2IO DAVENPORT ACADFMY OF NATUKAI, SCIENCES. 



Resolved, That we hereby testify our appreciation of her worth and deep sym- 

 pathy with her bereaved family. 



Resolved, That a copy of these resoUitions he transmitted to the sorrowing hus- 

 band, and also to the daily papers for publication. 



MRS. D. S. SHELDON. 



Whereas, By the decease of Mrs. D. S. Sheldon the Academy for the fourth 

 time within a few short months is called upon to give up an honored life-member 

 and co-worker, 



Resolved, In her demise we recognize the loss to science of an efficient, thorough, 

 quiet helper, and to the community of one whose fine mental gifts were supplement- 

 ed by the best attributes of the heart. 



Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the bereaved hus- 

 band, and furnished to the city papers for publication. 



An amendment to the By-Laws was adopted, striking out Sections 

 7 and 8 of Article IX., thus aboUshing the Furnishing Committee. 



Mrs. C. E. Putnam was appointed a delegate to attend the meeting 

 of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, to be held at Iowa City on June 



I St. 



Rev. Mr. Gass then gave a description, with blackboard illustra- 

 tions, of a very remarkable mound near Wyoming Hill, in Muscatine 

 County, of which he recently made partial exploration. 



It was shown to be one of the most curious and interesting of the 

 prehistoric works ever investigated in this part of the country, and one 

 which may possibly throw new light upon the habits of the ancient 

 people of whom so little is known as yet. 



The mound is situated in the middle of, a small area of fifteen or 

 twenty acres of bottom-land, between and close to the confluence of 

 two little creeks, almost entirely surrounded by very high bluffs, and 

 having but a narrow opening in front, through which the Mississii)pi 

 River is seen a quarter of a mile distant. The base of the mound is 

 just above high-water mark. It is thus situated in the midst of a grand 

 am|)hitheatre, where, if such were its i)urpose, it might be viewed by 

 many thousands of peojile from the tops and sides of the surrounding 

 bluffs. The mound is over thirty feet high, of oval form, the long di- 

 ameter being nearly two hundred feet, but small and rounded on the 

 top. It is composed of thirty-three distinct layers of earth, clay, sand, 

 and gravel, dark and light, and generally very clearly defined; the 

 whole interspersed with scattered fragments of charcoal in considerable 

 ([uantity, and some of them quite large. Specimens of these several 

 layers were e.xhibited, which will be preserved in the museum. In the 

 bottom of the mound is an immense pile of slabs of sandstone, two or 



