70 



the other the book. Mr. Kingston, who also observes with a glass, 

 stated that instead of taking a text-book to the field he noted in a small 

 book kept for the purpose, the size and markings of each bird, following 

 the same order in every case, and compared the descriptions with those 

 • in the books afterwards. On these explanations being given, Prof - 

 Macoun expressed himself satisfied that, with proper care, there was no 

 reason why these systems or either of them should not lead to accurate 

 results. He also said that for amateur ornithologists they were much 

 to be preferred to the system of shooting, so often followed to excess 

 aud without discrimination. 



:o:- 



REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAL BRANCH. 



(Read March 14th, 1890.) 



To the Council of the Ottawa Field- Naturalists' Club : 



Gentlemen: — In presenting to you the summary Report of the 

 Geological Branch of the club's work for the year 1889 to 1890, the 

 leaders desire to announce that continued interest in this line of 

 e nquiry is still manifest amongst many of our members. It would be 

 very strange indeed if it were otherwise, seeing that the district in 

 which we live is replete with interest on every side to the student of 

 Geology. The field of our observations has been only run over, and 

 whilst considerable work and good results have been obtained and wrought 

 by members of our Club, yet, the region offers inducements on every 

 hand. Whether we have to deal with one or other of the three great 

 systems of rock -formations in this district, viz., the Laurentian or 

 Archaean, the Palaeozoic, the Post-Tertiary, each one offers enough 

 material to be worked out and new facts to be developed and systema- 

 tized for years to come. 



I. In the Laurentian rocks of the Ottawa district, the mode of 

 occurrence, distribution and genetic history of the crystalline lime- 

 stones, of the iron ores, the phosphate deposits and the relations of 

 these to the areas of intrusive granites, pegmatites and gneisses and 



