416 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



If, in view of such coasideratious, you sliall decide to coutinue in som» 

 form tlie vvoik of tlie survey, it will be possible for you to avail yourselves of a 

 large amount of experience, both in this and neighboring States, as to dangers 

 to be avoided and advantages to be gained. 



Fuhlication of volume 4 of final report. — The delay in the publi- 

 cation of volume 4 became a subject for legislative investigation. 

 From the report made by its editor, Dr. J. M. Wheaton, it was found 

 that the delay resulted from press of other State printing, lack of 

 paper, etc., and that if the work was uninterrupted, it might be fin- 

 ished in six months. An appropriation (lapsed) amounting to 

 $2,894.96 was consequentl}^ restored; $1,143.53 was expended upon 

 the volume during the year. 



The following year provision was made for the speedy binding and 

 distribution of the long-delaj^ed addition to the series. The work as 

 it stands is uniform with the volumes on geology and numbers 1,020 

 pages. It is wholly devoted to zoology, and includes a report on the 

 Mammals of Ohio, by Prof. A. M. Brayton; Birds, by Dr. J. M. 

 Wheaton; Eeptiles and Amphibians, by Dr. W. H. Smith; and 

 Fishes, by Dr. David S. Jordan. The report is full and complete 

 and abmidantl}' compensates for its delay. The report on Mol- 

 lusks by Dr. li. M. Byrnes, and th.e catalogue of the plants of the 

 State woidd have increased the volume to undesirable dimensions, 

 so they were left to form, Avith such additions as might be made to 

 the material already prepared, a second part to the volume. It was 

 hoped that by the preparations on economic botany and economic 

 entomology which ought to be included, a second part of great prac- 

 tical value might be added in a short time. 



Professor Newberry in his preface writes : 



Some impatience has been expressed at the slow progress of the preparation 

 of the volume on zoology and botnuy, and the late appearance of the part now 

 issued. But it should be remembered that all time and thought which have been 

 expended on these thorough and voluminous reports destined to be so creditable 

 and useful to the State have been gratuitously bestowed. Not a dollar has 

 been paid to the authors for the years they have spent in this woi-k, and jus- 

 tice as well as courtesy demands that the invaluable gifts now made to the 

 people of Ohio by the eminent naturalists who have prepared these reiwrts 

 should be gratefully acknowledged. Probably nowhere in the history of 

 scientific publication cnn be found more honorable examples of the gratuitous 

 consecration of time and learning by men of science to tlie higher interests of 

 the public. 



The value and importance of the volume are rendered greater 

 since, with the exception of isolated newspaper and magazine articles, 

 nothing had been published in regard to the zoology of the State 

 since the catalogue prepared by Dr. J. P. Kirtland and issued with 

 the second annual report (first series) in 1838. No compensation 



