PREFACE. 



The Fifth Volume of the Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of 

 Natural Sciences is submitted to the scientific public with the hope that it may 

 be found on the same plane of werth and interest with the volumes heretofore 

 issued. 



Valuable work in various fields is shown. Of special interest are the five 

 botanical papers of the late Dr. C. C. Parry, and to him also fell the kindly 

 task of preparing the memorials, herein contained, of the late Prof. D. S. Shel- 

 don, LL. D., first President of the Academy, and of the late R. Smetham. The 

 last work of Dr. Parry's life was the paper on " Ceanothus, L." Only those 

 most intimately connected with the publication of the Proceedings of the 

 Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences can appreciate how much of success 

 was due to the fertile brain, untiring energy, and well-earned, world-wide repu- 

 tation of Dr. Parry. Many an early morning hour found him, after a brisk walk 

 from his country home, in consultation with the Chairman. The last pages 

 of Volume V., fresh from the press, were brought by him to the train, Septem- 

 ber 22, 1889, as the Chairman started on a journey across the seas The fare- 

 well words were spoken, the last grasp of the hand taken, for in a brief time — 

 February 22, 1890 — Dr. Parry took the longer journey from whence no traveler 

 returns. The publication since then has taken a long rest, ostensibly waiting 

 for the "Index" — really paralyzed by the repeated inroads upon the member- 

 ship made by death and removals. 



Among the prominent supporters of the Academy who have been called 

 away was the late Charles E. Putnam, who contributed so much to the perma- 

 nent value of its publications, and whose efficient administration as President 

 closes this Volume. The late James Thompson, whose sudden death occurred 

 a few hours after his reelection to the Presidency, was a member of the Publi- 

 cation Committee. The removal of our former enthusiastic Curator, Prof. W. 

 H. Pratt, to Minneapolis, is felt as a very serious loss. 



Other willing and able hands are taking up the work in various lines, and 

 continued generous support by the community at large, and accumulating be- 

 quests to the Endowment Fund, give every reason for encouragement in the 

 future. Prof. Samuel Calvin, Iowa State Geologist, and Dr. Jennie McCowen 

 are now on the Publication Committee. Prof. W. 11. Barris, whose reputation 

 as a geologist needs no mention, has taken the place of Prof. Pratt, as Curator. 



On December 14, 1892, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the 

 Academy was celebrated by a successful entertainment, one delightful feature 

 of which was the reading by the Secretary, Dr. Jennie McCowen, of a most 

 carefully-prepared paper, giving a concise resume of the history and work of 



