1907] President's Address. 199 



they began to tire of it, and soon if left to themselves drop it alto- 

 gether. The Club in its special meetings of branches, soirees and 

 excursions supplies the very thing that is needed in such a case and 

 keeps up the interest till the work becomes a habit hard to break 

 away from. I am quite sure with many members such a habit has 

 been formed and it would be a difficult matter to keep them from 

 following their favourite studies. These are some of the [reasons 

 why I think we are amply repaid for any work we do for the Club. 

 People have of course the right to criticize our actions and ask 

 such questions as I referred to at the beginning, and these 

 criticisms and questions are no doubt productive of good. 



If time permitted I would like to enlarge on some of the work 

 that might be profitably taken up by the Club, but I will only say 

 that no one need think that all the information possible has been 

 gleaned in any one subject. Those best acquainted with the dis- 

 trict will tell you that the opportunity of finding an abundance of 

 new material at least in some branches, is almost as good as ever, 

 and an exhaustive study of these offers a splendid field for our 

 younger members. 



In conclusion I wish to acknowledge the Club's indebtedness 

 to the citizens of Ottawa for the generous support they have at all 

 times given it. 



A new edition of Prof. John Macoun's Catalogue of Canadian 

 Birds is now being got ready for the press by the author. This 

 edition will be published in one volume instead of in three parts as 

 before, and the author will incorporate in the new edition any 

 notes on extension of range, breeding habits, etc., that may be 

 sent him. 



library" 



