84 TRATSrSACTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SECTION. 



vicinity. He finds also above the glacial deposits, 

 mounds which he can only account for as lake debris. 



He also incidentally observes a curious fact in relation 

 to the geological changes vrhich man effects. When 

 fifty years ago, he entered the region among the first 

 settlers, there were a number of lakes in the prairie with, 

 it would seem, no regular drainage. The settlers settling 

 in the brush along the creeks and turned their cattle in- 

 to the prairie and these in the summer would go to the 

 lakes to drink, and in so doing wore paths through the 

 fields from the lakes to the bush and the stream. 

 During times of high water the lakes would overflow in- 

 to these paths and as the grass roots, which hold the 

 earth firm, were killed by the cattle, it would wash them 

 until a little gully was started from them into the creek, 

 and this went on increasing until the gullies became 

 quite large and the lakes were drained. 



The paper was discussed by Members Dwight, Cooley 

 and Sutcliffe ; the former calling special attention to the 

 fact that moraines are not necessary companions of 

 of a glacier, unless it passes under overhanging crags. 



Mr. John Sutcliffe and Dr. J. W. Poucher were elect- 

 ed active members of the section. 



FEBRUARY 34, 1891— FIFTH REGULAR MEETING. 



Present, Chairman Edward Elsworth, and Members C. 

 N. Arnold, Bolton, Cooley, G. Van Ingen, Warring, 

 Frost, Sutcliffe, F. S. Arnold, and visitors. 



The curator reported a gift to the Museum of Marine 

 specimens by Miss Anna Gfoodsell. A paper was read 

 by Mr. C. N. Arnold on the "Deforestation of America," 

 which was discussed by Messrs. Cooley, Sutcliffe and 

 Hill. 



Prof. L. C. Cooley also offered a note on the prepara- 

 tion of artificial sugars, wherein he referred to the work 



40 



