38 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. « 



Vesicle," the first of a series of "Studies on the Development of the Ear of 

 Amblystoma," commenced in the Journal of Morphology, Vol. VII, No. 7. So far 

 as I am aware this is the most important morphological work done by any Iowa 

 zoologist during the year. Reconstructions in wax from serial sections were made, 

 and the whole subject clearly presented in a series of excellent figures. Prof. Nor- 

 ris has also published an account of the " Development of the Ovule in Grundilia 

 squamatay ^ He is at present continuing his studies of the Vertebrate Ear, espe- 

 cially in Batrachia. 



C. C. Nutting has published a review of the late work on "Coloration of Ani- 

 mals, by Beddard - 



"What is an Inherited Character?"^ in which an atempt is made to show 

 the impossibility of finding such a character th^ will be accepted by the Neo 

 Darwinians. 



" Report on Zoological Explorations on the Lower Saskatchewan River.* 

 This report is devoted largely to the collection of birds made by a party from the 

 State University in the summer of 1891. Over one hundred species were collected, 

 and many interesting phases of plumage are described. A specimen of grouse 

 containing the characters of Dendragapiis canadensis and D. Franklinii, and a 

 warbler containing specific characters of GeotJihjpis macgiUivratjii and G. Phil- 

 adelphia, are described. 



A paper has been prepared for publication on the "Vascular Supply of the- 

 Teeth of the Domestic Cat," and investigations on the poison apparatus and fangs 

 of Heloderma horridiim have been made resulting in the discovery of a beautiful 

 demonstration of the homology oHeeth and scales, the scales containing true dentine. 



Prof. Herbert Osborn, of the State Agricultural College, has been active as ever. 

 An important work is a paper on Lice Affecting Domestic Animals.^ Illus- 

 trated. Fifteen species of these pestiferous insects are described. An introductory 

 account written in plain English for the people is a commendable feature. The 

 methods for exterminating several of the parasites are also given. 



Professor Osborn and H. A. Gossard are the joint authors of Rejyorts on Injurious 

 Insects. Prof. Osborn 's most important work this year, from a systematic stand- 

 point, is his "Partial Catalogue of the Animals of lowa."^ The list of mammals is 

 from a previous list by the author and one by F. W. Coding. 



The list of birds is, as the author says, condensed from one published by Chas. 

 Keyes and Dr. H. S. Williams in 1888. Two species are added by Prof. Osborn,. 

 Lanis africilla, Ia.(?) and Callipepla squamata, reported by Prof. J. E. Todd in 

 1889. 



The lists of Reptilia and Batrachia are based on the collections in the Agricul- 

 tural College museum. A list of fishes is added by Prof. S. E. Meek. 



The lists of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera are based on the collections of the 

 Agricultural College. 



In his list of Coileoptera, Prof. Osborn has added 384 species to the list of 871 

 species published by H. F. Wickham in the Bulletin from the Biological Labora- 

 tories of Natural History of the State University of Iowa, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1888. 



The following is a partial list of other scientific papers published by Prof. 

 Osborn during the year 1892: 



Am. Nat., Aug., 1892. 



Science, 1892. 



Am. Nat., Dec, 1892. 



Bulletin from the Biological Laboratories of S. U. I., Vol. Ill, No. 1. 



5 From Bulletin No. 16 Iowa Agric. Experiment Station. 



6 Published by authority of the Board of Trustees of Iowa Agricultural College. 



