INTRODUCTION 



The Third and concluding Part of Volume III of tlie Proceedings of 

 t.lie Davenport xlcademj' of Natural Sciences, is now given to the public. 

 In accordance with previous announcement, " it is exclusively devoted, as a 

 fitting tribute to the memory of the late President of the Association, Joseph 

 Duncan Putnam, to whose earnest zeal and untiring labors all its previous 

 publications are mainly due." This memorial number embraces the pro- 

 ceedings of the Academy upon the decease of Mr. Putnam, and his unpub- 

 lished scientific notes on the North American Solpuffidd'. 



The biographical sketch of Mr. Putnam by his life-long friend. Dr. C. C. 

 Parry, was especially prepared by request of the memorial committee ap- 

 pointed by the Academy, and was presented at a meeting called for that 

 purpose on Friday, September 22d, 1882. 



It should also be stated that Dr. C. H. Preston, Acting President, in his 

 address at the annual meeting, January 4tli. 1882, made appropriate and 

 kindly mention of the life and labors of his predecessor. This paper will 

 appear in Volume IV of the Proceedings of the Academy. 



The excellent steel engraving of Mr. Putnam, which appears as the fron- 

 tispiece to this part, is the work of the eminent engraver, Mr. G. H. Hall, 

 of Brooklyn, New York. 



It is deemed appropriate to include, in this memorial number, resolu- 

 tions adopted by other scientific societies upon the occasion of Mr. Putnam's 

 death, letters of condolence received from eminent scientists abroad, and a 

 thoughtful and carefully prepared address delivered before the Iowa Acad- 

 emy of Sciences, at Iowa City, by Prof. W. J. McGee, of Farley, Iowa. 



The obsequies of Joseph Duncan Putnam, took place December 13th. 

 1881, at 2 o'clock p. M.,from the First Presbj'^terian church, Davenport, Iowa. 

 The pall bearers were selected from among liis working associates in the 

 Academy, viz: Dr. R. J. Farquharson, Prof. W. H. Pratt, Prof. William 

 Riepe, Dr. Charles H. Preston, Dr. E. H. Hazen, Charles E. Harrison, H. C. 

 Fulton, and E. P. Lynch. After private devotional exercises at Woodlawn, 

 the family residence, the casket containing the remains of the deceased, 

 was borne to the church, which was crowded with sympathizing friends. 

 As the cortege approached the church, Trinitj^ chimes pealed forth in 

 muffled tones, the dead march from Saul. 



