156 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. II, No. 2, 



to be discouraged; Most good things will keep for a time at 

 least, and the opportunit}- to test and verify investigations before 

 publishing is desirable. It is unwise to attempt to harvest a 

 crop of glory, in scientific fields at least, before the seed has had 

 time to germinate. The extremes of too hasty publication and 

 indefinite delay are both to be avoided. 



But this disjointed address must be brought to a close, I have 

 indulged in a medley rather than pursuing a connected theme, 

 but it has been in my mind to show how the influence of modern 

 biology has been felt in every phase of human life and modified 

 every phase of human thought. It touches history and illumines 

 it as a record of human activities, the modifications and adapta- 

 tions of the most dominant organism of earth. It touches lan- 

 guage and infuses it with life as the highest evolution of all 

 means of communication among animals. It enters the sphere 

 of human relations and we see society, government, law, as the 

 most complex expression of forces operative all along the line of 

 organic life. 



We may gain inspiration in our work from the thought that 

 our field of labor gives opportunity for the highest service in the 

 advancement of human interests and the intellectual uplift of the 

 race. 



The club extended Prof. Osborn a vote of thanks for his 

 valuable address. 



F, J. Tyler, Secniarj. 



The Ohio vState Academy of Science held its eleventh annual 

 meeting at the Ohio State Universit}- in this city on November 

 29th and 30th. Between thirty and forty papers were given and 

 the attendance was considerably above the average. On the 

 evening of the 29th a joint meeting was held with the Modern 

 Language Association of Ohio, which held its annual session at 

 the University on the dates mentioned above. The committee 

 arranged an interesting and appropriate program for the evening 

 and a large and appreciative audience responded. The Academy 

 meetings have been held heretofore during the Christmas vaca- 

 tion, therefore holding it at this time was an experiment, but 

 judging from the program, attendance, and enthusiasm mani- 

 fested, the meeting this year may be said to be one of the best 

 the society has ever held. 



It is of more than ordinary interest to be able to record the 

 taking of specimens of the liuropean ruff, Pavonc. 11a pugnax 

 (lyinn.) in Ohio. Two male specimens are in the Dr. Jasper 

 collection at the Ohio State University, one taken April 28th, 

 1879, at Columbus, the other November loth, 1872, at the 

 lyicking Reservoir. 



