 

fifth    117-118 

Anodonta     in  California 60 

Anodonta,  distribution  of  species  of i 51 

Anodontas  of  the  California  region   48-49 

Anodontas  of  the  region  east  of  the  Appalachians   49 

Antarctic  continent,  possible  existence  in  Tertiary  times 57 

Antarctic   continent  uncertain    52 

Antennaria,   the  genus -in  Michigan   (reference) 119 

Anthrax  and  vaccination  17 

Anthrax  bacillus   16 

Antilles,   greater  and   lesser,    origin   of   mollusks   of 55 

Antiseptic  surgery  introduced  by  Joseph  Lister   16,  17 

Antitoxin,  results  from  use  of  (reference) 88 

Appalachian   or  Interior  region 43 

Appalachian  range  a  barrier  to  molluscan  immigration   47 

Aquatic   flora,    bibliography    of 30-31 

Aquatic  plant  life,   factors  influencing  abundance  of   27 

Aquatic   plant   life,    suggestions    for   study    of 29 

Aquatic  plants,  directions  for  collecting   30 

Aquatic  plants,  distribution  in  depth 28,  29 

Archaeology,   data  and  development  of   (reference) 12 

Area  of  small  lakes  of  Michigan   23 

Arms   of  Michigan,    and   great   seal 19 

Arrearage  of  payments  151 

Articles    of    association    filed    10 

Asclepias  cornuti,  development  of  pollen  (reference) SS 

Asclepias   purpurascens,    near   Saginaw   Bay 116 

Asclepias  Sullivantii,   near  Saginaw  Bay   116 

Aseptic  surgery  introduced  by  Joseph  Lister  16,  17 

Asiatic   cholera,    discovery   of    spirillum    of    101 

Asiatic   invasion    of   western    America    in    Eocene    period 56 

Asiatic  invasion  of  western  America  in  Mesozoic  time 55,  56 

Asiatic  mollusks  reach   west  coast   of  S.   America 53,56 

Asio  accipitrinus,  nesting  habits  75 

Assistant  Secretary  may  be  elected  151 

Atavism,   observations  on   37 

Atlantis,  theory  of  untenable  52 

Auditors   for   Treasurer's   accounts    133 

Auto-limnetic,    term   defined   26 

Avifauna  of  Michigan,  changes  resulting  from  deforesting  66 

B. 

Bacilli    of    drinking-water,    isolation    of 101-102 

Bacilli  of  the  colon  group 102 

Bacilli    of    the    typhoid   group 102 

Bacilli,  isolation  of  18 

Bacilli,  pure  cultures  of  16 

Bacillus,    capsulated    101 

Bacillus  of  anthrax   16 

Bacillus   of   Eberth   in   drinking   water    101,102 

Bacillus  of  glanders  16 

Bacillus  of  hog  cholera   16 

Bacillus    of    tetanus    16 

Bacillus    of    tuberculosis    16 

Bacillus  pyocianeus,    isolated  from   drinking-water 102 

Bacillus,    short   canal 101 

Bacteria  and  the   dairy   (reference) 12 

Bacteria  of  every  day  life   (reference) 118 

Bacteriology  and  disease   130 


INDEX.  165 

Page 

Bacteriology,   importance    of   teaching   in   schools    18 

Bacteriology,   practical   benefits  of   13-18 

Bacterium  coli  communis,   in  drinking-water  101-102 

Baker,  Dr.  Henry  B.,  on  the  new  science  of  sanitation .'6-83 

plea  for  greater  attention   to  the   sciences 120-131 

on    restriction    of   consumption    (reference) 119 

on  public  health  service   (reference) 89 

Barrows,  Walter  B.,  on  food  habits  of  Michigan  birds  (reference) 41 

on   geographical   distribution    88 

report  of  committee   on   bird   protection    117 

Bartramia  longicauda,   nesting  habits   of 68 

Bartramian    sandpiper,    nesting    habits 68 

Basidiomycetes,  large  collection  of 98 

Bathy-limnetic,  term  denned   26 

Bay-winged  bunting,  nesting  and  food  habits  71 

Beal,   Dr.  W.  J.,   on  nature  study  in  common  schools   (reference) 110 

on  needs  of  Michigan  forests  (reference) 41 

on  some  plans  for  a  botanic  garden  (reference) 41 

on  seed  dispersal  (reference) 88 

on  our  society  and  a  state  survey   12-14 

on  study  of  our  elms  and  poplars  in  winter  (reference) 119 

on  trees  as  dwelling  places  for  animals   132-133 

on  topics  for  discussion  by  botanical   club 94-97 

on  a  word  for  systematic  botany   110 

Beardslee  and  Kofoid,  plants   of  Cheboygan   county 25 

Beet  sugar  manufacture,  lecture  on  (reference) 119 

Begole,  Gov. ,  and  state  seal   20 

Behring  Straits  and  immigration  of  Asiatic  forms 55 

Bibliography   of  aquatic   flora   of   Michigan 30-31 

Bills  of  Academy,   how  paid   153 

Binney's  four  faunal  regions   45 

Bird   legislation,    committee    on 87 

Bird  protection,   report   of   committee   on 117 

Birds    of    Michigan    (reference) 12 

Birds  and  horticulture   (reference)    41 

Birds,   food  habits  of  (reference) 41 

Birds,  origin  and  distribution  of  species  in  island  groups  (reference) 109 

Birds,    protection   of    '. 41 

Birds   that  nest  in  open  meadows    66-75 

Births,    statistics  relating  to    103-105 

Births  and  deaths,   registration  of 11 

Bittern,    American,    nesting    habits    of 67,  68 

Blackberries   on   pine   barrens 34 

Blackberries,   wild,   at   Petoskey  in   Nov 35 

Blackbird,  red-winged,  nesting  and  food 74,  75 

Black  death,   due  to  bacteria    16 

Black  knot,  less  destructive  North  than  South 35 

Black  plague,  reference  to  paper  on  88 

Black-throated  bunting,   nesting  habits  and  food 73 

Blodgett,  H.  T.,  and  plants  of  Hamlin  Lake,  Mason  Co 25 

Blood  serum  therapy  for  tetanus  and  diphtheria 18 

Bobolink,   nesting  and  food  habits    70,  71 

Bob  White,   nesting  habits  of 68 

Bonasa    umbellus,    decrease    with    clearing   of    land 67 

Boreal  Islands  in  Southern  Michigan   (reference) 119 

Boreal  or  Northern  region  defined    45 

Boreal   region,    characteristic   molluscan   families   of 50 

Botany   of   Michigan,    contributions    to    (reference) 41 

Botany,   a  word  for  systematic   (reference) 109 

Botany,   organization   of   section   of : 11 

Botanic  garden,    some   plans  for   (reference) 41 

Botanical  club  of  Michigan  Agricultural  College,   origin  of 95- 

Botanical  club,   some  topics  for  discussion  by 94-97 

Botaurus    lentiginosus,    nesting    habits    67,  68 


166  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

Page 

Bounty    law    on    sparrows,    its    repeal    advocated IIS 

Brasenia  peltata,   germination   of 131-132 

Breeding-  habits   of   the   dog-fish   (Amia) 133-137 

Bridge  between  Alaska  and  Asia   55 

Bridge   between   Central   America  and   West   Indian    Islands 55 

Bridge    between    Cuba    and    Florida    56 

Brockmeyer,    H.    C,    on    Missouri    earthquake 65 

Brown,  Miss  A.,  on  poisonous  germs  found  in  foods  (reference) 88 

Brown    thrasher,    nesting    of    73 

Building  stone  at  Grand  Rapids  63 

Bulimuli  replacing  Helices   51 

Bunting,    bay-winged,    nesting   and   food    habits 71 

Bunting,  black-throated,   nesting  habits  and  food 7:; 

Business,  order  of  at  meetings 154 

By-laws,    how   amended 154 

By-laws  of  Academy   151-154 

C. 

