INTRODUCTION.

^ T the semi-annual meeting of the Board of Education of the State

Ta of Illinois, held at Normal, 111., on the 15th of December, 1875, the

&\^ following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :

Whereas, Since the control of the Museum of the Illinois State

Natural History Society was transferred to the State Board of Education,
no general declaration has ever been made by this Board of the relations

and policy of the Museum, or of the purposes of the Board concerning it

;

and
Whereas, It seems desirable that the students and friends of science

should know definitely and authoritatively the nature, scope and promise of

the work of said Museum, in order that they may intelligently co-operate with
its officers for the promotion of the scientific interests of the state ; therefore,

Resolved^ That we regard the Museum as a State Institution, devoted
to the prosecution of a natural history survey of the state, to the encourage-
ment and aid of original research, and to the diffusion of scientific knowledge
and habits of thought among the people.

That we consider it an important part of its work to supply collections

of specimens to the public schools, as far as this can be done consistently

with its own general interests, and especially to provide all needed facilities

for the instruction of teachers in natural history, and in the most approved
and successful methods of teaching the same ; and

That we cordially invite the co-operation of the scientists of Illinois,

oifering them the free use of its collections, library and apparatus, and as-

suring them that whatever may be contributed to its cabinets or its funds
shall be used faithfully and impartially for the advancement of science

throughout the state at large.

In pursuance of the first of the above resolutions, the issue of a series

of publications has been undertaken, which it is intended to devote especially

to the natural history of Illinois. These bullel^s will contain original

contributions to a knowledge of any department of the natural history of the

state ; such compilations, synopses, and the like, as will bring together

widely dispersed and virtually inaccessible published matter relating to the

local natural history, placing it in manageable form, within reach of the

ordinary student ; and papers of value on economical science.

Within these limits it is desired that the publication may be made the



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organ of all Illinois naturalists, upon whose active aid the success, and

especially the degree of usefulness, of the enterprise is, of course, almost

entirely dependent.

It is believed that by thus limiting the undertaking to a special field in

which our own naturalists may be supposed to be better able to work than

any others, and to which they are more likely to devote themselves with ar-

dor and success, all the advantages of a local stimulus to research may be

gained without inflicting upon science any increase of the number of rival

centers of publication of similar scope and purpose.

For the purpose of providing better facilities than now exist for the fu-

ture prosecution of the work here outlined, it is necessary that complete

collections of specimens should be made in all parts of the state, that a

full and well-selected library should be brought together, and that these

should be thoroughly organized for practical use. Contributions of speci-

mens and books are therefore earnestly desired. These will be received at

the Museum, properly cared for, promptly arranged, catalogued and indexed,

and held for the use of any working naturalist.

S. A. FORBES,
Curator Illinois Museum of Natural History.

Normal, III., Oct. 16, 1876.