IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
II 
tion for 15 years; essentially the same facts were given in a shorter article in 
the American Naturalist.^ Along a somewhat different line is the article on the 
“Survival of Wild Habits in Domesticated Animals, also a fascinating account 
of a Peagreen Rattlesnake^ and an account of the migrations of ants. 
Mr. Aldrich advocated the teaching of science in the public schools, he advo- 
cated the establishment of a geological survey and an investigation and a study 
of the Indian mounds in Iowa.6 He mentioned in one of his articles in the Iowa 
State Register the great value to science in having museums like the Davenport 
Academy where pre-historic relics may be studied, and the great value to the 
countries of museums like that of South Kensington, the United States National 
Museum and of the Philadelphia Academy, and the collection of Professor Cope. 
His articles on botanical subjects were not numerous. In his letters to the 
Inter-Ocean he mentioned some of the characteristic vegetation of Colorado^ 
and in one described the variation in the growth of the Virginia Creeper. He 
was also a great lover of forests and the conservation of the natural resources 
of the country. Many times he spoke to me about the timber which is being 
destroyed today and the necessity of preserving our forests, and our timber for 
future use. “It is a shame,” he said, “to cut the small poles of oak and hickory.” 
He paid many beautiful tributes to his scientific friends, among these he wrote 
biographical sketches of Dr. Chas. A. White, Dr. C. E. Bessey, Col. Geo. Waring, 
Professor Call of the State University, and of the service to science by such men 
as Prof. Herbert Osborn, Professor Riley, Joseph Leidy and Dr. Edward Cope, 
a tribute to the work of Gilbert White, whose place he visited in the old his- 
torical city of Winchester and in the little hamlet of Selbourne, near that place, 
the father of English natural history was born. The venerable yew, mentioned 
by him, near the church of which Gilbert White was rector, was still standing 
when Aldrich visited the place. He deplored the fact that so simple a slab 
should indicate when White was born and when he died. Aldrich says that 
“his best monument is his delightful book which bids fair to live for all time.” 
Mr. Aldrich was intimately acquainted with a great many men of public life 
and also a great many scientists, among them a number of the Hayden Survey, 
who have become famous in the study of geology of our country. Mention may 
be made of A. D. Wilson, Franklin Rhoda, F. W. Endlich, W. H. Holmes, G. B. 
Chittenden, P. S. Brandigee, Henry Gannett, W. R. Atkinson, A. C. Pealem, G. M. 
Bechler, W. H. Jackson, McGee, Fletcher; he was also acquainted with Lincoln, 
Grant, Johnson, McKinley, and many other notable public men. 
It was my pleasure to have known Mr. Aldrich intimately for more than 
sixteen years and he has always expressed great interest in the scientific work 
of the Academy of Science. He desired particularly that they should occupy 
some room in the historical building for their meetings. He encouraged science 
in every possible way. 
Through his efforts the State has been fortunate in securing several valuable 
manuscripts pertaining to natural history. He took a keen interest in the 
early explorations of the northwest and Coues expresses his gratitude to Mr. 
3. May, 1884. 
4. American Naturalist 1881—563. 
5. Reptilian Studies, Chicago Inter-Ocean, July 7, 1874. 
6. Des Moines Register and Leader, Oct. 6, 1904. Open Mounds in Leigh, Webster Co. 
Burlington Hawkeye, June 1, 1900. 
7. American Naturalist, March, 1881. 
