I'ii LIBRARY! 



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THE OTTAWA NATURALIST 



VOL. XXXI. APRIL, 1917. No. 1. 



REPORT OF THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB, 

 FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 20, 1917. 



General Statement. 



The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club has continued its activities 

 in interpreting and diffusing information on natural science during 

 1916-1917. The British Government has just increased the appro- 

 priation for scientific work in Great Britain to more than five times 

 its total previous appropriations, thus recognizing the importance of 

 the work carried on by such organizations as the Ottawa Field- 

 Naturalists' Club. These organizations are now vitally necessary 

 since the scientific method has been proven to be the only way by 

 which we may hope to solve such problems as the conservation and 

 increase of our crops and forest products, our stock and fish, game, 

 and fur resources, our mineral lesources, and our public health. 



This work of the Club has been accomplished chiefly by three 

 means the publication of The Ottawa Naturalist, now starting 

 its thirty-first year and volume, a series of field excursions, and a 

 course of lectures. 



Eleven members have resigned, but as thirty-two new members 

 have been elected, there is a net gain of twenty-one members, the total 

 membership now being three hundred and forty-six. The Club is 

 organizing a campaign for increasing its membership. 



His Excellency, the Duke of Devonshire, has expressed his 

 interest in the Club by consenting to become its Patron. 



The library of the Club, a large and valuable collection of nature 

 books and periodicals, has been turned over to the Carnegie Library, 

 Ottawa, which will catalogue it and make it available to the entire 

 public. Accessions to the Club library will now be turned over to 

 the Carnegie Library. 



Trust Funds. 



A trust funds committee has been appointed to receive and 

 administer additions to the trust fund of the Club. 



