SO THE ~V.AJl.IL.Bir InTA-TTJ^-A-X^IST. 
of Rochester. This and his other scientific 
work has given him an honorable standing 
among scientists, and he is a member of 
several of the most famous learned societies 
in Europe and America. He has travelled 
through every part of Europe, and exten- 
sively in Asia and Africa. Last year he 
was in Egypt, Arabia, Abyssinia, and to 
cross the ocean is about a yearly event with 
him. All this is to replenish and enlarge 
his stock, which he disposes of to the higher 
institutions of the land, besides filling nu- 
merous orders from the Old World. The 
collections which he prepares and sends out 
are araanged to illustrate the prominent 
points of natural science, and extend to 
every branch of it. 
The minerals are represented by series, 
showing the peculiarities of composition, of 
structure, of color, of crystallization, etc. 
Each mineral has with it a concise state- 
ment of its chemical composition, what it 
occurs with, where it is found, etc. The 
rocks in the same way, have indicated the 
minerals of which they are composed, and 
the strata which they form, in what countries 
they occur, and what are their uses. In the 
same manner, the fossils are marked critical- 
ly as to their nature, what groups of animals 
or plants they belong to, their place in the 
geological series, and the exact locality where 
they occur. This exactness of indication, 
coupled with great care of choice compila- 
tion, gives the educational value, as it ha s 
given the scientific reputation, to Mr. Ward's 
cabinets wherever they have been placed. 
The same care is given to the zoology, with 
its stuffed birds and beasts, mounted skele- 
tons, reptiles, and fishes, in alcohol; shells, 
corals, crabs, insects, birds' eggs, anatomical 
models, and all the countless specimens here 
to be found. Mr. Ward has expended no 
little study upon the construction and appli- 
ances for the arrangement of cabinets, and 
his efforts in this direction have resulted in 
decided improvements. He planned and 
constructed the cabinet cases in Vassar, Al- 
leghany, Pittsburg, Princeton, Lafayette and 
other Colleges; and Cornell, Syracuse, Van- 
derbilt and other Universities ; and also that 
in the new Geological Hall of the Smithson- 
ian Institute at Washington, which is 200 
feet long. He is in constant communication 
with the most noted naturalists, and ever 
ready to respond to the calls made upon him 
by institutions, teachers and amateurs. 
Mr. Ward's books contain a record of near- 
ly 200 normal and scientific schools, colleges 
and universities, to which he has furnished 
cabinets at prices from $500 to $35,000 each; 
while the smaller collections are innumera- 
ble. The Smithsonian institute, Cambridge 
Museum of Comparative Zoology (Agassiz's), 
Yale College, Princeton, State Natural His- 
tory Museum, Cornell University and all the 
leading institutions of education and science 
in the land, put Mr. Ward under contribu- 
tion. He and his corps of workmen, and of 
young naturalists, who render assistance in 
the special work of determining species, lab- 
elling, &c, are kept constantly busy. He 
has a collector now in India, another in 
South America, and a third in Australia; 
while correspondents are sending in materi- 
al from all parts of the globe. 
The establishment is extending its work 
from year to year, till it has become superi- 
or in the extent and scope of its transactions, 
to any other in the world. It is accomplish- 
ing an incalculable amount of good, and is 
an honor to our city. In one respect, in par- 
ticular, Prof. Ward is bringing our colleges 
under great obligation to him. This is in 
his labor to secure the funds necessary for 
the cabinet from friends of the College. In 
this he acts under the direction of the presi- 
dent, or Professor of Natural Science, who 
aid him with letters of introduction to 
wealthy friends of the Institution, with 
which he calls on them, and presents, as he 
so well understands the subject — the great 
advantage to be derived from the desired 
endowment. His skill and enthusiasm in 
this work have secured to many an institu- 
tion an entire cabinet, as a gift from wealth 
to the cause of education and science. His 
success in this direction has been very 
marked, giving him some such beneficient re- 
lation to the increase of college museums, as 
distinguished Mr. Kimball for the liquida- 
tion of church debts. The most emphatic 
witness which could be borne to the value 
and importance of Mr. Ward's establishment 
are the calls for specimens of all kinds which 
come to him from every part of Europe, 
from royal museums and schools of science. 
