224 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



lines, which of course, are most difficult, it is quite rough and irregular. 

 The principal figure, " sun-god" and " sun," the pipes and axe are all 

 colored a deep bright ochre red ; the rest of the stone is unstained. 



The stone has evidently been subjected to a great heat, sufficient 

 nearly to reduce the upper edge where the bird pipes are, and especially 

 the right hand corner to a quick lime, so that it has crumbled considera- 

 bly, and some small fragments crumbled off in removing it from its bed 

 in the earth. It is considerably reddened internally, and when found 

 was already cracked into ten pieces, which entirely separated on re- 

 moval, besides several other cracks which are visible, but which did not 

 break apart. 



The new building of the Academy was opened to the public on the 

 evening of Friday, February 22d, 1878, at wiiich time Rev Dr. Greg- 

 gory, President of the Illinois State Industrial University, delivered an 

 address on the '' Higher Scientific Education of the People." The 

 Museum and Art Gallery were opened next day, and the exhibition con- 

 tinued until March 3d. The exhibition of pictures, under the auspices 

 of the Davenport Art Association, was very fine. In addition to the 

 Archaeological and other collections of the Academy, which had been 

 beautifully arranged by Messrs. Pratt and Harrison, a fine collection of 

 old coins was exhibited by Messrs. H. Spink, G. \V. French and others. 

 Professor J. D. Butler, of Madison, Wis., exhibited a selection of the 

 copper implements from the collection of the Historical Society of Wis- 

 consin. Among them were several supposed to have been cast. Four 

 casts of the heads of Indian chiefs, prisoners of war at St. Augustine, 

 Fla., presented by the Smithsonian Institution, attracted much attention. 

 In the entomological room a selection of forty cases from the entomological 

 collection of Mr. J. D. Putnam, was set up on racks, and eight micro- 

 scopes were arranged on a table, with which to examine a magnificent 

 series of preparations, loaned for the occasion by Mr. H. T. Atwood, of 

 Chicago. On each evening during the opening, there was either a lec- 

 ture or a musical entertainment. On February 23d, Prof. T. S. Parvin 

 delivered an historical address on " Reminiscences of Iowa Forty Years 

 Ago." Professor J. D. Butler, on February 26th, gave a very entertain- 

 ing and instructive lecture on '' Why the French Came West." February 

 27th, Professor W. L. Hailman, of Milwaukee, spoke upon the "■ Law of 

 Childhood," and on February 28th, Col. W. W. Calkins entertained the 

 audience with an account of the " Shell Mounds of Florida." The 

 building was constantly thronged both day and evening. Great credit is 

 due to the ladies for serving refreshments throughout the opening week, 

 which netted fifty dollars. An admittance fee of twenty-five cents was 

 charged, and the net receipts were $4-50. During several days the Ferry 

 Company carried ticket holders to and from Rock Island and Moline 

 free. 



