56 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May 



The evening grosbeak is even more noteworthy than the owl, 

 as it has only been seen once before in the recollection of the 

 present race of ornithologists. It also is reported as quite com- 

 mon near Guelph, flocks containing over forty having been seen. 

 General reports are not in concerning this species, but a few 

 have been seen near Ridgway in the Welland peninsula, and three 

 have been seen at London. Doubtless they will be reported from 

 many other stations, particularly those in the north. 



W. E. Saunders. 



SOIREE. 



The fifth soiree was held in the Assembly Hall of the Normal 

 School, February 25, when Prof. E, W. MacBride lectured on 

 "The present position of Evolution." 



The lecturer commenced by pointing out that the century 

 which had just passed away had witnessed a great revolution in 

 our ideas on many things, and notably on our conception of our 

 relation to the universe. This had been largely brought about by 

 the acceptance of the doctrine of evolution as laid down by 

 Darwin. This doctrine had profoundly influenced not only 

 biology but sociology and historical science, as was candidly 

 admitted by one of the latest writers on the New Testament. It 

 was of importance, therefore, to define first what exactly is as- 

 serted by the doctrine, second on what evidence it rests, and 

 thirdly what light it has thrown on the history ol the human race. 

 The root idea of evolution as expounded by Darwin was to explain 

 the present state of the world of animals and plants as the out- 

 come of its past condition under the operation of ordeily laws. 

 The idea that various types of animals might have descended from 

 a common ancestor was as old as the Greeks; so long, however, 

 as the transformation could not be shown to be a possible out- 



