ANNUAL ADDEESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 209 



countries, and from all those societies there flows into the Academy an 

 endless stream of publications, giving the best information upon all 

 important scientific researches and discoveries. As the object of the 

 Academy is " The increase and diffusion of a knowledge of the natural 

 sciences," I suggest that the committee restrict the published matter to 

 articles of a historic and scientific nature, by leaving out the record of 

 all business which is of simply local interest. In that case we would 

 have a volume of greater value to corresponding members and the socie- 

 ties to which it is sent in exchange. 



It cannot be expected that a society so young, with so few members 

 who have leisure for scientific research, can make many original investi- 

 gations. But we have those who are zealous to do what they can in that 

 direction. The paper already referred to, on " Our Local Geology," is of 

 special interest in this respect, and deserves careful perusal. The ques- 

 tion discussed by Dr. Barris is this: "Is the Hamilton Group alone 

 developed in our vicinity V" or " Do we have, in addition, the rocks 

 of the Upper Helderberg V" Certain explorations which have been go- 

 ing on in the quarries west of the city, have been examined and found to 

 present facts new to science. As a result of his investigation. Dr. Barris 

 claims : 



1. The discovery of a series of beds of limestone that has never here- 

 tofore been described. 2. The determination of their true relation to 

 the disputed rock in the neighborhood of Rock Island and Moline. 3. 

 That these beds have well defined limits, the Hamilton being above, and 

 what the workmen call the " flint rock" below. 4. That they contain a 

 remarkable series of fossils entirely differing from any in the Hamilton 

 Group. 5. That the affinities of these fossils are with those of the Upper 

 Helderberg. 6. Hence, these beds constitute the upper fossiliferous 

 member of the western extension of the Upper Helderberg. 



Every member of the Academy must see that it is of great importance 

 to us and to science that such investigations be put in print, so that the 

 conclusions may be either confirmed or refuted by other scientists. 



The Director of the Biological section says, " the object of this sec- 

 tion is to promote and assist investigation in all that pertains to living 

 beings, both animal and vegetable." The activity of this Section has 

 been commendable, and the results considerable. There have been six 

 meetings and seven papers have been presented, besides verbal commu- 

 nications with exhibitions of specimens. Original investigations have 

 been made requiring patient observation. In entomology, Mr. J. D. Put- 

 nam has rendered good service to science by the study of the natural his- 

 tory of two species of bark lice found on the bark or leaves of the white 

 maple. He has observed many interesting facts, and a new species has 

 been discovered. He says : " This is a most interesting case of two in- 

 sects belonging to the same family and living under similar conditions 

 on the same tree, often in close contact with one another, and yet differ- 

 ing greatly in all their habits and modes of development." A paper 

 upon this subject will soon be submitted to the Academy. Mr. Putnam 

 is also pursuing original investigations in reference to the Solpugidrp of 



