470 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



erican Association for the Advancement of Science in Montreal 

 in 1857 was lar^irelj the work of this society. The conception 

 of the idea belongs, I think, to the late Sir William Logan and my- 

 self.and it was carried out throuoh the medium of the ori>-anization 

 afforded by this Society. The invitation came from us. A dele- 

 gation from our Society presented it to the American Association 

 at Springfield, and the nucleus of the committee consisted of our 

 members. We were, it is true, nobly seconded by the great 

 body of the citizens, and the local committee, as ultimately con- 

 stituted, included all the leadins: men of Montreal. That meet- 

 ting was one of the most successful in numbers and scientific 

 interest held by the Association up to that time, and in looking 

 back upon its results I cannot but feel that it formed an epoch in 



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the scientific and educational life of this city. We had hoped 

 that the benefits experienced here would have induced some of 

 the other cities of Canada to follow our example. But it was 

 left to Montreal again, after the lapse of 25 years, to invite the 

 Association, grown greatly in the meantime in numbers and im- 

 portance, to hiold its annual meeting in Canada. The lapse of a 

 quarter of a century had removed most of the men who were 

 leaders in 1857, but others had filled their places. Our society 

 had greatly improved its building and its collections, and marvel- 

 lous development had taken place in our educational institutions, 

 and especially in the University. Again the Natural History 

 Society took the lead in the invitation, and aided materially in 

 securing the success of the meeting: and we had the pleasure of 

 knowing that again our Montreal meeting was second to none that 

 had preceded it. More especialh' it was successful in attracting 

 men from abroad in greater numbers than is usual in meetinos 

 of the x\merican Association. 



These meetings must not be regarded as representing the actual 

 work of science. They are rather its efflorescence and displav, 

 bearing the same relation to its regular labor that the public ex- 

 amination of a school at the end of its session bears to the dailv 

 fag and grind oF the teachers and pupils throughout the year. 

 Still such meetinus do much oood. Thev brino- scientific workers 

 together, enable tlie younger and less known to find access to 

 those who occupy higher places, permit the friendly comparison 

 and conflict of opinions, and enable the unscientific public to 

 know something of what is occupying the attention of scientific 

 students. They bring out, also, into prominence the march of 



