SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 259 



A communication was read from the ornithologist of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, Division of Ornithology, thanking 

 the Curator for valuable information contained in his letter, and in the 

 schedule filled out in regard to the English sparrow. He also expressed 

 a desire to receive any further notes from time to time, which the' 

 Academy might collect upon the subject. 



The Executive Committee reported that they had considered a prop- 

 osition from Prof. F. Starr, professor of geology and biology in Coe 

 College, Cedar Rapids, and one of our coi responding members, in re- 

 gard to observations on the thunder-storms in Iowa. The Professor 

 desired to prepare a report for Iowa, and would prefer that it should 

 be done under the auspices of the Academy. As an immediate reply 

 was necessary, the Executive Committee, at a meeting held April 18th, 

 had accepted the proposal and promised the cooperation of the Acad- 

 emy. The correspondence with the Professor was read and the ac- 

 tion of the committee approved. 



Dr. Karris then introduced the subject of "Local Geology," basing 

 his remarks on a pamphlet by Mr. A. S. Tiffany, which was filled chiefly 

 with personalities and misrepresentations. Dr. Barris read from stand- 

 ard authorities at hand, showing the inaccuracies of various statements 

 purporting to be scientific, and dwelt upon the fact that personalities 

 were not legitimate criticisms of scientific productions. 



The Doctor was asked to reduce his remarks to writing. 



May 1 j, 1887. — Adjourned Meeting. 

 President C. E. Harrison in the chair; four members present. 

 Subject for discussion, "Thunderstorms." The meeting was entirely 

 informal, and all members participated in the discussion. 



May 27, 1887. — Regular Meeting. 

 President C. E. Harrison in the chair; six members present. 



Librarian reported two hundred one additions to the library during 

 the month. 



Curator reported that the museum had received remarkable and ex- 

 tensive additions during the month, among which were six barrels, one 

 keg, and seven large boxes of pottery and other relics from Arkansas, 

 collected by Capt. Hall. 



Mr. Pratt exhibited the thunder-storm blanks prepared for the use of 

 observers, and reported progress as to this work. 



Mr. Carl L. Suksdorf, principal of the German public school, and 

 Mr. B. F. Thomas, editor of the Morning Sun Herald, were elected to 



