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THE DESIRABILITY OF AN ECOLOGICAL SURVEY 

 OF ILLINOIS BASED ON PLANT ASSOCIATION. 



H. C. COWLES. 



The oft-repeated words "vanishing data" have no more apt use 

 than in conneciion with our native plant associations. The state 

 should be systematically surveyed by botanists and zoologists, 

 and maps should be made, showing the distribution of the asso- 

 ciations. Where topographic maps have been published, and es- 

 pecially where geologic folios exist, this work should be much 

 more easily accomplished than elsewhere. A start has been 

 made at this work in Chicago, but much co-operation is neces- 

 sary for success. The Academy might well take up such work 

 as this officially. 



A STATE ECOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Edgar N. Traxseau. 



The fact that the native fauna and flora of Illinois are rapidly 

 disappearing, makes imperative a survey of the state which shall 

 serve not only as a record of the past and present conditions, but 

 which shall throw light upon certain fundamental biological prob- 

 lems. 



Illinois by virtue of its geographic position offers exceptional 

 opportunities for the investigation of the factors involved in the 

 development of the prairie and the forest; the study of the post- 



