in.-) 



Natural History, the results of that year being comprised in twelve 

 scientific reports, besides that of the Director, which were published in 

 two volumes of 1364 pages, in addition to the bulletins on Paleontol- 

 ogy and Botany. The American Survey during the same year employed 

 in the Geographical branch alone eighty-five assistants, in addition to 

 the chiefs of the several divisions, of whom there were fifteen in con- 

 nection with the outside or geological work proper, and twelve lor the 

 associated branches, among whom are many of the leading professors 

 in the different universities, men most distinguished in their special 

 lines of work. With such a command of men and money magnificent 

 results may be confidently looked for, yet in the published volume for 

 the year mentioned there are only four scientific reports, besides that 

 of the Director, with twenty-four administrative reports, corresponding 

 with the summary reports of the Canadian Survey, and describing only 

 the season's operations as carried on by the different parties, but not 

 giving the scientific results, the whole being comprised in a magnifi- 

 cently printed and illustrated volume of 710 pages. In addition to 

 this, as in the Canadian Survey, bulletins containing special reports on 

 the work 01 the various associated subjects were also publisher!, Com- 

 paring results, then, in so far as these can be ascertained, it is evident 

 that the Canadian Survey has continued to maintain the high standard 

 of work which it has ever enjoyed from its commencement and is 

 giving at least full value for the amount of money expended thereon. 



But many persons have asked the question : Of what does the 

 work of the Geological Survey consist? and what is the object of send- 

 ing out these parties of exploration all over the Dominion? what prac- 

 tical benefit does the country receive from such exj^lorations ? Some 

 even appear to consider the fitting out of the field parties each spring 

 as something preparatory, on the part of the staff, to going on some 

 grand pic-nic, in which all that the persons engaged have to do is to 

 enjoy themselves in the most jjerfecily epicurean manner. Now, while 

 to the scientific exjilorer who enters upon the work in hand with the 

 proper amount ot interest there must ever be a certain amount of en- 

 joyment, and that often of a very high order, in the unravelling of the 

 complicated problems which are presented in the study of the wrinkled 

 face of old mothesr earth, there is very little of the pic-nic character ob- 



