222 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February 



Smith Woodward and more than a score of other distinguished 

 geologists and palaeontologists who have been similarly honoured. 

 We extend to Dr. Whiteaves our hearty and sincere con- 

 gratulations on having received this well-merited recognition of 

 the value of his scientific work from such a high source as the 

 governing body of the Geological Society of London as a "mark 

 of honorary distinction " under the consideration that he has 

 ' deserved well of the Science." 



L. M. L. 



Soirees. 



The openiing soiree of the Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club, 

 held on the evening of December 6th in the Assembly Hall of the 

 Normal School could hardly have been more successful. The 

 attendance was large and the programme one of the best ever 

 provided by the Club. 



The president, Mr. W. J. Wilson, presented an able paper 

 dealing with the aims of the Club, the nature and scope of its 

 work, and the advantages afforded to its members. His address 

 was printed in the last issue of the Naturalist. 



Dr. Jas. Fletcher read a paper prepared by Dr. J. Chester 

 Bradley of the University of California on "An Entomological 

 Excursion to the Selkirk Mountains." Illustrating the paper was 

 an exceptionally fine set of lantern slides. The views differed 

 from the ordinary photograph taken by tourists ; for besides bring- 

 ing out scenic effects such as the characteristic skyline of the 

 Selkirks, their glaciers, waterfalls, rivers and lakes, they show in 

 the foreground features of especial interest to the naturalist 

 These included the characteristic plants of the different zones, from 

 the lower valleys with their gigantic trees and dense undergrowth 

 to the stunted firs of the tree limit and the alpine meadows of the 

 higher slopes There were some particularly fine views of these, 

 meadows showing their great extent and the remarkable size and 

 profusion of the flowers. Dr. Fletcher made the views doubly in- 

 teresting by observations and incidents drawn., from his own 

 experience in the Selkirks. /iv^ 



