6 Peoria Scientific Association. 
for the study of the natural sciences. This was in every sense 
of the word a success. Prof. Wood, of New York, took the 
botany class and gave a series of lectures and field excursions. 
Prof. Hyatt, of New York, lectured on chemistry and botany. 
Profs. Wilder and Comstock, of Cornell University, lectured on 
natural history, entomology, zodlogy, etc. This was an exceed- 
ingly interesting school conducted by some of the most talented 
professors in America. The: society raised for it $928.75 and 
expended $782.46, leaving a balance in the treasury of $146.29. 
At the first meeting of the society after the close of the sum- 
mer school the work was divided and committees appointed on 
the following subjects: 1, Botany; 2, Geology and Palentology; 
3, Mineralogy; 4, Zoology; 5, Entomology; 6, Literature. 
Meetings were held at this time monthly and continued to be, 
except in summer for about seven years. Since that time they 
have been held weekly. The average attendance for the first 
seven years was probably about twelve. Since that time it has 
materially increased. During the first year besides the summer 
school there were five papers read as follows: Crusts of the 
Earth; Alternate Generation; Aphides; Geographical Distribu- 
tion of Plants and Netreology. 
Second Year— Arboriculture; A Paper on Words; Meteoro- © 
logical Report for Twenty Years; Amphioxis; Thermometrical 
and Barometrical Observations for February; Lamprey Hels—6. 
Third Year—Spiders; Geology; Fishes; Origin of Language; — 
four papers on Fishes; Metric System; Serpents; Vines; Lecre 
Orimmacoricola; Osteology of Amblytoma; Fossil Ganoids —11. 
Fourth Year — Eye; Botany; Osteological Symmetry of the 
Human Frame; Bark Louse; Coal Formation of Peoria; Scien- 
tific Methods of Education; Meteorological Observations; Influ- 
ence of Soil on Plants; Influence of Soil on the Growth of 
Plants; Sound Producing Insects; Life in the Illinois River; 
Anatomy of Vertebrates; Importance of Science and Develop- 
ment of Scientific Knowledge; Flight of Birds; Zodlogy; Silk 
Worms; Zodlogy—17. 
Fifth Year— Prairies and Their Treelessness; Historical 
Sketches of Early American Botanists; Ethnology; Does — 
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