17G 

 AFTERNOON LECTURES. 



First. On Monday, 9tb January, Prof. Macoun gave the first of 

 a, course of Afternoon Lectures ai-ranged as in former years for the 

 purpose of introducing the study of the several Branches of Natural 

 History to the members of the Club, and also to any persons desiring 

 to profit by the instruction oS'ered gratuitously by the Club. The sub- 

 ject discussed was Ornithology, and the wider pi-inciples of the classiBca- 

 tion of birds were presented in a clear and interesting manner. 

 Specimens of the skins of well-known species were exhibited in illustra- 

 tion of the structural diflferences pointed out. The address was 

 followed by an instructive discussion on the food habits of certain 

 species. 



Secjnd. Mr. Ami was to have delivered the lecture on Monday, 

 16th January, taking as his subject Geology, but as he was unfortunately 

 prevented by sickness from being present, his place was taken by Prof. 

 Macoun, who gave a most agreeable address upon the same subject. 

 He outlined in a graphic manner the supposed formation of the earth, 

 passing from the gaseous, through the liquid condition, until by cooling, 

 the mineral substances were precipitated, and the land, water and air 

 were formed. The appearance first of plant life, and then when the 

 atmosphere had been freed from its carbonic a';id gas the carbon being 

 deposited in the form of coal of air breathing animals was briefly 

 sketched, and the geological evidences of their development noted. The 

 importance of geology in this connection was thus forcibly shown, and 

 the necessity for its careful study made apparent. In the discussion 

 that followed Mr. Ballantyne expressed himself as fully believing in the 

 theory of evolution of species, as opposed to that of specific creations. 



Third. On Monday, 23rd January, Mr. Henry M. Ami gave a 

 most interesting address on the study of Geology. This science he 

 stated dealt with the origin of our planet, the foimation, rise and fall 

 of continents. It was the physical history of our earth, as well as the 

 physical geography. He then briefly considered the advent of life on 

 earth ; its progress in time ; the characteristic floi-as and faunas of dif- 

 ferent epochs ; the time when certain types were introduced, and the 

 periods of their abundance and decay. The economic minerals deposi- 



