[98 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



to cataloguing, and it is hoped that the ensuing year may find some- 

 thing accomplished in this direction. 



In order to render the large number of scientific, agricultural, and 

 mechanical journals and papers useful to the community and to the 

 society, I would suggest the propriety of placing them on file in one of 

 the lower rooms, where they may be available for reference. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Jennie McCowen, M.D., Librarian. 



PUBLICATION COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 

 Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen: 



Never since the inauguration of the publication of the Proceedings 

 of the Davenport Academy of Natural Scignces, in 1875, has the out- 

 look been more encouraging than at the present time, or a deeper 

 interest taken in the work, both at home and abroad. Applications for 

 the previous volumes are constantly received, while exchanges have 

 continued to come from almost every known scientific society in the 

 world. 



Volume IV. is a direct outgrowth of a list from Professor W. H. 

 Holmes, in September, 1883, through whom the Bureau of Ethnology 

 made an offer to publish wood cuts of all the most important pieces of 

 pottery in the Museum of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences 

 for our own publication, afterwards using the same cuts for the volume 

 of the Smithsonian report. The Academy at a formal meeting accept- 

 ing this offer, your committee were instructed to proceed with the work, 

 and raise the necessary funds by subscriptions to Volume IV., dona- 

 tions, and entertainments. 



The first form of Volume IV. came from the press November 18th, 

 1883, and form 13, page 120, December, 1884. 



Over one-third of Volume IV. is completed, and about one-third 

 more in press. It is proposed to close this volume with a synopsis of 

 the records of the past four years ending with 1884. 



Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam, Chairman. 



PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

 By H. C. Fulton. 

 Ladies and Gentlemen: 



Upon retiring from the office of President of the Academy at this, 

 the close of my term, I wish to call your attention to the present 

 condition of the institution, and make a few suggestions. The year 

 past has not been one of remarkable growth for the Academy, but has 

 been one of progress, and the reports show the institution to be in 

 better condition to-day than ever before. Meetings have been regu- 

 larly held throughout the year, and the attendance has been good, 

 though there has been a failure to make them of sufficient interest, and 

 too much time has been consumed in the routine business of the 



