STATE GEOLOGIST. 31 



himself to the chemical examination of minerals, rocks, ores, 

 soils, mineral waters, &c. This part of our survey has thus far 

 been neglected. A few analyses have been made at my re- 

 quest, by Prof. L. R.' Pisk, of the Agricultural College, by which 

 that institution became connected with the survey, before the 

 appointment of Dr. Miles to the chair of Zoology. By my ar- 

 rangement with Prof. Fisk, he has not as yet received any com- 

 pensation for his services, having agreed to await the action 

 of the Legislature, in reference to further provision for the 

 survey. 



Immediately on the organization of the survey, I took steps 

 to ascertain whether some portion of the scientific investiga- 

 tions might not be completed by experts of this and other 

 States, who would, in many cases, expect no further compensa- 

 tion for their services than the opportunity 1 of looking' over our 

 specimens, with permission to retain for their, own cabinets,' 

 duplicates of such species as might prove to be novel or pecu- 

 liar. I have accordingly had the satisfaction of being assured 

 that different specialists stand ready to take up the different 

 orders of our insects', and to furnish catalogues as soon as the 

 specimens are placed in th«ir hands. The same is true of some 

 branches of the paleontology. Dr. H. A. Prout, of St. Louis, 

 is already at work upon our Bryozoa, an important class of 

 fossil mollusca very abundant in the limestones of Thunder 

 Bay and Little Traverse Bay. Prof. Hall, the pals9ontologist of 

 New York, has also afforded me many valuable suggestions, on 

 the identification of our fossils, and the parallelism of forma- 

 tions. Dr. J.' S. Newberry, ef Ohio, who has alreadyrendered 

 me valuable assistance, stands ready t» undertake the investi- 

 gation of- our fossil Flora. Capt. Meade has agreed to place at 

 my service such maps, charts and observations of the lake 

 survey, as may be needed in the preparation of a chapter on 

 the Hydrography of the State; and Prof. Henry, the Secretary 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, offers copies of such observations 

 taken for that Institution, as may be requisite for a chapter on 

 our meteorology. 



