'216 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



were engraved from drawings by Messrs. Pratt and Putnam, and are 

 inserted in the text. Three fine Albertype plates, prepared by Mr. E. 

 Bierstadt, illustrate the Inscribed Tablets found by Mr. Gass. These 

 were obtained by the advice and through the instrumentality of Prof. 

 Spencer F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, to whom the Academy 

 is greatly indebted for the lively interest he has taken in its work. The 

 negatives of these plates were prepared in the Smithsonian Institution 

 .without cost to the Academy. 



Part I of Yol. II of the Proceedings, containing 148 pages, and bring- 

 ing the record down to the last of June. 1877, was completed, and the 

 first copies issued to subscribers on July 15th. Since that time nearly 

 200 copies have been distributed, most of them to subscribers. But few 

 copies have yet been sent to exchanging societies, as there has been no 

 funds available with which to pay the postage. The unusual expenses 

 incurred by the Academy in the erection of its building, taken in con- 

 nection with the great depression of business generally, has rendered it 

 impossible for the Academy to fulfill its part of the contract with the 

 publisher. 



Part II of the second volume of Proceedings, completing the volume 

 and bringing the record down to end of 1877, is in an advanced state of 

 preparation, and contains several very valuable papers by Prof. Barris, | 

 Dr. Palmer, Dr. Parry, Mr. Pratt and others, and should, if possible, be 

 printed at once : and arrangements should be made for the speedy com- 

 mencement of Yol. Ill, which should be printed regularly and promptly 

 as fast as the material is at hand. If the printing could be done on the 

 premises of the Academy it would be of great advantage, both on the 

 score of economy and convenience. Of the many benefits accruing 

 from the publication, enough has already been said upon other occasions. 



Soon after the discovery of the Inscribed Tablets, tracings of the marks 

 upon them were made by Mr. Pratt, and an edition of 300 copies was 

 printed, which has been quite generally distributed. Two sets of photo- 

 graphic negatives of the same tablets were made by Hastings, White 

 & Fisher— one of tlie full natural size, and the other reduced to about 

 one-third of natural size. A number of sets have been sold, but not 

 enough to pay expenses. 



The following statement shows the disposition that has been made of 

 the publications of the Academy : 



Proceedings, Vol. I. 



Number of copies on hand, January 3d, 1877 301 



To subscribers pn last year's accouut 3 



To exchanges and gifts, etc 13 



Sold for cash 34 



Unaccounted for (lost or stolen) 14 



Total distributed 64— .'54 



On hand, January 2d, 1878 247 



