24 rou'A acaukmv of strKNCF.s.. 



cics. EsixM-ially is there the (jiue'stioiii .so ah.sorhiiiii- both 

 econoiiiieally and scientifically, as to their food, hahits and 

 the precise relation of each species to other l)ranches of the 

 organic Avorkl, all of \vhi<h vary more or less with locality, 

 and hence demand stndy in all parts of the Stat<'. The new 

 division of ornithology and mannnalo<:y in the United States 

 Department of A^ricultnre furnishes op[)ortunity for any dis- 

 posed to assist in these problems to render contributions 

 which may have far moie than local value. Isolated obser- 

 vations, publislied in connection with many others on the 

 same subject from different localities, become of far i>reatcr 

 significance and value. 



1 am not awai-e of any record of the re[)tiles, I)atrachians 

 or fishes, which pretends to represent the faiota of the State 

 in these classes, and in the latter chisses especially there is 

 opportimity for rich returnino- to the investigator. A be- 

 ginning has ])een made by Profs. ^Jordan and Meek who, a 

 few years since, collected in some of the streams of Southern 

 Iowa and published a list of species collected in Iowa, in the 

 Proceedings of the Nati(mal Museum. The ec(m()mic aspei-ts 

 of the fishes are ])robably not fully ai)preciated by the people 

 of the State, but are recognized to the extent of an official 

 fish commissioner. A l)etter knowledge of the breeding habits 

 and food supply and enemies of the food fishes connnon to 

 our streams and lakes would doubtless be of great advant- 

 age in assisting their multiplication, andalcnigside of atteni[)ts 

 to introduce food fishes from abroad (and it seems to me more 

 important than them) there shonld be an intelligent efl'ort 

 to further theproduction of the best species native to the 

 State. 



Of the inverteln-ates, no grouix-an e<jiial the insects, both in 

 scientific and economic im[)ortaiK"e. Contributions in this 

 In-anch have been nnide by Hofl'meister, Parker, Bessey, Put- 

 nam, Witter. AValton and the writer, with others whose 

 names not now in nn'nd may deserve ecpial mention. 