Cacalia   tuberosa,    near   Saginaw   Bay 116 

Calcite  in  limestone  at  Grand  Rapids   , 64 

California  or  Pacific  region,    defined    45 

California    Unionida?    of    old    world    origin 60,  61 

Californian    region,    molluscan    species    characteristic    of 46 

Camelida?,   migration  from  America  to  Asia 58 

Camp,  S.  H.,  and  plants  of  vicinity  of  Jackson 25- 

Campbell,    Dr.    D.    H.,   and   plants  of  Detroit   river 25 

Campeloma,  almost  universal  in  Interior  Region 4S 

Campeloma,  spread  of  species  of 51 

Carboniferous   age   and  non-marine   mollusca    52 

Carex  and  quaking  bogs  24 

Carex  lupulinax   retrorsa,    third   recorded   station   of 28 

Carolina   dove,    nesting    habits    of 69 

Carribean  region,  origin  of  mollusks  of 55,  56 

Cass,    Hon.    Lewis,    and   design   for   state   seal 19 

Celestite   and  sulphur  in    Monroe    county    (reference) 41 

Cell  plate,  origin  and  structure  of  (reference) 110 

Cell-wall    substance,    origin    of   in    cell-division    (reference) 119 

Central  America  and  West  Indian  Islands  once  connected 55 

Central  region,  molluscan  fauna  of 50 

Central   or   Rocky   mountain   region,    defined   45 

Central    region,    mollusca    characteristic    of 46 

Ceophlceus  pileatus,  retreats  from  civilization  66 

Cerebral   blood-vessels,   nerves   in   (reference) 119 

Characea?     27 

Characetum    27 

Charter,   provision  for   11 

Cheironomus   sp.,    in   water   lilies,    110-111 

Chicken  cholera  bacillus  or  germ  IT 

Childbirth,    antiseptic    treatment    in IT 

Children,    number   to   a   marriage 104 

Cholera,   Asiatic,    discovery   of   spirillum    of WW 

Cholera   due   to   bacilli 16 

Chondestes   grammacus,    nesting    habits    '2 

Church   services   and    science    122 

Churches   and   the    sciences    120-122 

( Jircus  hudsonius,  nesting  and  food  habits 69,  70 

c'istothorus  palustris,  nesting  habits T5 

stellaris,    nesting    habits    T5 

Cladodus  irregularis   63 

Clausilias  of  northeastern  Asia  invade  Equador  and  Peru 55 

Climate  and  mortality  in  Michigan 139-142 

Coccothraustes  vespertinus  in  Michigan 106 

Colinus  virginianus,  nesting  and  food  habits  of 68,  69 


INDEX.  167 

Page 

Collybia   in   winter    98 

Color  pattern  of  the  pigeon's  wing   (reference) , 119 

Columbae,   meadow   nesting   species   75 

Commutation  fee  for  life  membership   151 

Conchology,   subsection  authorized   84 

Constitution   of  Academy   147-150 

Constitution  of  Academy  amended  87 

Constitution  and  by-laws,   changes  in 108-109 

Consumption,    restriction   of   (reference)    119 

Coons,   habits  of   133 

Corresponding  members,   list   of   159 

Corresponding  members,    qualifications   for   147 

Corticium    98 

Council  of  Academy,  duties  of 148 

composition    of    148 

Council   meetings,   when  held    149 

Council   minutes   subject  to   call 151 

Cowbird,  habits  and  food   71 

Crane,    sandhill,    nesting  habits    * 75 

Crataegus  crusgalli,   near   Saginaw  Bay 116 

Crayfish  and  Distoma  (reference)    12 

Crozier,  Arthur  A.,  on  recent  advances  in  agricultural  botany  (reference) 41 

oh  tendencies  in  Michigan  horticulture   32-36 

obituary    notice    of     117 

Cryptogamic    flora    of   Michigan    (reference) 12 

Ctenacanthus,    scales   of    63 

Custodian   of  Academy   property    148,151 

Cyathophyllum  divaricatum    63 

Cyathophy Hum    flexuosus 63 

Cyperus    and    quaking    bogs    24 

Cypripedium,   morphology   of  flower  of   (reference) 109 

Cyrenidse,   distribution   of   49 

D. 

Dairy  and  bacteria  (reference)   12 

Dairy  stock-feeding  experiments   (reference) 41 

Davis,  ^Chas.  A.,  on  flora  of  Tuscola  county,  Michigan 116 

on    flora    of    Michigan    lakes : 24-31 

on    flora   of   Huron   county    (reference) 88 

on    evening  grosbeak    106 

on  germination  of  Brasenia    131-132 

on  forms  of  Trillium  grandiflorum   '           76 

on    Utricularia    resupinata    132 

Deforesting   of   Michigan,    effects   on   bird-life 66-67 

Dehydration,    apparatus    for    (reference) .' 88 

Detroit   river,   plants   of  25 

Development   of   animals,    effects   of   temperature   on    (reference) 110 

Dinobryons  of  Lake  Michigan  (reference) 12 

Diphtheria,  caused  by  bacilli  16 

cure  of  18 

deaths  from 80-82 

isolation  and  disinfection  in  77,  SO-83 

Diseases   of  man,   mastery  over    130 

Disinfection  in  diphtheria  77,  80,  83 

in    scarlet    fever    77-79,  82,  83 

Distoma  petalosum   (reference)    12 

Distribution   of  land  and  freshwater  mollusca    43-61 

Dodge,  C.  K.,  and  plants  of  St.  Clair  lake  and  river 25 

Dog-fish,   the  breeding  habits  of    4 133-137 

Dogtooth  spar  at  Grand  Rapids   64 

Dolichonyx    oryzivorus,    nesting    and    food    habits 70,71 

Drainage,  sometimes  to  be  guarded  against  33 

Drainage  of  swamps   33 


108 


MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 


Page 

Dredge  for  collecting  aquatic  plants   30 

Drift,  thickness  of  '. 53 

Drinking-water,  methods  of  detecting  poisonous  germs  in  101-102 

poisonous   germs   in    100-102 

Duck,  mallard,  nesting  habits  75 

wood,   decrease  in  numbers  of   66 

E. 

