56 TWELFTH REPORT. 



knowledge of the natural history of the state, a condition of affairs that 

 was putting us far behind our sister states, endeavored to remedy the 

 matter by obtaining a biological survey of the state. Finally, in 1905, 

 there was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor a bill 

 that provided for such a sui'vey. This, while but a small beginning, has 

 done much toward giving us a start in the right direction. The act read 

 as follows : 



That the Board of Geological Survey is hereby authorized and re- 

 quired to make under the direction of the State Geologist, appointed by them, 

 a thorough biological survey of the state, embracing a determination of the 

 range and distribution of the various plants and animals inhabiting the state 

 and the relation to their environment and the w^elfare of man/ 



Permit me to call your attention to three features of this act. First, 

 the biological work is given as permanent a foundation as the geological ; 

 second, no permanent appropriation is provided; and, third, no place is 

 designated as a depository of the collections. At this time, |1,00(> a 

 year for two years was provided, and this appropriation was voted 

 again in the sessions of 1907 and 1909. In view of these things Mr. 

 Allen, the director, on the advice of the Board of Scientific Advisors and 

 Avith the approval of the Board of Geological Survey, has changed the 

 name of late years ap])lied to the survey, "Michigan Geological Survey," 

 to the "Michigan Geological and Biological Survey,'' and the Board of 

 Geological Survev has designated the Universitv of Michigan Museum 

 as the depository of the collections. At the present time then, we have, 

 as a result of the labors of the friends of natural science in the state, 

 "The Michigan Geological and Biological Survey," and funds to con- 

 tinue the biological work until June 30, 1911. 



As the funds available for the biological work have been absurdly 

 insuflflcieut, we have limited the work to that which we believe can be 

 done to the best advantage with our limited facilities. It falls into two 

 classes — explorations of jiarticular regions and monographic studies of 

 different groups in the state. I believe that the reports from these two 

 kinds of work may be made to serve two ends — the advancement of 

 scientific knowledge and the assistance of teachers and local students. 

 What we have done so far I will put before you in a review of the work 

 we have published, have in press, or in preparation. 



The publications of the survey to date are as follows : 



1900. An Ecological Survey of Northern Michigan. Prepared under 

 the direction of Charles C. Adams. Annual Report of the Geological 

 Survey of Michigan, 1905, pp. 1-133, 1 maps, 17 plates. A detailed ac- 

 count, by the field Avorkers and various specialists, of the fauna and flora 

 of the I'orcujiine Mountains and the southern part of Isle Royale, based 

 upon the material obtained by an expedition sent out by the University 

 of Michigan Museum on funds provided by private individuals. 



1906. An Illustrated Catalogue of the ]Mollusca of Michigan. Part 

 I, Terrestrial Pulmonata (Land Snails). By Bryant Walker. Annual 

 Report of the Geological Survey of Michigan, 1905, \)\k 427-531, 169 

 text figures, 1 plate, 1 chart. A manual of Michigan land snails, summar- 

 izing the status of the forms in the state, and giving keys and descrip- 

 tions designed to assist students of the Michigan fauna. 



^Public Acts, 1905 — No. 250. 



