REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 65 



written since Sept. 15tli have been preserved, and may be readily re- 

 ferred to. The letters received have been filed in the order of receipt, 

 and it is intended to prepare an index so that they can be easily referred 

 to. A blank book has been used jointly by the Publication Committee 

 and Corresponding Secretary, in which to keep their accounts and records. 



Twenty-eight correspond ini>- members have been elected during the 

 past year, making a total of sixty-two. Owing to the pressure of other 

 duties during the short lime since my election, I have not been able to 

 notify these members of their election. 



It seems to me quite important that the Academy should have some 

 suitable certificate of membership to send to its corresponding members. 

 A seal is another of the important needs of the Academy, and I hope 

 that steps will be taken to secure both at an early day. 



Respectfully submitted. 



J. Duncan Putnam, 



Davenport, Jan. 2cZ, 1877. Corresponding Secretary. 



REPORT of the COMMMITTEE of PUBLICATION. 



To the President and Members of the Academy : 



In the first Constitution of the Academy, adopted in December. 1867, its 

 object was stated to be the " Increase and diffusion of a knowledge of 

 the Xatural Sciences, by a Museum, the reading and publication of origi- 

 nal papers, and other suitable means." A Museum was soon commenced, 

 lectures were delivered, and papers read before the Society. Occasion- 

 ally reports of the meetings were published by the city newspapers, but 

 they were usually hastily prepared, and not often preserved. The matter 

 of publishing the Proceedings or Transactions of the Academy in a more 

 permanent form, was ever and anon the subject of discussion, and Dr. 

 Parry never failed to allude to the importance of such a publication to 

 the Academy in his annual addresses as President. But nothing had 

 been accomplished, when, on November 26th, 1875, tlie following resolu- 

 tions were presented by J. D. Putnam :— 



Whereas, The object of the Academy is the increase and ditf'usion of a knowledsre of the 

 Natural Sciences by the establishment of a Musesm, the reading and publication of original 

 papers, and all other suitable means; anil, 



Whereas, Many original investigations have already been made by our members, some of 

 them being of general, as well as of scientific interest; and, 



Whereas, The publication of our proceedings would be advantageous to the Academy in 

 many particulars, e. g, : 



1. It will preserve much material that might otherwise be lost. 



2. It will furnish a greater incentive to our members to make original investigations. 



3. It will increase the Library by means of exchanges with other societies and publishers. 



4. It will place us on a creditable footing with the other societies of the world. Thex-fore 

 be it 



Resolved, That the Academy begin the publication of its proceedings with the least possi- 

 ble delay ; and. 



Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, of which Messrs. W. 11. Pratt and J. D. 

 [Proc. D. A. N. S. Vol. II.] 10 [April, 1877.] 



