358 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



On motion of Dr. Gudeman, a committee consisting of Messrs. F. 

 J. Walz, J. H. Harrison and M. Bunker was appointed to draw up 

 resolutions endorsing the proposed adoption of the metric system by 

 the government, copies of the resolutions to be sent to our members 

 of congress. 



Following the business session the Academy adjourned to the 

 rotunda where Prof. Launcelot W. Andrews of the Iowa .State Univer- 

 sity, assisted by John D. Fish, Electrician, delivered an interest- 

 ing lecture on the subject, "Some Properties of Highly Rarified 

 Gases." The lecture was listened to by a select audience filling the 

 rotunda and presented a highly instructive consideration of the nature 

 and properties of the recently discovered "Roentgen" or "X" 

 rays. 



April 24, i8g6 — Regular Meeting. 



President Hamniatt in the chair ; six members present. 



The Curator reported valuable additions to the library from Miss 

 Clara Holmes and Hon. George T. Baker. The thanks of the Academy 

 were extended to Prof. L. W. Andrews for his instructive lecture of 

 March 27, and on motion of Mr. C. E. Harrison, the following supple- 

 mentary resolution was adopted : 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Academy be tendered Mr. A. W. Van- 

 v>der Veer, president of the Peoples' Light Company, and Messrs. J. Charles 

 Young, J. D. Fish of this city, and Dr. Wm. H. Ludewig of Rock Island, for 

 assistance rendered in making the lecture of Prof. Andrews a success. 



May 2g, i8g6 — Regular Meeting. 



President Hammatt in the chair; six members present. 



The Curator reported the donation from Hon. C. A. Ficke of an 

 Egyptian mummy and case, shipped by him from the Boulak museum, 

 Cairo, Egypt, and received at the Academy in good condition. 

 This very generous donation, made yet more valuable by the known 

 scholarship of the giver and his carefulness as a collector, had been 

 announced by the following letter: 



Cairo, March 21, i8q6. 

 Academy of Natural Sciences, Davenport, Iowa : 



Gentlemen — I take pleasure in stating that I have to-day purchased and 

 caused to be shipped to the Academy by the Museum here, a mummy with 

 box, which I request the Academy to accept from me. The mummy and 

 case are supposed to be from the 20th dynasty or thereabouts. I was able 

 to arrange for the prepayment of freight only as far as New York, but have 



