36 The American Naturalist. [January, 
Now the Academy comes forward with its plans for a complete sur- 
vey, and in this laudable undertaking it should have every encourage- 
ment. With a resident membership of over 100, there is a chance for 
more thorough and more careful work than can ever be attained in any 
other way, while, naturally, as long as the Academy has such leaders as- 
Arthur, Butler, the Coulter brothers, Eigenmann, Hay, Mottier, Under- » 
wood, etc., we may be sure that fitness, rather than any other qualifica- 
tion, will determine the assignment of special work. With these con- 
ditions, would it not be well for the next Legislature to do away with 
its comparatively useless State Geological Survey and turn over to the 
Academy, of course with proper restrictions, the funds which are now 
annually given to the former organization. At any rate, the people of 
the State should encourage the Academy in its endeavors, and the State 
itself should be willing to defray at least the expense of publishing 
results as valuable as these will undoubtedly be. 
