178 



were obtaiaetl, and one Aimily which only alTords one species here has 

 hundreds of species in the Southern States. Our laud molluscs could, 

 witli a few ioxceptions, be placed in two groups, the Helicidaj and the 

 Liraacidfe, the hitter containing the slugs, or species having rudimentary 

 shells. Our species were not climbers, and were to be looked for 

 mostly in damp situations. The l.irger species could be obtained by 

 turnin" over loss and stones where the ground was rich and moist, and 

 many of the smaller forms occurred plentifully in the same situations 

 but required ito be closely searched for. The small species coald also 

 be obtained ly coliecting moss, grass, leaves, etc., from suitable 

 localities and sifting these materials. Of water shells, such as the 

 Limna^idie, the greatest abundance would be found in warm shallow 

 bays, while the Unionidie were to be searched for when the water in 

 rivers and lakes was at the lowest stage. Other forms would best be 

 found in the rapids of streams at low water. Some admirable direct- 

 ions for cleaning and preserving specimens were given, and mention 

 made of certain books for reference, and of the value of exchanging 

 with callectors elsewhere. 



Mr. Latchford exhibited a number of beautiful specimens which 

 were greatly admired by all pit sent, and an interesting discussion fol- 

 ilowed in which Messrs. White, Harrington, Fletcher, Macoun, Small 

 and Ami took part. 



Fifth. On Monday, the 9th February, Dr. H. B. Small was 



unable to be present to deliver his promised talk on Zoology, but Prof. 

 Macoun very kindly filled the gap and gave an admirable elementary 

 discourse on the vertebrates, omitting the birds, of which he had 

 already spoken on a former day. Of the fishes, which stand at the 

 bottom of this division of animal life, we had still surviving in the 

 Ottawa river representatives of some of the earliest, and lower forms, 

 "in the gar-pike, or bill-fish, aad the sturgeon. Regarding many of the 

 nuuierous .species of fi.sh found in \W varied and e.xtensive waters of 

 this region scaictly anything was known, especially of the smaller 

 forms, and it was most desirable that some member of the Club should 

 take ut> the study. The influence of habitat u])on the size of trout and 

 other fish was well illustrated. Of the R.^ ptiles, mention was first 

 enade of the three genera of Anura which occur here, and which 



