472 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



are attracted by the aspects of nature, and instead of allowing 

 their minds to rust away in inaction turn themselves to the 

 investigation and study of natural facts. Mr. Barnston was a 

 typical man of this class, and has left in the pages of our journal 

 and in our museum the evidence of his zeal as a naturalist. We 

 have already recorded some features of his life and our estimation 

 of his character. The aged are passing away; let us hope that 

 younger men are rising up to take the places which they leave 

 vacant. Another former president and long-tried and valuable 

 friend of the society whom death has removed, is the late Rev- 

 Dr. De-Sola. 



In connection with this T would remind the Society of the 

 appeal made to us by the Rev. Mr. Campbell, to aid in erecting 

 a monument to the memory of our benefactor the Rev. Mr. Som- 

 merville. Such men are few and deserve commemoration, and 

 it may be well to think also of the fact that, in bearing them in 

 remembrance, we stimulate others to like noble deeds. x\mong 

 the many ways open to those who desire beneticially to connect 

 their names with the real progress of this country, none is more 

 fruitful than to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Sommerville, and to 

 aid societies like this in educating the people by free popular lec- 

 tures. Our treasurer, Mr. Marler, was authorized to receive 

 contributions to the monument to Mr. Sommerville. 



Of the scientific work of the session a more than usual portion 

 has related to zoological science. Taking the last first, a very 

 interesting subject was opened up, but by no means exhausted, 

 by the contributions of Mr. Muir and Mr. Murphy towards the 

 anatomy of the suctorial organs of the mosquito. Structures of 

 this kind, imperfectly examined at a time when microscopes 

 were less serviceable than at present, are described in the same 

 terms by one naturalist after another till the imperfections of 

 their descriptions attract attention, and new investigations are 

 made, often leading to unexpected results. 



The remarkable modifications by which the mandibles and 

 maxillae of the typical mandibulate insects become specialized 

 into lancets and tubes for suctorial purposes merit more attention 

 than they have hitherto received, and appear to present a vast 

 variety of contrivances of the most perfect and complex char- 

 acter. It is perhaps, some compensation for the annoyance which 

 these organs cause to us, that wc; find them to present so elaborate 

 indications of thought and skill when we make them the objects 

 of careful investigation, I may add here that there is scarcely 



