234 iHE Ottawa Naturalist. [February 



CONVERSAZIONE OF THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' 



CLUB. — Jan. 24TH, 1899. 



The Annual Conversazione and Microscopical Soiree under the 

 auspices of the O. F. N. C. was ht-ld on Tuesday, Jan. 24th, 1899 

 in the large Assembly Hall of the Provincial Normal School, kindly 

 placed at the disposal of the Club by Principal MacCabe. Prof. E. E. 

 Prince, B.\., F.L.S., President of the Club, occupied the chair. The 

 hall was fiiltd with a large concourse of members of the Club and 

 friends, and the event was pronounced by all a decided success. 



Among those present were : His Excellency the Earl of Minto, 

 Patron of the Club ; Capt. W.F. Lascelles, A. D.C. ; Sir Henri G. Joly de 

 Lotbiniere, K.C.M.G. ; Hon. Dr. Borden ; Sir James Grant ; Dr. G. M. 

 Dawson, C.M.G,, Director of the Geological Dept. ; Colonel J. P. 

 Macpherson ; Dr. James Fletcher ; Dr. I. Bradley ; Prof Macoun ; Mr. 

 F. T. Shutt; Mr. Henry Macleod, C.E. ; Dr. R. W. Ells, F.R S.C. ; 

 Mr. W. Hague Harrington. F.R. S.C; Vice-Principal S. B. Sinclair, B.A.; 

 Mr. Kemp ; Mr. Andrew Halkett ; Mr. D. B. Dowling B.A.Sc. ; Mr. 

 W. T. Macoun ; Mr. W. J. Wilson, Ph.B. ; Mr. W. C. Bowles ; Mr. 

 A. G. Kingston, Principal McBratney ; Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott ; Mr. 

 and Mrs. E. B. Eddy ;'Mr. W. Campbel', B.A. ; Mr. and Mrs. O. J. 

 Joliffe, M.A. ; besides many teachers and students of the Provincial 

 Normal and Model Schools and other leadmg educational institutions 

 in the city. In a very neat address. Prof. Prince, gave a hearty wel- 

 come to the vast audience present and thanked the authorities of 

 the Normal School for the use of the Lecture Hall, so well adapted for 

 such an occasion. 



Mr. S. B. Smclair, Vice-Principal of the Normal School, expressed 

 his appreciation of the valuable collection of geological specimens 

 recently presented to the Normal School by Dr. Ami of the Club, and 

 also of the rare collection of plants presented by Professor Macoun. 

 He congratulated the society upon the nature and extent of its work. 

 He considered that its most hopeful feature lay in the spirit of original 

 research fostered by contact with the leaders in its different depart- 

 ments. The true scientist imparts his enthusiasm to those about him. 



" What he has loved, 

 Others will love, and he will teach them how." 



He quoted from Agassiz and others to show that such independent 

 investigation is not only the most essential element of all natural 

 science study worthy of the name, but that it also affords the best 

 gymnasium for the development of vigorous personality. 



Dr. Ami then announced the various exhibits of specimens dis- 

 played upon the tables in the Hall, giving brief notes of interest on 

 each. These exhibits included : 



Diagrams of Deinosaur, N. W. Territories Mr. L. M. Lambe. 



Rocky Mountain Plants and Butterflies Dr. James Fletcher. 



Squirrels of Canada Prof. John Macoun. 



