BULLETIN 



OF THE 



of 



VOL. I. MARCH, 1885. No. I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The DBS MOINES ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, in presenting to the scientific public 

 this, its first, contribution to the literature of science, hopes to initiate a series 

 of publications which will ultimately cover, more or less completely, the natural 

 history of the entire State. To this end a number of gentlemen, specialists 

 in science, some of whom are residents of Iowa, have been invited to prepare 

 papers on topics of general interest or value. Succeeding numbers of its BULLE- 

 TIN will present the results of investigations conducted in other branches of 

 science. 



The immediate occasion for the publication of matter of this kind rests in the 

 utter dearth of a natural history literature pertaining to Iowa. It is believed 

 that many persons, intelligently interested in studies of this character, do not- 

 become actual students because there are no publications devoted to the natural 

 history of the state. To all such it is hoped these Bulletins will commend them- 

 selves as intended to foster an intelligent observation of the unrecorded facts 

 abounding on every hand. To facilitate the accomplishment of this purpose, 

 objects of natural history, of whatsoever kind, are earnestly desired by the 

 Academy. Collections of such a character will serve, first, to enable the insti- 

 tution of a well selected and carefully preserved museum, and second, to enable 

 the placing of the objects collected in the hands of competent students for study 

 and report. 



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