264 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



REPORT OF PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 



In reporting at the close of this my fifteenth year as Chairman, 

 I wish to express the gratification I feel on the result to the library 

 of the Academy through these publications. In the year 1872 the 

 number of bound and unbound volumes in the library was 311, most 

 of these obtained by purchase. To-day our Librarian reports the 

 number of books and pamphlets in the library at 33,955.* These 

 volumes come entirely through exchange and not from purchase. 

 They bring us in touch with all scientific societies of the world and 

 give us the latest scientific discoveries and most advanced thought. 



Volume VI., about to be presented to the public, has been exactly 

 four years in preparation and will contain the first entomological jjaper 

 published since the pen and engraving tools of the late J. D. Putnam 

 were laid aside in 1881. 



I would like to remind the Davenport public that, while an endow- 

 ment fund has made further aid in this work unnecessary for the pres- 

 ent, there are other important objects in the Academy demanding 

 their support. 



The papers published during 1896 were: "A List of Coleoptera 

 from the Southern Shore of Lake Superior, with Remarks on Geo- 

 graphical Distribution," by H. F. VVichkam, M.S., covering 45 pages; 

 "Stone Mounds and Serpent of Hughes County, South Dakota," by 

 John M. Helmick; "A Shell Gorget from Mexico," by Frederick 

 Starr, Ph.D. (2 wood cuts); "A Revision of the TruxalinjE of North 

 America," by Jerome McNeill, 96 pages. This paper is beautifully 

 illustrated by six plates containing over one hundred drawings by the 

 skillful hand of Miss A. Simonds, and engraved by the Boston Helio- 

 type Company. Prof. Howard of the Agricultural Department, Wash- 

 ington, praises them very highly for perfection in drawing. 



Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam, Chairman. 



president's annual REPORT. 



Edward S. Ham.matt, January 6, 1897. 



Members of the Academy, Ladies and Gentlemen : 



We are here tonight to review the work of the past ) ear, and by its 

 experiences be guided in shaping our course for the future. We have 

 in the reports just laid before us a detailed statement of the work that 

 has been done. The reports of the Finance Committee and Treasurer 

 show that, while there is a small deficit, daily collections the coming 

 year will readily balance this account. One of the best methods of 

 relieving future Finance Committees of an irksome duty would be to 

 provide for running expenses by endowments. This plan has already 

 been suggested and well begun by Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam. If each 



♦The number of books and pamphlets in the library at this date (May x6, 1899,) is 37,073. 



