A hstracts 87 



and was thereby put in a position to estimate exactly what contri- 

 butions to the development of the telephone were made by him. The 

 author published, in the Journal of the Franklin Institute for June, 

 1878, the first mathematical discussion of the theory of the tele- 

 phone, with the results of some experiments made by him, which 

 have since proven to be of great practical value to the telephonic 

 practice. 



November 27, 1914. 



SOME MALIGNED BIRDS. 



BY DIXON MERRITT. 



(A hstract.) 



Balance of nature, in which species whose primary influence is 

 injurious become beneficial by holding other injurious species in 

 check; how species whose primary influence is beneficial would be- 

 come injurious if allowed to increase without check. Importance 

 in balance of nature of hawks, owls, crows, grackles, and certain 

 other species that man ordinarily seeks to destroy. Positive eco- 

 nomic benefits conferred by these species. 



November 27, 1914. 



WHY POTTERIES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN WEST 



TENNESSEE. 



BY WILBUR A. NELSON. 



(Abstract.) 



Better domestic raw materials can be assembled cheaper in Ten- 

 nessee than in probably any other section of the country. West 

 Tennessee contains the best deposits of ball clays in America. 

 Freight rates in the south, southeast, and certain parts of the south- 

 west are much cheaper than from present pottery centers in East 

 Liverpool, Ohio, and Trenton, N. J. Type of ware best suited for 

 making in the South is sanitary ware and general tableware. 



November 26, 1915. 



