16 
BULLETIN OF WISCONSIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. VOL. 2. NO. 1. 
mittee suggest that it be transferred to the PubHc Library of the 
city, where it would be catalogued and accessible to the public. 
Respectfully submitted, 
G. W. PECKHAM, 
C. E. MONROE, 
G. A. WEST, 
E. E. TELLER, 
W. J. BENNETTS. 
Ernest Bruncken then moved that the commiittee be given 
full power to make an agreement with the Museum or the Library 
on the basis of these principles, which motion was seconded and 
carried. 
The lecture of the evening was by Dr. Peckham and was en- 
titled ''Some Points in Geographical Distribution." 
The speaker illustrated by numerous examples the fact the 
world could be divided into many life or faunal areas, and that 
the original explanations given of these, such as, for example, that 
they depended upon the amount of heat, or that certain resem- 
blances were due to a former land connection, failed to interpret 
the facts as they were now known. The modern view is that dis- 
tribution was brought about by the same natural forces that are 
to-day in operation, and that those changes that are at work in 
Geology operate also in Biology. 
The West India Islands have a warm and tropical climate, but 
are remarkably destitute of animal life, both of species and indi- 
viduals, except in the case of introduced species. Geology shows 
that they have been several times raised and submerged and as 
many times has life been destroyed and repopulation taken place, 
doubtless by drift species from the nearest mainland. 
This theory is supported by the fact that the fauna of Cuba is 
related to that of North America, while that of Jamaica resembles 
more nearly that of South America. 
Prof. E. C. Case, after the lecture, discussed these latter points, 
showing that any extensive migration from the adjacent continent 
would be largely prevented by the prevailing winds and currents 
from the eastward, and that in the case of amphibia it would be 
prevented by the fact that salt is fatal to most of the species. 
Mr. W. H. Ellsworth displayed a grooved stone axe from Da- 
kota which was of unusual shape, being almost entirely spherical. 
The meetipg was then adjourned. 
WM. J. BENNETTS, Recording Secretary. 
