SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 237 



favor, and, not infrequently, with high encomiums. The publication of 

 Volume V. of the Proceedings has also been commenced, with some 

 valuable papers giving the results of original researches in geology, 

 paleontology, botany, conchology, and archaeology. The printing of 

 this volume will proceed as rapidly as scientific papers are furnished the 

 Academy, and provision can be made for the necessary funds to meet 

 the expense. As will be seen from the very full and complete report 

 of the Curator, there have been, during the past year, several valuable 

 collections donated to the Academy, as well as considerable additions 

 made to its museum through explorations conducted by its members. 

 Among these it may be mentioned that several ancient mounds have 

 been opened, and some exceedingly valuable relics added to our already 

 large archaeological collection. These relics, as well as the other addi- 

 tions to the museum, are particularly described in the Curator's report, 

 and hence will here be passed without special mention. It will appear 

 from the report of the Secretary that there have been held, during the 

 past year, eight meetings of the Board of Trustees, and twenty-three 

 regular and special meetings of the Academy, with an average attend- 

 ance of fifteen members. It further appears that there has been a 

 considerable increase in the membership by the election of thirty-two 

 regular, and fifteen corresponding members. These statistics are re- 

 ferred to as indicating a growing interest in the work of the Academy. 

 The report of the Librarian shows a large increase to the library during 

 the past year, and as these publications contain all the recent researches 

 in this country and Europe, they are of great scientific worth. The 

 interesting fact should not be overlooked that these large additions to 

 our library are the direct result of the publication of our Proceedings, 

 and in actual value will far exceed the expense incurred by the Acad- 

 emy for printing and distribution. The library of the Academy is thus 

 becoming one of the largest and most valuable in the west, and is 

 greatly in need of binding and cataloguing, in order that this rich scien- 

 tific literature may be brought within easy reach of all workers in 

 science. This department deserves, and should receive, special atten- 

 tion. 



In connection with the publication and distribution of Volume IV. 

 of the Proceedings, it should be stated the paper upon "Elephant Pipes 

 and Inscribed Tablets," which was included as an appendix, has been 

 generally accepted as decisive of the controversy in vindicating the 

 reputation of Rev. Mr. Gass, and in establishing the integrity of these 

 interesting specimens as genuine mound relics. In addition to the- 

 strong support received from the distinguished scientists whose com- 

 munications were published in the second edition of that paper, we 

 have been encouraged by still further and more emphatic testimonials. 

 Notable among the distinguished gentlemen abroad who have thus 

 championed our cause, I may mention M. le Marquis de Nadaillac, of 

 Paris, France, and Dr. Max Uhle, of Dresden, Prussia. The former, 

 in a paper entitled " Les Pipes et le Tobag" makes special mention of 

 the unfounded accusations of Mr. Henshaw, and maintains the great 

 antiquity of man in America, thus removing a principal objection to 