Eberth,   bacillus  of,   in  drinking-water   101-102 

Ectopistes  migratorius,    practically  exterminated    66,67 

Editor  of  Academy  publications,  duties  of » 148,  151 

Elections  of  officers  and   members   *. 149,152 

Electrical    science,    importance    of    127 

Elementary  schools,  relation  of  Academy  to  (reference) 88 

Elms  and  poplars   in  winter,   study   of    (reference) v  119 

Elodea  Canadensis  28 

English  sparrow,   repeal  of  bounty   law  advocated 118 

Erysipelas  of  hog  and  vaccination  • 17,  18 

Euclemensia  bassettella,   habits  of 112-114 

Evening  grosbeak  in  Michigan 106 

Evolution   of  conventional   decorative   forms    (reference) 41 

Executive  committee  of  Academy  (See  Council). 

Experiments,  futile,  for  the  improvement  of  agriculture  36-38 

Extinction  of  faunae  by  post-pliocene  ice-sheet   53 

F. 

Fats  of  milk,  meat  and  seeds  compared 109 

Fall,  Dr.  Delos,  on  medical  inspection  of  schools  (reference) 118 

Farwell,  O.  A.,  on  plants  of  Keweenaw  county 25 

on  new  species  of  plants  for  Michigan,  and  new  localities  for  old 

species  (reference)  41 

Faunal    regions    of    North    America    45 

Fecundity  of  American   and  foreign-born   women    105 

Fedor,   isolation  of  Eberth's  bacillus  by 101 

Feeding  experiments   fallacious    : 37-38 

Fees    of    members    151 

Fertilization  of  eggs  of  Unio   (reference) 88 

Field  experiments,   sources  of  fallacy  in   38 

Field  meetings   of  Academy    84,107 

Field  sparrow,  nesting  of  73 

Financial  methods  of  Academy    153 

First  membership   list    8 

Fish  Commission,   work  of  commended  11,  12 

Flora  of  Michigan,  additions   to   (reference) 12,41 

Flora  of  Michigan  lakes   24-31 

Flora  of  Huron  county,  reference  to  paper  on   : 88 

Flora    of    Tuscola    county,    Michigan 116 

Fomes  9S 

Food-habits  of  Michigan  birds  (reference) 41 

Foods,  chemical  composition  and  nutritive  value 38 

Forest  of  oaks  new  to  Michigan  99 

Forest  reservations,  protection  recommended  11 

Forest    trees,    different    kinds    of    injuries    to 132-133 

Forests,  needs  of  Michigan  (reference)  41 

Forestry,  preliminary  survey  advocated   109 

Forestry    Commission,    resolution    recommending    41 

Forestry   survey,    petition    for    109 

Fresh  water  mollusca,  origin  from  marine  forms 54 

Fresh  water  univalves,  first  appear  in  the  upper  Jurassic  54 

Fruit  belt  of  Michigan   33 

Fruit-growing  in  limestone  regions   35 

Fungi  common   in  winter    98 


INDEX.  169 

Page 

Fungi,    edible,    of   New   York    (reference) 99 

Fungi,   saprophytic,  grown  about  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College 97-99 

Futile    experiments    in    Agriculture    38-38 

G. 

Gaffky   on   rabbit   septicemia    100 

Gall,    a  jumping   (reference) 119 

Gallinse,    meadow-nesting   species    75 

Geaster  minimus,  size  of  98 

Geode   beds   at   Grand    Rapids    64 

Geographical   distribution   of   life    (reference) 88 

Geological   history   of  North   American   continent    52 

Geological  survey  of  Michigan,   importance  of   41,  109 

Geology    of   Western    Michigan,    unpublished    paper    on    (reference) 41 

Geothlypis    trichas,    nesting  habits 75 

Geotropic  leaves   of  Utricularia    132 

Germ  theory  of  disease   15 

Germination    of    Brasenia    peltata    '. 131-132 

Gill  fungi  in  winter   98 

Glacial  drift,   thickness   of   • 53 

Glacial    epoch   of   Tertiary 53 

Glacial  ice  nine  thousand  feet  thick ■ 53 

Glanders  bacillus    16 

Goniobasis,   distribution   of  species  of 47.51 

Gossypium  herbaceum,  development  of  seed  of  (reference)   109 

Gower,  Hon.   C.  A.,  and  state  seal   20 

Grand   Rapids   Lyceum   of   Natural   History 62 

Grasshopper   sparrow,    nesting   habits    and    food 72.73 

Grass  finch,   habits  and  food    71 

Great  Seal  of  Michigan  19-23 

Great   white   plague,    probable   salvation    from    130 

Gregg  raspberry  needs  dry  climate  36 

Grosbeak,    evening,    in    Michigan    106 

Ground-bird    (Grass   finch),    nesting  and   food   habits    71 

Ground  rattlesnake,  habits  of  in   captivity    S9-92 

Grouse,  pinnated,  nesting  and  food  74 

Growth  of  plants,   effect  of  mechanical   shock   on   (reference) 119 

Grus  mexicana,  nesting  habits  75 

Gundlachia,  peculiar  distribution  of  57 

spread  into  America  from  the  south 57 

Gypsum  in  limestone  cavities  64 

H. 

Hall,    Asaph,   Jr.,    on   variation   of  latitude   observation    (reference) 119 

Halo-plankton,    term    defined    26 

Hamadryas    (see    Euclemensia). 

Hamlin   Lake,    Mason   county,   plants   of   25 

Harporhynchus    rufus,    nesting    of     73 

Hawk,    marsh,    nesting   and    food   habits 69,  70 

Health  service  in  Michigan,  reference  to  paper  on  89 

Helices,  larger  forms  lacking  in  Northern  region   46 

Helicoid  fauna,  of  Pacific  coast  51,  55 

of  eastern  America  56 

Helicoid  immigration  from  Asia  via  Behring  Straits 55 

Heliotropic   leaves   of   Utricularia    132 

Helodus    crenulatus    63 

Hemiphronites   63 

Henslow's  sparrow,   nesting  habits    75 

Hereditary  qualities,  borne  only  by  the  nucleus  (reference) 119 

Heredity   of  acquired   characters    37 

Heredity,    laws   of    37 

Herodiones,   meadow  nesting   75 

99 


170  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

Page 

Heteranthera   graminea    28 

Heterodon  platyrhinus,   seen  to  swallow  its  young   90 

Hill,  E.  J.,   on  the  Naidaeese  of  Michigan   25 

Hoag,   Ernest  B.,  on  bacteria  of  everyday  life  (reference) 118 

Hog    cholera    bacillus    16 

Hog  erysipelas  and  vaccination   17,  18 

Holarctic    realm    45 

Honorary  members,    qualifications   for    147 

Horned  lark,   prairie,   nesting  and  food  habits    70 

Horticulture,   tendencies  in  Michigan   32-36 

Houghton,   Dr.   E.   M.,   reference  to  paper  on  antitoxins   88 

Hubbard,   Hon.    Bela,   obituary  notice  of   87 

Hubbard,  Dr.  Lucius  L.    Non-professional  work  for  Ge-ol.  Survey  (reference) 4i 

Huber,  Dr.  Carl  G.,  on  nerve  fibers  of  the  cerebral  blood-vessels  (reference) 119 

Huckleberries  on  pine  barrens   34 

on  limestone  formations   35 

Human   skeleton,    Simian   characters   of 12 

Humboldt  on  Missouri  earthquake   65 

Huron  county,   flora  of '  (reference) 88 

Hydnea?   in   winter    98 

Hydrophobia,  prevention  of  : 18 

Hygiene    defined    76 

Hygiene,  State  Laboratory  of  129 

I. 

