240 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



the stimulus which will be given to science aud scientific arts 

 and industries. In connection with the latter result, not only 

 will there be discussion of the latest results and improvements in 

 the mechanical and chemical arts that depend upon science, but 

 there will be meetings at the same time of the Society for Pro- 

 moting Agricultural Science and of the American Forestry 

 Association. In prospect of the approaching meeting we are 

 also <j:ratified with the fact that several eminent scientific men 

 from Great Britain and the continent of Europe have responded 

 favourably to the invitation sent by Dr. Sterry Hunt, the chair- 

 man of the Local Committee, and we hope that the presence of 

 numerous savants from abroad will be a characteristic feature of 

 the meeting, Montreal is, I think, to be congratulated on the 

 prospect of another meeting here of the great Scientific Congress 

 of this continent. Those who remember the meeting of 1857 

 know that benefits flowed from it to this city, the results of which 

 still remain, and I trust that those of the approaching meeting 

 will be on a still i^reater scale. 



The session which closes to-night, whether we reckon it as the 

 fiftieth or the fifty-third, may be characterised as a quiet and un- 

 eventful one. We have sensibly felt the removal of many of our 

 most active members, caused by the transference of the officers 

 of the Geological Survey to Ottawa. On the other hand we 

 have had an unusual accession of members from the city, and it 

 is hoped that this will not only enlarge the basis of support of 

 the Society, but that some of our new members will contribute 

 oriiiinal work to our meetings. In connection with this it should 

 be the study of the Council In the next session to endeavour to 

 give added interest to the montlily meetings, so as to bring out 

 a larger attendance of members and to create more lively dis- 

 cussion. 



The papers read in the past session may be arranged under 

 the heads of Chemistry, Geology and Natural History, 



In Chemistry we have had communications from Dr. Baker 

 Edwards and Mr. Donald on several practical subjects, more 

 especially on analysis of waters used for household purposes, on 

 certain resins imported into Montreal for the manufacture of 

 varnishes, and on the composition of those titaniferous products 

 which are associated with the Upper Laurentian Rocks. 



In Geology the most important contributions were that on the 

 recent remarkable disaoveries of fossil fishes in the Devonian 



