364 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. Ill, No. 4, 



especially if the collections were extended over other months of 

 the year. Some records of Hemiptera have been made, but they 

 cannot be considered as in any way exhaustive at the present 

 time. Extensive collections have been made of the Diptera by 

 Prof. J. S. Hine, but no record as ^-et is published. 



It will be seen from this that scarcely anything has been done 

 in the way of exhaustive study of an^^ one of the groups of 

 worms, crustaceans, mollusks, and a great majority of the groups 

 of insects, in all of which we ma}- be sure that there is an enor- 

 mous aggregate of species represented. 



It appears to me that a systematic surve}' of the locality is not 

 only possible but that with the large number of students visiting 

 the locality each year we may hope for rapid progress, provided 

 there is definite cooperation to that end. With regard to the 

 value of such studies, we ma}- say that the localitj^ possesses some 

 ver}- unique features and is an exceptionally fine locality for flora, 

 as has been shown b}^ Professors Moseley, Kellerman and others. 

 Man}^ peculiar occurrences of animal groups have been noted that 

 will greatly extend the main distribution of many of the species. 

 To those familiar with the region it is unnecessary to speak of 

 the peculiar and varied conditions presented, but for those who 

 have never visited the locality it will be proper to state that the 

 remarkable conditions are due largely to the presence of an 

 extended stretch of sand — Cedar Point, which extends from six 

 to seven miles and encloses the east arm of Sandusky Bay. This 

 Point is virtually an extended sand dune, or series of dunes, with 

 a flora entireh' characteristic of sand dune formations ; that the 

 arm of the Bay it encloses is to a considerable part an extended 

 marsh so closelj" enclosed by islands, points and vegetable growth 

 that the waters are very largely undisturbed. 



Within the other arm of the Bay we have the outflow of San- 

 dusky River and a more or less rocky shore with limestone soil, 

 which contrasts strikingly with the sand formations of Cedar 

 Point. Another striking condition is offered in the level prairies 

 in the vicinity of Castalia. On the whole there is, within a radi- 

 us of five miles of the city of Sandusky, a variety of condi- 

 tions which it would be hardly possible to duplicate anywhere in 

 the interior of the United States, and which makes possible a 

 great variety of biological studies. 



I may add that it is the purpose of the University to develop 

 the biological station, and to this end it desires to make the sta- 

 tion accessible and useful to every biological student and espe- 

 ciallv tho.se who are connected with the colleges and schools of 

 Ohio. 



The members of this academy particularly .should feel a sense 

 of proprietorship in the station and are most cordially invited to 

 take ad\-antage of its opportunity. 