Immigration  of  mollusca  from  Asia   to   South  America 55,56 

Immigration  from   South  America  in   early   tertiary   times 57 

Improvement  of  Agriculture,   futile  experiments   36-38 

Incorporation    10 

Infectious  disease   and  methods   of   prevention    16,  17,  18 

causes   of    15 

Initiation   fees   of   members    151 

Inspection    of   schools   by    physicians    (reference) 118 

Interior   or   Appalachian    region   defined    45 

molluscan   fauna   of    .....46,50,51 

mollusks  characteristic   of    46 

Interior  seas  of  Mesozoic  and  Tertiary   52,53 

Iron  pyrites   at   Grand   Rapids    64 

Isolation    in    diphtheria    77,80-83 

Isolation  in  scarlet  fever   77-79,  82,  83 

J. 

Jenner  and  vaccination   17 

Johnson,   Lorenzo  N.,   on  cryptogamic  flora   of  Michigan   (reference) 12 

obituary  notice  of  S7 

Johnston,  J.   B.,   on  hind  brain  and  cranial   nerves   of  Acipenser   114-115 

on  some  methods  and  results  in  micro-photography  (reference)..  119 

on   structure   of  olfactory   lobe   of   sturgeon    100 

Jumping     gall     (reference) 119 

K. 

Kellogsville,  limestone  found  at    63 

Kent  Scientific  Institute,  museum  of   62 

origin   and   history    62 

Kermes,  infested  by  a  lepidopterous  parasite   112-114 

Keweenaw   county,   plants   of    25 

Killdeer  plover,  nesting  habits  of  68 

King  rail,  nesting  habits  75 

Kitasato    of    Tokio     16 

Koch,    discovery   of   cholera  bacillus    101 

Kofoid,    Dr.    C.    A.,    on   dinobryons   of   Lake   Michigan    (reference) 12 


INDEX.  171 

L. 

Page 

Lacinaria   spicata,    near  Saginaw   Bay    116 

Lake  Erie,  plankton  flora  of  (reference) 119 

Lake  flora  of  Michigan   24-31 

Lakes  of  Michigan,   area  of   23 

Lander,  C.  H.,  on  Distoma  petalosum;  a  parasite  of  the  crayfish  (reference) 12 

Lane,  Dr.  A.  C,   on  shells  of  quaternary  deposits   (reference) SS 

Langdon,  Fanny  E.,  on  development  of  pollen  of  Asclepias  88 

on   nervous  system   of  Nereis    (reference) 88 

Laramie  fauna,  Pleuroceridee  found  in   58 

Lark  sparrow,  nesting  habits  72 

Latitude,  observations  on  variations  in  (reference)   119 

Legislatures  and  the  scien-ces   126-129 

Lenzites  in  winter  98 

Lepidoptera    of   Michigan    32 

Lepidopterous    parasite,    Euclemensia    112-114 

Lepidosteus,  adhesive  organ  of 137 

Librarian  of  Academy,  duties  of  148,  151 

Liebig  and  Pasteur  on  fermentation   14 

Liebig's   classification   of  foods   not   reliable    38 

Life  originated  in  the  ocean  53-54 

Life  membership,  fee  for  151 

Life  saving  service  of  U.  S..  importance  of 127 

Lillie,   Dr.   F.   R..   on  effects  of  temperature  on  development  of  animals 110 

on  fertilization  of  eggs  of  Unio  (reference)    88 

on  the  nucleus  as  bearer  of  hereditary  qualities  (reference) 119 

on   regeneration   of   Stentor    (reference) 42 

Limicola?,   meadow-nesting  species    75 

Limnetic   plant    forms    26 

Limno-plankton,    term    defined    26 

Lioplax,  distribution  of  48 

List   of   members  of  Academy    155-159 

List  of  papers  presented  at  first  meeting   21 

at  second  meeting   41-42 

at  third  meeting   88-89 

at    fourth    meeting    109-110 

at   fifth    meeting 118-119 

Lister  and  antiseptic  surgery   16,  17 

Lithostrotion  canadense   63 

Littoral  vegetation,  absence  of  in  great  lakes 29 

Livingstone,    Burton   E.,    on   flower   of   Cypripedium    (reference) 109 

Long-billed  marsh  wren,   nesting  habits   75 

Longyear,  B.  O.,  on  fungi  of  the  vicinity  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College 97-99 

on  morels  collected  at  the  Agricultural  College   (reference) 109 

Ludwigia  polycarpa,   near  Saginaw   Bay 116 

Lycoperdon  giganteum,   size  of  .' 9S 

Lyell   on  effects  of  Missouri   earthquake    65-66 

Lythrum   alatum.    near   Saginaw   Bay 116 

M. 

McClymonds,   Dr.   J.  T.,   on  germs  in  drinking-water 100-102 

McMurrich,  Dr.  J.  Playfair,  on  development  of  the  metanephros  (reference) 119 

