148 



for so long a time, when so much orood work was being done in almost 

 every other department, 



Mr. Ami bore testimony to the excellence of the lecture, consider- 

 ing the vastness of the field it corered, and thought that the animals, 

 of this district could be worked up with comparative ease. 



Dr. Ells moved a vote of thanks, and stated that he, as a member 

 of the staff of the geological survey, would be glad to assist any on 

 who took up the study of any branch that he knew anything of, by 

 either taking them to the field with him or by showing them anything 

 he could at the museum. 



The vote of thanks was seconded by Mr. Lees. 



Mr. Taylor, in replying to the vote of thanks, said he had just 

 been reading in a scientific paper that there were only seven species of 

 reptiles in Canada, which showed the utter ignorance which existed on 

 the subject, and ventured to say that at least that number of species 

 could be found within a radius of one mile from where they were 

 standing. 



The sixth lecture, on the 25th of February, was to hare been upon 

 Botany, by Prof. Macoun, but he was much too ill to attend the 

 meeting. At the request of the president, Rev. G. W. Taylor delivered 

 a lecture upon Conchology, in which he showed himself to be a thorough 

 master of his subject. 



The seventh lecture, on March 4th, was by Mr. J. Fletcher upon 

 Botany. The possibility of studying botany at all times of the year 

 was claimed, and the investigations which could be most advantageously 

 carried on during the winter months dwelt upon at some length. The 

 different forms of buds were referred to, and some specimens of buds of 

 Lilac were exhibited, which had been made to expand by placing the 

 twigs in water inside the house. The life of a plant was sketched and 

 the uses of the different organs indicated. 



The eighth and last lecture of the course was delivered by the 

 president, Mr. Eobert Whyte, upon the afternoon of March 11th. 

 "The best way to study Botany" was explained in a lucid and attractive 

 manner. Where, when, and how to collect and preserve specimens 

 were described, and the delights of the study dwelt upon in such a 



