which are either unfamiliar or unknown to the majority of the peo- 

 ple. Hence to place reliable reports on these subjects in the hand 

 of older workers and beginners, of educators and students, is not 

 only to increase facilities for information, but to awaken interest 

 and stimulate investigation. 



The area covered by the survey is peculiar in two distinct 

 systems of drainage, either of which may, under certain conditions, 

 prevail over the other. This peculiarity of the drainage is of great 

 scientific interest. To bring out this relief it was thought desirable 

 to fix upon the following boundaries: Beginning at the north line 

 of Cook County and Lake Michigan, thence westward, coincident 

 with the north line of Cook County to Kane County; thence south- 

 ward along the east line of Kane and Kendall Counties to the south- 

 east corner of Kendall County; thence eastward, coincident with 

 the south line of Cook County to the east line of Lake County, 

 Indiana; thence northward to Lake Michigan. 



This gives an area of about forty-eight or fifty miles square, 

 which, after deducting the approximate area of the lake-covered 

 portions, leaves nearly eighteen hundred square miles of land sur- 

 face. It comprises all of Cook and DuPage Counties, the nine 

 north townships of Will County and a portion of Lake County, 

 Indiana. Of the proposed reports now in preparation, a list of 

 which may be found elsewhere, many will be illustrated and some 

 will describe species. All will give such notes and information as 

 will be of scientific interest. 



It will be the aim of the Board of Managers of the survey to 

 have specimens in the Academy collection illustrating the local 

 rocks, minerals, fossils, animals and plants enumerated in the 

 reports. This will enable the student to compare and study the 

 objects and not have to depend solely on descriptions. 



The first Bulletin, on the Lichens, is of especial' value, because 

 the field is practically new in our vicinity. Few of our local 

 botanists have directed their attention to this class of plants. Mr. 

 Calkins has deposited a complete collection of local lichens in the 

 Herbarium of the Academy building, and it is hoped that the 

 Bulletin, together with the specimens, will develop interest and 

 investigation in this form of plant life, and lead to the discovery 

 of many new species and localities. It is desired that all who are 

 interested in the advancement of science will co-operate with the 

 Board of Managers by furnishing any data within their reach. 