Magnin's    zones    27 

Malignant   cedema   and    vaccination    17 

Mallard,   nesting  habits  of 75 

Mammals    of   Michigan    (reference)    12 

Map  of  State,   topographic,   recommended 11 

Marasmius  oreades,   abundance   of   98 

Marcasite  at  Grand  Rapids  64 

Margaritina,    distribution    of    species   of    51 

in    California    48,60 

Margaritina  margaritifera,  distribution  of  49 

Marriage,    statistics   of   fecundity   of    103-105 


172  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

i 

Page 

Marsh  hawk,  nesting  and  food  habits  69,  70 

Marshall    sandstone    63 

Marshes  and  swamps  reclaimed   33 

Maryland  yellowthroat,  nesting  habits  75 

Massasauga,  habits  of  in  captivity   89-92 

Meadowlark,  nesting  habits  and  food  73 

Mechanical  shock,  effects  of  on  growth  of  plants  (reference) 119 

Medical  inspection  of  schools   (reference)    , 118 

Meeting,  first  annual  11 

second   annual    40-41 

third  annual   86-88 

fourth   annual    108-109 

fifth  annual  *  < 117,  118 

Meetings,  date  and  place  how  fixed   149 

Melaniidse,   distribution   of    , 58 

replacing    Pleuroceridse    51 

Meleagris  gallopavo,  decrease  with  clearing  of  land 66 

Melospiza  fasciata,   nesting  habits  and  food 72 

Melospiza  georgiana,   nesting  habits   75 

Members,  dues  of  151 

how  elected  149,  152 

how  nominated  149,  152 

how    expelled    149 

qualifications  for    147,151 

list  of   155-159 

Members   elected  at  second   annual   meeting 40 

at   second  field   meeting    84 

at  third  annual  meeting  86 

at  -fourth  annual  meeting  108 

at   fifth   annual    meeting    117 

Membership,  article  of  constitution  relating  to • 147 

first  circular  letter  on   S 

second    circular    letter    on 10 

Merrow,  Harriet  L.,  on  Uredinese  of  Michigan  39 

Mesozoic  interior  sea  of  N.  America   52,  53 

Mesozoic  time,   condition  of  N.  America  at  beginning  of 52 

Metanephros,  some  points  in  the  development  of  (reference) 119 

Metaspermse  of  Michigan  lakes  25 

of  Pine  Lake,  Ingham  County  25 

Mice  nesting  in  holes  of  trees 133 

Michael,    isolation   of   Eberth's   bacillus  by 101 

Michigan   forests,    needs    of    (reference) 41 

Michigan  lakes,  flora  of  24-31 

Micro-photography,   some  results  in   (reference) 119 

Miles,  Dr.  Manly,  on  futile  experiments  for  the  improvement  of  agriculture 36-3S 

on  Newton's  third  law  and  evolution  92-94 

obituary  notice  of 109 

Milk  fat  compared  with  meat  and  seed  fats  (reference)    109 

Minutes  of  meeting  for  organization    7 

Minutes    of   first   annual   meeting    11-12 

second    annual    meeting    40-42 

third  annual  meeting  86-89 

fourth  annual  meeting  108-110 

fifth  annual  meeting   117-119 

Mississippi  river  a  barrier  to  spread  of  Pleuroceridse   47 

Missouri    earthquake    in    1811 65 

Missouri   earthquake   in   1895    65,66 

Moccasin,  bite  causes  death   92 

Mollusca  of  N.   America,   origin   and  distribution   of 43-61 

Mollusca  of  Michigan,  reference  to  paper  on   ; 88 

Mollusca,    terrestrial  shell-bearing  (reference) 119 

Molluscan    fauna    of    Michigan    12 

Molluscan  faunas,  of  Northern  Hemisphere  closely  related  51 

of  North  and  South  America  contrasted 51 


INDEX.  173 

Page 

Molothrus    ater,    habits    and    food 71 

Morels  collected  at  the  Agricultural  College  (reference)   109 

Mori,   experiments  in  inoculation    100,101 

Morong,  Dr.  Thomas,  on  Naidacese  of  Michigan   25 

Morrill  act  for  agricultural  colleges 126 

Mortality  and  the  weather  in   Michigan,    statistics   of    139-142 

Mount   Ranier,    reference   to    lecture   on    88 

Mourning  dove,  food  and  nesting  habits 69 

Mouse  septicemia   101 

Muck  lands,   fertility  of   34 

Muck  lands  and  lime   34 

Mushroom   eating   98 

Mushrooms,  edible  and  poisonous  98,  99 

fairy-ring,   abundance   of 98 

Mutelidse   replacing   Unionidse 51 

Mycena  in  winter  .' 98 

Myriophyllum,  new  species  of  25 

N. 

Naidacete  of  Michigan   25 

Natural  history  survey  of  Michigan,  address  on   109 

address   printed 117 

committee  appointed   118 

Nature  study  in  common  schools   (reference) 110 

Nautilus    63 

Nearctic  region  of  Wallace  43 

Necrological  notices   87,  109,  117 

Nereis  virens,    reference   to  paper   on    88 

Nerve  fibers  in  the  cerebral  blood-vessels   (reference) 119 

New  species  of  Michigan  plants   (reference) 12,41 

New  Zealand,  Africa  and  S.   America,   possible  connection   of ,          52 

Newcombe,    Dr.    F.    C.    on   food  of  palm   seedlings 109 

on    rheotropism   of    roots    (reference) 119 

Newton's  third  law  of  motion  a  factor  in  evolution  92-94 

Nitrogen  and  tissue-building   .38 

Non-marine   mollusca,    first   appearance    of    52 

Northern  or  boreal  region  defined  45 

Nostoc  pruniforme.  abundance  of  in  Lake  Michigan 30 

Novy,  Dr.  F.  G.,  on  practical  benefits  of  bacteriology  13-18 

on  results  from  use  of  antitoxin  (reference) 88 

Nucleus,   the  bearer  of  hereditary  qualities   (reference) 119 

Nuphar   advena    27 

attacked  by  leaf-miner Ill 

Nupharetum    27 

Nymphaea    odorata,    attacked    by    leaf -miner    : Ill 

O. 

Oak,  remarkable  forest  of  a  supposed  new  species 99 

Obituary  notices    87,  109,  117 

Objects  of  Michigan  Academy  of  Science   147 

Ocean,   origin  of  life   from 53,  54 

CEdema,   malignant,   and  vaccination   17 

Officers  of  Academy,  duties  of  148,  151 

how  elected   152-153 

how  nominated 152-153 

terms  of  office  148-149 

Officers    of    temporary    organization,    June,    1S94 7 

Officers    for   1894-95 11-12 

for  1896   40 

for    1897 87 

for   1898    109 

for  1899   118 


174  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY     OF    SCIENCE. 

Page 

'  Oils  of  mints  33 

Olfactory  lobe  of  sturgeon  , 100 

Order  of  business  at  meetings   154 

Organization    5,  10 

Organization,    formal,    December,    1894    10 

Origin    of    species    44 

Origin  and  distribution  of  land  and  freshwater  mollusca  43-61 

Original    members,    June,    1894    S 

Otocoris    alpestris    praticola,    nesting    and    food    habits 70 

Our  society  and  a  state  survey  12-14 

Owl.    short-eared,    nesting   habits    75 

P. 

Pacific  coast,  peculiar  helicoid  fauna  of  51,  55 

Pacific   or  Californian   region   defined    45 

Palsearctic  region  45 

Palm   seedlings,   how   they  appropriate   their   food    (reference) 109 

Papers,   list  of  those  presented  at  first  meeting 12 

at  second  meeting  41-42 

at   third   meeting    88,89 

at    fourth    meeting    109-110 

at  fifth  meeting   118-119 

Passeres,   meadow-nesting  species   75 

Pasteur,    and    hydrophobia    IS 

and    vaccination    17 

inoculation  experiments  with  polluted  water 100 

and   Liebig  on   fermentation 14 

Fassenger  pigeon,  practically  exterminated   66.  67 

Patrons  of  the  Academy,   qualifications  for 147 

Patuloid  snails  of  the  Central  region   56 

Peach-growing  and  humidity  35 

Peniophora    98 

Peppermint,    oil   of,    produced   in   Michigan 33 

Perkins,  G.  D.,  on  distinctions  between  typhoid  and  colon  bacilli  (reference) 88 

Pettit,   R.   H.,  on  habits  of  Euclemensia  bassettella 112-114 

on   a   jumping   gall   (reference) 119 

on  leaf-miner  in  water-lilies  110-111 

Phacops    buf  o     63 

Phelps,  Jessie,  on  the  origin  and  development  of  the  adhesive  organ  of  Amia  calva  137-139 

