BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 83 



Zoology. Shells, on exhibition, 5oo±, in storage, 2o,ooo±; 

 Insects, i5,ooo±; Other invertebrates, 2ooo±; Fishes, ioo±; Batra- 

 chians, 12; Reptiles, ioo±; Birds, 85o±; Mammals, 60. There are 

 also 42 mammal heads, 147 pairs of horns, 300 sets of bird eggs, and 

 100 skeletons of mammals. 



Historical Sketch. The Davenport Academy of Natural Sci- 

 ences was organized in 1867 and incorporated in 1868; the present 

 name was adopted in 1903. The active membership has grown from 

 50 in the first year to 300 at present. The museum was begun in 

 1868 and has been affiliated with the public schools since 1902. 



Financial Support. The academy receives $1644 annually 

 from endowment and $873 from memberships. 



Building. Erected in 1878 at a cost of about $15,000 paid by 

 subscription, the building affords 12,000 square feet of floor space for 

 exhibition, and 1200 for offices, workrooms, etc. 



Administration. By a curator, responsible to a board of trustees. 



Scope. One of the primary objects of the museum is public 

 school work. The curator supervises the nature study of the public 

 schools of Davenport, using material from the museum for illustration. 

 Special attention is also given to the maintenance of local collections. 

 Other objects of the museum are exploration, research, and instruc- 

 tion of the general public. An annual course of lectures has been 

 maintained since 1902. 



Library. 53,170 accessions, of which about 6000 are bound 

 volumes, are accessible to both staff and public. 



Publications. The academy has issued 12 volumes of Proceed- 

 ings, beginning in 1876. 



Attendance. Open on week-day afternoons and on the first 

 Sunday afternoon in each month. Admission is free except on Monday, 

 Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons when a fee of 10 cents is charged. 



ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



The city maintains a zoological park of 10 acres, established in 

 1904, containing about 100 birds and 34 mammals. 



DES MOINES: 



HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT OF IOWA. Museum. 



The museum was begun in 1892 by Charles Aldrich, founder of 

 the department. It is devoted to popular and research collections 

 covering the political and natural history of Iowa and the Middle 

 West, which have increased rapidly in the number and diversity of 



