184 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. 



IX. 



CounciL- -Messrs. Muir. Brissette, Goode. Dr. G. M. Dawson, 

 Dr. Bell, Mr. Sheltou, Rev. Mr. Empson and Major Latour. 



The following Lihrary Committee was also elected: — Messrs. 

 Hicks. Donald; Brissette. Benirose, and Dr. McConnell. 



A letter was read from Major de Wiutou, informing the So- 

 ciety that His Excellency the Governor General, Patron of the 

 Society, would visit the museum during- the approaching visit to 

 Montreal. 



A letter was also read from the Ottawa Field Naturalists' 

 Club, suggesting that the Society hold its annual field meeting 

 at Calumet, when the two Societies miiJfht exchansie courtesies. 

 The Societ}'^ had rejDlied acceding to this proposal. 



REPORT OF C0M3J1TTEE ON MONUMENT TO FREDERICK PURSH. 



At the last annual meeting of the Natural History Society, 

 mention was made of the effort in progress, under the care of a 

 Committee of our Council, to erect a monument over the neglec- 

 ted remains of one of the early scientific explorers of Canada, to 

 whose labours the botany of this country owes ver}^ much. This 

 labour of love has now been completed, and a neat monument, 

 paid for by the subscriptions of members of the Society, now 

 marks his resting place in Mount Boyal Cemetery. The follow- 

 ing notes on the life of Pursh, prepared originally by the late Dr. 

 Barnston, should now be placed on record in the Naturalist, ag 

 a further tribute to his memory, and a reason for the interest 

 taken in the matter by this Society. 



Frederick Pursh was a German by birth and education. He 

 pursued a successful course of study in Dresden, and acquired, 

 at an early age, a taste for science and a peculiar fondness for 

 botanical and horticultural pursuits. He contemplated with 

 pleasure and admiration the many beautiful and singular flowers, 

 the fine shrubs and ornamental trees that adorned the gardens 

 and pleasure grounds, and which were natural productions of 

 North America. This excited in his mind a strong desire to 

 visit the New Continent — to observe in their natural soil and 

 climate these same plants, the study of which had afforded him 

 so much gratification, and to make such discoveries as circum- 

 stances might throw in his way. Accordingly, in 1799 he em- 

 barked for the United States, where he at once commenced his 