Philippine    ornithology    (reference) 109 

Photographing  vertebrate  embryos   111-112 

Phragmites   communis    • 27 

Phragmitetum    r 27 

Pieters  and  flora  of  Lake  St.   Clair 27 

Pigeon's  wing,  evolution  of  the  color  pattern  of  (reference) 119 

Pileated  woodpecker,  change  in  distribution  of 66 

Pine  barren  lands,  cause  of  sterility   34 

utility  of  34 

Pine  lake,   Ingham  county,  plants  of 25 

Pine  river,  plants  of  28 

Pinnated  grouse  (prairie  hen)  nesting  and  food 74 

Plague,  black,  paper  on  S8 

the  great  white   130 

due    to    bacteria    16 

Plankton,    term    defined    26 

methods  of  investigation  109 

flora  of  Lake  Erie  (reference) 119 

Plant  life,  factors  influencing  abundance  of  aquatic  27 

Plants  of  Michigan,  new  species  of  (reference) 12,  41 

Platycnemic  man  in  New  York  (reference) 12 

Plea  for  greater  attention  to  the  sciences   120-131 

.Fleurocerida?,    distribution    of    47,57.58 

Pleurotus    in    winter    98 


INDEX.  175 

Page 

Plover,   killdeer,   nesting  habits  of   6S 

Plum  curculio,  less  destructive  north  than  south 35 

Plum  rot,   absence  of  in  Northern  Michigan 35 

Plums  in  Upper  Peninsula   35 

Poisonous   germs   in   drinking-water    100-102 

in    foods    (reference) 88 

Pollock,  Dr.  J.  B.,  on  effect  of  mechanical  shock  on  plant  growth  (reference) 119 

on   root-curvature    88 

Polluted   water   causing   septicemia    100 

Polygyra,  species  of  peculiar  to  eastern  N.  America 40 

Polygyrse  wholly  confined  to  America   56 

Polyporus    98 

Polyporus   cinnabarinus,    on   paper   birch    98 

Polystictus     98 

Poocsetes  gramineus,   nesting  habits  and  food 71 

Pope,    Willard    S.,    obituary   notice    of 87 

Poplars  and  elms,  study  of  in  winter  (reference) 119 

Population,  probable  sources  of 103-106 

Post-Pliocene  ice  sheet  and  its  effects 53 

Potamogeton,  nine  species  in  Pine  river 28 

Potamogeton    perf  oliatus    27 

Potamogetonetum    '. 27 

Prairie   hen,    nesting  and   food   habits 74 

Prairie  horned  lark,  nesting  and  food  habits 70 

Prairies  of  Michigan,   flora   of   116 

Prescott,  Dr.  Albert  B.,  on  comparison  of  milk,  meat  and  seed  fats  (reference) 109 

Preservation  of  useful  and  harmless  birds   41 

President  of  Academy,  duties  of 148,  151 

Printing  of  Dr.   Spalding's  presidential  address  authorized 109 

Problems  in  agriculture,  new  and  old  143-145 

Productus    sanctatus    63 

Programme  of  meetings,  how  arranged 149 

Protection   of  birds,    legislation   proposed    117 

Publications  of  Academy,   how  controlled   148,  150,  153 

how  distributed  153 

Pulmonate  fresh-water  mollusks,   origin  of    47,  56,  57 

often  circumpolar  or  cosmopolitan  47 

Pupa  and  Zonites  found  in  the  Carboniferous 55 

Pupida^  and  Zonitida?  abundant  in  Boreal  region    46 

Pyrite   at   Grand   Rapids   64 

Q. 

Quail,   food  and  nesting  habits  of 68,69 

Quaking  bogs  and  their  origin   24 

Quarantine  and  disinfection   : 17 

Quaternary  deposits,  shells  of  (reference) 8S 

Quercus  acuminata,  unusual  form  of 99 

Quercus  prinoides,  remarkable  form  of   98 

Quorum  of  council    149 

Quorum    at    meetings    of    Academy    149 

R. 

Rabbit  septicemia    100 

Raccoon,  habits  of  133 

Rail,    king,    nesting   habits   75 

Rallus   elegans,   nesting   habits    75 

Ramsdell,    J.    G.,    on   peaches    and   temperature 33 

Ranunculus  circinatus  in   Pine   river 28 

Raptores,    meadow-nesting    species    75 

Raspberries  and  humidity   36 

red,    shipped   for   making   brandy    35 

wild,  abundant  in  Northern  Michigan 35 


176  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

Page 

Rattlesnake,   prairie,   habits  of  in  captivity   S9-92 

bitten   by    another    rattler    91 

effects  of  bite  92 

breeding  in  captivity  90 

do  they  swallow  their  young? 90 

eat  only  warm-blooded  prey 90,  91 

relation  of  age  to  number  of  rattles 90 

young  appear  to  grow  without  any  nourishment 90 

Ravenelia   epiphylla   in   Jackson  county,    Michigan 39 

Red-winged    blackbird,    nesting   and    food 74,75 

Regeneration  of  smallest  parts  of  Stentor   (reference) 42 

Registration   of   birth   and   deaths    „. 11 

Reighard,  Jacob,  on  apparatus  for  photographing  embryos  of  Amia   111-112 

on  breeding  habits  of  the  dog-fish    133-137 

on  methods  of  plankton  investigation  (reference) 109 

Religious  training  and  science   121 

Research    fund 151,  153 

Resident  members,   list  of 155-159 

qualifications  for  147,  151 

Restriction    of   consumption    (reference)    119 

Rheotropism   of   roots    (reference) 119 

Rice-bird  (bobolink),  nesting  and  food  habits  70,  71 

Rice,  Zach.,  on  evolution  of  conventional  decorative  forms  (reference) 41 

Rocky   Mountain   or   Central    region,    defined    45 

Root    curvature,    mechanism    of    (reference) •. SS 

Roots,    rheotropism   of   (reference)    119 

Russian    thistle   in    Michigan    (reference) 88 

Russell,  Dr.  I.   C,  lecture  on  ascent  of  Mt.   Ranier  88 

Ruffed  Grouse,  decrease  with  clearing  of  land 67 

S. 

