116 



Dr. Ells cited some experiments which seemed to prove that fish 

 could not feel pain in the same way as higher animals. 



Mr. J. Ballantyne could not agree either with Dr. Ells or Mr. 

 Fletcher that the lower animals could not feel pain. He thought that 

 worms when impaled on the hook of the angler showed unmistakable 

 signs of pain. 



Mr. H. B. Small, President of the Ottawa Literary and Scientific 

 Society, agreed heartily with the President in his remarks on the value 

 of students depending on their own researches for the identification of 

 specimens, as much of the value to be gained by personal examination 

 of a plant depended on such a plan for fixing its name in the memory. 

 If they were simply told by someone else what a certain plant was, 

 they would probably have to ask again tlie next day, unless committed 

 to writing. A very good evidence of tlie value of this method of study 

 came to his notice some years ago, when he was connected with one of 

 the United States preparatory military schools in New York State. At 

 the botany lecture a bunch of wild flowers was laid on the table, 

 gathered at haphazard for the occasion, and one or more pupils took 

 one to analyse and explain before the class, whilst at its close each 

 student took a specimen away for examination, a report thereon in 

 detail to be handed in at the next weekly lecture. So ardently did the 

 pupils vie with each other in this, that some of the reports were full 

 enough of matter to have made magazine articles, and the knowledge 

 thus gained was lasting in its after efi'ects. 



Mr. Small strongly urged on the Club extending their summer 

 rambles to points accessible by railway, as the older fields ot research 

 round the city had been well gone over, and he recommended each 

 member of the Club to bear in mind the fact that if they would only 

 take the trouble of getting even one friend to accompany them or to 

 attend the meetings, it would be the best manner they could adopt to 

 advertise the society, and aid the workers in it by countenancing their 

 efforts with their personal support. 



