24: DAVKXPORT ACADEMY OF XATL'RAL SCIENCES. 



but not a great deal. When the box was opened a few days later, every- 

 thing in tlie shape of a spider had disapi>eared. Can it be that the mother 

 spider was eaten by her own progeny V 



July 21st, 1S76. — Geological and Archaeological Section. 



Prof. W. H. Barris in the chair. 



Four members present. 



Tlie Section proceeded to elect permanent officers, resulting 

 ill the choice of Prof. W. H. Barris as President, and W. H. 

 Pratt as Secretary. 



Messrs. Barns and Pratt re[>orted the collection of a consid- 

 erable variety of fossils from the quarries in the neighborhood, 

 and proposed to continue the research, and report at a future 

 meeting. 



Clarence Lindley stated that he had recently been on an ex- 

 ploring trip to Pine Creek and Toolesboro, during which he had 

 examined several mounds, and would prepare a report lor the 

 Academy. 



July 28th, 1876. — -Trustees' Meeting. 

 George H. French, Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Six members present. 



But five members having been present at the last meeting of 

 the Trustees, the actions of that meeting were ratified. 

 The following communication was read : 



To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the Davenport Academy of Natural 

 Sciences : 



The undersigned proposes to and does hereby donate to the Academy 

 the collection of fossil and mineralogical specimens now on deposit in 

 the Academy rooms, and numbered from five thousand and one (5001) to 

 six thousand three hundre'd and fifty (685!)) inclusive, if accepted by the 

 Trustees with the following conditions, and the acceptance endorsed 

 liereon, and this paper recorded in the minutes. 



Condition Is/. In case of the dissolution of the Academy or its being 

 merged in any other institution, or in any other way losing its separate 

 and independent existence, this collection shall revert to the donor or his 

 heirs ; and 



Second. This collection shall not be disposed of or parted with by the 

 Academy, except that duplicate specimens may be used in exchanges ; 