This, he informs us, is becoming a weekly 
occurrence. A similar testimonial is a re- 
cent order from Prof. Agassiz for a full 
series of mounted animals — mammals and 
birds — from all parts of the world, repre- 
sentative of the seven great zoogeographical 
provinces which zoologists have established. 
The catalogue of these animals covers seven- 
ty printed octavo pages, and enumerates 
over 2,000 genera. The Museum of Compar- 
ative Zoology at Cambridge, for which these 
are destined, is devoting a distinct, large hall 
to each of these geographical divisions. This 
order was received in December, and al- 
ready Mr. Ward has commenced delivering 
it, and is fast gathering the material from all 
parts of the world, although some years 
must elapse before it is entirely filled. 
I have thus undertaken to give, though in 
a very curtailed form and imperfect manner, 
without telling half, a view of what met the 
eyes of the city pastors in their late visit to 
this wonderful educational museum and 
treasure-house of nature. 
Wyoming. 
Every Naturalist in the United States 
and Canadas should subscribe for the 
Valley Naturalist, the only Naturalists' 
paper in the Mississippi Valley and the 
West. 
Mr. John B. Ames of New York, referring 
to wood-cock-shooting, says: " I suppose I 
have killed more wood-cock in the last ten 
years than any other man of my age in New 
York, I have bagged as high as sixty- seven 
birds in one day alone in Orange County, 
near Campbell Hall. 
Show the Valley Naturalist to your 
friends and induce them to subscribe. 
Meteorological Report of the City of 
Oakland, California. 
BY J. B. TREMBLY, M. D., OAKLAND, CAL. 
Meteorological synopsis for the month of 
May, 1878. Observations taken at 7 a. m. 
and 2 and 9 p. m. Latitude 37° 48' 20" north. 
Longitude 120° 15' 20" west. Height above 
the sea 24 feet. 
BAROMETER. 
Mean barometer for the month. 29.89 
Highest barometer, May 2, 9 P. m 30.10 
Lowest " " 20,2 p.m.... 29.62 
Monthly range 48 
THERMOMETER. 
Mean temperature for the month 57.88 
Mean temp, of warmest day, May 24. . 65. 
" " of coldest day, May 29. .. . 55. 
Maximum temp. May 24, 2 p. M 81. 
Minimum " " 16, 7 a. m 47. 
Greatest daily variation May 27 24. 
Least " " "' 21 7. 
Monthly range of temperature 34. 
Mean daily range of temperature 13.67 
RECIPITATION (BAY NURSERY). 
Eainfall in inches during the month.. . .40 
" " " since July 1st, 1877. . 32.33 
WIND— 90 OBSERVATIONS. 
Southwest and west 47 
Northwest and north 8 
Northeast and east 1 
Southeast and south 14 
Calm 23 
The month was very pleasant. No unusu- 
al meteorological phenomena occurred. The 
light rainfall done no damage, but on the 
contrary was of advantage to growing vege- 
tation and grain. The wind blew hard and 
strong for several days, amounting almost to 
a gale, but aside from this the weather was 
pleasant and delightful for May. 
To Obtain Exquisite Skeletons of 
Small Animals. 
Put any small subject, such as a mouse, 
frog (if a bird strip of its feather), in a box 
perferated with a number of holes; let it be 
properly distended to prevent the parts from 
collasping, or being crushed together by the 
presure of the earth. Then place the box 
and its contents in an ant-hole; and in a few 
days it will have become an exquisitely beau- 
tiful and perfect skeleton, by the ants having 
consumed every part of it except the bones 
and ligaments. — \Ex, 
Naturalists having- specimens for 
sale or exchange, will find the Valley 
Naturalist the best medium to advertise 
them in— rates low. 
The following is a sure remedy for the cure 
of Poison Ivy: Take one pint of the bark of 
black spotted alder; add one quart of water 
and boil down to one pint. Wash the poi- 
soned parts a dozen times a day, if conveni- 
ent; it will not injure you. 
Do not forget to subscribe for the Val- 
ley Naturalist— the very best. 
