1 5<5 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. II, No. 2 , 
to be discouraged. Most good things will keep for a time at 
least, and the opportunity to test and verify investigations before 
publishing is desirable. It is unwise to attempt to harvest a 
crop of glory, in scientific fields at least, before the seed has had 
time to germinate. The extremes of too hasty publication and 
indefinite delay are both to be avoided. 
But this disjointed address must be brought to a close, I have 
indulged in a medley rather than pursuing a connected theme, 
but it has been in my mind to show how the influence of modern 
biology has been felt in every phase of human life and modified 
every phase of human thought. It touches history and illumines 
it as a record of human activities, the modifications and adapta- 
tions of the most dominant organism of earth. It touches lan- 
guage and infuses it with life as the highest evolution of all 
means of communication among animals. It enters the sphere 
of human relations and we see society, government, law, as the 
most complex expression of forces operative all along the line of 
organic life. 
We may gain inspiration in our work from the thought that 
our field of labor gives opportunity for the highest service in the 
advancement of human interests and the intellectual uplift of the 
race. 
The club extended Prof. Osborn a vote of thanks for his 
valuable address. 
F. J. Tyler, Secretary. 
The Ohio State Academy of Science held its eleventh annual 
meeting at the Ohio State University in this city on November 
29th and 30th. Between thirty and forty papers were given and 
the attendance was considerably above the average. On the 
evening of the 29th a joint meeting was held with the Modern 
Language Association of Ohio, which held its annual session at 
the University on the dates mentioned above. The committee 
arranged an interesting and appropriate program for the evening 
and a large and appreciative audience responded. The Academy 
meetings have been held heretofore during the Christmas vaca^ 
tiou, therefore holding it at this time was an experiment, but 
judging from the program, attendance, and enthusiasm mani- 
fested, the meeting this year may be said to be one of the best 
the society has ever held. 
It is of more than ordinary interest to be able to record the 
taking of specimens of the European ruff, PavoncOla pugnax 
(Linn.) in Ohio. Two male specimens are in the Dr. Jasper 
collection at the Ohio State University, one taken April 28th, 
1879, at Columbus, the other November ioth, 1872, at the 
Licking Reservoir. 
