The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-30
THE INDIANA SCIENTISTS.
Proceedings of Their Academy Unfold
the States Fauna and Flora.
on Wide Variety Of Scientific Themes
Advance in SeismolOgy-President
Jordan's Address on Fishes.

The lndisra Academy offScience is only a
year old, but from the membership OF a few it
has increased to many, taking within Its circle
all the scientific educators of the State. Its be-
ginning gives promise of a decided impress on
scientific culture. While the papers submitted
and read last year followed but one or two
branches, this year they were so numerous as to
permit of a thorough classification as to the par
ticular branch of science and the subject there
under. Yesterday, when the academy's second
session began in Superior Court room No. 2. the
large attendance showed the spreading interest
in the organizations, and the wide variety or
themes evidenced the earnestness and scholar
ship with which Investigations ard studies un-
der botany, mammalogy, ornithology, %herpetol-
ogy, ichthyology, conchology, entomology, geol-
ogy, astronomy, chemistry and economies are
being pursued by Indiana students. The mem
bers are mostly engaged in the cause OF educa-
ton, either as college or high.school professors,
but there are among them several whose knowl-
edge is of the utilitarian kind. But all are
strongly imbued with a love of science for her
own sake. DR.. D. S. Jordan, president of the
State University, with Prof. A. w. Butler as
secretary, is the present official head of the
Academy, and allows no more time than
is actually necessary for the trans
action Of routine business. Hence
the somewhat lengthy programme prepared
for the two days sitting was in the afternoon
and evening sessions of yesterday largely COM
pleted. This. partly. due to many OF the papers
being read by title only and given afterwards to
the care of the secretary.
OF the six subjects under the general head of
botany each was of rich scientific interest.
The Mildews of Indiana by j. n. Rose, of
Charlottesville; Origin of the Indiana Flora"
by Prof. j. NJ. Coulter, of the same city; IAN
Outline of a Course in Science Study Based on
Evolution" by Miss Lille j. Martin, of Indian
apolis; Tho Moss Leaf" by Prof. c. R. Barns,
of Purdue University; Additions to the Flora
of Jefferson County" by George c. Hubbard, of
Madison, and "The Chlorophyll Bands of
Spirogyra." by s. Coulter, of Terre Haute, came
within this classification. In mammalogy. Prof.
A. W. Butler gave an interesting account OF the
house building habits of the muskrat, and 0. p.
Hay opened the section in ornithology with OBJ
servati0ns on a curious habit of the red-headed
wood pecker Professor Butler read notes on
Indiana Ornithology," and 3. W; Evermann
told of the Carroll county birds. These topics
to the State, and the members of the acad-
envy were asked to do all they could
to further such a result. o. p. Hay ubmitte
all the papers pertaining to herpetology, which
covered higher classification Of the amphibia,
rare reptiles and amphibians in Indiana, and
those that are looked for IN this State. 1.-The
Winter Habits of Amblystoma Tigrinum and
Microstoma" were also discussed by this gentle
man,