1868.] NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 399 



The last paper belongs rather to the unnatural than to the 

 natural history of our species, and might therefore be regarded 

 as somewhat foreign to the objects of the Society. As, however, 

 it is impossible at present to organize a Society in this city for 

 the prosecution of every branch of scientific knowledge, it is to 

 be hoped that the subject on which it treats, which is confessedly 

 of the greatest importance, will be fully discussed from time to 

 time at the monthly meetings. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



In consequence of the unnecessary labour caused by the 

 appointment of sub-committees for separate but connected objects, 

 a bye-law has been passed providing that a committee should be 

 nominated by the Council and elected by the Society at the 

 meetings in October, to make the necessary arrangements for 

 both the Conversazione and the Somerville Lectures. 



A new bye-law has also been adopted, changing the date of the 

 Council meetings from the Thursday to the Tuesday preceding 

 the monthly meetings, in order to allow more time for the issuing 

 of the necessary circulars. 



It is recommended that steps be taken by the Council now to 

 be appointed, to codify and print these and all other new bye-laws 

 of the Society which have been passed since 1859. 



In conclusion, the Council beg to recommend that the Silver 

 Medal of the Society be awarded to Mr. Billings. It was owing 

 to his exertions that the Canadian Naturalist, which has become 

 so valuable an organ for the Society's operations, was first 

 established. His contributions to scientific literature and to the 

 geology of Canada, although unobtrusive, and of a nature not to 

 attract the general attention, have been singularly careful and 

 exact, and have won the praises of all on this continent and in 

 Europe, who are competent to pass judgment on their merits. 

 And at the present time there is a .special reason why this mark 

 of appreciative respect should be no longer delayed, — the Council 

 wishing to bear testimony to the singular ability which Mr. 

 Billings has displayed in the volume on the Palaeozoic Fossils of 

 Canada and other publications, which have been issued by the 

 Geological Survey during the last year. 

 Respectfully submitted by 



Phillip P. Carpenter, 



Chairman. 



