DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 45 



dred lantern slides have been made during the year, and a mueli larger 

 number of permanent microscopic mounts. 



The bird boxes, placed about the campus in the spring of 1899 for the 

 purpose of encouraging bluebirds, wrens, martins, swallows and ether 

 valuable native birds, haA^e been maintained and watched so far as prac- 

 ticable during the present season, and their continuance is fully war- 

 ranted. 



Thus far no swallows or martins have used the boxes, but the number 

 of wrens on the campus has been more than trebled, at least eight of 

 the boxes being used by that species the present season. The blue- 

 bird still holds aloof and it is not probable that its former numbers will 

 ever be restored in this vicinity unless the English sparrows, which 

 increase yearly, are almost exterminated. 



WALTER B. BARROWS, 



Professor of Zoology and Physiology, 



Agricultural College, Mich., 

 June 30, 1900. 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTIMENT OF ENGLISH AND MODERN 



LANGUAGES. 



President J. L. Snyder: 



Sir — The following is a summary of the work of the Department of 

 English and Modern Languages during the year just closed: 



During the fall term the number of classes and sections of classes in 

 the department was twenty, and the average eni'ollment in each class 

 or section was thirty-two. An average of three hundred and forty-three 

 essays each week was handled, each essay being carefully and minutely 

 criticised and corrected before being returned to the student. In the 

 winter term the number of classes and divisions remained the same, but 

 the average membership in the classes fell to twenty-eight. The num- 

 ber of essays per week handled was three hundred and one (average). In 

 the spring term the number of classes and division was eighteen, with an 

 average membersliip of twenty-four, and the weekly number of essays 

 was two hundred and forty-one. 



Besides this the oration work each term has taken up much time 

 and thought. During the fall term I ])ersonally had this work in hand, 

 but during the sjtring terms I turned it over to Mr. King, who is 

 especially prepared for such work. He has been giving the juniors and 

 seniors careful attention in this respect, and we hope to make this 

 feature of the work count for much more than ever before in the 

 training given bv the courses. 



