IV PREFACE. 



branches, gathering each year many thonsmfis of stone and flint imple- 

 ments and eartiien vessels. These, together with the results of the la- 

 bors of Rev. J. Gass, and other members, has rendered the archaeological 

 collection of the Academy one of unusual interest. 



The present year, ISSO, tlie thirteenth in the life of the Academy, opens 

 with a fair promise of continued progress. 



This volume contains the proceedings of the Academy for three years, 

 1876, 1877, and 1878, and is published under an arrangement with the 

 corresponding secretary, who has attended to all the details of editing, 

 printing, illuslrating and paying the bills. It was the original intention 

 to issue tiie work in monthly or quarterly parts, but this was not found 

 practicable. Part I, containing 148 pages and three plates was pub- 

 lished in July, 1877, and part II completing the volume is now issued, 

 having been delayed a year longer than was expected by tlie destruction 

 of the litiiographic plates originally prepared to illustrate it. Six plates 

 (V, VI, by VV. O. Gronen, VII, VHI, X, XI by A. D. Churchill) had 

 been beautifully drawn on stone during the summer of 1878, but were 

 ruined by the lithographic printer before 200 impressions were taken. 

 After much delay these plates have been reproduced by etchings on 

 steel by Messrs. \V. O. Gronen, W. II. Pratt and J. D. Putnam. Being 

 first attem))ts, and without personal instruction, they are not as artis 

 tic as could be desired, but will serve to illustrate the text, being 

 fairly correct in outlines. The cuts also, are, njany of them, first at- 

 tempts at engraving on wood. 



From January 1876 to June 1877 (Page 1-148) the minutes of the vari- 

 ous meetings have been very fully printed. After that date all business 

 matters, except such as had an important bearing on the welfare of the 

 Academy, have been omitted, thus giving greater space for scientific 

 matter. A very full index was prepared, but is omitted on account of 

 the cost of printing it. 



Acknowledgments are due to Prof. Spencer F. Baird, of the Smithso- 

 nian Institution for supervising the preparation of Plates I-IIt; to 

 Messrs. Charles F. Steel, President and James Bannister, Chief Engra- 

 ver of the Franklin Bank Note Co., 107 Liberty St., New York, from 

 whom the plates and materials for etcliing were obtained, for their brief 

 and practical directions and suggestions ; to Messrs. llarroun & Bierstadt. 

 58 Reade St., New York, who prepared the albertype and artotype plates ; 

 to Mr. Herman Strecker, Reading, Pa., who engraved Plates IV and IX ; 

 to Messrs. Hastings, White & Fisher, Davenport, wiio prepared the neg- 

 atives for Plate VII; to the Gazette Company of Davenport, who have 

 done the printing with care and patience, worthy of the highest praise ; 

 to the various engravers of the plates and cuts, and to all members and 

 correspondents of the Academy who have taken part in the work. 



