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EDITORIAL. 



The kindly reception accorded to the first number of the Ottawa 

 Naturalist, by our membei-s and correspondents, has encouraged us in 

 our labours. There seems to be a unanimous opinion that the change 

 in the time of publication is a step in the path of progress, and it has 

 been especially welcome, as was expected, to non-resident members. In 

 the present number we are able to give the very interesting address 

 delivei'ed by Prof. Macoun when President of the Club last year. 

 There are many points in it well worthy of consideration, and we feel 

 assured that his desire to see erected a museum worthy of Canada will 

 be warmly endoi'sed by every reader. A number of new membei's have 

 been elected since the Annual Meeting, but we desire again to urge all 

 to endeavor to obtain among their friends further additions to our mem- 

 bership. The smallness of our annual subscription fee makes it the 

 more imperative that our memV)ei"ship should be lai'ge, and that fees 

 should be promptly i-emitted to the treasurer, in accordance with Rule 

 15 of the Constitution. 



The Excur.-iion Committee has recommended an Excursion to 

 King's Mountain, Chelsea, on Saturday, the 21st of May. Our Excur- 

 sions daring the season will be conducted in accordance with the plan 

 found to work satisfactorily in past years. Prof. Macoun informs us 

 in his address that it is a common custom in English societies similar 

 to our own, for excursion parties to go by rail or waggon to a locality 

 several miles distant from the starting point, and then walk back 

 ^'across country," collecting along the way. As indicated by him this 

 plan has its advantages, but it seems to us that equally good work can 

 be done under our own system of driving, or taking a boat, or train, 

 both ways, and spending a large portion of the day in systematic col- 

 lecting in the locality visited. In this manner many, pleasant days 

 have been spent by our members and their friends, and many impor- 

 tant facts in connection with the Natural History of neighbouring 

 districts have been discovered and recorded. A not unimportant 

 advantage of returning together by conveyance, instead of in small 

 scattering groups on foot, is the opportunity afforded for instructive 

 conVer.sation regarding the various interesting occurences or collections. 



