PREFACE. 



The Publication Committee of the Davenport Academy of Natural 

 Sciences takes pleasure in presenting to the scientific world the seventh 

 volume of its proceedings. 



For the first time in many years considerable space has been given 

 .to entomological papers. This is eminently fitting in view of the 

 fact that the publication was started by J. Duncan Putnam, whose en- 

 tomological contributions added much to the value of the first three 

 volumes. The present volume contains valuable entomological papers 

 by Samuel H. Scudder, Herbert Osborn, Elmer D. Ball, T. D. A. 

 Cockerell, and H. F. Wickham. 



The departments of anthropology and ethnology, in which the 

 Academy takes a deep interest on account of its large and constantly 

 increasing collections in these lines, are represented by three papers 

 by Frederick Starr. 



There is also a ]iaper on Scott county geology by Professor W. H, 

 Barris and botanical contributions by L. H. Pammel and H. Harold 

 Hume. 



The volume is opened by a biograi)hical sketch of Charles E. Put- 

 nam, one of the early supporters of the Academy and twice its Presi- 

 dent. This memoir is written by his son, W. C. Putnam. 



The membership lists at the close of the volume were prepared by 

 Dr. C. H. Preston, and the index by J- G. Udden, Jr., of Rock 

 Island, to whom, and to Edward Borcherdt for the pains taken with 

 typography and press-work, the thanks of the Academy are due. 

 The volume is illustrated by plates of a high grade, much enhancing 

 its value. 



While the Academy is chiefly known to the outside world by its 

 published proceedings, material progress has been made at home. 



