74 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



It is very difficult to place a money valuation of the publications that 

 have been received, for a large portion of them are not for sale at any 

 price, and are very difficult to obtain. But a careful estimate shows that 

 tliere has been already received works to the value of not less than $300, 

 and probably miicli more. 



Numerous letters have been received from some of the leading natu- 

 ralists in the country, congratulating the Academy upon the fine api)ear- 

 ance of its first publication, and the energy of its lady members in being 

 able to publish so creditable a volume. It is said to be the best first pub- 

 lication of a young society ever issued in this country. The appearance 

 of such a publication from west of the Mississippi was entirely unlooked 

 for, and it can scarcely be credited that we are a society almost without 

 funds and without a library, and yet show such positive evidence of an 

 enthusiastic membership. Very favorable notices of the Proceedings 

 have appeared in 2'lie Nation for Oct. 5, Field and Forest foi November, 

 Psyche for October, Harpers'' Monthly for December, tlie American Natu- 

 ralist for December, Popular Science Monthly for January, the Botanical 

 Gazette for November and again in December, the American Journal 

 of Science and Arts for October, the Common School for December, the 

 San Bernardino (Cal.) Times, the Patterson (N. J.) Evening Bulletin, the 

 Rock Island Argus, the Davenport Daily Democrat, Davenport Der Dem- 

 okrat, and probably others which we have not noticed. Not one unfavor- 

 able criticism has been made by anybody, either at home or abroad. These 

 notices have given our little Academy a fame throughout the world, such 

 as is possessed by but comparatively few older and more worthy insti- 

 tutions. The city of Davenport, too, comes in for its full share of the 

 glory, and has already been designated more than once as being in a 

 fair way to become the "Athens of the West." 



Now, that our first publication has proved such a decided success, it is 

 quite important we should not let our enthusiasm suddenly subside, but 

 some means should be provided for the continuance of publication of the 

 Proceedings. It would be better to print the Proceedings in parts, and 

 issue them at regular intervals, and as soon after each meeting as possi- 

 ble. In this way, the work being extended over a longer time, the ex- 

 penses might be more easily met. In printing another volume it is 

 recommended that a slightly larger page and heavier paper be used, so as 

 to render our Proceedings more uniform with those of other similar 

 societies. The proof reading should be more carefully attended to. 



A list of exchanges received, and some extracts from letters and 

 notices of our work are herewith submitted. 



There remains in the hands of the committee 301 complete copies of 

 the Proceedings, Vol. I, besides sixteen copies without plates, and a 

 quantity of sm'plus sheets. These should be placed in charge of such 

 officer or officers of the Academy as the Board of Trustees may direct. 

 The exchanges which have been received should be turned over to the 

 Librarian to be incorporated in the Library. 



In closing this report we desire to express our heartfelt thanks to the 

 AVomen's Centennial Association for the important aid they have ren- 



