REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 215 



ment, with enlarged space and better facilities. I have therefore pre- 

 pared no list of numbers of specimens or species in each department. 



It seems probable, and even certain, that our removal to more secure 

 and capacious rooms— the property of the Academy and a permanent 

 home, will be followed by the reception of large and valuable collections 

 of various kinds, which have been awaiting that event, and also by an 

 increased influx of donations from all directions, calling for increased 

 attention and labor on the part of members of the Academy, who feel 

 an interest in its success, stability, and present and future usefulness. 



1 would defer all recommendations regarding the provision of addi- 

 tional cabinet cases, boxes, labels, bottles, alcohol, etc., until after our 

 removal, when the progress of the work of re-arranging shall show more 

 definitely what we need. 



Further I have only to express the earnest hope that more active 

 measures may soon be taken than have seemed practicable during the 

 past year, to prosecute the work of mound explorations, and that of 

 making local natural history collections, with the view of making both 

 as thorough and complete as possible, bearing in mind that in both these 

 directions the conditions are changing, and the best opportunities are fast 

 passing away, and also that aid from without depends ui)on efficient 

 labor, disinterested zeal, and harmony within. 



Respectfully submitted. W. H. Pratt, Curator. 



Report of the Publication Committee for 1877. 



To the President and Trustees : 



The publication of the first volume of the Proceedings of the Acad- 

 emy by the Women's Centennial Association in 1876 was so well received, 

 and the benefits were so apparent, that many members of the Academy 

 were anxious to have the Proceedings continued and issued as a regu- 

 lar periodical. The plan was also suggested of issuing these Proceed- 

 ings in connection with a monthly journal, to be devoted to the natural 

 sciences, but this plan was not found feasible at the time. 



At the meeting of the Trustees, held January 26th, 1877, Mr. J. D. 

 Putnam made a proposition, which was accepted, to print Yolume II of 

 the Proceedings (containing not less than 300 pages of letter-press and 

 12 plates of illustrations) at his own cost, and to furnish the Academy with 

 500 copies (for use as exchanges) free of cost ; provided, that 150 copies 

 were subscribed for by the members of the Academy and citizens of 

 Davenport at $3.00 per copy, and that all money receipts from the sale of 

 this publication should go to the publisher. On February 10th, about 50 

 subscriptions having been procured, the Trustees voted to assume the 

 subscription of 100 copies, to complete the number to 150, as required to 

 meet the proposition. Under this guarantee the printing was commenced 

 as soon as the manuscript could be prepared by the chairman, and re- 

 vised by the other members of the committee. A number of wood-cuts 



