animals which inhabit our forests, our prairies, our rivers, or our lakes; 

 or who have studied the archiuology or ethnology of the primitive races 

 who preceded us. 



In this connction, I take pleasure in announcing to jou, that the Mis- 

 souri Weather Service finishes with the year 1887 the first ten years of its 

 existence. A report on the rainfall and temperature of our State is now 

 in process of preparation and will be in readiness for the present number 

 of our Transactions, which we hope to issue soon. 



Another matter which, as it seems to me, concerns the future of our 

 Academy, I wish to touch upon here. It has been the custom for the Acad- 

 emy to elect the same officers from year to year. I fear that this has some- 

 times come about through excessive courtesy to those ho-lding these offices. 



I think that some method of choosing our officers ought to be devised which 

 will enable each person to vote for the member whom he desires to see fill 

 an office, and without anything else to influence his vote. In most of the 

 offices, there is no doubt that the interests of the Academy will be pro- 

 moted by a rotation in office. M'hen one takes upon himself the respon- 

 sibility of an office, he commits himself more fully to advance the interests 

 of the Academy. It becomes a duty to attend the meetings, and the in- 

 centive to contribute something to the interest of the meetings becomes 

 greater. I most earnestly urge this matter upon the attention of the mem- 

 bers, and hope that it will receive your serious consideration. The nomi- 

 nations should be wholly by informal ballot, and without any open 

 nomination, in order to secure a wholly unbiased action. 



Regarding our financial condition, we are in a prosperous condition, in 

 a small way; that is to say, we are out of debt, and have means to publish 

 the forthcoming number of our Transactions. We are continually ex- 

 tending the list of our exchanges, receiving in return the valuable publi- 

 cations of learned societies in all parts of the world. Our thanks are 

 continually due to the enlightened policy of Washington University in 

 providing for us the comfortable rooms which we occupy here. 



During the past year there have been 16 regular and one called meet- 

 ing. The highest attendance has been 18, the lowest 7, and the average 



II and a fraction. Thirteen papers have been presented and referred to 

 the Publication Committee, and many subjects not intended for publica- 

 tion have been brought before us for our mutual interest and instruction. 



By the death of Dr. W. G. Eliot and Mr. J. B. Eads the Academy loses 

 from its membership two men who have not only done much to advance 

 the interests of our institution, but whose influence and labor were always 

 felt whenever the higher needs of society were involved. 



The reports of the Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer were 

 also read. 



The annual election of otticers for the year iSSS resulted as 

 follows : 