St.    Clair   lake,   flora    of    27 

St.  Clair  lake  and  river,  plants  of  25 

Saltpetre,    origin    of    15 

Sand,  influence  of  on  littoral  vegetation  29,  30 

Sandhill    crane,    nesting    habits    75 

Sandpiper,   Bartramian,  nesting  habits  68 

Sanitary  Science,   organization  of  section  of 11 

plea  for  greater  attention   to 128-129 

Sanitation,    the    new    science    of    76-83 

Saprophytic   fungi   of   the   vicinity    of   the   Agricultural    College    97-99 

Scarlet  fever,   deaths  from   78,79 

isolation    and    disinfection    in 77,78,79,82,83 

Schizophylum  in  winter  98 

Schizostoma   confined   to   Coosa   river,   Alabama 47 

Schools    and    the    sciences    123-126 

Science  of   sanitation    76-83 

Science  teaching,  aims  of  Academy  in  relation  to 85 

Science   teachers,    status   of   in   Michigan 118 

Sciences,   a  plea  for   greater   attention   to 120-131 

Scirpetum    27 

Scirpus    lacustris    27 

Scirpus   pungens    27 

Secretary  of  Academy,  duties  of  148,  151 

Section  of  agriculture,   notice   of  intention   to   organize 41 

Section  of  agriculture  organized  84 

Section    of   botany,    organization    H 

Section  of  sanitary  science,  organization  H 

Section  of  science  teachers  proposed   118 

Section  of  zoology,  organization  H 

Sections  of  the  Academy,  how  organized  150 

Sections,    organization   of   at   first  meeting 11 

Seed  dispersal,  reference  to  paper  on 


INDEX.  177 

Page 

Seeds  of  Michigan,   trees,   methods  of  distribution   (reference) 88 

Selous,   Percy   S.,    on   habits   of  massasauga   in   captivity 89-92 

death   of   92 

Semmelweiss,   Ignatius,   monument  to   17 

Septicemia   of   rabbit    100 

of    mouse    101 

Sheep  bitten  by  rattlesnake  91 

Sheep-ticks  eaten  by  cowbird  71 

Shells  of  quaternary  deposits,  reference  to  paper  on 88 

Sherzer,  Wm.  H.,  on  relation  of  the  Academy  to  the  elementary   schools   (reference)  88 

on    simian   characters   of   the   human    skeleton    (reference) 12 

on  sulphur  and  celestite  in  Monroe  county  (reference) 41 

Shooting   permits   for   scientific    purposes    87 

Short-billed  marsh  wren,   nesting  habits    75 

Short-eared   owl,   nesting  habits   75 

Sierra  Nevada   range   an   impassable   barrier   for   Unionidte 4S 

Silphium   terebinthaceum,   near   Saginaw   Bay 116 

Simian  characters  of  the  human  skeleton   (reference) 12 

Sistrurus    catenatus,    habits    of    in    captivity 89-92 

Skunk  cabbage,   seeds  eaten  by  quail 69 

Small   fruits  on  pine  barrens    '  34 

Smallpox,   prevention  of  by  the  Chinese  17 

Smith,   Clinton  D.,  on  bacteria  and  the  dairy  (reference) 12 

on  dairy  stock-feeding  experiments   (reference) ,. .  41 

on  new  problems  in  agriculture  143-145 

Smith  Harlan  I.,  on  data  and  development  of  Michigan  archaeology  (reference)..  12 

Snakes  seen  to  swallow  their  young   90 

Snow,  Dr.  Julia  W.,  on  plankton  flora  of  Lake  Erie  (reference) 119 

on  unicellular  algse   (reference) 109 

Social   sciences,   plea  for  greater  attention   to 128 

Soda   saltpetre,    origin   cvf    15 

Song  sparrow,   nesting  and  food   habits 72 

South  America  and  Africa,  possible  connection  of 52 

South  America   and   New   Zealand,    possible   connection   of 52 

Southern   region,    of   Binney,    defined 45 

Spalding,  Dr.  V.  M.,  on  natural  history  survey  of  Michigan   (reference) 110 

presidential   report   printed    117 

Spanish   colonial   administration,  lecture   on    (reference) 109 

Sparganium    eurycarpum   and   quaking   bogs    24 

Sparrow  bounty  law,  its  repeal  recommended   118 

Sparrow,   English   118 

field,   nesting  of   73 

grasshopper,  nesting  habits  and  food  72,  73 

Henslow's,    nesting   habits    75 

lark 72 

song,    nesting    and    food    habits    # 72 

swamp,   nesting  habits    75 

vesper,   nesting  and  food   habits    71 

Spawning  of  the  dog-fish,   Amia   135-136 

Spearmint,  oil  of,  produced  in  Michigan   33 

Special   meetings,   how   called    149 

Sphagnum  zone,   plants  of   24 

Spirillum  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  water  101 

Spiza  americana,  nesting  habits  and  food 73 

Spizella  pusilla,    nesting   of 73 

Squirrels,  their  use  of  holes  in  trees  133 

Stake-driver   (bittern)    67,  68 

Statistics   of  climate   and   mortality  in   Michigan 139-142 

Statistics  of  marriages  and  births  in   Michigan   102-106 

Steere,  Dr.  J.  B.,  on  mammals  of  Michigan  (reference) 12 

Stentor,  the  smallest  parts  capable  of  regeneration  (reference) 42 

Stereum    98 

Stock-feeding   experiments    (reference) 41 

23 


178  MICHIGAN     ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

Page 

Sturgeon,   hind  brain  and   cranial   nerves   of 114-115 

olfactory   lobe   of    100 

Sturnella  magna,   nesting  habits  and  food 73 

Subcarboniferous  fossils  from  Grand  Rapids   63 

Subcarbonif erous  limestone   exposure  at  Grand   Rapids 62-65 

Submergence  of  continental  areas  improbable   52 

Subsection    of    conchology    authorized    S4 

Subsections,    organization    of    86 

report  required  from  chairman  of 86 

Sugar  beet  growing,  problems  relating  to 144-145 

Sulfur  and  celestite  in  Monroe  county   (reference) 41 

Sunday  schools  and  science 121 

Survey  of  Michigan,  natural  history  (reference) 110 

Surveys,  biological,  etc.,  recommended  85 

Swamp  lands,  adaptation  to  market  gardening   33 

Swamp  sparrow,   nesting  habits    75 

Swamp  and  marshes  reclaimed   33 

Symplocarpus  f oetidus,   seeds  eaten  by  quail 69 

T. 

Tansy,  oil  of,  produced  in  Michigan 33 

Tasmania  and  Tierra  del  Fuego,  possibly  once  connected 57 

Taylor  raspberry  needs  moist  climate  36 

Telephones  and  the  life  saving  service  127 

Temperature,  effects  of  on  the  development  of  animals  (reference) 110 

Temporary  organization,  officers  of  7 

Terrestrial  mollusca  first  known  from  the  Carboniferous  54,  55 

Terrestrial  shell-bearing  mollusca  of  Michigan   (reference*) 119 

Tertiary,    remnants  of   fauna   spreading  northward    53 

glacial  epoch  of  53 

interior  sea  of  N.   America   52,53 

Tentanus,   cure  of   18 

Tetanus  bacillus  16 

Theology  of  science  121-122 

Thrasher,    brown,    nesting    of    73 

Thunder-pumper  (bittern)   67,  68 

Ticks  eaten  by  cowbird 71 

Timberlake,  H.  G.,  on  origin  of  cell-wall  substance  in  cell-division 119 

on   origin   and   structure   of   cell-plates    (reference) •     110 

Toadstools,    poisonous    98 

Topographic  map  of  State,   recommended  to  legislature   11 

Transition    region    defined    45 

Treasurer    of    Academy,    duties    of    14S-151 

Treasurer,  accounts,  how  audited  153 

accounts,  when  balanced  151 

bond     , 151 

first    report    11 

second  report    40 

third  report  S6 

fourth   report    108 

fifth  report    117 

Trees  as  dwelling  places  for  animals  '. 132-133 

Tremillinese   in  winter   98 

Trillium   grandiflorum,    teratological   forms   of    76 

Trilobites   in  Grand  Rapids   limestone    63 

Tubercle  bacillus    16 

Tulotoma,  confined  to  upper  Coosa  river,  Alabama  48 

Tumbling  mustard,  reference  to  paper  on  88 

Tuscola   county,    flora   of    116 

Tympanuchus  americanus,   nesting  and  food   74 

Typha   latif olia    27 

Typhoid  and  colon  bacilli,  distinctions  (reference) 88 

Typhoid  fever  caused  by  bacilli  16 


INDEX.  179 

U. 

