266 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



Institute of Technology. On his return he presented our museum 

 with a fine specimen of an Eskimo l<ayak, together with a complete 

 outfit of clothing and implements, all of which have seen actual service 

 in Eskimo hunting and fishing. Among other donations to the 

 museum was a valuble miscellaneous collection presented by Mrs. C. 

 C. Parry. Richter & Son presented a unique specimen, the skin of a 

 white skunk. A large number of stone implements have been received 

 from Capt. W. P. Hall. Through Prof. Frederick Starr's interest the 

 museum acquired by purchase a fine collection of Mexican pottery. 



A particularly gratifying work has been done by the Publication 

 Committee in so nearly completing Vol. VI. of the Proceedings. The 

 paper on " A Revision of the Truxalinse of North America," by Prof. 

 Jerome McNeill, is in press and will soon be issued. 



We have been asked during the jjast year to use our influence in the 

 support of a congressional bill for the encouragement of the metric 

 system. It seems strange to those who know its many advantages 

 over other systems of weights and measures now in use that any oppo- 

 sition should be made to its use; least of all should we expect it from 

 so distinguished a scientist as Mr. Herbert Spencer. His opposition 

 to its use, published in a recent number of the Popular Science Monthly, 

 has been ably answered in the same periodical by Prof. Mendenhali. 

 Our Academy should exert its utmost influence to promote the general 

 adoption of the metric system, and assist the metrological societies in 

 distributing circulars of information on the subject. 



The scientific societies of the District of Columbia have asked our 

 cooperation in i)reventing the passage of a bill, in congress, agaiust 

 vivisection, or, more properly speaking, to restrict its use in the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia. Vivisection may be considered as one of the most 

 efficient aids to medical science and its use in the hands of profes- 

 sional experts, for the advancement of science, should be unrestricted. 



Our library should receive as prompt attention as possible. Binding 

 and cataloguing are the two most pressing needs. In this connection 

 some plan might be arranged for an interchange of books with the 

 Library Association. This, however, cannot be accomplished until 

 our library is catalogued. To the library should be added a reading- 

 room well provided with current scientific periodicals. A number of 

 these have been regularly received in the past. At the present time 

 the number is too small for the actual recpiirements of students visiting 

 the building. 



A slight attempt has been made during the year to awaken more 

 interest at our regular monthly meetings by having a paper read on 

 some scientific topic. We have had five such papers: the first at the 

 January meeting was read by Dr. Edward Gudeman, whose subject 

 was "An Historical Review of Chemistry ; " at the February meeting 

 Prof. J. A. Udden of Augustana College read a paper on "An Ex- 

 ploration of Mounds in Kansas;" Mr. F.J. Walz, U.S. Signal Observer, 

 read a paper on "Methods of Forecasting" at the March meeting. 



