KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, 457 
observations. Professor Snow then read a paper on ‘‘ The Last New Kansas 
Bird.” Since the last meeting only one species has been discovered. This 
makes 303 species known in Kansas. This bird isthe Ibis. In Egypt the sacred 
Ibis was embalmed and formed in ancient times an object of worship. ‘The 
specimen was taken near Lawrence by Mr. W. S. Bullene. Professor Snow 
thinks there may be twenty-five or thirty species of birds in Kansas not yet 
discovered, and wishes to learn of any new bird that may be found. A prelimi- 
nary list of reptiles of Kansas was read by F. M. Crozier. The author enumerates 
eighty-seven species, including twelve species of tortoise, thirteen of lizards, 
forty-two of harmless snakes, five of salamanders, and five of poisonous snakes. 
Among the latter the copperhead has been found in a few counties. This paper 
formed an important contribution to this branch of science. 
Judge Adams discussed Irrigation. He said the papers had all been on dry 
subjects ; he would read on a wet one. The paper gave original observations and 
valuable suggestions. The paper referred more particularly to irrigation in 
Western Kansas, to Sequoyah county, and counties lying round about. It would 
pay the State of Kansas to make a careful survey of those portions of the State 
that need irrigation. 
Mr. H. R. Hilton, of Topeka, read a paper on Rainfall in its Relation to 
Kansas Farming. The paper discussed the different soils of the State and their 
power of absorbing moisture. When Kansas was first settled it was thought the 
State could not be cultivated west of Topeka except along the valleys. Now 
good crops are raised 300 miles west of the east line of the State. Cultivation, 
planting forests, stopping devastating prairie fires, and a change of grasses, with 
mulching have been the principal means of these great changes. 
A dry stratum of air near the earth prevents precipitation of moisture, and 
the storms have a tendency to pass over us. Storms have become less violent and 
more general. The changes going on have tended to establish a connection 
between the earth and the clouds. We must prevent radiation and increase 
deposition of moisture. Asan evidence that our former dry climate is passing 
away, the mirage formerly so common, and a result of a dry climate, is now 
seldom seen. Western Kansas may never have as much rain as Eastern Kansas, 
but the soil does not require it. In Western Kansas wheat can be surely raised 
three years out of four. Stock should be raised in Western Kansas, and farmers 
should learn to plow deep. The author believed that Kansas can, by applied 
science, be made one of the best agricultural States in the Union. 
A very large audience gathered in the senate chamber in the evening and 
Professor Lovewell gave a lecture on ‘‘ Science in the Common Schools.” The 
lecturer gave a brief survey of science instruction in the schools he had been 
connected with for the twenty-five years during which he had been a teacher. 
Twenty-five years ago, science was subordinated to the classics and other studies. 
The programme of school studies was left very much to the teacher. Botany 
was taught by ladies, and boys were not expected to study botany any more than 