Page 

Unicellular  alga?,   recent  investigations  of   (reference) 109 

Unio,   distribution  of  species  of 51 

wholly   wanting  west   of   Rock   mountains    48 

Unio    complanata,    fertilization    of    eggs    (reference) 

Unionidae,  abundance  of  in  the  Laramie  sea  GO 

differentiation   of  fossil   forms    59 

distribution   of  in   Michigan    (reference) 110 

east    of    the    Appalachians    48 

enormous    development    of 48 

first  appear  in  lower  Cretaceous  54 

found  in  the  Jurassic   59 

influence  of  brackish  and  salt  water  upon 59 

of  general  distribution   over   the   continent    48 

origin  doubtful  58,  59 

possible  emigration  from  the  Laramie  sea  60 

pre-glacial  and  other  migrations  60 

relations  to  fossil  and  living  fauna?  of  Asia 61 

relations  to  Tertiary  fauna  of  Europe 61 

of  California  very  peculiar   60 

of    the    interior    region 49 

Upland  Plover   (Bartramia),   nesting   habits   of 68 

Uredineaa  of  Michigan  (abstract) 39 

Uromyces  Howei,   uredospores  mentioned   39 

pisiformis,   uredospores   mentioned    39 

Sparganii,  uredospores  mentioned   39 

Utricularia    intermedia,    covering    lake    surface    28 

purpurea    28 

resupinata  notes  on   132 

V. 

Vaccination    against    anthrax    17 

against  symptomatic  anthrax 17 

against   hog   erysipelas    IT 

against  malignant  oedema  17 

Vaccination,    of   Jenner 17 

Vallisneria    spiralis    27 

in   Pine   river    28 

Valvata  and  Amnicola,  distribution  of  47 

Van  Zwaluwenburg,  A.,  on  development  of  seed  of  Gossypium   (reference) 109 

Variation  of  latitude  observations  (reference) 119 

Variolation  in  the  far  east 17 

Vaucheria    28 

Vaughan,  Dr.  V.  C,  on  black  plague  (reference) ._ 88 

Venom  of  rattlesnake,  rapidity  of  action 91 

Vertebrate  embryos,  apparatus  for  photographing   111-112 

Vesper   sparrow,    nesting   and    food    habits 71 

Vice   presidents,    annual   report    required   from 87 

duties    of    148 

how  nominated    153 

Vital   statistics   (reference)    12 

Vital    statistics    of    Michigan    102-106 

Viviparse,  distribution  of  47-48 

Viviparidae,  present  distribution  of   57,58 

possible   origin    of    58 

typical    forms   have   wide    distribution    47 

Voting  and   elections,    constitution   on    149 

W. 

Walker,  Bryant,  on  distribution  of  the  Unionidse  in  Michigan  (reference) 110 

on  origin  and  distribution  of  mollusca  of  North  America 43-61 


180  MICHIGAN    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCE. 

Page 
Walker,     Bryant,     on     present    knowledge     of     the     molluscan     fauna    of    Michigan 

(reference)    12 

on  shells  of  quaternary  deposits   (reference) 88 

on  terrestrial   shell-bearing  mollusca   of  Michigan    (reference)..  119 

on  Michigan  mollusca  (reference) 88 

Ward,  Dr.  H.  B.,  on  work  of  Michigan  fish  commission  (reference) 12 

Water    lilies,    leaf-miner    in 110-111 

Water    moccasin,    bite    causes    death 92 

Watkins,  L.  Whitney,  on  birds  that  nest  in  open  meadows 66-75 

Waverly    group    63 

Weissman  and  heredity  37 

West  Indian  Islands,  origin  of  land  mollusks  of » 55,  56 

once  connected  with  Central  America  55 

Wheeler,  Chas.  F.,  on  additions  to  flora  of  Michigan  (reference) 12 

on  Alpena  county  plants  (reference) 88 

on  the  genus  Antennaria  in  Michigan  (reference) 119 

on    Russian    thistle    and   tumbling   mustard    (reference) 88 

on  some  boreal  islands  in  southern  Michigan  (reference) 119 

on  some  Michigan  plants  (reference) 109 

White,  Alfred  H.,  on  beet  sugar  manufacture  (reference) 119 

Whitman,  Dr.  C.  O.,  on  color  pattern  of  the  pigeon's  wing  (reference) 119 

Whittemore,  Chas.  A.,  on  limestone  exposure  at  Grand  Rapids 62-65 

Wilbur,  Dr.  C.  L.,  on  climate  and  mortality  in  Michigan   139-142 

on  vital   statistics    (reference) 12 

on   vital   statistics   of  Michigan 102-105 

Wild  pigeon,  extermination  of 66,  67 

Wild   turkey,    decrease   with   clearing  of   land 66 

Winchell,     Alexander,     unpublished     paper     on    geology     of    Western     Michigan 

(reference)    41 

Withdrawal  of  members  for  non-payment  of  dues 151 

Wolcott,    Dr.    R.   H.,    on   lepidoptera   of   Michigan    32 

Wood  duck,  decrease  in  numbers  of  66 

Woodpecker,  pileated,  change  in  distribution  of 66 

Worcester,  D.  C,  on  apparatus  for  dehydration,  etc.   (reference) 88 

on  birds  of  Michigan  (reference) 12 

on  factors  in  the  origin  and  distribution  of  species  of  land  birds  in 

island    groups    (reference) 109 

on  Spanish  colonial  administration    (reference) 109 

Wren,  long-billed  marsh,  nesting  habits   75 

short-billed   marsh,    nesting   habits    75 

Y. 

Yellowthroat,   Maryland,   nesting  habits   75 

Yersin   of   Paris    1*> 

Ypsilanti   meeting,    March,    1S99,    minutes 117,118 

Z. 

Zenaida  macroura,  nesting  and  food  habits 69 

Zones  of  aquatic  plant  life   27 

Zones  of  Magnin  27 

Zonites  and  Pupa,  found  in  the  Carboniferous  v   55 

of  world-wide  distribution  55 

Zonitidse  and  Pupida?  abundant  in  Boreal  region 46 

Zono-limnetic,    term    denned    26 

Zoology,   organization   of  section  of 11 


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